This show is SOLD OUT. Tickets may be available at the door night-of.
A big hit with critics and audiences, and following sold out runs in Los Angeles, New York, and Edinburgh Fringe, "Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist" is ready to make its eagerly-awaited San Francisco premiere.
"Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist" stars "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and Instagram celebrity Tom Lenk as Tilda Swinton, a modern day Mary Poppins who finds a depressed gay man on Craigslist and insists on studying and dissecting his life to research her next big movie role.
British Theatre hails: "5-Stars... Clear why it has become such a cult hit… Hilarious, unforgettable performance by Tom Lenk… Quirky comedy tour de force that keeps the audience in fits of laughter.”
Three Weeks Edinburgh says: "5-Stars... A gem of a show that’s downright hysterical, this must be seen to be believed.”
And actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt tweeted: "Hilarious, clever, uplifting... highly recommend."
Other critics say: "Mad comedy genius.” -Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") "Fame and celebrity is brilliantly explored.” -Broadway World NY "Delightful, hilarious, and moving!" -Angela Kinsey ("The Office") “Hysterical… Played to perfection by Tom Lenk.” -Broadway World LA “Run to the theatre.” -Edge Media Network "Hysterically and surprisingly cathartic." - FrontMezzJunkies.com "Hilarious... unforgettable, delightful experience." -StageBuddy.com "Damn funny... drunk on laughter... masterful at comedy." -LavenderAfterDark "Tilda de force... hysterically absurd... grinning ear to ear." -BoyCulture.com
Written by Byron Lane ("Last Will & Testicle"). Directed by Tom DeTrinis ("Bright Colors and Bold Patterns"). Starring: Tom Lenk ("Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "Rock of Ages" on Broadway), Byron Lane ("Last Will & Testicle"), Jayne Entwistle ("Feud: Bette and Joan"), Mark Jude Sullivan ("Pan Am").
"Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist" was originally directed by Tom DeTrinis and presented at Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles in 2017 produced by Jay Marcus, Nathan Frizzell, Tom Lenk, and Tom DeTrinis. $25, All Ages
Don't Say... with Paul and Dave is a comedy podcast in which two old friends (Paul Greenberg & Dave Foley) who also happen to be Canadians offer Americans a respite from, and a guarantee, that this is the one place you won’t hear that most unseemly word, “c*nt”. It’s a 45 minute stream of consciousness journey, peppered with enjoyable music and legal advice from the talented Eban Schletter (an actual lawyer), commentary from their wives (Jackie Harris Greenberg & Crissy Guerrero) and a surprise guest as the icing on the cake. And by surprise, we mean Paul and Dave have no idea who is going to show up! No agenda, no boundaries and no “c” word. Don’t Say… with Paul and Dave. $25, All Ages
SF Sketchfest is thrilled to present an afternoon with acclaimed animator Bill Plympton, who will present a collection of new and classic short films, demonstrate live drawing onstage, and take your questions. After the show, each audience member will have the opportunity to meet Bill Plympton and have him create a complementary original piece of art that you can take home!
Bill Plympton is considered the King of Indie Animation, and is the first person to hand draw an entire animated feature film. Bill moved to New York City in 1968 and began his career creating cartoons for publications such as New York Times, National Lampoon, Playboy and Screw.In 1987, he was nominated for an Oscar® for his animated short Your Face. In 2005, Bill received another Oscar® nomination, this time for his short Guard Dog. Push Comes to Shove won the prestigious Cannes 1991 Palme d'Or; and in 2001, another short film, Eat, won the Grand Prize for Short Films in Cannes Critics' Week.After producing many shorts that appeared on MTV and Spike and Mike's, he turned his talent to feature films. Since 1991, he's made twelve feature films. Eight of them, The Tune, Mondo Plympton, I Married A Strange Person, Mutant Aliens, Hair High, Idiots and Angels, Cheatin', and Revengeance are all animated features.Bill Plympton has also collaborated with Madonna, Kanye West and Weird Al Yankovic in a number of music videos and book projects. In 2006, he received the Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award from The Annie Awards. Co-presented by the Cartoon Art Museum. $25, All Ages
This show has been canceled. Ticket holders will be contacted and automatically refunded.
Actor/Comedian/Writer Ron Funches sits down every week to talk about his life, passions, hobbies, and how he is on a constant journey to better himself. This is "Gettin' Better with Ron Funches"
Ron Funches is a triple threat. He is an excellent stand up comedian, actor and writer. Ron has built an impressive acting resume. Whether it's lending his voice to projects like "Trolls," "Bob's Burgers," and "Adventure Time." Or his memorable acting roles on "The Goldbergs," "Black•ish," "New Girl," "Transparent," "Powerless," and "Undateable." He even made being a gang member likable in the film "Get Hard. "His personal appearances include "Conan," "The Tonight Show," "@midnight," "Chopped," "Cupcake Wars" and many more. Ron is a great writer too. His writing credits include "The Eric Andre Show," "Kroll Show" and several television pilots. Look for Ron's one hour stand up comedy special "Giggle Fit" on Comedy Central coming out in January 2019.
Ron is also a pretty solid dad and friend. He lives in Southern California with his son.
Sit in on an hour long-conversation between host and standup comic, Cameron Esposito, and some of the brightest luminaries in the LGBTQ+ family. QUEERY explores individual stories of identity, personality and the shifting cultural matrix around gender, sexuality and civil rights. Cameron's guest for this live version will be The Kids in the Hall's Scott Thompson. Co-presented by Frameline$35/$25, All Ages
Space: It’s big. Like, really big. These are the misadventures of a group of misfits that accidentally found themselves on the wrong side of a wormhole. Their mission: try not to blow up the galaxy in their attempts to return home. Join us on a voyage to the stars with the wholly unqualified Captain Tucker Lentz (Colton Dunn), scatterbrained scientist Elsa Rankfort (Felicia Day), apathetic technician Stew Merkel (Steve Berg) and the misanthropic A.I. Sorry (Janet Varney). Get a sneak peak at this disastrous space opera before its February debut. The universe will never be the same. $25, All Ages
Audible presents a living, breathing version of the improvised audio comedy Bad Reception, the hilarious story of a truly bizarre town and its zany inhabitants. Join the creators of this Audible Original, Justin Michael and Eric Martin, as they welcome you to the buttery mystery of South Grampers, Northern California with an all-star cast of improvisers. Download and listen to the made-up madness at Audible.com/BadReception.
Featured improvisers and performers: Mary Holland, Lauren Lapkus, Eric Martin, Jessica McKenna, Justin Michael, Zach Reino, Paul F. Tompkins and more!
SF Sketchfest wouldn’t be complete without the WorkJuice Players, and this year is no exception. The cast of perennial favorites will take to the stage, sans scripts, and improvise a show based on monologues by special guest Busy Philipps ("Cougartown," "Freaks & Geeks"). The players have mesmerized audiences around the world and will bring their incredible wit and hilarity to San Francisco for one show only. This is long form improv at its best! $30, All Ages
It’s simple: each author has made up an intentionally awful first chapter to a terrible, nonexistent book. We read them aloud while you sit in the audience and listen, and occasionally clap. Proceeds to benefit 826 Valencia. $25, All Ages
The Birthday Boys are bringing their bizarrely brilliant sketch comedy to SF Sketchfest with a jam packed* show! One of the most accomplished groups to come out of the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Boys have credits ranging from writing for the MTV Movie Awards to starring on Portlandia and everything in between. Their eponymous sketch series, executive produced by Bob Odenkirk, aired for two seasons on IFC and is now available to stream online. With an opening set by the five-time winners of the House Team Tournament at the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica, CA -- Cobranauts! $35/$25, All Ages
This show is SOLD OUT. Tickets may be available at the door night-of.
The Theme Park Improv Show's improvisers take a single suggestion of a theme from the audience, and wing an entire set of fast-paced long-form scenes and characters, based on stories from special guest monologist Tony Hale ("Arrested Development," "VEEP")!
After a streak of sold-out shows, they return to SF Sketchfest with a stellar lineup: Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory"), Michael Hitchcock ("Best in Show"), John Michael Higgins ("Pitch Perfect"), Jessica Makinson ("South Park"), Oscar Nunez ("The Office"), Cole Stratton (Pop My Culture podcast) and Janet Varney ("Stan Against Evil"). This will be a show you won’t soon forget! $35, All Ages
The Allusionist is an award-winning podcast about language and how and why we humans use it the way we do. It's fun. It's informative. It's...funformative? Steady on there with the portmanteaus, please. $30, All Ages
In Uptown Showdown, a unique and quirky spin-off on school debate events, two teams of comedians will square off to argue for and against a hot topic. Debaters will go head-to-head to tackle what will clearly be one of the most important issues of our time: which is better, The Future or The Past? You, the audience, will decide the winner! $35/$25, All Ages
Due to a change in schedule, Drew Droege is no longer appearing. Tom Lenk has been added.
Impro Theatre’s Main Company creates completely improvised, full-length plays in the styles of the world’s greatest playwrights, authors and composers. This special SF Sketchfest show will be a series of totally improvised episodes of "The Twilight Zone!" Featuring Groundling Edi Patterson and more to be announced!
With no pre-planning or prepared scenarios, the performers combine verbal dexterity and robust physicality to bring character and plot to life in an instant, making each Impro Theatre show unique and unlike any other theatrical experience. Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports in 1988, Impro Theatre has evolved from a successful short form improv troupe into a critically acclaimed improvisational theatre company. Impro Theatre’s Main Company has received multiple Critics’ Picks and the Los Angeles Times calls them “Amazing! One of the funniest evenings in town. The troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes.” $25, all ages
This show is SOLD OUT. Tickets may be available at the door night-of.
An all African-American cast of seasoned improv specialists from the world-famous troupe The Groundlings asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then performs the "black version" of that movie. And with experienced and talented performers like Nyima Funk, Daniele Gaither, Phil LaMarr, Gary Anthony Williams, Cedric Yarbrough, and creator Jordan Black in on the fun, audiences are sure to see off-the-cuff comedy at its best. The cast's stellar credits range from "Saturday Night Live" and "Mad TV" to "The Boondocks" and "Reno 911!" $25, All Ages
Join us for a revealing night with Andrea Savage and the real stories behind "I'm Sorry."
To create her acclaimed scripted comedy, Andrea Savage always draws from her real-life experiences. Join Andrea and some special surprise guests for a never before seen show, as she spills the goods on the real stories behind I’m Sorry! With stories, clips, photos and visual aids, Andrea will let you in on all the secrets and break it all down. For the sake of maintaining all of her relationships, no recording allowed! $25, All Ages
