1776Sherman Edwards (Music & Lyrics); Peter Stone (Book)South Bay Musical TheatreThe Cast of "1776"How familiar does this sound: A Congress that seems to get nothing done? A Congress that is divided into two factions that can barely tolerate each other? Committees upon committees where members of Congress meet to debate ad nauseumand decide little? Members … [Read more...] about “1776”
Archives for January 2017
“Anything Goes”
Anything GoesCole Porter (Music & Lyrics)P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse (Original Book)Timothy Crouse & John Weidman (New Book)Pacific Coast Repertory TheatreJoy SherrattA trumpet, echoed by a saxophone, announces those first few notes that has everyone in the audience ready to sing along; and once the classic hits start tumbling one … [Read more...] about “Anything Goes”
“Daniel’s Husband”
Daniel’s HusbandMichael McKeeverNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDaniel Redmond, Nathan Tylukti, John Steele Jr. & Michael MonagleThere are Hallmark-like phrases that pop up daily in our lives on one of those obnoxious Facebook-posted posters that that we habitually ignore, scrolling quickly to a much more interesting cat video or picture of someone’s latest meal. “Live … [Read more...] about “Daniel’s Husband”
“Fun Home”
Fun HomeJeanine Tesori (Music); Lisa Kron (Book & Lyrics)Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison BechdelCurran Theatre “My dad and I both grew up in the same small Pennsylvania town.And he was gay,And I was gay,And he killed himself,And I became a lesbian cartoonist.”Kate Shindle & Robert PetkoffAs blunt and bleak as this summation appears, the musical that fills out the … [Read more...] about “Fun Home”
“Native Son”
Native SonNambi E. Kelley (Adapted from the Novel by Richard Wright)Marin Theatre CompanyDane Troy, Ryan Nicole Austin, C. Kelly Wright, Jerod Haynes & William Hartfield Collapsing a novel that is often listed in the top 100, most significant novels of the Twentieth Century not only into a play but also into a split-second-long setting within the main character’s … [Read more...] about “Native Son”
“Uncanny Valley”
Uncanny ValleyThomas GibbonsPear Theatre Mary Price Moore & Evan Kokklia Schumacher Thought-provoking, increasingly intriguing, eventually deeply troubling questions begin to emerge during the current, first-class offering by Pear Theatre of Thomas Gibbon’s Uncanny Valley – a term that refers to the uneasy and even repulsive feelings … [Read more...] about “Uncanny Valley”
“A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine”
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the UkraineDick Vosburgh (Book & Lyrics); Frank Lazarus (Music)Palo Alto Players Andrew Ceglio, Patty Reinhart & Mohamed Ismail Calling all lovers of the Marx Brothers. Maker you way to Palo Alto Players for an uproariously ridiculous riot of A Night in the Ukraine, but beware. Those masters of bad puns, … [Read more...] about “A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine”
“Cabaret”
CabaretJoe Masteroff (Book); John Kander (Music); Fred Ebb (Lyrics)Hillbarn Theatre Keith Pinto & Jessica MaxeySince its 1966 Broadway debut and its initial eight Tonys, the inspiring hit Cabaret has continued to evolve through several major, award-winning revivals in both New York and London, becoming ever darker, starker, and rawer with each new … [Read more...] about “Cabaret”
“The Speakeasy”
The SpeakeasyBennett Fisher & Nick A. OliveroBoxcar Theatre Megan WicksA secret location, back alley meetings, required passwords, strict rules delivered with stern warning, boutonnieres denoting messages, and an entrance through a Chinese laundry into curtained passages in a basement-world below – All and more are the beginning parts of an evening of uproarious fun and … [Read more...] about “The Speakeasy”
“Finding Neverland”
Finding NeverlandJames Graham (Book); Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy (Music & Lyrics)SHNThe Cast of "Finding Neverland"Before J.M. Barrie begins putting pen to paper for his most famous of plays, into his 1903 London life enter four boys who pretend Kensington Park is their own special island – boys who crow like a rooster, play pirates and Indians, and imagine what … [Read more...] about “Finding Neverland”
“Crimes of the Heart”
Crimes of the HeartBeth HenleyTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Therese Plaehn, Lizzie O'Hara & Sarah MoserThe sometimes sad, often wacky, and usually hilarious goings on in the Magrath household of 1974 Mississippi remind us that forgiveness of family foibles is the road to keeping solid the bonds that in the end, hold families together. TheatreWorks … [Read more...] about “Crimes of the Heart”
“Belleville”
BellevilleAmy HerzogCustom Made Theatre CompanyJustin Gillman & Alisha EhrlichSometimes -- even often times -- there appears to be such an alignment of the stars that everything in a live, theatrical production comes together to create a magical evening not soon to be forgotten: script, direction, actors, creative team. Other times -- fortunately not too often -- one … [Read more...] about “Belleville”
“Annie”
AnnieThomas Meehan (Book); Charles Strouse (Music); Martin Charnin (Lyrics)Broadway San JoseSandy & Tori BatesAs the trumpet and trombone trade notes and intertwine in an opening duet of just a few seconds, the universally familiar words must be running through virtually all audience members’ heads: “The sun will come out ... tomorrow.” It would seem that if there is … [Read more...] about “Annie”
“She Loves Me”
She Loves MeJerry Bock (Music); Sheldon Harnick (Lyrics); Joe Masteroff (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseThe Cast of "She Loves Me"All it takes is a simple storyline about two of the most unlikely people falling hopelessly in love for the tale to endure forever. Take two store clerks (Amalia and Georg) who outwardly despise each other, quarreling constantly to the dismay of … [Read more...] about “She Loves Me”
“Avenue Q”
Avenue QRobert Lopez Y Jeff Marx (Music & Lyrics); Jeff Whitty (Book)New Conservatory Theatre Center The 2017 "Purple" Cast of Avenue QEd Decker, Artistic Director of New Conservatory Theatre Center, begins his program introduction with “It’s the final, final, final ‘Furwell’ tour of Avenue Q, now in its fourth year of the company’s holiday productions. However, one … [Read more...] about “Avenue Q”
