Printed maps will be available at the festival.
2 - Rock Circle
3 - Stone Stage
4 - Waterfall Stage
5 - The Forum
6 - Screening Room
7 - Action Theatre
8 - Yerba Buena Room
9 - SOMA Room
10 - Goldman Hall
11 - CJM Classroom
12 - Jesse Square
13 - MoAD 2
14 - MoAD 3
15 - Zeum Theater
16 - Zeum Amphitheater
17 - Zeum Circle
Before the festival, check out your space:
For all outdoor venues, we strongly suggest that you look at the online map and visit your venues before the festival to check them out. For all indoor venues, there is no opportunity to visit these sites before the festival. All venues are described at the end of this document.
Where to go? When to arrive? Free lunch?
Be sure to arrive at least one hour before your performance time slot. Once you arrive at Yerba Buena Gardens, the first thing you should do is have your equipment dropped off at one of the loading areas (see below). If you have no equipment, even better. Proceed to the San Francisco Theater Festival’s Information table that will be centrally located in the Esplanade. Check in with our staff. They will give you a lunch ticket. If you bypass this step, we will all begin to worry, so make sure you check in! If you have time before your performance, head over to the Green Room (under the MLK Waterfall) and have lunch and hang out with other performers (if you don’t have time, don’t worry, you can eat after your performance). Please be at your venue at least 45 minutes before your time slot and check in with the Stage Manager. Let him or her know if you have any equipment you’ll be setting up. A map of the gardens follows at the end of this document.
Time constraints:
There is normally less than five (5) minutes for one group to strike and another to set-up for their performance; plan appropriately and be realistic about how much can be set-up in that time. The idea of the festival is to keep performances going all day long without many gaps on the stages. Plus it never feels good to bring in a large set-up, only to realize that it was too ambitious.
General technical note:
A master technical script needs to be created for the Forum, Screening Room, Action Theater, and Zeum. If you are performing in one of these venues, send us your technical requirements so that we may incorporate them into a document for the venue technicians. Include specific equipment, chairs, cues, media, diagrams, etc. It does not need to be written in a script, but a description that is easily understood will work. This must be submitted to the production manager kelli@sftheaterfestival.org by June 24th. Please see below for available equipment.
Audio:
Outdoor: all outdoor venues require that each performer bring in their own portable boom-box. Most outdoor venues have a power hook-up, however, check the venue section at the end of the document to confirm that your space does have power. If it does not, we recommend that you bring a battery-operated boom box.
Indoor: four (4) indoor venues have audio capabilities: The Forum, Screening Room, Action Theater, and Zeum. If you are planning on bringing in CDs or any other type of audio, or if you need hand held mics, please let us know the quantity. All other indoor venues have power hookups for boom boxes.
Visuals:
If you are planning on projecting images (Screening room and Action Theater only), it is recommended that you have the images on a laptop computer that is equipped with a VGA connector. You should also provide an operator for the computer. A DVD may also work in some cases, but keep in mind that some DVD players will not play DVDs that were personally produced. If you are planning on projecting images, please let us know your media format.
Lighting:
We provide a general wash for the indoor venues. There are four Venues with more control of lighting cues: The Forum, Screening Room, Action Theater, and Zeum. In these spaces, we cannot guarantee special effect lighting, but the venue technicians will work with you to get the look you are going for. Let us know what, if any, lighting cues you require. Metreon venues 2-5 have “full on” capabilities only. Outdoor venues have great natural lighting.
Backstage areas:
Most venues--indoor and outdoor--do not have backstage areas. Please plan ahead for this. The two venues that do have traditional backstage areas are: The Forum and Zeum. The Action Theater has a backstage hallway that can be used as a backstage area. Most outdoor venues will have 8’ high black boards up as a backdrop. Most of the areas behind the boards can be used as a backstage, however, since it is outdoors, these areas can be seen from parts of the gardens.
Dressing Rooms:
Performers in the outdoor venues can use the dressing rooms inside the Green Room. The Forum, Screening Room, and Zeum have traditional Dressing Rooms. For Metreon, there is a communal dressing area for venues 1-4. The SOMA room will have a changing area behind pipe and drape to the side of the performing area. Keep in mind that all dressing rooms are shared will other performers throughout the day. Be courteous of others preparing to perform. Once you have performed, please leave the dressing room in the condition you found it in, as other performers will need the space.
Stage Managers:
A stage manager is assigned to each venue for the day. Once you arrive at your venue, your stage manager will be your main contact for the festival.
Loading Zones:
There are two loading zones for dropping off or picking up equipment. Parking is not permitted at these zones. These zones are curb cutouts just off the street. The map at the end of this document indicates these zones.
Loading Zone 1: is on the North side of Howard Street between 3rd and 4th before reaching the Moscone North loading driveway (it is close to 3rd street).
Loading Zone 2: is on The South side of Mission Street, midway between 3rd and 4th.
Information Tables:
Every performing Arts group is guaranteed a half table to set up literature, information, mailing list, etc. The information tables are arranged in the Esplanade. Please remember that selling of any items is prohibited at the festival.
General recommendations:
This is very much an outdoor festival, so be prepared for the elements, i.e. hat, comfortable clothing, plenty of sunscreen and water, etc.
2009 Festival Venues
Stone Stage (Outdoor)
The Stone Stage is a 3/4 round stage, approximately 15ft x 15ft performance space. Intimate stage, high visibility, centrally located. There will be NO amplification at this venue. You may bring your own boom box, power is available.
Waterfall Stage (Outdoor)
The Waterfall Stage is our main stage, and is located in front of the Garden's main waterfall (which will be shut off during the festival!). The stage is 12ft x 16ft on a 1ft platform, high visibility, centrally located. There is NO amplification at this venue. You may bring your own boom box, power is available.
Rock Circle (Outdoor)
The Rock Circle provides an organic environment in or around which you may perform. It is an actual rock garden, so you have the option of performing amongst the rocks, or on the grass in front. There will be NO amplification at this venue. You may bring your own boom box, power is available.
East Garden (Outdoor)
The East Garden is a natural theater setting with tiered audience seating and a large performance space. Nestled behind the Forum, facing 3rd Street, this venue is located near water fountains which will be off during the festival to eliminate unwanted noise. There will be NO amplification at this venue. You may bring your own boom box, power is available.
Zeum Amphitheater (Outdoor)
The Zeum Amphitheater is located outside of the Zeum with a small wood stage (8x8ft). There is NO amplification at this venue. Power is NOT available. Please bring your own battery operated boom box if necessary.
Zeum Circle (Outdoor)
The Zeum Circle is a concrete space for performance in the round. It is located outside of the Zeum. There is NO amplification at this venue. You may bring your own boom box, power is available.
Zeum (Indoor)
Zeum is an intimate indoor theater with a small stage and 180 seats. There will be an in-house technician all day. Performers in this venue will have NO SOUND CHECK, as the venue is unavailable before the festival for sound check.
Forum (Indoor)
The Forum is our indoor black box located in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The stage measures 18ft x 24ft. Piano is not located on stage, but next to it on the ground level. Hand held wired microphones are available. There will be an in-house technician all day. Performers in this venue will have NO SOUND CHECK, as the venue is unavailable before the festival for sound check. Performers must enter the YBCA facility through the Stage Door at 130 Third Street to gain backstage access (between Mission and Howard on 3rd). The Forum theater seats 300+. Please visit http://www.ybca.org/facility/forum/ for pictures and more information.
Screening Room (Indoor)
Located on the second floor of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Screening Room is an intimate 90 seat performance space. General stage lighting, projection, and sound will be available. No backstage area. Performers must enter the YBCA facility through the Stage Door at 130 Third Street to gain backstage access (between Mission and Howard on 3rd). Please visit http://www.ybca.org/facility/screeningroom/ for pictures and more information.
Metreon 1 - Action Theater (Indoor)
Located on the second floor of Metreon (just up the escalator from Starbucks). General lighting, projection, and a sound system will be available. There will be an in-house technician all day. The performing area measures 30’ x 7’. Performers in this venue will have NO SOUND CHECK, as the venue is unavailable before the festival for sound check. A hallway provides a backstage area. The Action Theater seats 150-200. Diagram follows.
Metreon 2 - Yerba Buena Room (Indoor)
Located on the second floor of Metreon (just up the escalator from Starbucks). There is limited lighting capabilities and no amplification at this venue. Power is available. No backstage area. Metreon 2 seats 150. Diagram follows.
Metreon 3 - SOMA room (Indoor)
Located on the second floor of the Metreon at the South side of the building. There is limited lighting capabilities and no amplification at this venue. Power is available. Changing area behind pipe and drape next to stage. No backstage area. Seats 100. Diagram follows.
