Native GardensKaren ZacaríasTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyJackson Davis, Amy Resnick, Michael Evans Lopez & Marlene MartinezPresident Trump has his border issues and fence dreams, but the ignition of accusations and counter-accusations that he has inflamed pale in comparison to the increasing tensions between the Butleys and Del Valles, two sets of neighbors who have just met … [Read more...] about “Native Gardens”
“Hold These Truths”
Hold These TruthsJeanne SakataTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyJoel de la FuenteA child of Japanese internees herself, playwright Jeanne Sakata ran across a story so incredible for its audacious and persistent gumption of one man’s stand against the wartime edict – Order 9066 signed by President Franklin Roosevelt – that her resulting play, Hold These Truths, could be at first glance … [Read more...] about “Hold These Truths”
“Sunday in the Park with George”
Sunday in the Park with GeorgeStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseJohn Bambery as George“Order.”“Design.”“Tension.”“Composition.”“Balance.”“Light.”As each word is announced by the artist whose science of painting is guided by these exacting principles, the members of his most famous composition move into place, aided by his … [Read more...] about “Sunday in the Park with George”
“King Henry V”: Day 9, Play 9, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Henry VWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalDaniel José Molina as King Henry V“Therefore take heed how you impawn one person,How you awake our sleeping sword of war.We charge you in the name of God, take heed;For never two such kingdoms did contendWithout much fall of blood.”The King who looks squarely, calmly, and bluntly into the eyes of the Archbishop of Canterbury … [Read more...] about “King Henry V”: Day 9, Play 9, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“The Book of Will”
The Book of WillLauren GundersonOregon Shakespeare Festival The Cast of The Book of WillImagine a world without Orlando, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, Rosylind, Caliban, Puck, or dozens of other Shakespearean characters who are our friends, even family. But for the inspired insight, stubborn determination, and colossal efforts of a 1619, London bar owner and his … [Read more...] about “The Book of Will”
“Oklahoma!”: Day 7, Play 7, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oklahoma!Richard Rodgers (Music), Oscar Hammerstein II (Book & Lyrics)Oregon Shakespeare FestivalRoyer Bockus & Tatiana WechslerAfter relishing an overture that is packed with numbers now encased in the Great American Songbook (during which audience humming and outright singing of words can readily be heard), anticipation is high for those first few notes of “There’s a … [Read more...] about “Oklahoma!”: Day 7, Play 7, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Love’s Labor Lost”: Day 5, Play 6, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Love’s Labor LostWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Musicians of Love's Labor LostA huge pink pig residing and barely fitting into the upper balcony of the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre – the space normally reserved for heavenly beings or musicians – along with a column of over-sized, silver-starred mylar ballons; a tilting quarter moon the length of a car; and … [Read more...] about “Love’s Labor Lost”: Day 5, Play 6, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Manahatta”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
ManahattaMary Kathryn NagleOregon Shakespeare FestivalSteven Flores & Tanis ParenteauTwo American stories, four centuries apart, interlock in their telling, with characters, events, motives, triumphs, and tragedies strikingly similar in Mary Kathryn Nagle’s Manahatta. Now in an engrossing, enlightening, and emotional world premiere at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare … [Read more...] about “Manahatta”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Othello”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
OthelloWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Cast of OthelloWhen Director Bill Rauch decided to set the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Othelloin our time with military personnel sent to Cyprus wearing camouflage that bear “US Navy” on their uniforms, he ensured the relevance of this tragic tale to headlines we are reading even today. That the … [Read more...] about “Othello”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Romeo and Juliet”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Romeo and JulietWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Cast of Romeo and JulietAs a robed, hooded, and totally anonymous community surrounds them and solemnly listens, a young man and woman remove all mystery how their story will end. Romeo and Juliet together recount how the long-term, oft-deadly rivalry between their two families will soon result in a tragedy … [Read more...] about “Romeo and Juliet”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Sense and Sensibility”: Day 2, Play 2, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Sense and SensibilityKate HamillOregon Shakespeare FestivalEmily Ota & Nancy RodriguezThe beloved books of Jane Austen have found their way onto the British and American stages over and again in the past twenty or so years. Palo Alto’s TheatreWorks Silicon Valley alone has twice staged Paul Gordon’s Emma,each time to huge acclaim and record audiences, and is featuring … [Read more...] about “Sense and Sensibility”: Day 2, Play 2, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Destiny of Desire”: Day 1, Play 1, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Destiny of DesireKaren ZacaríasOregon Shakespeare FestivalEsperanza America, Ella Saldana North, Al Espinosa & Fidel GomezBabies switched at birth; mistaken identities; and a rumored murder of a wife in order to marry a beauty queen. Rich and poor relatives whose lives intersect without knowing; love at first sight more than once; and a nun who knows more than she … [Read more...] about “Destiny of Desire”: Day 1, Play 1, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“School of Rock”
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”
“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.”
