and the potential of San Francisco casinos to host theatre events
(editorial by Harry Richards)*
There’s no denying that San Francisco is a worthwile destination for theatre lovers across the U.S. and from all over the world. Aside from the usual Broadway tours and off-Broadway productions, the city boasts a fantastically vibrant and experimental theatre scene.
Along with traditional venues, Bay area theatre can be found in many alternative locations including store fronts, bars, private clubs and converted garages.
Moreover, San Francisco has a multitude of casinos that have the potential to host their own theatre productions. From the River Rock Casino on Highway 128 East to the Bay 101 Casino on Bering Drive, San Francisco certainly has no shortage of credible gaming establishments. And there’s also the fact that the Colusa Casino is already home to the First Friday Comedy Series; the latest edition will feature Jeff Dye on June 6, 2014.
Staging plays and musicals in Bay Area casinos could only add even more variety to what’s already one of the most dynamic and multifaceted theatre scenes in the U.S.
Even the casino wonderland of Las Vegas (a little less than nine hours east of San Francisco) has displayed an increasing commitment to hosting legitimate theatre productions. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Jersey Boys packs in enthusiastic crowds nightly at Paris Las Vegas. Similarly, the beloved Broadway hit and Tony-nominated Rock of Ages is a surefire crowd pleaser in The Venetian. Created by esteemed writer and comedian Rob Becker, Defending the Caveman is the longest running solo play in Broadway history and plays nightly at The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s.
The gaming industry is thriving in San Francisco in both traditional land based casinos and online gaming enterprises. GSN Games, one of the leading developers of mobile and social casino games in the world today, has a prime location on San Francisco’s Spear Street. The growing popularity of mobile casino games has been nurtured by an increasing number of online gaming enterprises. AlchemyBet, the company behind pocketfruity.com, has rejuvenated classic casino staples like slot machines and roulette tables into interactive mobile games.
For the San Francisco Bay Area, the gaming industry plus the theatre industry is a winning combination.
TheatreStorm 