The Soiled Dove
Frequently Asked Questions
A Decadent Night in Gold Rush San Francisco
Gather your boldest companions and step into the twilight world of 1850s San Francisco, where fortunes were made overnight and the line between elegance and excess was deliciously blurred. The Soiled Dove brings this world roaring back to life with a seductive fusion of gourmet dining, live music, and jaw-dropping circus in a richly immersive theatrical setting. This season, the stakes are even higher with a special guest music legend Joan Baez making your group’s evening not just a night out, but a once-in-a-lifetime plunge into the golden age of spectacle.
What is The Soiled Dove?
The Soiled Dove Under the Tortona Big Top is an immersive theatrical experience created by Vau de Vire Society and Radium Presents. Set in 1890s San Francisco, the production combines circus arts, live music, theatrical storytelling, lavish dining, and immersive entertainment inside the magnificent Tortona Big Top at Radium Runway in Alameda.
Where is The Soiled Dove?
The Tortona Big Top at Radium Runway is located near:
2151 Ferry Point
Alameda, CA 94501
The venue sits adjacent to Alameda Waterfront Park.
What are the show dates?
The Soiled Dove runs on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the fall season.
Please visit our Tickets page for the complete performance calendar.
Is The Soiled Dove suitable for children? No. The Soiled Dove is strictly a 21+ event. Every guest must present a valid government-issued photo ID.
What ticket options are available? Guests may choose from four experiences: VIP Runway Dinner & Main Show Dinner & Main Show Main Show Grandstand Seating Main Show General Admission (standing room)
What's included with VIP Runway Dinner tickets? VIP guests enjoy: Premium runway seating Multi-course dinner Preferred entry Main Show admission Complimentary Libation Limited Signed Poster
What's included with Dinner & Main Show tickets? Dinner guests receive: Reserved seating Multi-course dinner Live pre-show entertainment Admission to the Main Show without changing seats
What's included with Main Show Grandstand tickets? Reserved grandstand seating for the 9:00 PM Main Show.
What's included with General Admission tickets? General Admission provides standing-room access to the 9:00 PM Main Show.
Tickets
When should I arrive? Dinner Guests Doors open at 7:30 PM Recommended arrival: 7:15–7:30 PM Main Show Guests Doors open at 9:00 PM Recommended arrival: 8:45–9:00 PM
How long is the experience? Dinner guests enjoy an evening that begins with cocktails and dinner before continuing seamlessly into the Main Show. Main Show guests experience approximately 90 minutes of immersive entertainment.
Arrival & Schedule
Is dinner included? Dinner is included only with VIP Runway Dinner and Dinner & Main Show tickets.
Is there a bar? Yes. The Soiled Dove Saloon serves cocktails and beverages throughout the evening. Bar proceeds support Radium Presents, a nonprofit dedicated to arts and culture at Alameda Point.
Does the bar accept cash? No. The bar accepts: Credit cards Debit cards Contactless payments Cash is not accepted, and there is no ATM onsite.
Food & Drinks
Is parking available? Yes. Free parking is available at the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal parking lot.
Is ADA parking available? Yes. Limited ADA parking is available near the Ferry Terminal.
Can I take public transportation? es. AC Transit Route 96 stops one block from the venue at W. Atlantic & Orion.
Can I ride my bike? Absolutely. Bike parking is available near the venue.
Where should ride share services drop off? The recommended drop-off location is Alameda Waterfront Park.
Parking & Transportation
Is the venue ADA accessible? Yes. The Tortona Big Top is ADA accessible. If you require accommodations or have accessibility questions, please contact: info@thesoileddove.com before your visit.
Is ADA parking available? Yes. Limited ADA parking is available near the Ferry Terminal.
Accessibility
Is there a dress code? While there is no required dress code, guests are encouraged to dress for the experience. Popular attire includes: Victorian fashion Edwardian fashion Gold Rush-era clothing Saloon glamour Corsets Cabaret-inspired attire 49er outlaws Elegant evening wear Whether subtle or extravagant, costumes help bring the immersive world to life.
Is coat check available? Yes. Coat check is available onsite.
Dress Code
Can I take photos? Cell phone photography is welcome. Please note: No flash photography No professional cameras No cameras with detachable lenses
Photography
Do I need to print my ticket? Digital tickets on your phone are recommended. You may also use the TIXR mobile app or bring a printed ticket if preferred.
Can I choose my seats? Yes. Guests purchasing: VIP Runway Dinner Dinner & Main Show Grandstand may select their seats during checkout. General Admission is standing room only.
Tickets & Entry
I have another question. Who should I contact? Please email: info@thesoileddove.com Include: Your name Confirmation number Performance date to help us assist you more quickly.
Contact
Can I exchange or refund my tickets? All ticket sales are final. Refunds and exchanges are not available.
Refunds
Sample Menu
PLATED DINNER
Bread & Butter
FIREBRAND BREADS
with herbed cultured butter & Maldon salt
First Course
HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD
Miso ricotta cheese, black garlic tahini, zaatar, basil | GF, Vegetarian. (Vegan sans ricotta)
Main Course
BEEF BOURGUIGNON
Tender beef shoulder braised in red wine with bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms. Served over creamy
polenta | GF
MUSHROOM BOURGUIGNON
Served over creamy polenta | GF, Vegan
Dessert
CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA
Dulce de leche, cardamom cream, ginger snap crumble
COCONUT FLAN
Toasted almond, nectarine, maple | GF, Vegan
Testimony
'The Soiled Dove' is more than circus or vaudeville revival. It’s beyond your wildest idea of what a burlesque dinner theater could be. It turns the concept of a historical musical like Hamilton inside out and places you in the center of the action. When you enter 'The Soiled Dove' you embark on a journey into a world of wonders that transcends time and space."
MARK METZ - Alameda Sun
What do you get if you cross a Cirque du Soleil acrobat with a Las Vegas showgirl, then have her cut loose to avant-cabaret tunes? A Vau de Vire Society performer, of course! Mike and Shannon Gaines’s bawdy, sophisticated outfit has been titillating Bay Area audiences for a decade... A Vau de Vire show delivers equal measures of eroticism, athleticism, and wit, served up with panache.
SF MAGAZINE
Tantalizing, titillating, terrifying. ‘The Soiled Dove’ is all that and more. Be prepared for an evening of thrills, trills, and toe tapping as circus performers, musicians, and dancers provide a variety of entertainment. And enjoy a sumptuous feast and tasty swill as you absorb the evening’s amusements.
VICTOR CORDELL - ForAllEvents.com
'The Soiled Dove’ spills over with talent and action for those who like their entertainment more lavish and frantic than a three-ring circus.
KEN BULLOCK - Berkeley Daily Planet
Nowhere in the Bay Area can you now see the vaudeville delights that come with a ‘The Soiled Dove’ ticket under the big top circus tent at Alameda Point. It is wild with delightful and sultry singing and dancing, a scrumptious dinner for those who can splurge and, perhaps most important, mesmerizing with acrobatic feats seen only here outside of Cirque de Soleil."
LAURA CASEY - East Bay Times
It is what The Barbary Coast might have been like in someone’s wildest fantasy. It is the sexy, talented, great food version of that era. Guests can expect an engaging evening filled with danger, decadence, circus, and a culinary spread worthy of royalty … a very unique show.
GINA WHITE - AXS
Fans of interactive theater and living history who want to commune with their inner Edwardian in a raucous, Barbary Coast bordello atmosphere need look no farther than Vau de Vire Society’s ‘The Soiled Dove.’ A dinner-entertainment event that’s similar to – but more raunchy and informal – than the late, lamented Teatro ZinZanni.
JEAN SCHIFFMAN - SF Examiner
Connect
2163 Meeker Ave. #292
Richmond, CA 94804
info@thesoileddove.com
415-294-1591
© 2025 The Soiled Dove / Vau de Vire Productions