HEROMONSTERNathaniel Justiniano & Ava Roy; Music by Charlie GurkeWePlayersNathaniel Justiniano and Ava RoyHEROMONSTER, created and performed by Nathaniel Justiniano and Ava Roy of We Players, is less a play with a story line and more poetry in motion with loose, vague references to the original Beowulf. The result is always intriguing, often mesmerizing, and at times … [Read more...] about “HEROMONSTER”
“Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the CobraDamien Chacona, Rob Keefe, Scrumbly Koldewyn, Nicolas Torre & Andy WengerThrillpeddlersReady to get your Halloween started in a gory and ghoulish, frightfully funny, blood-screaming way? Then forego the usual evening at a local haunted house or screening of a B-grade, horror flick and head instead to Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the … [Read more...] about “Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
“Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
Star Trek Live! Mudd’s WomenGene Roddenberry (Original Story); Stephen Kandel (Original Teleplay)D’Arcy Drollinger & Laurie Bushman (Co-Directors, Oasis Production)OasisAmber Sommerfield as Spock, Leigh Crow asJames T Kirk and Honey Mahogany as UhuraAs the stage lights come up on the Enterprise deck with Captain Jim Kirk in his command chair and all other key crew … [Read more...] about “Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
“Proof”
ProofDavid AuburnTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyL. Peter Callender as Robert & Michelle Beck as CatherineIf x = the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, y = the inspired casting and direction choices by Leslie Martinson, and z = a decision by Artistic Director Robert Kelley to revive at this particular time his company’s 2003 production of David Auburn’s Proof, the impressive total … [Read more...] about “Proof”
“The Nance”
The NanceDouglas Carter BeaneNew Conservatory Theatre CenterP.A. Cooley as the "Nance"Strippers in sparkling pasties wearing little more than fans or balloons, corny jokes and skits that draw laughs and moans even on the umpteenth hearing, short ditties sung bawdily and badly (on purpose), and a flaming and always funny queenie guy called the “Nance” are the basic ‘musts’ for … [Read more...] about “The Nance”
“Monstress”
MonstressTwo One Acts Based on Stories by Lysley Tenorio:- Remember the I-Hotel by Philip Kan Gotanda - Presenting … The Monstress! By Sean San JoseAmerican Conservatory TheatreOgie Zulueta (Vicente) & Jomar Tagatac (Fortunado)Commissioned by the American Conservatory Theatre, two one act plays probing stories of 20thCentury, Filipino immigrants to the San Francisco Bay … [Read more...] about “Monstress”
“Dogfight”
DogfightBenj Pasek & Justin Paul (Music & Lyrics); Peter Duchan (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseThe Marines of "Dogfight"Take an ugly contest and an uglier war; add a soldier, a waitress, music, and a moon over the Golden Gate; and the result is a moving, compelling, sometimes disturbing, and often funny love story at San Francisco Playhouse. With music and lyrics by … [Read more...] about “Dogfight”
“RFK”
RFK Jack Holmes The Stage David Arrow as RFK For anyone younger than 45, the first question might be, “Who is RFK?” and a quick second might be, “And why should I spend two hours listening to a guy in heavy Bostonian accent who constantly swipes at his floppy hair talk about his life?” Only a few mesmerizing minutes of David Arrow playing the solo … [Read more...] about “RFK”
“Or,”
Or,Liz Duffy AdamsDragon Productions Theatre Company Kathryn HanThe plague has ravaged, a fire has leveled, and seemingly endless wars have demoralized a late 1660s London that is also still trying to recover from eleven years of so-called moral cleansing by anti-monarchist Oliver Cromwell. Like a Phoenix rising from the flames and ashes, the … [Read more...] about “Or,”
“The Unheard of World”
The Unheard of WorldFabrice MelquiotTranslation by Michelle HanerfoolsFURYTheatre CompanyBrian Livingston & Joan HowardAs first audience members enter, shadowy forms in white, wispy linen wander before and around us with headlights and flashlights, pausing occasionally to confront one of us. Sometimes aimless and sometimes in more coordinated movements nearing a … [Read more...] about “The Unheard of World”
“Fred’s Diner”
Fred’s DinerPenelope SkinnerMagic TheatreOpening with a quick glance of a gruesome scene on Christmas Eve, Magic Theatre’s American premiere of Penelope Skinner’s Fred’s Diner retreats a few days earlier to travel a trail full of surprises, twists, and turns -- eventually to return to this scene in the end. The setting is Erik Flatmo’s deliciously authentic 1950’s style, … [Read more...] about “Fred’s Diner”
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeAdapted by Jeffrey HatcherFrom the Novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis StevensonCity Lights Theatre CompanyAdam Magill as Mr. HydeRobert Louis Stevenson’s novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) has spawned seemingly countless movies (silent and sound), cartoons, TV specials, plays, and a major Broadway … [Read more...] about “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
“Lizzie”
LizzieSteven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim Maner & Alan Stevens HewittRay of Light TheatreLizzie Borden took an axe,Gave her mother forty whacks.When she saw what she had done,Gave her father forty-one.Elizabeth Curtis as Lizzie, Jessica Coker as Emma, Taylor Jones as Alice and Melissa Reinertson as Bridget. With this children’s ditty probably running through our minds as we … [Read more...] about “Lizzie”
“Moments of Truth”
Moments of TruthPatricia Milton (Book); Caroline Altman (Music & Lyrics)3 Girls TheatreDanielle Thys, Tyler McKenna, Bekka Fink & Douglas GiorgisIn a living room setting with studio to the side where walls are adorned with numerous abstract paintings in washed-out colors, our eyes cannot help but go to schlocky portrait of a smiling cow with big ears and soulful … [Read more...] about “Moments of Truth”
“The Walls of Jericho”
The Walls of JerichoDiane TascaPear Theatre Drew Reitz & Sarah CookAlready known by many of a certain generation since the same story is the basis for the Oscar-winning It Happened One Night, the romantic comedy is prime to delight through the repartee and funny situations of the travelers we are about to meet in Pear Theatre's world premiere The Walls of Jericho by … [Read more...] about “The Walls of Jericho”
