Joan Crawford Superstar Chris Chase Intentional Theatrics A woman too many currently only know as the callous, abusing mother in Mommie Dearest -- a daughter's memoir and subsequent film that has largely been debunked as totally false -- is the focus of Chris Chase's, Joan Crawford Superstar, now in a totally fascinating and engrossing premiere production by … [Read more...] about Joan Crawford Superstar
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Cyrano
Cyrano Edmond Rostand, Adapted by Jeffrey Lo & Max Tachis Los Altos Stage Company From its premiere night in 1897 Paris when the audience was still applauding an hour after the final curtain fell, through multiple stagings on the Great White Way starring some of Broadway’s finest, and after hundreds of productions worldwide in multiple languages, Edmond … [Read more...] about Cyrano
The Underpants
The Underpants Steve Martin, Adapted from Carl Sternheim San Jose Stage Company Even though they were "clean cotton, neat, and perfectly ironed," when the young and beautiful Louise drops her bloomers while standing on a bench in Dusseldorf to see the passing king, heads quickly turn, male hearts skip a beat, and news of the scandal spreads fast -- especially when … [Read more...] about The Underpants
ShaXspeare Reimagined
Shaxspeare Reimagined From the Works of William Shakespeare Rebecca Clark, Victoria Evans-Erville, AeJay Antonis Marquis, James Mercer II, Dawn Monique Williams & William Thomas Hodgson, Directors African-American Shakespeare Company The thirty-nine plays of William Shakespeare have been revisited, revised, and reconceptualized in thousands of ways since … [Read more...] about ShaXspeare Reimagined
The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap Agatha Christie City Lights Theater Company For as much as any one of us decries the awful acts of gun violence we hear about on a near-daily basis, who among us does not like a juicy, suspenseful murder mystery? And who is better to tell such a tale than the master herself, Agatha Christie, the most-published novelist in history and the playwright … [Read more...] about The Mousetrap
Push/Pull
Push/Pull Harry Davis Central Works Dedication/Obsession. Self-esteem/Self-disgust. Fulfilling a dream/Living a delusion. Acceptable friendship/Forbidden Intimacy. Wanting to feel male/Wanting the feel of a male. Life seeking/Death wishing. Where is the boundary between these extremes? When and how does the balance shift from one side to the other? Is … [Read more...] about Push/Pull
Fly by Night
Fly by Night Will Connolly, Michael Mitnick & Kim Rosenstock, Writers; Conceived by Kim Rosenstock Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory A love triangle between two sisters and a sandwich maker. A gypsy whose crystal ball reveals one sister's future-certain "mountain life" of rise and fall. A grieving husband who finds solace hugging a record player and … [Read more...] about Fly by Night
The Prom
The Prom Bob Martin & Chad Beguelin (Book); Matthew Sklar (Music); Chad Beguelin (Lyrics) Foothill Music Theatre At the small-town high school of Fulton, Mississippi in 2010, a high school senior girl was refused the right to bring her girlfriend to the prom, leading to an ACLU suit in court; an eventual prom where only seven students joined her and her date; … [Read more...] about The Prom
Waste
Waste Harley Granville-Barker Adapted by Carey Perloff Marin Theatre "Oh what practical, sentimental children you men are, you and your consciousness, you and your laws. You drive us to distraction and sometimes death by your stupidities. Poor women!" Is it any wonder that in an England with its toes still in the deeply moralistic waters of the recently … [Read more...] about Waste
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Alan Ball Coastal Rep Theatre Five young women each wearing identical, bridesmaid dresses that one describes as "makes me look like a linebacker" along with little hats that "makes us look like the flying nun" find escape from the outdoor reception in the former bedroom of the bride whom all -- including her younger sister -- more … [Read more...] about Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Queering the Masses
Queering the Mass Davóne Tines The Chan National Arts Center With background sounds of thunder and rain with a roving red spot sweeping in the otherwise darkened arena, a rich, stirring voice begins to intone, “I’m. lost, and I’m calling for my baby; I need you cause I’m so alone.” As the sole singer dressed in white top and black shorts and long stockings … [Read more...] about Queering the Masses
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Los Altos Stage Company Perched outside the apartment’s open window on the fire escape where he will spend much of the upcoming play, a young man smokes and comments with little emotion, “The play is memory. Being a memory play, it is dimly lighted; it is sentimental; it is not realistic.” We will soon learn that this is Tom, … [Read more...] about The Glass Menagerie
Noises Off
Noises Off Michael Frayn Palo Alto Players “Doors and sardines. Getting on, getting off. Getting the sardines on, getting the sardines off. That's farce. That's the theatre. That's life.” Perhaps no line better summarizes the challenge and the fun potential of both the fictional director and the actual stage director of Palo Alto Players’ latest opening, Michael … [Read more...] about Noises Off
The Best of The Second City
The Best of The Second City The Second City Berkeley Repertory Theatre For sixty-four years emanating from its Chicago birthplace has come generation after generation of some of the world’s greatest comedian superstars, all getting their start doing improv and ensemble acts at The Second City. The likes of Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Tina Fay, Chris … [Read more...] about The Best of The Second City
Who’s-Dead McCarthy: Stories by Kevin Barry
Who’s-Dead McCarthy: Stories by Kevin Barry Kevin Barry Word for Word In its 31st year of transforming “the page to the stage,” Word for Word once again celebrates the literary genre of the short story by bringing to the intimate stage of Z Below three delightful gems by a much awarded, contemporary, Irish writer in Who’s-Dead McCarthy: Stories by Kevin Barry. The stories … [Read more...] about Who’s-Dead McCarthy: Stories by Kevin Barry
