Musicals in San Francisco

San Francisco Playhouse stages two musicals each year in San Francisco; typically one in the summer and one in the winter holiday season. The summer musical is on stage July through September, and the winter musical is on stage November through January. Tickets are now available to the two musicals in our 2025/26 Season.

Musicals coming to San Francisco Playhouse

About San Francisco Playhouse’s Musicals

Since its founding in 2003, San Francisco Playhouse has staged more than 30 musicals, winning dozens of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards and earning national acclaim. Past productions include My Fair Lady, Waitress, Evita, Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, As You Like It, Follies, La Cage Aux Folles, City of Angels, Camelot, Coraline, and more.

San Francisco Playhouse has been praised by the New York Times for staging “some of the most consistently high-quality work around”, and KQED for being “one of the few theaters in the Bay Area that has a mission that actually shows up on stage.”

San Francisco Playhouse’s 2025 production of My Fair Lady received the top rating from the San Francisco Chronicle, who raved about the show as “A whole new musical … With its witty, word-drunk lyrics and thirst-quenching songs, My Fair Lady is always worth a revisit.”

Ticket prices for musicals at the Playhouse range from $52 – $145, though discounts may be available to subscribers.

Past musicals at San Francisco Playhouse

Opening	Musical	Creators
2004	The Fantasticks	Tom Jones (book & lyrics), Harvey Schmidt (music)
2006	Putting It Together	Stephen Sondheim (songs)
2007	Man of La Mancha	Dale Wasserman (book), Joe Darion (lyrics), Mitch Leigh (music)
2008	Cabaret	Joe Masteroff (book), Fred Ebb (lyrics), John Kander (music)
2010	Coraline	David Greenspan (book), Stephin Merritt (music & lyrics)
2012	Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson	Alex Timbers (script), Michael Friedman (music & lyrics)
2013	Camelot	Alan Jay Lerner (book & lyrics), Frederick Loewe (music)
2014	Into the Woods	James Lapine (book), Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics)
2014	Promises, Promises	Neil Simon (book); Burt Bacharach (music), Hal David (lyrics)
2015	Company	George Furth (book); Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics)
2024	Waitress	Sara Bareilles (music & lyrics), Jessie Nelson (book)
2026	Hairspray	Marc Shaiman (music & lyrics), Scott Wittman (lyrics), Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan (book)

The Bay Area’s Top Musicals

When it comes to live performance, San Francisco doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. The city’s musical theatre scene is alive—vibrant, daring, and full of artistry. Whether you’re a lifelong theatre lover, a curious visitor, or simply looking for a night that moves you, seeing a musical here isn’t just a pastime. It’s an experience that stays with you.

Expect big voices, bold stories, and extraordinary local talent. From Broadway classics to new works born in the Bay Area, San Francisco stages it all. And the action isn’t confined to one district. Music and storytelling ripple through neighborhoods across the city nearly every night of the week.

Why do musicals land differently here? Because San Francisco celebrates artistic risk, creative freedom, and social consciousness. Every production—classic or contemporary—carries that spark of innovation and depth that defines this city. You can feel it in the audience, on the stage, and long after the curtain falls.

You don’t need to know your Sondheim from your Schwartz to love it. You just need a ticket and an open mind. With a mix of grand houses, intimate stages, and an ever-changing lineup of performances, your next unforgettable night out is waiting.

Where to Experience Musicals in San Francisco

San Francisco offers musical theatre in every key. Downtown venues deliver Broadway-style grandeur, with majestic architecture and productions built to dazzle. These stages host national tours, major revivals, and beloved favorites that fill the city with show-stopping energy.

The heartbeat of San Francisco theatre also lives in smaller houses across the Mission, the Tenderloin, and SoMa. Here you’ll find fresh voices, fearless new works, and audiences sitting just feet from the performers. What these spaces lack in spectacle, they make up for in connection and creative fire.

Accessibility counts too. Most venues are transit-friendly and walkable, with details on elevators, parking, and seating on their sites. A little planning goes a long way toward making the night effortless.

Choose the setting that fits your mood. For glamour and tradition, go downtown. For intimacy and discovery, explore the neighborhood stages. Either way, you’ll find artistry worth showing up for.

Choosing the Right Musical Experience

Every musical offers its own rhythm and reason. The right one depends on your night, your company, and your curiosity.

Craving the big Broadway feel? Look to national tours or iconic revivals with lavish sets, familiar melodies, and the electric joy of a packed house. They’re perfect for newcomers or anyone craving spectacle.

Prefer something timely or daring? Seek out contemporary premieres and locally developed works. These productions tackle modern themes with inventive music and staging—a blend of artistry and relevance that could only happen here.

Bringing the family? Choose titles marked family-friendly: colorful storytelling, heartfelt humor, and tunes you’ll be humming all the way home. Most run a bit shorter, which helps keep kids engaged.

Feeling adventurous? Catch an original piece from Bay Area artists. These shows are intimate, passionate, and deeply personal. When you’re in the room, you’re part of the art’s first heartbeat.

Pro tip: Skim the synopsis and running time before booking. For your first musical, start with something around two hours. San Francisco’s range means there’s always a show that fits your tempo.

Making a Night of It

A musical in San Francisco is already a win, but a little planning can turn it into something unforgettable.

Begin with dinner near the theatre. From pre-fixe fine dining to neighborhood gems, you’ll find flavors as creative as the performances themselves. Book early on weekends, then linger. You’ll thank yourself when the lights dim right on cue.

Map your route before curtain. BART, Muni, and rideshare make getting here simple. Skip the parking stress and let the city move you instead. If you’re driving, find a nearby garage to avoid the post-show scramble.

Want to stretch the night? Sip a cocktail steps away, catch a late-set jazz trio, or share dessert before heading home. Theatre may end with a bow, but the evening doesn’t have to.

If you’re visiting, give yourself time to wander. The glow of marquee lights, murals in the alleys, music drifting from open doors—these details turn an outing into an experience. In San Francisco, the city itself is part of the show.

Plan it right, and the performance is just the beginning, not the finale.

Take Your Seat

Musicals resonate differently here because San Francisco lives for creative connection. The city doesn’t just stage art—it uplifts it. Whether you’re a first-timer or a lifelong patron, you’re stepping into something alive and uniquely ours.

If you’ve been waiting for the right night, this is it. Pick a show. Bring a friend. Let the music carry you. Every ticket opens the door to something unforgettable.

Good theatre lingers. Great theatre transforms. And in San Francisco, transformation is always center stage.

Your seat’s ready. The lights are dimming. Don’t miss the overture.