brownsville song (b-side for tray)Kimber LeeShotgun PlayersCathleen Riddley & Davied MoralesWith sleepy eyes, we peruse the morning paper or slide through the IPhone news updates; and a too-familiar headline catches our eye. Another family mourns the shooting death of a teen or 20-something, a kid struck down by a random bullet or one meant for someone else. We … [Read more...] about “brownsville song (b-side for tray)”
“What You Will”
What You WillMax GutmannPear TheatreAmelia Adams & Jim JohnsonRarely, if ever, can anyone in the Western World go through a day without either quoting or hearing quoted at least a few, choice lines from the 118,406 William Shakespeare left us. What if several thousand were selected from his thirty-seven plays– purposely and cleverly of course – and rearranged into a … [Read more...] about “What You Will”
“Warplay”
WarplayJC LeeNew Conservatory Theatre Center JC Sclazo & Ed BerkeleyHow inevitable is it that most boys will play war when they are kids, that plastic helmets and swords will be badges of honor to wear, and that lifelong bonds will often form with other guys as they tumble on the fields of backyard battle? And how likely is it that those same boys will grow to be men … [Read more...] about “Warplay”
“The Toxic Avenger”
The Toxic AvengerJoe DiPietro (Book & Lyrics); David Bryan (Music & Lyrics)The Stage Courtney Hatcher, Brandon Noel Thomas, Joshua Marx, Allison F. Rich & Will Springhorn Jr. The Toxic Avengeris a solid choice by The Stage for summertime fun in much the same way local movie houses decide to give us silly comedies and super-hero … [Read more...] about “The Toxic Avenger”
“The Legend of Georgia McBride”
The Legend of Georgia McBrideMatthew LopezMarin Theatre CompanyJason Kapoor, Adam McGill & Kraig SwartzElvis shaking his legs in a white jumpsuit, studded with red sparkles and flared in both sleeves and legs. Drag queens in golden-yellow, butt-showing rain gear, popping their umbrellas and singing of “men” raining from above. Appearances by Judy, Barbra, Tammy, … [Read more...] about “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
“The Graduate”
The GraduateTerry JohnsonBased on Novel by Charles Webb & Movie by Calder Willingham & Buck HenryPalo Alto PlayersMax Tachis & Shawn Bender ‘Cute’ is a word that keeps coming to my mind as I relive The Graduate as produced by Palo Alto Players and director Jeanie Smith – a ‘cute’ that is meant as a total compliment of how chuckling funny, genuinely heart-felt, … [Read more...] about “The Graduate”
“A Night with Janis Joplin”
A Night with Janis JoplinRandy Johnson (Creator & Writer)American Conservatory TheatreKacee ClantonIt’s 1969, homecoming, and the arena is packed. Up to the microphone steps a curly haired woman full of fringes, beads, and bracelets. She grins broadly, shouts out, “Hell-oooo, Knoxville,” and then grabs the now-standing audience in her outstretched hands and … [Read more...] about “A Night with Janis Joplin”
“Hershey Felder, Beethoven”
Hershey Felder, BeethovenHershey Felder (Book); Ludwig van Beethoven (Music)TheatreWorks, Silicon ValleyHershey Felder Hershey Felder, Beethoven bursts onto the Mountain View Performing Arts Center as a full, classical concert, played magnificently by the sole performer as pianist and punctuated by a narrated story that is populated by both Beethoven and the major players of … [Read more...] about “Hershey Felder, Beethoven”
“Grandeur”
GrandeurHan OngMagic TheatreCarl Lumbly“Time is the greatest writer of us all.Time has written over what I’ve written. Time has made me more moving than I set out to be and less potent than I was before.”Time’s march toward some inevitable but as-yet-undefined end for one man is an underlying tension point in Han Ong’s new play, Grandeur, now in its world premiere at Magic … [Read more...] about “Grandeur”
“Roman Holiday”
Roman HolidayCole Porter (Music & Lyrics)Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman & Paul Blake (Book)SHNStephanie Styles & Drew GehlingFor one evening of eye-popping scenery changes, jaw-dropping choreography, and swirling skirts among Italian shopkeepers and Roman tourists, we are as close to being a part of a 1950s, movie-theatre audience as we could imagine ever being. … [Read more...] about “Roman Holiday”
[title of show]
[title of show]Jeff Bowen (Music & Lyrics); Hunter Bell (Book)Los Altos Stage Company: http://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/sanjose/sj88.html.Derek DeMarco, Jocelyn Pickett, Nick Rodrigues & Caroline ClarkWhen Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell decided in 2004 to enter a brand-new musical (and not an adaptation, thank you) into the New York Musical Theatre Festival … [Read more...] about [title of show]
“Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and StollerJerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (Music & Words)Broadway by the BayThe Cast of Smokey Joe's CafeNo reviewer’s words can do justice to an evening of electric entertainment like Broadway by the Bay’s Smokey Joe’s Café. This show grabs hold of its audience in the opening notes, shakes them up in number-after-number’s … [Read more...] about “Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosDiogo Zavadzki, Charles Peoples III & Derek MillerIt’s Pride 2017 in San Francisco; and what better way to celebrate than with fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, singing divas in sparkly wigs, and a garishly decorated school bus named Priscilla? Oh, and there are kangaroos, … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
“The Roommate”
The RoommateJen SilvermanSan Francisco PlayhouseJulia Brothers & Susi DamilanoWho does not remember those terribly awkward, first few minutes (hours? days? years?) trying to size up a new roomie? Sharon is trying her best to welcome Robyn into her big, old home on the outskirts of Iowa City, so much so her smile has uncomfortably and completely commandeered her entire … [Read more...] about “The Roommate”
“Sordid Lives”
Sordid LivesDel ShoresNew Conservatory Theatre CenterLuke Brady, Marie O'Donnell, Cat Luedtke, Michaela Greeley & Scott CoxNow who’s to judge who’s a saint or a sinner,Lord, it’s tough enough to trudge from brunch to dinner....It’s a bitch sortin’ out our sorry little sordid lives.Mama’s dead: Tripped over GW’s wooden legs while screwing him in a cheap motel. GW’s … [Read more...] about “Sordid Lives”
