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Last updated on December 5, 2007

The Magic Theatre is a place where emerging and established playwrights engage audiences in a unique experience: the chance to participate in the development of new work that is staged in an intimate, professional setting, and that speaks to contemporary issues with originality and wit, a sense of urgency and adventure.

Description:
The Magic Theatre is a theatre company founded in 1967, presently based at the historic Fort Mason Center on San Francisco's northern waterfront. For forty years, The Magic Theatre has been one of the most prominent theatre companies in the United States solely dedicated to development and production of new plays.

History:
The Magic Theatre originated in 1967 when John Lion, a student of Jan Kott at the University of California, directed a production of Eugène Ionesco's The Lesson at the Steppenwolf Bar in Berkeley. The theatre's name came from a crucial location in Herman Hesse's novel Steppenwolf: ""Anarchist Evening at the Magic Theatre, For Madmen Only, Price of Admission Your Mind".

The Magic's first real success came with plays written by renowned Beat poet Michael McClure, who sustained an eleven-year residency. The theatre reached a turning point when company members wanted to restructure it as a collective. Lion responded by moving the theatre across the bay to San Francisco, where it resided in a series of low-rent venues including another bar, the Rose and Thistle. In 1976 Lion learned of plans to convert a historic military base into an arts center with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge . The idea was to change "swords into plowshares". The Magic became one of Fort Mason's first resident non-profit companies.

Sam Shepard began his long association with the Magic as playwright in residence in 1975. The Magic produced the world premier productions of his Inacoma (1977), Buried Child (1978), Suicide in B-flat, and True West (1980) directed by Robert Woodruff, Fool for Love (1983) and The Late Henry Moss (2000). Buried Child was awarded the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Shepard also developed collaborative pieces with the renowned actor and director Joseph Chaikin.

In 1986 John Lion and the Magic receive the Margo Jones Award, the highest honor given by the Dramatists Guild. The award cited the Magic's "significant contribution to the dramatic art through the production of new plays." John Lion left the Magic in the late 1980s to teach, direct and lecture. He died suddenly on August 1, 1999.

Larry Eilenberg became the Artistic Director in 1992, and was followed by Mame Hunt until 1998. Eilenberg resumed the position for five more seasons, during which time he premiered Charles L. Mee's Summertime and First Love and Moira Buffini's Silence. His Festival of Irish Women Playwrights resulted in the Magic's offering the U.S. premiere of Marie Jones' Stones in His Pockets, before its Broadway run.

Contact people:

Joe Kleiman, Director Of Audience Services, (phone), (email) Becky Chambers, Audience Services Associate, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (415) 441-8001

Address:

Fort Mason Center, Legacy Building D San Francisco, CA 94123 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.magictheatre.org

Directions:

Magic Theatre is located on the third floor of Building D of Fort Mason Center at the intersection of Marina Blvd and Buchanan Street. From the East Bay: Take the Bay Bridge to Fremont Street Exit; on Fremont, take first right on Howard; turn a left on Embarcadero and go 2 miles; turn left on Bay and go 2 miles; turn right on Buchanan. Cross Marina Boulevard and turn sharp right into the Center. From the North Bay: Take Golden Gate Bridge (US 101) to the Marina Exit; Take Marina Boulevard for 1.5 miles to Buchanan and turn left into street entrance of Fort Mason Center. Turn a sharp right into the Center. From the Peninsula/South Bay: Take US 101 North to 9th Street Exit; from 9th Street across Market, turn left on Hayes; turn right on Franklin Street; turn left on Bay Street; turn right on Buchanan Street. Cross Marina Boulevard and sharp right into the Center. From BART: From the Montgomery Street Station, catch Muni Bus #30 Stockton along Third Street or Kearny; exit at corner of Chestnut and Laguna, and walk three blocks down Laguna towards the bay. Fort Mason Center is to your right. Using Muni: Fort Mason Center is accessible using Muni line #28. From the Muni Lines #10, #47 and #49, exit at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Bay Street. Head west along Bay Street and turn a right on Laguna. Fort Mason Center is to your right. From Muni Line #22, exit at Bay Street. Walking east, turn left on Laguna. Fort Mason Center is to your right.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Embarcadero/Fisherman's Wharf (F Line and Hyde St. Cablecar),   Walk distance (in minutes): 15 min   Nearest Bus Stop: Laguna and Marina 28 Line, 4 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

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