Homeward Bound: An Orphan Train JourneyCathy Spielberger CassettaThe Tabard Theatre CompanyGinger Hurley, Ashley Wilson, Sarah Dorsey, Emily Anne Goes, Samantha Goes, and Chloe AllenBetween 1854 and 1929, over 250,000, mostly immigrant children were removed from the streets of New York and shipped on “orphan trains” to small town and farming community families all throughout … [Read more...] about “Homeward Bound: An Orphan Train Journey”
“The Oldest Boy”
The Oldest BoySarah RuhlMarin Theatre CompanyWayne Lee, Jinn S. Kim & Christine AlbrightIn the past few years, stages all across the Bay Area have had a love affair with Sarah Ruhl, offering acclaimed and often multiple productions of A Clean House; Dead Man’s Cell Phone; Eurydice; Orlando; Late: a cowboy song; and In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play. Marin Theatre … [Read more...] about “The Oldest Boy”
“Amélie: A New Musical”
Amélie: A New MusicalCraig Lucas (Book)Daniel Messé (Music)Nathan Tysen & Daniel Messé (Lyrics)Berkeley Repertory TheatreSamantha Barks as Amélie & CastIf evaluating on a series of 1-10 scales such as ‘quirky,’ ‘imaginative,’ and ‘eye-popping,’ anyone would be hard pressed not to rate Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s world premiere Amélie: A New Musical 10+ on each. … [Read more...] about “Amélie: A New Musical”
“Chicago”
ChicagoFred Ebb & Bob Fosse (Book); John Kander (Music); Fred Ebb (Lyrics)Based on the Play by Maurine Dallas WatkinsPalo Alto PlayersJoey McDaniel, Robbie Reign, Elizabeth Santana, and Michael MonagleA slim, curvy woman in a tight, black gown slinks down the steps tempting us with her sexy "All That Jazz," kicking off in full style Palo Alto Players' 85th "Toniest-ever" … [Read more...] about “Chicago”
“Between Riverside and Crazy”
Between Riverside and CrazyStephen Adly GuirgisAmerican Conservatory TheatreCarl Lumbly, Lakin Valdez & Samuel Ray GatesThe fact the entire suburban flat rolls back and forth a few feet between the ten scenes gives us a good clue that there is plenty of shifting about to occur in the characters and stories on this American Conservatory Theatre stage. Those who … [Read more...] about “Between Riverside and Crazy”
“For the Love of Comrades”
For the Love of ComradesMichael Kerrigan (With Script Development by Patricia Byrne & Mary Connors)New Conservatory Theatre CenterShane Fahey, Paul Rodrigues, Miles Duffield & Stephen McFarlandToo often, important stories intertwined within the blaring headlines of the day are overlooked and soon forgotten as the next big event erases any hope of those stories being a … [Read more...] about “For the Love of Comrades”
“Loveland: Good Grief”
Loveland: Good GriefAnn RandolphThe MarshAnn Randolph as Frannie PottsAs we settle into our seats in the intimate setting of San Francisco’s The Marsh, a familiar greeting echoes out of the dark, warning us to buckle up and refrain from our electronic devices until we reach our cruising altitude. Clearly we are about to be airlifted into a journey of some sort, but none … [Read more...] about “Loveland: Good Grief”
“The Voice of the Prairie”
The Voice of the PrairieJohn OliveDragon Productions Theatre CompanyMaria Giere Marquis and Robert Sean Campbell“The world is a strange world, isn’t it, where wooden boxes can pull ghosts out of the sky.” And in the 1923 world of John Olive’s The Voice of the Prairie,” these radio boxes provide a wonderful medium to relate a nostalgic story chocked full of many other … [Read more...] about “The Voice of the Prairie”
“Eurydice”
EurydiceSarah RuhlShotgun PlayersMegan Trout & Kenny TollSeveral dozen metal water buckets stacked to form a wall facing us a dozen feet tall. More buckets lined up on the floor and others hanging in the air on the opposite side, all connected to ropes and pulleys. Curved, brackish-green, metallic walls with a metal-fenced walkway running along halfway up the … [Read more...] about “Eurydice”
“Mud Blue Sky”
Mud Blue SkyMarisa WegrzynAurora Theatre CompanySam (c. l, Rebecca Dines) sends Jonathan (c. r, Devin O’Brien) on an errand as Angie (r, Laura Jane Bailey) watches and Beth (l, Jamie Jones) pours herself another drink in Aurora Theatre Company’s Mud Blue SkyIn case there is any audience member still hanging onto idealized visions of how glamorous traveling the skies is for … [Read more...] about “Mud Blue Sky”
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Hillbarn Theatre)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart (Book)Based on the Plays of PlautusHillbarn Theatre David Blackburn (Hero) & Dan Demers (Pseudolus) The cast and co-directors of the current Forum at Hillbarn Theatre clearly understand why they and we are there spending yet another evening with … [Read more...] about “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Hillbarn Theatre)
“Country House”
The Country HouseDonald MarguliesTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyPhoto by Kevin BerneAll the needed cast is arriving in the wooded Berkshires to ensure that Donald Margulies’ play about theatre people, The Country House, covers the bases in poking loving jabs at all possible roles in this regional premiere by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Here enters (with a flair of course) … [Read more...] about “Country House”
Two Highly Rated Shows Return for Encores in August
By popular demand of audiences, two excellent productions that graced local stages earlier this year will re-open this month for extended runs. Each tells a GLBT-related story and relates an important story of our not-too-distant history.Photo by David WilsonBreaking the Code: The Alan Turing Story (Hugh Whitemore) reopens at Theatre Rhinoceros August 5-29, 2015, … [Read more...] about Two Highly Rated Shows Return for Encores in August
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart (Book)Based on the Plays of PlautusFoothill Music Theatre Photo by David AllenFoothill Music Theatre has provided us with a pleasant venture into ancient Rome in its A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, but I fear the trip will be … [Read more...] about “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
“Champagne White and the Temple of Poon”
Champagne White and the Temple of PoonD’Arcy DrollingerOasis Welcome to the Sha Boom Boom Room where the fabulously blonde Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White (she’s been married a lot … and they’re all dead) is about to grind her big, sexy body to audience howls and delight. Only tonight, our action heroine from Oasis’s previous hit show S—t and Champagne has lost … [Read more...] about “Champagne White and the Temple of Poon”
