OndineKatharine ShermanCutting Ball TheatreThe Cast of "Ondine"A giant, molded, blue wave that peaks on both ends divides the arriving audience into two halves as a young man and woman -- both bare-footed, loosely clothed – silently cuddle, lounge separately, and run up the wave’s opposing crests, only to slide back down. The dance-of-sorts continues a full fifteen … [Read more...] about “Ondine”
“Bridges”
BridgesCheryl L. Davis (Book & Lyrics); Douglas J. Cohen (Music)Berkeley PlayhouseThe Cast of "Bridges"In twos and threes, shoulder to shoulder, and all hands clapping, twenty shining faces looking straight ahead come down the center aisle singing, “We’re heading for freedom ... Look how far we’ve come ... There’s nothing we can’t overcome.” As they head toward two … [Read more...] about “Bridges”
“She Loves Me”
She Loves MeJerry Bock (Music); Sheldon Harnick (Lyrics); Joe Masteroff (Book)Foothill Music Theatre Nick Rodrigues, Anthony Stephens, Michael Doppe, Morgan Dayley & John RinaldiFoothill Music Theatre opens She Loves Me in a fabulously directed production that leaves no laugh unchuckled, no minute empty or dull, and no character (major or minor) without a chance to … [Read more...] about “She Loves Me”
“Champion: An Opera in Jazz”
Champion: An Opera in JazzTerence Blanchard (Composer); Michael Cristofer (Libretto)SFJAZZ with Opera ParallèleArthur WoodleyA lone boxer slowly and randomly punches his bag, gradually picks up steam and style with gathered strength, and finally begins to punctuate his song in staccato beats on the bag. With that singular, opening composition, Terence Blanchard introduces … [Read more...] about “Champion: An Opera in Jazz”
“Sam and Dede (Or, My Dinner with Andre the Giant)”
Sam and Dede (Or My Dinner with Andre the Giant)Gino DilorioCustom Made Theatre CompanySam (Dave Sikula) Drives Dede (Brendan Averett) to SchoolA writer afraid of words befriends a giant trying to hide. That the former is the Nobel prize-winning, Irish writer Samuel Beckett and the latter is his French, twelve-year-old neighbor, Andre, already over six feet tall and 240 … [Read more...] about “Sam and Dede (Or, My Dinner with Andre the Giant)”
“Dogeaters”
DogeatersJessica HagedornMagic TheatreThe hot, muggy breezes of Philippine jungles send trees crashing against the corrugated shacks along the stage wall while thumping loud beats of 1980s club music in Manila vibrate all around us. The uneasiness and threat of a storm is eased somewhat by the promise of a nightclub party. For the next two and a half hours, opulence … [Read more...] about “Dogeaters”
“The Illusionists — Live from Broadway”
The Illusionists – Live from BroadwaySimon Painter, Creative ProducerSHNThe CastOver-the-top Vegas garishness of flashing lights and lasers, a harshly mod set design, goth-dressed dancers looking angry as they stomp and flip wildly about, and blaring pumped-up music could not cover up how underwhelming SHN’s latest touring offering, The Illusionists – Live from Broadway, was on … [Read more...] about “The Illusionists — Live from Broadway”
“I Do! I Do!”
I Do! I Do!Tom Jones (Book and Lyrics); Harvey Schmidt (Music)The Tabard Theatre Company Itrene Trapp & James CreerFor an audience of a certain age, the Tabard production of I Do! I Do! is likely to be an enjoyable, probably nostalgic couple of hours that leaves them with some smiles thinking about yesteryear. For history buffs of the American … [Read more...] about “I Do! I Do!”
“Valley of the Heart”
Valley of the HeartLuis ValdezSan Jose Stage Company in Partnership with El Teatro Campesino Lakin Vladez & Melanie Arii MahGrand and epic in theme and scope while intensely personal in individual stories, Luis Valdez’s Valley of the Heart receives its world premiere through a partnership between two award-winning companies, San Jose Stage and El Teatro … [Read more...] about “Valley of the Heart”
“Aubergine”
AubergineJulia ChoBerkeley Repertory TheatreSab Shimono & Tim KangA small, homegrown carrot; specially bought bread fried in butter and topped with warmed pastrami; multi-colored eggplants the size of golf balls; a soup of turtle, cabbages, and scallions; even a bowl of cheap ramen or a plate of cold fried chicken: What is it about each that elicits sweet, even … [Read more...] about “Aubergine”
“Tinderella”
Tinderella: The Modern MusicalChristian B. Schmidt (Music), Weston Scott (Lyrics) & Rose Oser (Book)FaultLine TheaterWeston Scott, Audrey Baker, Marisa Conroy, Kevin Singer & Alex BonteWhen it comes to finding a first date; a soul mate; or a jump-in-the-bed-one-night escape, that potential dreamboat is just a click (or on the app Tinder, a swipe) away in today’s … [Read more...] about “Tinderella”
“Forever Plaid”
Forever PlaidStuart RossSouth Bay Musical Theatre David Murphy, Matthew Hall, Derek DeMarco & Will PerezEmerging through rolling fog out of a giant, neon-lit Wurlitzer jukebox and draped above by a curtain of hundreds of 45s, four men in white tux coats chant solemnly something sounding Latin and holy and strangely peppered with the word “plaid.” ... As … [Read more...] about “Forever Plaid”
“U.S. Drag”
U.S. DragGina GionfriddoDragon Productions Theatre CompanyJosiah Frampton, Liz Frederick, Olivia Haas & Jeremy Ryan Planes did not fall out of the air nor all ATM screens go completely blank as was predicted, but according to Gina Gionfriddo’s 2002 master’s-thesis-born play, U.S. Drag, something did happen to all those twenty-somethings we now call Millennials as we all … [Read more...] about “U.S. Drag”
“Little Erik”
Little ErikMark JacksonAurora Theatre CompanyJack Wittmayer, Mariah Castle, Marilee Talkington, Joe Estlack & Wilman BonetWaves crash with awful fury as their deafening sounds echo all around us, with the flashing shadows of trees dancing in tumult on the stage we as audience surround on three sides. As the storm dies, a low, ominous, single chord lingers in the … [Read more...] about “Little Erik”
“Middletown”
MiddletownWill EnoLos Altos Stage Company Kama Fletcher & Michael SallyLos Altos Stage Company's well-presented production of Will Eno's Middletown is a surreal and strange yet fascinating and endearing look at life where, like the ticks we initially hear from an unseen town clock, just passes without a lot really happening – except birth and death. Follow the … [Read more...] about “Middletown”
