American IdiotGreen Day (Music); Billie Joe Armstrong (Lyrics); Billie Joe Armstrong & Michael Mayer (Book); Tom Kitt (Musical Arrangements & Orchestrations)City Lights Theater Company The Cast of "American Idiot"Onto the stage of City Lights Theater Company bursts a vigorous, heart-pumping, invigorating American Idiot with a cast that gives and gives … [Read more...] about “American Idiot”
“Schooled”
SchooledMichael Gene Sullivan & Eugenie Chan (Book); Ira Marlowe (Music & Lyrics) (with additional music by Daniel Savio)San Francisco Mime Troupe Lisa Hori-Garcia, Rotimi Agbabiaka, Velina Brown & Keiko Shimosato CarreiroSchooled, San Francisco Mime Troupe’s 2016 contribution to its tome of political parodies, is the Company’s fairly simplistic, somewhat … [Read more...] about “Schooled”
“Confederates”
ConfederatesSuzanne BradbeerTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Jessica Lynn Carroll as Maddie & Richard Prioleau as WillCould a compromising picture of a coed and a confederate flag really be just a naïve girl’s attempt to create an edgy art project, or is it just the quickly invented, convenient explanation for what was really a drunken prank, now deemed mistake? What … [Read more...] about “Confederates”
“The Real Americans”
The Real AmericansDan HoyleThe MarshDan Hoyle as a Man Met in MississippiDan Hoyle, the master of disguise, chameleon of personality, mimic of dialect, and man with the sharpest of wits and the biggest of hearts has returned after a several-year hiatus better than ever, bringing folk from all across America with him to The Marsh to tell their stories, in their own words and … [Read more...] about “The Real Americans”
“The Rules”
The RulesDipika GuhaSan Francisco PlayhouseAmy Lazardo as Mehr, Karen Offereins as Julia & Sarah Moser as AnaWhat are some of the dos and don’ts many of us carry around about dating, committing, or even marrying? How deeply engrained in our subconscious and thus our habits, even in this era long past the ‘70s women’s liberation movement, are the norms of our parents … [Read more...] about “The Rules”
“City of Angels”
City of AngelsCy Coleman (Music); David Zippel (Lyrics); Larry Gelbart (Book)San Francisco Playhouse The Cast of "City of Angels"--> The tough, hunky private eye hero who falls prey to beautiful women who fall for him ... or at least the femme fatales who make him think they fall for him as they seduce with snake-like charms, shapely hips, and breasts bursting from low … [Read more...] about “City of Angels”
“East 14th”
East 14thDon ReedThe Marsh Don Reed is currently reviving at Berkeley’s The Marsh his much-touted, critically acclaimed East 14th, a solo show that has played in past years at both at The Marsh and on New York stages and has even been heard in excerpts on NPR. The one-man writer, performer, producer, and director joyfully and playfully walks us … [Read more...] about “East 14th”
“John Leguizamo: Latin History for Morons”
John Leguizamo: Latin History for MoronsJohn LeguizamoBerkeley Repertory Theatre(In co-production with The Public Theatre)John LeguizamoArriving in coat, vest, and tie (but also jeans and sneakers) to hoots and hollers of an already-adoring audience, John Leguizamo immediately announces, “Settle down, settle down ... We have a lot of work to do ... I got to reboot you about … [Read more...] about “John Leguizamo: Latin History for Morons”
“Present Laughter”
Present LaughterNoël CowardTheatre RhinocerosThe Cast of Theatre Rhino's "Present Laughter"Intriguing plot? No, not much there. New theatrical grounds explored? No, why break what has already worked for the playwright? Redeeming social value and food for thought? Ha, are you kidding? A rip-roaringly fun night of theatre? Bingo! … [Read more...] about “Present Laughter”
“August: Osage County”
August: Osage CountyTracy LettsPear Theatre Betsy Kruse Craig (as Barbara) Comforts Diane Tasca (as Violet)Pear Theatre jumps in heads over heels into the muck and dirt of the Westons with a cast that proves they all have the mettle to do what it takes to bring Tracy Letts’ script of August: Osage County to full, rambunctious, no-holes-barred life – be it … [Read more...] about “August: Osage County”
“Cabaret”
CabaretJoe Masteroff (Book); John Kander (Music); Fred Ebb (Lyrics)SHN Randy Harrison as MC with the Kit Kat Girls and BoysSince 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 production during … [Read more...] about “Cabaret”
“Beach Blanket Babylon”
Beach Blanket BabylonSteve Silver, CreatorJo Shuman Silver, ProducerClub FugaziShawna Ferris McNulty as Snow WhiteFirst, I must make a confession. For over thirty-five years of its forty-two-and-counting-year history, I have been a Beach Blanket Babylon fanatic – some might say groupie. I can count at least twenty-five times I have toured the world with Snow White … [Read more...] about “Beach Blanket Babylon”
“The Invisible Hand”
The Invisible HandAyad AkhtarMarin Theatre CompanyCraig Marker, Jason Kapoor & Pomme KochFor many of the Popes of centuries past, the televangelists of the late twentieth century, or the ISIS leaders in Iraq and Syria of 2016, dogmatic and self-righteous religious zealousness appears often to lead to great accumulations of wealth at the expense of others. The … [Read more...] about “The Invisible Hand”
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeChristopher DurangPalo Alto Players Patricia Tyler, Walter M. Mayes, Judith Miller & Jimmy MasonThe 2013 Tony winner for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, has been produced coast-to-coast and now lands on the stage of Palo Alto Players as the final installation of the company’s 85th Anniversary, “Toniest … [Read more...] about “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”
“The Velocity of Autumn”
The Velocity of AutumnEric CobleTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyMark Anderson Philips & Susan Greenhill TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is staging a truly uplifting and heart-warming production of Eric Coble’s The Velocity of Autumn that does not dwell on decline and death as much as on the freedom to act and to be as one feels compelled during whatever amount … [Read more...] about “The Velocity of Autumn”
