The matte red Golden Gate Bridge framed against the TransAmerica building, Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower and a cable car may sound like an expected cookie-cutter photo of San Francisco -- but it makes for one extravagant hat.

The wild hats and wigs, a staple in San Francisco history, are the trademark of musical review theater Beach Blanket Babylon. Babylon's ability to take inanimate objects and celebrity icons and inject them into the infamous musical review has allowed the show to run for over three decades in North Beach, every Wednesday through Sunday.

Jo Schuman Silver, current producer of Babylon and the widow of creator Steve Silver, took over production of the show in 1995.

"[Steve] started Babylon with the premise of 'Let's have fun and other people will have fun too'," Silver said. "The show was visually so beautiful and different because of Steve. He's the one that designed every hat."

This distinctive play revolves around the story of Snow White traveling the world to find her prince. As she travels from San Francisco to Rome to Paris and back to the U.S., she meets celebrities, royalty, poodles and politicians who try to guide her in her quest for love. Actress Val Diamond, who has been with the cast since 1978, plays the narrator who meets Snow White at each location to give her advice on how to get the prince she has been praying for.

"When I first came in I was one of the young ones, and now I am kind of the grandma," Diamond said.

During the April 2 production, Diamond gave a performance of "Anyone Who Had a Heart" that rivaled Cilla Black. As tears welled up in her eyes, the audience was moved to awe as she sang to the crash of applause as the lights dimmed on her.

"She treats every night like it is opening night," Silver said. "She put the bar so high for everyone who joins the cast."

One of the signature aspects of the show is its ability to be current and ever-changing. They incorporate new skits and characters as often as a couple per month. New additions include Michael Phelps, the Jonas Brothers and Beyonce. Currently, they are rehearsing a new character that is scheduled to premiere next week, the Octomom.

"If it happens in the morning, we can get it in the show that night," Silver said. "You can go tonight and by the weekend there will be new stuff."

Some of the nostalgic songs that have been adjusted to the characters that sing them include Bill Clinton's rendition of "My Cheating Heart," Nancy Pelosi's "Leader of the Pack," Barack Obama's "Rock Around Barack" and Sen. Larry Craig singing "I Will Survive." There is also another signature to the show - their use of flats rather than just curtains. As each character is introduced, they emerge from splitting flats. The effect is as if the audience blinks and the new member is there.

"Sometimes all the character needs is a flat reveal, where you see them for a few seconds and then they are gone," said Kenny Mazlow, the director.

About halfway through the show, Snow White proclaims that she wants a man "that is high on life." And suddenly the flats open to reveal a Michael Phelps in a small red bathing suit, swim cap, gold medals, and a tall red bong. Then, before you take it all in, the flats close without anyone really interacting with the character.

"I couldn't stop laughing through the whole performance," said Marcus Whittier, a tourist from Florida. "I've never seen anything like it and I thought it could have been twice as long."

One actress who still appreciates the humor of the play is Renee Lubin. This veteran on the cast is marking her 24th year with Babylon. The soulful songstress plays Glinda the Good Witch and is also a vocal jazz coach at SF State. Her connection to the production goes even further than her passion for the constantly changing review; she met her husband at one of the performances.

"I spotted him in the audience and saw that sweet teddy bear," Lubin said. "It is surprising to think about the fact that it was 17 years ago."

The pure whimsy that exudes from this Mad Hatter musical has allowed the cast and crew to begin celebration plans for their 35th anniversary this June.

Many in the cast say the reason why they have stayed on the production for so long is because the show keeps changing and the location stays the same.

"It's very intimate here. You are close enough to see all the facial expressions on the actors," Mazlow said. "We have been offered larger halls and spaces to perform in but it is the intimacy that makes this show so special."