Herbst Theatre

Herbst Theatre is a historic 892-seat performing arts venue housed in the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco’s Civic Center, presenting more than 200 shows per year spanning classical music, jazz, lectures, and theatrical performances. The theatre is wheelchair accessible, with accessible seating located in the orchestra section. Accessible seats are sold at the lowest ticket price for each performance, and an attendant may purchase a ticket at the same price. An elevator provides access across levels, and ADA-compliant restrooms serve the theatre. Drop-off for rideshare services is available at the corner of McAllister and Van Ness Avenue. For hearing-impaired patrons, the theatre offers a limited number of Sennheiser infrared headsets available in the lobby before each performance; these cannot be reserved in advance. An assistive listening system is also confirmed available through San Francisco Performances, which presents regularly at this venue.

The theatre has undergone seismic retrofitting and renovation, including the installation of ADA seating at all levels and ADA-compliant restrooms. The venue references an Access & Assistance page on its official website for patrons requiring additional accommodations. Ticket pricing varies by event and presenter, as the War Memorial manages the facility and individual presenters sell tickets independently; some events are free while others can range considerably in price.

Visitors note that parking in the surrounding Civic Center neighborhood can be challenging, particularly when simultaneous events are taking place at nearby venues such as the War Memorial Opera House and Davies Symphony Hall; pre-planning parking or arriving by public transit or rideshare is widely recommended. The intimate size of the auditorium and its excellent acoustics are frequently praised, making most seats feel close to the stage.