Phoenix Theatre I

Our 49 seat Main Stage theatre

What a wonderful venue! The seating is so intimate, every seat is a great seat. The show was fantastic and everyone who worked there was so friendly. Will definitely come to see another show.

Erica N.

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Coming Soon!

Phoenix Theatre II

Our 49 seat annex theatre

Small amazing theatre in the theatre district. Super comfy seating, very intimate. Hilarious show and a packed house.

Kate S.

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Coming Soon!

About us

Our Mission
The Phoenix Arts Association Theatre believes in the power of theatre to enrich our lives and our community. We are dedicated to producing theatre that strives for artistic excellence; is affordable and accessible; provides a nurturing environment for new voices to be heard where the plays, artists and audiences reflect the vitality and diversity of our community. We present as many San Francisco and World premiere works as possible by Contemporary Playwrights and occasional classics. We encourage and nurture new work by Bay Area Theatre Artists & Writers. Above all, we are committed to creating theatre that ennobles the strength and beauty of the human spirit.

History
The Phoenix Arts Association Theatre, designated a San Francisco Legacy Business in September 2017, is now approaching its 34th season. Founded in 1985, the Phoenix enjoyed nearly 14 years of vital theatre performing in our South of Market venue until 1988 when we relocated to 653.655 Geary Street. For two and a half years we thrived there; creating a second stage and joined forces with our newly founded West Coast Playwrights Alliance until (due to city retrofit ordinances) we moved to our present home in the historic Native Sons Building in March 2002 where our Theatre I and newly created Theatre II continue to flourish in its history. The Phoenix has housed hundreds of productions, staged readings, and acting and dramatic workshops presented by our own company, as well as those of visiting companies and theatre artists. We have received numerous awards by the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, Dean Goodman Dramalogue Awards, Backstage West as well as critical acclaim from other local and foreign press. We have performed both at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Avignon, France Off Festival and served as a venue for the San Francisco Fringe Festival. A member of the Theatre Bay Area since our inception, and of National New Play Network, the Phoenix has been known as a venue nurturing the production of new work in an ongoing effort dedicated to keeping live theatre alive.

Artistic Director
Linda Ayres-Frederick

A native of Washington D.C., Linda Ayres-Frederick has been a lifelong theatre professional who has served as Founder and Executive Artistic Producing Director of both the Phoenix Arts Association Theatre since its inception in 1985 and of the West Coast Playwrights’ Alliance (WCPA) since 1999.

During her long stage career as an Actress, Director, Producer, and Playwright, she has received considerable acclaim and numerous awards. Twice a Shubert Playwriting Fellow, Linda has seen her plays receive over 30 productions and 50 readings in the SF Bay Area, Washington, D.C., New York, and Alaska. As an actress, she has performed in scores of productions nationally and internationally in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at the Off Festival in Avignon, France, garnering 5 Star Reviews along the way. Throughout her career, Ms. Ayres-Frederick has vehemently supported new play development. A resident playwright with 3 Girls Theatre, Linda is also a member of SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (VP), American Theatre Critics Association, the Dramatists Guild of America, AEA, AFTRA/SAG, and the Monday Night Playwrights, San Francisco’s longest running Playwrighting group. She has written reviews and articles for SF Bay Times, Westside Observer and forallevents.com. and has served on numerous Boards and Committees that have advanced the cultural climate of the San Francisco Bay Area.

A Sarah Lawrence College Graduate, Linda has resided in San Francisco since 1972.

Technical Director
Beth Cockrell
Ty Mckenzie

Phoenix Theatre CALENDAR

Classes

For details on classes, please contact our talented educators

Multi-Ethnic Theatre Presents the World Premiere Workshop Production of

The Umbrella Play

by Linda Ayres-Frederick***
Directed by Julie Dimas Lockfeld

A Light-hearted Comedy about Love, Infidelity, and Dying from the perspective of one particularly Cherished Umbrella!

with LB Ayres**, Raphael Buenaventura, AJ Davenport, John Hurst, Adrienne Krug*, Lisa-Marie Newton**, Shailesh Sivanantham, Michael Sommers**, Juliet Tanner*, Adrienne Villalon

Support Team: Ian Walker, Anastasia Talan, Beth Cockrell, Raphael Buenaventura, Kati Nagy, Paul Seliga, Colin Hussey, Lewis Campbell.

*Member AEA
**Member SAG/AFTRA
***Member Dramatists Guild of America
An Equity Approved Project

Archives

Linda Ayres-Frederick in Clara

Solo Staged Reading Presentation based on her grandmother’s life from the Ukraine to South America and on to the United States in the early 20th century with a recipe for cherry strudel and survival secrets along the way.

The Phoenix Arts Association Theatres

Nestled in San Francisco's vibrant theatre district, our intimate 49-seat venues bring stories to life.

Theatre Address

414 Mason St
Suite 601 & Suite 604
San Francisco Ca. 94102

Mailing Address

138 Carl St.
San Francisco Ca. 94107