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Best Shows in May 2025

April 2025

in San Francisco

June 2025

A Beautiful Noise at Golden Gate Theatre

A Beautiful Noise

Good times never seemed so good, especially with a Neil Diamond musical is heading on tour! A Beautiful Noise is a brand new production about the Grammy Award-winning legend Neil Diamond's life. Tony Award-winning 'Once on This Island' producer Kev Davenport will join forces with Four Season's Bob Gaudio in producing this musical. You'll experience the journey through Diamond's life with some of his memorable hits including 'Love on the Rocks', 'Songs Sung Blue', and of course 'Sweet Caroline' to keep your feet tapping along the way. It'll be an experience like no other!

May 13 - 31, 2025

Golden Gate Theatre

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San Francisco Ballet: Frankenstein at War Memorial Opera House

San Francisco Ballet: Frankenstein

Liam Scarlett's celebrated production of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein returns to San Francisco in March 2025! Scarlett's work has been lauded for its psychological complexities and expressive movement in dance. His first full-length ballet, Frankenstein brings to life the troubled Dr. Frankenstein and his equally tragic Creature, exploring man's desire to create and moving away from its "horror" label.

Max Richter at Fox Theatre Oakland

Max Richter

Unafraid of pushing boundaries by melding classical arrangements with haunting, often eerie electronic soundscapes and rock instrumentation, prolific neo-classical composer Max Richter has written a myriad celebrated works for stage, screen, ballet, opera and installation art. The in-demand music maker hits the road this year after announcing his upcoming album, In A Landscape,'. Fans eagerly anticipating Richter's ninth studio album can look forward to its release on September 6 via Decca.

Comedy of Errors at Toni Rembe Theatre

Comedy of Errors

A firm favorite of Shakespeare's oeuvre, The Comedy of Errors is a colorful confection of chaos full of witty wordplay, frothy farce, and irresistible anarchy. This bubbly comedy will whisk you to a faraway land where the fortunes of two sets of identical twins opens up a world of romance, seductions, brushes with the law and of course, plenty of instances of mistaken identity! Tony-nominee Christina Anderson's update refreshes the jokes while keeping all the timeless charm and is not to be missed!

Parade at Curran Theatre

Parade

Winner of the 2023 Tony for Best Musical Revival, Parade is heading on a North American tour, beginning in January 2025! Following a limited run at New York City Center, the Broadway revival of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Tony-winning 1998 musical based on the true story of Leo Frank, a wrongly convicted Georgia factory owner who was subjected to a fate born out of hatred, hearsay, and hysteria.

May 13 - 31, 2025

Curran Theatre

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Brad Williams at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

Brad Williams

California-born Williams has made a striking mark on the nationwide comedy circuit, as well as having a large fanbase online as a guest on various comedy podcasts and radio shows. First discovered by Carlos Mencia at his live show after noticing him in the audience, the young Williams was invited on stage to contribute to the show, to huge applause. Regularly making references and jokes concerning his dwarfism, Williams displays a brazen attitude towards subjects including disability, relationships, sex, and race, attracting new audiences with every appearance.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

With style that would make the devil jealous, the compelling Nick Cave is one of indie rock's most unique front-men. As the leader of The Bad Seeds, he cuts the figure of a doomed romantic anti-hero, delivering layered narratives with a maniacal fever, yet always enthralling. In a career that has spanned over two decades and myriad studio albums, they continue to perform with the intensity of band half their age, ever-evolving and never disappointing.

Dean Lewis at Regency Ballroom

Dean Lewis

Global music sensation Dean Lewis is set to mesmerize the world once again with the release of his eagerly awaited third studio album, The Epilogue, on Friday, October 18th. Accompanying this monumental announcement, Lewis has also revealed the dates for his new tour. Making stops across the country including Atlanta, Washington, Boston and many more, don't miss your chance to see him live in 2025!

Godspeed You Black Emperor! at Fox Theatre Oakland

Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Formed in 1994 in Montreal, Canada, the band has been highly influential within the post-rock genre. Working with orchestrated arrangements, the nine-piece group created tracks with wide dynamic ranges, a highly evocative use of instrumentation and sounds and uncompromising long form compositions...

Allison Russell at The Fillmore

Allison Russell

The self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist has redefined 21st-century artistry and is a force to be reckoned with. Two solo albums and three Grammy Award nominations later and Alison is back, channeling the rhythm-first, improvisational energy of great female artists everywhere! Not only has Alison carved a legacy for herself in the music industry through soul-stirring music, but she has also used her platform to elevate, educate, and inspire.

May 19, 2025

The Fillmore

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Laurie Berkner at Marines Memorial Theatre

Laurie Berkner

Grab your spookiest costumes, and get ready to celebrate with critically acclaimed musician, and author Laurie Berkner and The Laurie Berkner Band! Featuring hits 'We Are The Dinosaurs', and 'Pig On Her Head', alongside other jams! There's no doubt this event is going to be spectacular, so make sure you don't miss out!

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers in Concert at Davies Symphony Hall

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers in Concert

The second tale of J. R. R. Tolkien's epic trilogy plays out in breathtaking style with The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in Concert. Witness Peter Jackson's legendary movie adaptation on a big screen, with a full orchestra performing Howard Shore's award-winning soundtrack in real time to picture. With the battle for Middle-Earth reaching an absolute fever pitch in this second instalment, hearing the pounding Uruk drums, monumental battlefield music and enchanting soundscapes of the Elven realms performed completely live will transport the audience to Arda like never before.

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