B.Way Theater

Located in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District, ODC Theater is an innovative venue ready to suit your live and digital needs. The B.Way Theater exists to empower and develop innovative artists. It participates in the creation of new works through commissioning, presenting, mentorship and space access; it develops informed, engaged and committed audiences; and advocates for the performing arts as an essential component to the economic and cultural development of our community. This 170-seat venue is the site of over 150 performances a year involving nearly 1,000 local, regional, national and international artists. The B.Way Theater is a flexible venue able to accommodate your dance/theater/musical production, broadcast, keynote speakers, film or photo shoot, and more. 

The B.Way Theater is an excellent choice for virtual events, keynote speakers, film or photo shoots, film screenings, off-site meetings, presentations, and livestreams to name a few. Our experienced staff is ready to welcome you into the space and ensure your event goes off without a hitch. We will work with you to find the right package, provide full A/V support, and provide full box office management with customer service. ODC Theater is also committed to providing the resources and expertise for full COVID-19 compliance in alignment with CDC and SFDPH guidelines.

To inquire about dates or for additional information, contact Theater Venue Manager, Brian Williamson: b.williamson@odc.dance.

Learn more about ODC Theater Rentals

 

Performance and Event Rentals

ODC Theater is proud to support local and touring artists. Performance rentals are available for full weeks (Tuesday-Sunday) or single days. In alignment with current health and safety guidelines, performances at ODC Theater will be offered with options for live audience, broadcasting, and hybrid models. Our experienced staff will work with you and your team to help bring your artistic vision to life from planning to closing night. We also offer technical support by ODC house technicians and full box office set up and management, including customer service for your patrons. After your performances or broadcasts, you will receive a full patron list with contact information to support building your audience base. 

To inquire about application details or more information, contact Theater Venue Manager, Brian Williamson: b.williamson@odc.dance.

Tech Specs

  • 1,600 square feet space with a 42’ x 30’ stage area
  • Meyer sound system
  • 12k HD Projector
  • Art gallery located in lobby
  • Green room for 12 including a washer/dryer
  • Additional studio spaces available
  • Baby grand piano

For additional technical information, please contact the Production Coordinator  c.chamberlin.miner@odc.dance

 

2023 Rentals Discount Initiative

Up to 16 weeks will be discounted 50% or 100% off for artistic activity. Up to 8 weeks are available at each discount tier. Up to 6 weeks (Sunday-Thursday) are available for artists who wish to rehearse in the theater with or without technical support and do not plan to have a public event. 10 weeks (Tuesday-Sunday) will be allocated to projects that culminate in a publicly ticketed event.

Projects are eligible for a maximum of 2 weeks of discount. The initiative is intended to support individual artists and organizations. Black, Native/Indigenous, People of Color, women, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Space rental for a week in the Theater costs $5,500.00. After the discount on space use is applied, artists will be responsible for covering all equipment, technical and front of house staff, and/or box office setup costs. Renters collect box office revenue for any publicly ticketed event. See odc.dance/rentals to view current rates.

This application will be reviewed by a panel of Guest Curators: Donald Byrd, Rosanna Tavarez, Eric Garcia, and Audrey Johnson. Guest Curators will select a roster of projects, from which, ODC staff will make a final selection based on project scope and feasibility within the venue's capacities.

Applications for 2023 are now closed. 
 

Guest Curators

  • Donald Byrd

    Donald Byrd is a Tony nominated, Bessie award winning choreographer. Currently the Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater. He is prolific, working comfortably in contemporary and classical idioms; has worked with many leading artistic institutions in the U.S. and abroad including The New York Public Theater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Opera, The Israeli Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dutch National Opera, The Lincoln Center Festival, The Kennedy Center, Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Seattle Opera among others.

    A photograph of Donald Byrd

    Photo by Gabriel Bienczycki

  • Eric Garcia

    Eric Garcia is equal parts devised theater artist, dance filmmaker, drag queen, and community organizer, with a penchant for queer maximalism. He is the Co-Artistic Director of Detour, a dance-theater company producing immersive and site-specific performances that straddle nostalgia, radical futurism, high theatrics, and connection. Eric hosts the monthly drag cabaret Clutch The Pearls (as Churro Nomi), and proudly serves as Managing Director with Fresh Meat Productions and the SF Transgender Film Festival.

    A photograph of Eric Garcia

  • Audrey Johson

    Audrey Johnson (she/her) is a queer Black mixed-race movement artist with roots from Detroit and Plymouth Michigan, currently rooting in Oakland, CA. Audrey’s work lives and changes in the realms of embodiment, relationship, magic, plants, and land. Audrey has performed and collaborated with Harge Dance Stories, GERALDCASELDANCE, Biba Bell, kickbal, Stephanie Hewett, among others. Audrey has presented work at FRESH Festival, Sidewalk Arts Festival Detroit, Arab American National Museum via Daring Dances, 2727 California Street, and CounterPulse. She holds a BFA in Dance from Wayne State University and is a co-founding member of Collective Sweat Detroit. www.audreyjohnson.space

    Photo by Robbie Sweeny

  • Rosanna Tavarez

    Rosanna Tavarez has a diverse background as a performer/entertainer and has worked with Marina Ambramovic, Ryan Heffington, Travis Payne, Tony Michaels and Rosanna Gamson/Worldwide. Her works have been presented by The Broad Museum, REDCAT, American Dance Festival, Dance Camera West, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, The Odyssey and Breaking Ground Dance Festival among others. She creates work that is emotionally and psychologically demanding, with movement that ranges from feral, ferocious and vulnerable to humorous and joyful.

 

 

FAQ

How many weeks can I apply for? How many weeks will be awarded to each project/applicant?
Out of the 16 weeks available through the initiative, applicants are eligible to apply for 1-2 weeks of discounted activity. Applicants are asked in the application to identify how many weeks their project would ideally encompass. The number of weeks awarded per project will be allocated depending on the roster of project needs. No single project/applicant will be awarded more than 2 weeks of discounted activity.

To apply, does my project have to culminate in a performance and/or event?
No, a performance or public event is not required to apply through this initiative. There will be up to 6 weeks dedicated to supporting rehearsal, development, technical or rehearsal residency, and/or formats that do not include a publicly ticketed event. At least 10 weeks will be dedicated to performances or publicly ticketed events.

How do I reserve specific dates for my project?
2023 scheduling will occur after all selected artists are notified and prior to contracting. In your application, we'd love to hear your prefered time of year for your activity. Applicant’s preferred and/or requisite timing for projects will be considered in the review process.

When is the application due?
The application is due on Monday, August 1st.