Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosCharles Peoples III, Rudy Guerrero & Kim LarsenOnce again as Pride Month begins, the wonderfully garish Priscilla bus has pulled into Gateway Theatre full of its fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, and proudly prancing divas in sparkly wigs. Yes, Theatre Rhinoceros has … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
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“What the Constitution Means to Me”
What the Constitution Means to MeHeidi SchreckBerkeley Repertory TheatreHeidi SchreckAt the age of fifteen, Heidi Schreck remembers “in addition to being terrifically turned on,” to also being enthralled by “witch trials, theatre, and Patrick Swayze.” As then a high school sophomore in Weeatache, Washington, young Heidi traveled in a circuit around the U.S. to the … [Read more...] about “What the Constitution Means to Me”
“Tinderella: The Modern Musical”
Tinderella: The Modern MusicalRose Oser (Book), Weston Scott (Lyrics) & Christian B. Schmidt (Music) CustomMade Theatre Company & Faultline TheaterThe Cast of TinderellaTwo years ago, I raved in a review about a world premiere musical that I described as “a modern fairy tale with no happy ending guaranteed but a lot of sex and excitement getting there.” The tight, … [Read more...] about “Tinderella: The Modern Musical”
“The Mystery of Love and Sex”
The Mystery of Love and SexBathsheba DoranNew Conservatory Theatre CenterKenny Scott & Linda Maria GirónCharlotte and Jonny, who have been pals since they were nine, now are dormie buddies in college and about to host her parents for a ‘heatless’ dinner (aka salad and French bread sans the butter they forgot to buy). That she is white and Jewish and he is black and … [Read more...] about “The Mystery of Love and Sex”
“Love Never Dies”
Love Never DiesAndrew Lloyd Webber (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Ben Elton (Book)Charles Hart (Additional Lyrics); David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber (Orchestration)Broadway San JoseGarder Thor Cortes & Meghan PicernoSince the longest running show in Broadway history opened in 1988 and after its six-year, record-breaking run in San Francisco (1993-1999), I must admit … [Read more...] about “Love Never Dies”
“La Muerte Baila”
La Muerte BailaRebecca Martinez Teatro Visíon There is palpable excitement stirring as the curtain rises on a darkened underworld as all skeletal souls wait to hear the bells on earth begin to chime to announce el día de los muertos (the Day of the Dead). Those bells are their invitation to cross over for one day and re-enact a favorite memory, to visit a missed … [Read more...] about “La Muerte Baila”
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Disney’s The Little MermaidAlan Menken (Music); Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Doug Wright (Book)Broadway San JoseThe Cast of The Little MermaidA stage-filling, blue screen full of bubbles that boringly bobbled up and down a few inches in each direction as the packed audience filled the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts should have been all the evidence we … [Read more...] about “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
“Day 1, Show #1: TheatreEddys at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival”
“Day 1, Show #1: TheatreEddys at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival”Show #1, 2017 Edinburgh Fringe FestivalImprobable FictionAlan AyckbournEdinburgh Theatre ArtsA nervous man tries his best to count the curious variety of padded stools, folding chairs, and ottoman seats circled around him; and he simply cannot seem to come up with the required ten. He is about once again … [Read more...] about “Day 1, Show #1: TheatreEddys at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival”
“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]
“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”
“Battlefield”
BattlefieldAdapted by Peter BrookBased on The Mahabharata and the Play by Jean-Claude CarrièreAmerican Conservatory TheatreJared McNeill, Sean O'Callaghan, Ery Nzaramba & Carole KaremeraAn old man -- obviously blind and in a cloak and outfit indistinguishable as to historical era or geography -- steps forward to tell us in a tired, low-keyed voice with little movement of … [Read more...] about “Battlefield”
“You for Me for You”
You for Me for YouMia ChungCrowded Fire TheaterElissa Beth Stebbins, Kathryn Han & Jomar TagatacThe driven desire against immense odds to escape despot regimes where personal freedoms are few-to-none, food is scarce to the point of hunger, and family members are often at risk of being whisked away in the middle of the night is certainly a part of our current, global … [Read more...] about “You for Me for You”
“Rumors”
RumorsNeil SimonHillbarn TheatreThe Cast of Rumors With a cast whose tongues are fully in cheek, slapstick skills are sharply honed, and mission is to milk every laugh possible from the ninety-minute script, Hillbarn Theatre stages an entertaining Rumors. Touting little social, redeeming value other than to produce much laughter from increasingly silly … [Read more...] about “Rumors”
“BEOWULF”
BEOWULFWe Players, Rova Saxophone Quartet & InkBoatNathaniel Justiniano, Ava Roy & Dana Ioga-Koga“Smell ... Listen ... Breathe.”And a hundred-plus “mourners” all clad in black (i.e., the audience) leave the San Francisco Maritime Museum, heading toward the sounds of sad, wailing saxophones, tucked in the green hills and hidden among the giant trees with branches … [Read more...] about “BEOWULF”
