About Us Programs Events Rentals News Contact Us   About the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre   Fund a Dream! Your tax-deductible gift will help raise much-needed funds for our 2011-2012 Dare to Dream ARTS Programs for youth. IMPORTANT LINKS Board of Directors Volunteer and job opportunities Annual Report to the Community 2009-2010 (1.4 mb pdf) Annual Report to the Community 2009-2010 - print quality (3.4 mb pdf) ABOUT OUR HISTORY Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (Submitted 08/31/2010 by Architectural Resources Group) This document includes a history of the BVOH and makes the case for why our building should be included on the National Register of Historic Places. Official National Register Acceptance List published 4-1-2011 by the National Park Service History of the Bayview Opera House Heritage Magazine by Amanda Jones Constructed in 1888, the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre (known affectionately as "the Opera House" or the "BVOH") is located at 4705 Third Street in the heart of the Bayview Hunters Point district - San Francisco's most ethnically diverse community. The Opera House is San Francisco's oldest theater and a registered historical landmark. However, the Opera House is more than just a building. Operated as a community cultural and arts center by the nonprofit Bayview Opera House, Inc., with funding from the San Francisco Arts Commission and public and private donations, the Opera House is a vital community institution for Bayview residents and holds a significant place in the history and culture of Bayview Hunters Point. The Opera House currently provides arts education and cultural enrichment to San Franciscans on a low or no cost basis. Recent offerings include adult drama, dance and yoga classes, DARE TO DREAM ARTS school age after school classes, toddler and parent/toddler classes, and an 8-week long summer arts cam.. The Opera House also hosts a large variety of cultural events, community gatherings and seasonal celebrations. The Opera House is available to rent for corporate, governmental and private parties and events. The facility features a 300-seat theater with a 45' indoor stage, full sized movie screen with digital projector, an outdoor stage in an enclosed garden courtyard, free wireless internet access, two dressing rooms, and a classroom for breakout sessions. Click here for rental information City of San Francisco Cultural Centers The Bayview Opera House is one of six city-owned cultural centers operated by nonprofit arts organizations providing cultural and arts programs. The centers are venues for performances, festivals, and gallery exhibits and offer free or low cost classes. They are funded, at least in part, by the San Francisco Arts Commission. African American Art and Culture Complex Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts SomArts Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center Queer Cultural Center   Bayview Opera House • 4705 Third Street • San Francisco, CA 94124 • email info.bvoh@bvoh.org • phone 415.824.0386 • Map