Z Space

Lotsa laaaahv for Z space. Feeling very lucky to have discovered this place through the wonderfully curated Re-​Orient festival and will come back for many shows in the future. The whole space is so wonderfully set up and their schedule curates to so many tastes.

I attended a theatre showing recently at this intimate performance arts space. The show itself was great. The area itself in mission is full of artsy venue and gallery so I’m pleased to discover it.

What a great venue. Word for Word, Stories by Alice Munro was outstanding. I really did not know what to expect, but it was above and beyond. I plan to become a member so I may see other productions as well.

Lame rush ticket policy. Waited an hour and someone cut line to stand next to a ‘friend’. When the ticket booth opened each of them bought 4 tickets and closed out the open seats. Guy at the register says someone could buy 10 if they wanted. C’mon limit it to two per person.

The house manager was amazingly rude. They only had one bartender so the line for the bar was a little long but moving. One of the employees cut off the line behind us. We waited for about 7 mins then (who I assume was the house manager. She was the one with the cow bell) stepped in front of us and told us we need to go to our seats. We told her the other employee (who was standing behind us) had cut the line off behind us. «well he is not in charge… I am. And you need to go to your seat.» Were her words exactly. Ive worked in theater for 20 years. There is ways of dealing with over demand during intermission and dealing with the members of the audience. She was so rude we will defiantly not be coming back to this place.

Last night Opera on Tap presented a San Francisco-​themed version of «La Tragédie de Carmen» done in a film-​noir style. It was TERRIFIC! The singing was powerful and moving and the chamber orchestra accompaniment was delightful! Z Space was a wonderful venue!
From their web site: Opera on Tap has a monthly residency at various bars in downtown SF and partners with local chamber music groups and create evenings filled with laughter, warmth and most importantly, great music. Opera on Tap is committed to changing the perception of opera in the Bay Area.

Funky performance space, good acoustics. It is a great option to have out there. It is for a casual performance but it is hip, enjoy.

Saw Marc Maron there on ¹⁰⁄₁₂. Great show, very entertaining. But this review is about the venue, which wasn’t bad except for one crucial element. It was so warm and uncomfortable inside the theater, it was almost unbearable. Glad to pay only $ 15 for the tickets, but how much more would it be to get a little air conditioning. We couldn’t breath inside there. I would be pretty reluctant to see someone there again.

We attended Litquake’s special 15^th year anniversary party here. Have never been to Z Space before, so we didn’t really know what to expect. After finding a great spot on the street to park (thank you parking gods!), we let the party music and the polychromatic glow lead us to where the party was happening, where the Acapulco Mariachi Band, DJ Alarm, and Hornitos Tequila promised to make Litquake’s anniversary bash a night to remember.
I can see why they chose this place for the party. It’s spacious and has a great smooth floor for dancing. The high ceilings also made the place feel roomier. The seating had been retracted to allow space for mingling and dancing. Space was a little tight though by the Hornitos Tequila Bar (no surprise there) where Hornitos was serving cocktails as well as shots of their Plata and Añejo products. There were a few high top tables and chairs, and benches available for seating. A slideshow of Litquake’s events from the past 15 years was projected on the wall.
Bookworms know how to party. After the Bi-​Rite Creamery cake was cut and distributed, people started dancing to dance hits from throughout the decades. There was no need to hang out at the bar, as shots and cocktails were being delivered to people on the dance floor! Thanks Z Space and Litquake for the great time!

Came tonight with a fun group to see John Goode dance company. There were two parts and each well done. The dancers were all right and and obviously well trained. Others in my group knew his work and the performers.

Came to Z Space to see my first ever Noh Play…
Noh theater is an ancient Japanese tradition out of the 14^th century, structured around song and dance. Plots are usually drawn from legend, history, literature and contemporary events. Themes often relate to dreams, supernatural worlds, ghosts and spirits.
Noh traditionally lasts all day… fortunately for us, our Play, This Lingering Life, was only 2.5 hrs (2 hrs for the Play which started 15 min late & had a 15 min intro)
The venue is lovely & modern & there is a small art exhibit outside before entering the theater — the setup of the theater totally reminded me of The Crucible in Oakland — dark w/​high industrial ceilings, bleacher rises with installed plastic-​theater seats
While the Play itself was good & well-​acted, the venue provided little comfort. The seats were extremely hard & afforded very little legroom & when one is stuck there for 2.5 hrs with no intermission, there will be squirming
There were also poor sightlines soon as someone sat in front of you — the Mr & I moved seats when the first group sat in front of us & completely blocked the stage & thought we were okay in our new location, until another tall person sat 2 rows in front of us & partially blocked our view but we could bop & weave around it
Lucky for us, this was not a sold out show so we could move as needed
In thinking if I would come back to Z Space for another performance, the answer would be yes but I would bring a seat cushion & make sure I was far back enough so I could have an unobstructed sightline

What an interesting Venue!!! This was a great place to see an off-​beat show! I’m definitely looking forward to my next show there.

Z Space offers world-​class performances at a totally decent price and casual atmosphere.
Having worked with them professionally a couple years ago, they have a solid staff of smart, dedicated, and talented folks who present artists ranging from those you’ve never heard of to Eddie Izzard to brand new work by local performers.
As a patron ever since, I don’t always know what I’m in for when I attend a show with artists I don’t know or a concept I don’t get, but I trust their capable producers not to put anything onstage that is truly heinous. Even when it’s not my thing or it’s not *quite* there yet artistically, I can see what they were going for and it broadens my horizons.
And the little things: I love that their bar has a decent selection and price, and that they now accept credit cards! You can bring your drinks in with you, and while the seats aren’t super-​plush and you feel a little like you’re walking onto rickety bleachers, it’s that casual atmosphere that makes seeing great art feel accessible to anyone.
As for the venue itself, it’s great to see the building thriving with creative energy. Can you believe this theater (and the building surrounding it) used to be a canning factory? I suppose the industrial crane overhead and the lobby photos from the factory floor in its heyday probably gave it away… but still! Check it out, have some wine, relax and enjoy.

Came to see Liberty Bradford Mitchell in the downstairs theater, it is only 88 seats so all the seats are excellent. They sell drinks and snacks out front, you can bring them into the theater which is really casual for SF. theater. The parking was easy and streets wide and slow in the evening hours so getting to and around the theater is easy. The show, named «The Pornographer’s Daughter» was spellbinding. The small space magnified the intense emotions you are bombarded with. Great show if you are not squeamish about porn, which was portrayed as grossly as most of us feel it is. All in all a really fun and interesting evening.

My first trip to Z Below. Loved the space. Small, intimate, comfortable seats… and not a bad seat in the house. Small bar at the foot of the stairs can get crowded, but its a small price to pay for attentive staff, inexpensive pricing, and cutting edge theater. I’m particularly intrigued with Golden Thread and the understanding they bring to Middle East culture. I’ll be back.

Fantastic space. I’ve only seen one show here but it was excellent. Not a bad seat in the house. Helpful staff (even assisting me back to my seat during the show so I wouldn’t tumble down the stairs in my high heels), bar in the lobby, clean restrooms. and we had no trouble with parking. We will definitely be back.

What a great space to throw a party!
The front room has enough room for a bar, high tables, and an art installation, while the back room is a huge warehouse where you can fit 1,000 of your closest friends, literally.
I especially like the front benches outside of the bathrooms. It’s a good place to chill while you’re waiting for your friends.
When’s the next party, people? I’m so there! :)

Business up front, party in the back.
Just the way I like it.
When I visited Z Space, it had enough room for an Easter egg hunt, a bouncy house, and an art lobby, managing to channel both coziness and roominess, depending on where you stood. Now if only parking wasn’t a bitch…

Went to see a show here the other day, first time here. The lobby is a small little museum of small works and photos. The actual stage is pretty big and had a nice lighting. The seats are fairly comfortable, unlike just sitting at folding chairs in some places.
We were even given a scoop of Birite Ice Cream during the break.

THE VEUNUE– 4*
The theatre itself is large and spacious so a fairly new theatre I guess, converted from a former, old industrial bldg. Nice to have snacks other than «junk food». Parking was super easy on a weekend.
THE SHOW – 1*
However, the show we saw I’d prob give it 1* if that. My man was so irritated, he wants to give them minus stars. We came to see the «Companion Piece». The guy next to me took out a notebook to take notes. Not sure if he’s an instructor or critic. I noticed he fell asleep for at least half of the show. This piece was sooo boring and poor, I seriously wanted to walk out after 10 minutes into it. Not our cup of tea definitely… zzz…