The Speakeasy SF

Fabulous fun! Granted this was my first interactive theater experience so I do not have a comparison. Therefore, everything exceeded my expectations! From the singing, the drama, strong drinks and the acting, you will be constantly entertained and not disappointed. By the way, come in costume or else feel like a dud!
The only downside was how crowded and hot it could become and that you couldn’t cash your chips in like a real casino ;P.
My group bought our tickets separately and thus had instructions to enter the Clock Shop from different areas. If you want to stick together from the beginning, purchase your tickets in one batch. Otherwise have fun comparing and piecing together notes and stories throughout the night!

Went to the show on 5÷6÷14. Great experience. Loved every minute.
To warn: my companions had been to Sleep No More in NYC, and were expecting The Speakeasy to be a bit more like that. From what I hear, this is on a much smaller scale. To me that’s a good thing: you’ll see more of the show instead of coming away knowing that you missed 90% of it. In fact, I could have stayed in the cabaret room the whole night and been totally content.
Go while you still can! And be sure to get in costume.

I have to urge you to experience this interactive theatre at least once.
I enjoyed:
— The secretive element of it all, meeting at one place and given paper directions to the next, complete with pass codes
— Dressing up and trying to get as close to historically accurate
— Being transported for a night
–The front room performances (jokes, girls dancing, and the playing off the audience)
–being amidst dialogues between characters
— the little nook where you become purely an observer and see/​hear the interactions between characters in their dressing room
— the last room that opens up to a bar, lounge complete with a singer and pianist.
–THE ACTORS were amazing. without a doubt.
Exploring: we opened what looked like a closet and crouched down to see that we could now enter «Joe’s Clock Shop» abandoned and a secret we felt like we were the only ones that discovered it.
Some possible minor cons:
— The spaces were cramped, compared to the amount of people, we had squeeze by when transitioning from room to room. But again I liked that it was alive
— The mixed drinks were not good. To put it simply. My two friends decided to be adventurous at first, but ended up nursing the wine i ordered because either it tasted like straight alcohol or was overly-​sweetened. Stick to the wine
–The area is not the best at night, if you’re leaving late, have a buddy with you and you’ll feel more secure
Besides that, Id say have fun with it, I went in with near no expectations and was blown away. Dress up, and experience it, don’t read too many reviews dont spoil it for yourself.
OUTFIT IDEAS
My Tips for ladies dressing up: Go Thrifting for a cheap boxy or dropwaisted dress with embellishments like beading, pearls etc. The size doesn’t matter I got a dress way too large and it was perfectly fine, shapeless dresses are perfect. Nude tights are great, dance shoes or t-​straps (I got some at a thrift store for $ 5. Cheap pearls (available at Michaels) Faux, or real! Fur coats.
I got an amazing long cigarette holder on amazon for $ 15. Probably my favorite purchase in the last month.
Makeup in a nutshell: vampy lips, smoky eyes, and pale skin. heres a helpful youtube tutorial:
Have fun!

I’m absolutely addicted to interactive theatre experiences and even kickstarted this Boxcar Theatre endeavor when it popped up on my FB many moons ago. I’ve been looking forward to checking out The Speakeasy since I got their email at the beginning of the year, and even bought a plane ticket specifically to go to this little shindig.
So with all those disclaimers out of the way…
Their last performances are in June (special deals for Wed night), so give yourself this little indie theatre treat before they leave the building. If you think you’re familiar with this type of experience, you’ll be surprised. I was.
This is a much smaller and more intimate production than Temple Studios’ shows like Speak No More. So comparisons are unwarranted. You’re also not a masked figure here. The characters can see you. So it’s not trying to be the same thing at all.
So here’s what I got: 8 PM tickets with assigned table seating, one bag of poker chips, and two slots for the after-​party. All totally worth it.
8 PM entry was perfect. All patrons are actually expected to enjoy the cabaret for a set amount of time before the «show» truly begins and you’re led into the other rooms. Since you can’t really wander until the cabaret completes, 8 PM gives you time to sample the stage show, enjoy a few drinks, and get yourself situated into the pageantry of it all.
**Note: Your ticket time changes where you actually enter. 8 PM patrons go through a different door than earlier patrons. It’s a very nice touch on their part to have multiple points of entry.
They stagger individual parties when giving directions from the start point. I appreciate this, so you don’t just end up following one another. It’s actually a little adventure in and of itself just trying to find the speakeasy in the first place. So the atmosphere is being built up even before you arrive. When we first questioned a certain individual on where to go, there were actually quite a few other patrons dressed up and mulling around (to the interest of many passer-by’s), waiting for their opportunity to ask for the same help. So don’t wait for someone to walk up to you, they won’t. You’ll have to take initiative.
In response to some reviews:
— Yes. The drinks all taste the same and are borderline unpalatable. Consider that most illegal alcohol was bathtub gin and moonshine, and you’ll begin to appreciate the rather authentic experience, haha. Though kudos to the bartender for whipping up a few concoctions «more suitable for a lady.»
— Yes, the cabaret show is cheesy and irritating. I honestly think that’s because in this created world, the speakeasy is run by a sleazy proprietor who dominates his passive female stage girls, conceals a dirty casino in a back room, and could care less about your «good time». It makes sense to the context of the story that these aren’t first-​rate acts.
Definitely stay for the after-​party, if only for an hour. Though it was so much fun, we ended up staying till they kicked us out… Not only will it give you a deeper appreciation for what goes into this show, you’ll also get a chance to mingle with the actors and staff (more than 80 people make this show happen each night), have many of your curiosities answered, see the scenery in a different light, and take pictures inside. So dress to the 10s.
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My suggestions to the production should they decide to apply this concept elsewhere in the future:
1) Slow motion during particular soliloquies was a nice touch. However, not all actors were doing their part to maintain this effect, and it was lost to more than a few people. The bartender (and casino dealers, etc) should also be affected. You can time it so he’s speaking with a particular character before another’s monologue starts up. If he’s taking an order or conversing with a patron, have another actor interrupt the exchange and get his attention.
2) What you need for the next production are speakers linked with microphones on the actors. Definitely get a good sound engineer. That way, their voices penetrate into the room and are audible to even the casual listener. Even after putting a spotlight on the characters and gathering the audience’s attention, lots of dialogue was lost to the crowd many times. For me in the lounge area, even while seated on the chaise, it was difficult to deliberately listen to the conversation happening at the bistro table directly adjacent.
3) Lastly, I know that many of you have clown and improv schooling. Still, given the direct face-​to-​face interaction, this is the type of show that requires an actor to be on their toes all night. And a few of you need to work on how to gracefully flub lines. When you respond to a verbal stumble by correcting yourself, you draw the more discerning patrons out of this carefully constructed fairytale. Don’t worry about repeating your lines the same every time. It’s about effectively getting your character’s point across. Sell that and you’re set.

I’ve visited «Joe’s Clock Shop» twice and had an enjoyable experience each time. Both visits were (slightly) different, and I picked up on much more of the story plot the second time around. However, it’s an entirely different vibe and atmosphere than NYC’s Sleep No More. Aside from following actors around (in a much more compact space) there is no comparison really. Don’t expect the same type of experience as Sleep No More.
The storyline throughout the night is a bit, err-​uhh… mehh. I guess it’s subjective, but I’ll speak on the positives that was enjoyed by all in our group:
A+ for creating an excellent «speakeasy atmosphere» paired with everyone dressed to the nine’s. The dress code is taken very serious.
B+ for the gambling area (even though it’s not real money and the dealers lack personality – still fun).
A– for the crazy-​strong drinks. They are humorous when you ask what type of booze/​wine/​beer is actually in your drink. (Mystery never solved and that’s A-​ok).
B for the actors/​actresses interacting with you and making you feel part of the story. My second time around I was approached a lot and felt much more a part of the story than the first time.
A+ for the effort in offering a unique San Francisco experience that is fun to attend with a group of friends.
Overall the storyline can be a bit agitating and dark at points… and some of the singing/​dancing/​choreography could be polished up a notch, but overall it’s definitely worth checking out and can be as fun as you make it.

Now I know that I’ll get a lot of people in trouble with this here review, but I’ve got a voice and I need to use it.
I get my kicks at this speakeasy, you hear? And I’m not afraid to tell the world: it’s the most happenest place to be.
They’ve got stiff drinks, plenty of talent on the stage and a nice little room where you can make some extra dough, if you know what I mean… ;)
Sure, the drama’s high and some of the characters are a little shady, but hey, when you ain’t got much going on in a dry town, good whiskey and questionable conversation is doin’ alright.
Nevertheless, make sure to get all dolled up and head on down to…
…
…
…come to think of if, maybe I’m not gonna get yous in trouble after all…
The Speakeasy is a roaming production and while Joe’s Clock Shop was the storefront for a long time, you’ll need special instructions to get in.
Heck, you’re gonna need a password to even find Joe’s.
And yeah, good luck finding *that* guy…

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I dunno what’s going on here; all these people talking about drinking and gambling and fast women have got it wrong. This is Joe’s Clock Shop, and as far as I know Joe makes and repairs fine clocks, nothing more. He fixed up my old pocketwatch just last night. Joe happens to be a pal of mine and I can’t let folks go around besmirching his good name like this.
It’s true you don’t see many clock shops that stay open all night, but that just proves what a dedicated businessman Joe is. And it’s true you see a lot of stylishly dressed people coming in and out of his establishment in the wee hours, but that’s just because he attracts a high-​class clientele. Some of the neighbors have complained about about noise and music, but I ask you, is it a crime if a working man plays some music to pass the time?
Now I’ve also heard that there’s a lot of rowdy behavior that tends to happen in this neighborhood, and there are rumors of some illegal gin-​dealing and gambling and what have you. It wouldn’t surprise me if you could stumble on some kind of blind tiger joint if you asked the right people. But I wouldn’t know anything about all that. And I’m sure Joe doesn’t either.
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…all right, fun times aside, maybe you’re wondering why I’m giving this gig «only» three stars when most other folks here are opting for five-​star raves. Well, I was as excited to visit Black Box’s little experiment as anyone. And, all told, I would recommend that anyone who thinks it sounds like fun ought to look into it. But at the same time, I can’t pretend that this neat idea doesn’t have a troubled execution.
To get in you’ve got to meet up with an informant a few blocks away, who gives you directions after you give him the password, provided to you ahead of time. Sounds fun, right? A great way to get everyone in the spirit of things. We were told to show up at the prescribed spot at «exactly» ten till the hour and to wait until the coast was clear before approaching. I assumed this was to prevent a line from forming and spoiling the illusion. Well, apparently it didn’t work because there was a huge, milling crowd of people very obviously dressed for the show. It took quite a while before the tipster was available, and when I gamely played along and gave him the password he snapped at us, telling us he was busy and would take care of us shortly. So now I felt like an asshole, and the fun atmosphere of the gimmick was spoiled a bit.
We ended up waiting around until everyone else had gone (I certainly wasn’t going to bother him again, and even if I had what would I say? I’d have felt like a dick giving him the password a second time). Matter of fact, our assigned informant never did get back to us, and eventually one of the other guys noticed we’d been left hanging and took pity on us. He helped us out, but to be honest he was rather terse and snippy too. I couldn’t tell if these guys were playing some kind of role or if they were just genuinely short-​tempered, but it was an uncomfortable way to start the evening.
The clock shop thing is a nice setup and the interior of the place looks pretty good. I’d love to just hang around the set for a while if I had the opportunity. But right away we ran into another problem: They’re very particular that you try not to talk or disrupt the show as it goes on, which makes sense. But there aren’t nearly enough seats in the bar to accommodate all the of the actors and the audience, and if you’re not lucky enough to snag one you’re left just kind of hanging out awkwardly around the perimeter. No matter where you go you’re bound to be in somebody’s way. And here’s the thing: There was no one we could ask where to go or what to do. We didn’t dare talk to the actors and the few non-​performer staffers were pretty busy.
At times I would want to move around to follow certain characters, but there was simply no space. There are several rooms behind the bar that audience members are free to explore, but it’s not immediately obvious where you’re allowed to go and no way to tell who you’re allowed to ask. For the record, the cast members and staffers were all very polite on the rare occasions they did acknowledge us. Only the guys outside were jerks. But if the audience can’t have carte blanche to get in on the action then maybe it’s best to assign them to their own designated section. That’s how the backroom cabaret works, and it’s noticeably more comfortable both for the audience and the performers.
Now, there’s plenty of fun to be hard here too. It’s hard to talk about the good stuff because that would mean spoiling the nuances, but I echo my previous statement that anyone who likes the sound of it should certainly explore it while it lasts. But I also feel obligated to point out that, while I considered going a second time to catch a few things I missed last night, the cagey attitude that hangs over the whole things will probably keep me away.

Our party of four came with high expectations, as this experience was highly recommended by a close friend. Couple that with the mostly great reviews on Unilocal,and we were excited! We dressed in period clothing and we looked fantastic. :-)
Our show time was 9:00pm. The best part of the whole evening was the fun of tracking down the man with the yellow umbrella and giving our password. We were the first in our group to check in, promptly at 9pm as directed. We then proceeded to wait nearly 30 minutes in an alley with no direction. Finally, someone came by and said «What? You gonna sit out here all night?!» When he realized no one had given us any direction, he was embarassed.
Here’s our synopsis:
— Don’t buy the 9pm tickets. At that hour, they have you enter through an alley instead of the clock shop. I think it would have been much more authentic had we entered through the clock shop.
— The drinks are beyond horrible, sans the Guinness, unless you love whiskey. Had they simply had a better bar menu, we might’ve been able to stomach the rest of the evening.
— The acting was at high school level, which got annoying quickly
— There was no real plot to follow, so it never really captured our attention/​interest
— The room with the gambling was so tiny and so crowded, it wasn’t even possible to walk inside let alone pull up to a table.
Overall, it was a waste of our money and time. We ended up walking out of the show after about an hour and a half …

This show is AMAZING! If your looking for a few hour get away or just want to go back to the 20s this is the place. The acting makes you feel like you’re really there! Just make sure to «speakeasy».

My friends and I were VERY surprised by the atmosphere, high production value and character of The Speakeasy. Imagine living in the 1920’s during prohibition and being one of the lucky few to know someone who knows someone who can get you into a place to drink illegal alcohol, gamble and see some sexy showgirls. I was confused at first, but then I just got it. Walk around and explore. There are side conversations, hidden rooms, drama between the characters, etc.
The only thing that ruined the experience was some of the guests didn’t dress up in period clothing. There were a couple people in t-​shirts and jeans, one guy wore a polo shirt, another had a nice suit, but wore sneakers. Not good. If you go, wear 1920’s attire.
Come see it, you will not be disappointed.

BOOK IT NOW! This is an experience unmatched by anything else. I was tantalized, jaw-​dropped, and engaged in every magical moment. They really kept in mind all the details. And, you should be dressed accordingly. I cannot even describe this experience — you are truly transported back to the 1920’s in a theatrical performance AND activity room (i.e. poker games). You’re free to move about the venue after watching the initial performance. You don’t know who is a character and who isn’t, and it all ties together really well!
While I’m sad that I don’t have any pictures from the evening, it wouldn’t have been the same had there been any hint of technology.
The Biz Times says it best: «the club’s staff of 35 servers, bartenders and performers are all actors, strategically scattered throughout each of the club’s rooms to bring the place to life through carefully crafted story lines of The Speakeasy. They include floozies and bootleggers, degenerate gamblers and war veterans troubled by the past.»

A true fantasy,
Transported to the twenties,
Best night of the year.
(GO SEE IT NOW!!!0

This show was amazing! You leave feeling like you were part of the show itself and actually learning a lot about the 1920s era. It is a very unique and fantastic experience and everyone on the team played their roles SO WELL. Very impressed with everyones performance and being able to play their parts for a good three hours! It must be so hard to do when the circumstances and people around you are different every night. All the actors and actresses were perfect for their roles and you really become immersed in each character’s emotions and story lines.
I wouldn’t recommend going to the show on a first date since there are so many things happening but with a small group of friends, it’s a delightful experience.
Definitely dress up in the 1920s era– ladies, wear something flapper girl-​ish (head-​bands, feathers, vintage dresses, and red lipstick) and men shouldn’t be afraid to wear a suit, a bow tie, and even a bowler hat. It definitely enhances the overal experience of the night for everyone there. Make sure to be on time and head over as soon as you can so you can get a seat to watch the first third of the show.
You could order drinks throughout the night and there were also non-​alcoholic drinks like ginger beer and sarsaparilla. Plus, there was a room where you could play Blackjack and Craps. You were given a coin before entering the building and you could exchange it for a purple bag of tokens to play. It was great being able to watch the show and take a break and play a few light-​hearted games (not for real money).
There are a lot of things happening around you and the whole time you should be whispering and not talking very loud at all– otherwise, you will be hushed.
The songs were all great and by the end of the night, everyone was singing along to the last number. Again, the team is talented and very engaging and I would highly recommend this show to anyone.

The Speakeasy was interesting and worth doing but here were my issues with it:
–The man guarding the door all night was rude and acted annoyed with everyone who didn’t know what they were supposed to do… which was most of us.
–We were sat in the main room to start where they had an hour long «play» that had no plot. We had to sit there watching the actors all around us and we couldn’t move. I hadn’t realized that it would be 90% show.
–The cocktail menu was just a brief summary of ingredients, so I got a drink with Campari, even though I hate Campari.
–The guests costumes were better than the actors.
–The actors weren’t all that good.
–The gambling was so cramped and busy that it was very hard to partake.
–I got yelled at when I wandered around.
Here’s what I liked:
–Most guests were dressed up.
–The comedians were funny.
–The 5 minutes of dancing was awesome.

What a great show — it’s a very unique experience. The décor and theming is top-​notch, they’ve done a terrific job with it.
Definitely dress up, many in the audience had the 1920s look and it added to the ambiance (and made it hard to tell the actors from the audience at times, which adds to the immersive nature of the performance).
It would be a fun place to hang out in simply to hang out in, but the fact that a show is unfolding around you really kicks it up a notch.
It may be impossible to see the resolution of every storyline in a single evening as it takes place in different rooms and you can follow actors or stay put, or do a little of both. On the other hand, it certainly makes me want to go back and see it again at some point.
Tip: Choose an early entry time.

My actress daughter and I went to last night’s show. She had seen «Sleep No More» in NYC and found similarities, although Speakeasy’s venue is considerably more compact. The experience was not as I had expected, and certainly not your usual SF theater evening. To fully enjoy your show, and I do recommend that you go, follow the instructions carefully. Dress as requested but don’t feel you have to over-​do it. You want to be part of the staging. Do explore the various venues as the many story lines play out across the rooms. If you take a liking to one in particular, follow the actors. I won’t say more about the show itself as it would spoil the discovery that is so much a part of the evening. Be prepared for drama, comedy, singing, dancing, decent drinks, and great fun.
The show runs long and the rooms are warm, but don’t let that keep you from the after-​show party. The group is talented, delightful, interesting, and engaging. Speakeasy has been extended which is an indication of the quality of the production and the fun you will have.

Such a unique, amazing, exciting experience. This was one of the best shows/​parties I have been to! Make sure to reserve a cabaret table, and afterhours passes to afterparty. Also, make sure to dress 1920’s attire; you’ll feel silly if you don’t!
I can’t wait to go back again to see more of things I may have missed the first time around! SO MUCH FUN!

This was a fun experience and I do recommend it for anyone who enjoys a night of cocktails, live performances, and «people watching.» Although I keep hearing comparisons to Sleep No More in New York, I don’t think the two fall in the same category. It is an immersive theater experience but to me it was more similar to being at the Charles Dickens Christmas Fair because there was not overarching story line. It is more along the lines of experiencing the era rather than watching play unfold.
Tips:
+Dress up in 1920s attire; it’s fun and adds to the experience!
+Explore and move around everywhere you can except the areas marked «Staff Only» or «Reserved»
+Buy tickets to the after party to mingle with the actors and actresses. They are such interesting characters :)
+Don’t be afraid to split up, in fact, it’s more fun to go separate ways and compare notes later.
+I enjoyed having a guaranteed table at the cabaret but it looked like there were always open seats.
+Although the casino area is fun, I would recommend hanging out there only if an performers are in there or if you really love casino games that much.
+The ticketing system is a bit wonky. If it shows 2 tickets available for each entry time, it does not mean there are 2 tickets available for each time slot, it means there are 2 tickets left total and you can only choose the times still available.
+The production was said to run only until the end of March but they have been extended until end of May :)
Quick and easy wardrobe and styling suggestions:
LADIES:
Head bands
Feathers, flowers, brooches and pins
Red lipstick
smokey eyes
pin curls and victory curls
Cloche hats
Vintage or vintage style dresses from thrift shops or Forever 21
GENTS:
Suspenders
Flat cap
Trilby/​Fedora/​Homburg
Newsboy cap
Bowler Hat
Suit

This is like no other theater experience I’ve ever had. Very, very cool.
I don’t want to give too much away, but be prepared to be thoroughly entertained in a time machine with a bunch of other theater-​goers.
Do dress as they recommend (this really will enhance the experience for everyone).
Do be prompt.
Do order one of their suggested cocktails.
Do «gamble».
Do explore ALL the rooms of the experience.
Do note some parallels with some of today’s social issues.
Do chat a few people up.
Do speak easy.
Don’t expect to experience the exact same story as a friend who has already gone or even someone else who is there the same night as you. For me, it was about the experience more than the story.
I think this will sell out quickly once word gets around so my advice is to snap up tickets quickly. I’ll be going again and taking some friend with me.

We Attended the second day showing for the performance of The Speakeasy at the Box Car Theatre.
It was a wonderful Christmas gift from my wife. The performance is very interactive and unique in that it draws the audience into the illicit behavior of the 1920 era’s backroom saloons (think of Great Gatsby etc).
You will be notified via text to arrive at a certain place and time with a secret password. Once you find your contact at that location you exchange information and given a location and another password to enter the establishment.
This is where the fun begins.
The outside of the place has something to be desired of but that is part of the whole appeal. You knock on the door and give the person the password to enter. Once inside the «performances» take place in several locations. The main «stage» has a combination of singing and dancing, as well as, vaudeville acts from that era. The second part of the location contains a «hidden» casino with a roulette, craps, and blackjack tables. The back of the place has a small room which you can view events happening in the changing room and a bar/​performance/​sitting area.
Performers will be interacting in front and all around you. It’s a wonderful idea and concept because you become immersed in the various story lines.
We reserved a table in the front and watched a show with some wonderful singing, dance numbers, and comedy routines. You may not recognize most of the songs from that time but as the night progresses you will eventually find a few nuggets that you will easily recall hearing from an old movie or television show. I enjoyed listening to all of them and especially enjoyed the rendition of «We have no Banana’s Today.» I don’t believe you could even create or sing that song nowadays as it would offend just about the whole ethnic makeup of SF but the tongue and cheek performance was absolutely marvelous!
We then moved to the back where we went to the «casino» room. I literally blew everything on black and when the ball landed on red we made our way out to the back room. The backroom contains a small stage with a piano, bar, and sitting room. In the sitting room actors will be having conversations with each other and making performances on the small stage. This is happening the same time performances are occurring in the front of the place on the main stage.
Keep in mind that so much is happening around you that you can not possibly see and experience everything. That’s part of the appeal of the show is that each person sees things differently and not everybody catches the whole storyline. I will not give too much away other than it was a wonderful evening and something I would highly recommend to others. Several people left before the ending number but I recommend to stay to the last minute as it is a fun closing and if you are lucky enough to get invited to the «after party» to attend.
I would suggest coming to the show in period attire as it helps create the mood of what you are about to see and experience. The performance is about your experience in one night at an actual speakeasy. It is presented in a way that draws you into that era of dancing girls, booze and all.