A Brief History of Presentation TheaterThe 478-seat recently renovated theater at USF's School of Education was
previously known as the Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Theater,
Presentation Theater and, prior to that, the Little Theater. In 2002,
the University of San Francisco once again renamed it University of San
Francisco Presentation Theater.
The School of Education Building was constructed in 1930 on land
purchased by the Sisters of Mercy in the early 1800s. It was later
purchased by the Sisters of Presentation, whose two city convents had
been destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Here, the Sisters, headed by
Mother M. Reginald Leahy, opened the Academy of the Presentation (later
known as Presentation High School) in 1930.
The facilities were designed by architect Edward Eames and built by
contractor J.A. Bryant. Based on Mother Reginald's belief that a school
"should also be a friendly place for young women" she chose Tudor Gothic
architecture because it lent itself to "handsome massing of the
different elements of the building the beautiful garden, the classroom
area, the Little Theater, the gym."
The Little Theater was built in the Adam manner, named after Robert
Adam, an eighteenth-century Scottish architect who made a special study
of Greco-Roman architecture and decoration. This style is particularly
prominent in the ornamental plasterwork around the proscenium arch and
around the stage. Several motifs in the plasterwork show the influence
of Greece and Rome: urns, cameos, winged sphinxes and flowers in the
Corinthian style. In the center of the proscenium are the three graces.
Adam believed the audience should be near the performance, so the seats
in the Little Theater were positioned "for the greatest visibility."
Presentation Theater is probably best known as the home of the
Lamplighters Music Theatre, beloved performers of Gilbert and Sullivan
operettas. In 1968, they moved to Presentation Theater from the Harding
Theater where they had performed without interruption since 1961. In
June 1991, the University of San Francisco purchased the Presentation
campus, and Presentation High School vacated the facilities at the end
of the year. An extensive renovation began, making it necessary for The
Lamplighters once again to look for a new home. Their last performance
in Presentation was held in Spring of 1995. For more information on The
Lamplighters, please see www.lamplighters.org
Thanks to the generosity of the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trusts,
Presentation Theater underwent extensive remodeling, including new
technical systems. The theater opened in December 1996, managed by the
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, with the San Francisco Opera
Center's production of Hansel and Gretel; the Center returned in Spring
of 1997 with Handel's Ezio.
In 1999, the University resumed operation and management of the theater
with the same commitment to providing a venue for artistic and cultural
events that will enrich the community and University. The theater is
managed by the Performing Arts Department in the USF's College of Arts
and Sciences.
Directions to The Presentation Theater
2350 Turk Boulevard(just west of Masonic) San Francisco, CA 94117
DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR LOCATION
[ Yahoo! Maps ]
Directions to 2350 Turk Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94118-4340
General Directions to the Theater
Traveling South From the Golden Gate Bridge/North BayAfter
crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, stay in the right lane and take the
19th Avenue exit. Turn right on Cabrillo Street and then left onto 14th
Avenue. Proceed to Fulton Street and turn left. At the top of the hill,
turn left onto Parker Avenue and proceed two block north to Turk Street.
Turn Right on Turk Street and proceed past the USF Lone Mountatin
campus, after which the Presentation Theater is on your Left, in USF's
School of Education.
Traveling West From the Bay Bridge/East Bay
After
crossing the Bay Bridge, take the 9th Street/Civic Center exit. Head
westbound on Harrison Street for 1 block then turn right onto 9th
Street. Once on 9th, stay in 2 left lanes and veer onto Hayes Street.
Continue on Hayes for 8 blocks to Webster Street. Turn right onto
Webster and proceed 2 blocks to Fulton Street. Turn left onto Fulton and
continue approximately 1 mile to Masonic Ave. Turn left on Turk Street -
the Presentation Theater is on your right, in USF's School of
Education.
Traveling North from the Peninsula
Take
Highway 280 Northbound. Take the 19th Avenue exit and stay in the left
lanes. Stay on 19th Avenue for approximately three miles. Turn right
onto Fulton Street. At the top of the hill, turn left onto Parker Avenue
and proceed two block north to Turk Street. Turn Right on Turk Street
and proceed past the USF Lone Mountatin campus, after which the
Presentation Theater is on your Left, in USF's School of Education.
Traveling North From San Jose/South Bay
Take
Highway 101 Northbound. Once in San Francisco, take the 9th
Street/Civic Center exit. Head westbound on Harrison Street for 1 block
then turn right onto 9th Street. Once on 9th, stay in 2 left lanes and
veer onto Hayes Street. Continue on Hayes for 8 blocks to Webster
Street. Turn right onto Webster and proceed 2 blocks to Fulton Street.
Turn left onto Fulton and continue approximately 1 mile to Masonic
Avenue - Turn right on and then left on Turk Street. The Presentation
Theater is on your right, in USF's School of Education.
Public Transportation
Take BART to Powell Street Station-On Powell Street near 5th, take the 31 Muni Bus going toward Ocean Beach
-Get off at Turk and Golden Gate Avenue. The Presentation Theater is on 2350 Turk Boulevard, in USF's School of Education.
