School of RockJulian Fellowes (Book); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Andrew Lloyd Webber (Music)SHNThe Cast of School of RockThe man who began his celebrated, much-awarded career writing a rock musical when he was twenty-two (Jesus Christ Superstar) returned to that genre to premiere in 2015 School of Rock, an electrically pounding good time featuring this time not twenty-somethings, … [Read more...] about “School of Rock”
Archives for June 2018
“Soft Power”
Soft PowerDavid Henry Hwang (Play & Lyrics); Jeanine Tesori (Music & Additional Lyrics)Curran Theatre (in partnership with Center Theatre Group)Conrad Ricamora & Ensemble MembersIn the past twenty years, a number of twists and turns have challenged the notion of what defines the Great American Musical. Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, and certainly … [Read more...] about “Soft Power”
“Good. Better. Best. Bested.”
Good. Better. Best. BestedJonathan SpectorCustom Made Theatre Company and Just TheaterThe Cast of Good. Better. Best. Bested.It’s a typical day in Vegas. Tourists dressed in red, white, and blue roam about drinking and being totally obnoxious – even belligerent – to the gold painted, “frozen statue” of a man. A Roman gladiator and a foot soldier kibbutz in a quick … [Read more...] about “Good. Better. Best. Bested.”
“A Walk on the Moon”
A Walk on the MoonPamela Gray (Book); Paul Scott Goodman (Music & Lyrics with Additional Lyrics by Pamela Gray)American Conservative TheatreThe Cast of A Walk on the MoonSummer, 1969: Daily, numbers of casualties from Vietnam scroll across living room television screens while streets fill with angry, mostly young anti-war protestors. Their peace-loving folk and … [Read more...] about “A Walk on the Moon”
“Finks”
FINKSJoe GilfordTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyJim Stanek, Donna Vivino, Leo Ash Evens & Gabriel Marin For the first eleven years of his life, Joe Gilford grew up in a household where the 1950s blacklist against Hollywood writers, directors, and actors was very much part of his every day life, given his parents were both on it along with many of their closest friends. … [Read more...] about “Finks”
“Six Characters in Search of a Play”
Six Characters in Search of a PlayDel ShoresNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDel Shores“I’m a storytelling thief,” confesses the ever-smiling, hands-flying “minor gay celebrity” (his words) standing just a few feet from his already enraptured audience – about fifty of what must be hundreds of thousands of loyal fans of Brother Boy, Bitsy Mae, Latrelle, Sissy, LaVonda, and ‘Bubba’ … [Read more...] about “Six Characters in Search of a Play”
“A Lesson from Aloes”
A Lesson from AloesAthol FugardWeathervane Productions and Z Below Wendy vanden Heuvel & Victor TalmadgeThe early 1960s in South Africa was a time of increasing police raids, township riots and brutal police reactions as well as unfair trials and undeserved executions. At the same time, the world began to awaken enough to the horrors of apartheid to declare more and … [Read more...] about “A Lesson from Aloes”
“The Humans”
The HumansStephen KaramSHNRichard Thomas, Therese Plaehn, Pamela Reed, Daisy Eagan & Luis VegaA play where sound, light, and set play starring roles along with a stellar cast and a hilarious and haunting script, Stephen Karam’s The Humans arrives in San Francisco as a most welcome and anticipated part of SHN’s current Broadway season. Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for … [Read more...] about “The Humans”
“Jersey Boys”
Jersey BoysMarshall Brickman & Rick Elice (Book)Bob Gaudio (Music); Bob Crewe (Lyrics)BroadwaySan JoseThe Cast of Jersey BoysThe 2005, multi-Tony-award-winning Jersey Boys just keeps packing in audiences everywhere it goes, with crowds jumping to their feet for standing ovations the second the last crooning has been crooned. Many are like I, seeing Jersey Boys last … [Read more...] about “Jersey Boys”
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
Hedwig and the Angry InchJohn Cameron Mitchell (Book); Stephen Trask (Music & Lyrics)The Stage Keith Pinto as HedwigIn full fury on the compact floor arena of San Jose’s The Stage, Hedwig and the Angry Inchexplodes. Bay Area favorites Keith Pinto and Ashley Garlick play gender-fluid Hedwig and her back-up singing husband, Yitzhak, a former drag … [Read more...] about “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
“Pippin”
PippinStephen Schwartz (Music & Lyrics); Roger O. Hirson (Book)Los Altos Stage Company Dominic Dagdagan Los Altos Stage Company's Pippin is a triumphant success built on deliciously inspired direction, wildly impressive choreography, and vocal performances that never disappoint of songs well-loved by many. This is a Pippin that speaks to our troubled times just … [Read more...] about “Pippin”
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosCharles Peoples III, Rudy Guerrero & Kim LarsenOnce again as Pride Month begins, the wonderfully garish Priscilla bus has pulled into Gateway Theatre full of its fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, and proudly prancing divas in sparkly wigs. Yes, Theatre Rhinoceros has … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
