Comedy/Adventure
On Stage
January 30 – March 8, 2025
Tickets: $20 – $130
Call 415.677.9596 to buy tickets by phone.
San Francisco Playhouse • 450 Post Street • Union Square
Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play
By Keiko Green • Directed by Jesca Prudencio
Think fast: Is monosodium glutamate, the oft-vilified white powder seasoning better known as MSG, dangerous to your health?*
It’s 1999, and Ami is an awkward Asian American high schooler whose world comes crashing down with a terrible discovery: her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the mysterious ingredient getting all the kids hooked! Meanwhile, a cool new girl arrives from Japan, and she’s not playing by the rules. In Keiko Green’s new play, Ami vows to redeem her family name and save the world from MSG. This whimsical, time-traveling adventure is a riotous and hilarious romp through wild teenaged crushes, family legacies, and the magical properties of instant ramen!
*Answer: Nope.
“Keiko Green’s surreal comedy is a sure-fire hit featuring a stellar cast, smart writing and absurd situations … Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play is wildly inventive and laugh out loud funny.” Broadway World
“Exotic Deadly delivers its message in an hysterical, mind-blowing, insightful package.” Talkin’ Broadway
Play Details
Created byDirected by Jesca Prudencio
Venue
Est. Run Time
Performance datesPERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
| Day of week | Matinee | Evening |
| Monday | - | - |
| Tuesday | - | 7:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 2:00 pm | 7:00 pm |
| Thursday | - | 7:00 pm |
| Friday | - | 8:00 pm |
| Saturday | 3:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm | - |
Note: View the official calendar for full schedule including special performances.
This performance features loud noises, gunshot sounds, adult language, flashing lights, depictions of smoking, and theatrical haze.
THE CAST
CREATIVE TEAM
PHOTOS
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association. This theater operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Photos by Jessica Palopoli.
ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
For blind and visually impaired audience members, San Francisco Playhouse partners with Gravity Access Services to offer live audio description and haptic access tours for selected performances.
About the Playwright
KEIKO GREEN is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and performer, currently based in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Her plays have been produced/developed by the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, the Kennedy Center, National New Play Network, Atlantic Theatre Co, Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Playwrights Realm, Seattle Rep, the Old Globe, ACT, Cygnet Theatre, among others.
She is Chance Theatre’s 2023 Playwright in Residence and holds commissions from the Old Globe, ACT Theatre, and Seattle Shakespeare Co. She was previously Part of Theatre Mu’s inaugural new play incubation group the Mu Tang Clan, as well as Seattle Rep’s Resident Writers Group.
What are the showtimes?
The show is on stage six days a week; Tuesday through Sunday. Showtimes are as follows:
Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M.
Wednesdays at 2:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
Thursdays at 7:00 P.M.
Fridays at 8:00 P.M.
Saturdays at 3:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
Sundays at 2:00 P.M.
Showtimes may vary. Always consult the official show calendar or call 415.677.9596 for updated dates and times.
How much are tickets?
Tickets range from $30 to $100, although prices may fluctuate depending on date, showtime, and demand. Discounts are available to season subscribers.
When did Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play premiere?
Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play had its world premiere on April 8, 2023 at The Old Globe theater in San Diego. Its Northern California premiere will be here at San Francisco Playhouse on January 30, 2025.
What is the seating chart for this show?
San Francisco Playhouse's auditorium is on two levels: Orchestra and Mezzanine/Balcony. Our intimate 199-seat theatre has only nine rows in the Orchestra, meaning every single seat is close to the stage.
Where is San Francisco Playhouse?
San Francisco Playhouse is located at 450 Post St., San Francisco CA 94102. The theatre is located on the second floor of the Kensington Park Hotel. Patrons may access the venue using the elevators or stairs in the hotel lobby.
Is San Francisco Playhouse ADA accessible?
San Francisco Playhouse is ADA accessible. The theatre is located on the second floor and can be accessed by two elevators from the lobby level. Wheelchair and companion seating are located on the theatre's mezzanine level.
Is there parking on site?
We do not offer onsite parking, and the hotel's valet is only available to guests of the Kensington Park Hotel. To reserve a parking spot with SpotHero, visit the San Francisco Playhouse SpotHero Parking Page. Limited street parking is also available.
We recommend taking BART or Muni to San Francisco Playhouse. We are four blocks from the Powell Street BART/Muni station — just a seven-minute walk.
San Francisco Playhouse
450 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 677-9596
(c) 2024 San Francisco Playhouse
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 86-1089699
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