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”
“Monsoon Wedding”
Monsoon WeddingSabrina Dhawan (Book); Vishal Bhadrwaj (Music); Susan Birkenhead (Lyrics)Berkeley Repertory CompanyMembers of the Cast of Monsoon WeddingWith one grand splash of kaleidoscopic colors surrounded by pulsating beats of uplifting music and bodies moving and dancing in all directions, one opening number (“Song of My Heart”) tells us all we need to know that the world … [Read more...] about “Monsoon Wedding”
“Twins”
TwinsStuart BouselPianoFightRob Talbott, Kyle McReddle, Andrew Chung & Kyle Goldman (Apollo)Revenge killings, murders of your children, repeated rapes, fiery tortures, being transformed into animals or rocks – All are just part of the casual sharing and one-upping conversation taking place among the gods in bars and hangouts of the afterworld. As it turns out, many of … [Read more...] about “Twins”
“SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)Alan BennettZ Space Word for WordPhil Wong, Søren Oliver, Andre Amarotico, Rosie Hallet, Robert Parsons & Nancy Selby (on floor)Mrs. Donaldson, a recent widow left alone in her senior years, clearly is not stricken as much in grief as she is a bit worried about the financial situation that her deceased husband left … [Read more...] about “SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
“The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church”
The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory ChurchBo WilsonDragon Productions Theatre Ambera De Lash, Caley Suliak, Jennifer Tipton, Stephanie Crowley & Lisa Burton “We serve those in need, in time of need, what they need ... Bless their hearts.” Dragon Productions Theatre presents Bo Wilson’s The Charitable Sisterhood of the … [Read more...] about “The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church”
