The Toxic AvengerJoe DiPietro (Book & Lyrics); David Bryan (Music & Lyrics)The Stage Courtney Hatcher, Brandon Noel Thomas, Joshua Marx, Allison F. Rich & Will Springhorn Jr. The Toxic Avengeris a solid choice by The Stage for summertime fun in much the same way local movie houses decide to give us silly comedies and super-hero … [Read more...] about “The Toxic Avenger”
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“The Legend of Georgia McBride”
The Legend of Georgia McBrideMatthew LopezMarin Theatre CompanyJason Kapoor, Adam McGill & Kraig SwartzElvis shaking his legs in a white jumpsuit, studded with red sparkles and flared in both sleeves and legs. Drag queens in golden-yellow, butt-showing rain gear, popping their umbrellas and singing of “men” raining from above. Appearances by Judy, Barbra, Tammy, … [Read more...] about “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
“The Graduate”
The GraduateTerry JohnsonBased on Novel by Charles Webb & Movie by Calder Willingham & Buck HenryPalo Alto PlayersMax Tachis & Shawn Bender ‘Cute’ is a word that keeps coming to my mind as I relive The Graduate as produced by Palo Alto Players and director Jeanie Smith – a ‘cute’ that is meant as a total compliment of how chuckling funny, genuinely heart-felt, … [Read more...] about “The Graduate”
“Hershey Felder, Beethoven”
Hershey Felder, BeethovenHershey Felder (Book); Ludwig van Beethoven (Music)TheatreWorks, Silicon ValleyHershey Felder Hershey Felder, Beethoven bursts onto the Mountain View Performing Arts Center as a full, classical concert, played magnificently by the sole performer as pianist and punctuated by a narrated story that is populated by both Beethoven and the major players of … [Read more...] about “Hershey Felder, Beethoven”
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosDiogo Zavadzki, Charles Peoples III & Derek MillerIt’s Pride 2017 in San Francisco; and what better way to celebrate than with fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, singing divas in sparkly wigs, and a garishly decorated school bus named Priscilla? Oh, and there are kangaroos, … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
“Pear Slices 2017”
Pear Slices 2017Various PlaywrightsPear TheatreBriana Mitchell, Ariel Aronica, and Bryan Moriarty From its writers’ forum often come full-length plays that premiere on the intimate Pear Theatre stage, and also emerging is an annual offering not unlike this year’s version of Pear Slices 2017: Eight fifteen-minute plays performed in repertory by seven talented … [Read more...] about “Pear Slices 2017”
“Sister Act”
Sister ActAlan Menken (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Cheri & Bill Steinkellner (Book)Hillbarn TheatreDawn L. Troupe, Melissa Costa and CastGlory Hallelujah and Amen! Hillbarn Theatre may not have Whoopi Goldberg from the 1992 movie or Patina Miller from the 2009 London and 2011 New York openings; but thank the Almighty, the Foster City company has found its miracle … [Read more...] about “Sister Act”
“The Memory Stick”
The Memory StickDonal O’KellyThe Stage John R. Lewis, Joseph D. Valdez, & Lyndsy KailIn a co-commission with the Dublin City Arts Office and the Irish Theatre Institute, The Stage opens a world premiere The Memory Stick by Donal O’Kelly – a play about what it means and what it costs to stand up against all odds. Lyrically directed, often as in a dreamscape, by … [Read more...] about “The Memory Stick”
“Needles and Opium”
Needles and OpiumRobert LepageAmerican Conservatory TheatreOliver NormandTwo similar comments seem to be on the lips of everyone as the house lights come up after the final stage bows – whether it is the woman sitting next to me, couples exiting with question marks written all across their faces, or the guys joining me along the downstairs urinals after the ninety-five minute, … [Read more...] about “Needles and Opium”
“Everything That’s Beautiful”
Everything’s That’s BeautifulElyzabeth Gregory WilderNew Conservatory Theatre CenterMattea Fountain as MorganSomething happens unexpected, unplanned, unwanted. Change. Immediately, the surrounding system is in transition – neither in the state of what was once nor in the state of what might someday be. Emotions follow rollercoaster tracks. Communication … [Read more...] about “Everything That’s Beautiful”
“Nora”
NoraIngmar BergmanShotgun Players The Cast of NoraWhen Ibsen premiered A Doll’s House in 1879, controversy immediately erupted when his banker’s wife and mother of three challenges the society’s definition of marriage and walks defiantly away from hers, seeking to discover who she really is beyond those two, domestic titles. At the time, Ibsen said he was inspired by … [Read more...] about “Nora”
“Seminar”
SeminarTheresa RebeckSan Jose State University, College of Humanities and the Arts Hammer Theatre CenterDavid Prete, Kaythi Win, Matthew Kropshot, Sarah Haas & Jacob SossDouglas smacks of pedigree: famous uncle playwright from Harvard, his own la-tee-dah college degree, a sure-fire route to a New Yorker publication, and a tendency to drop words like “interiority and … [Read more...] about “Seminar”
“LENI”
LENISarah GreenmanAuroraTheatre CompanyStacy RossHow much responsibility does an artist own when art is evidently going to be used as propaganda? Can an artist become so engrossed in the work’s creation to become oblivious to the content’s meaning and to the primary actors that are a part of its making? Is groundbreaking perfection of beauty and a positive, direct … [Read more...] about “LENI”
“Calligraphy”
CalligraphyVelina Hasu HoustonTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Emily Kuroda and Mia TaganoSo many conflicts and confrontations emerge – both those happening real time and those that happened decades – that at times Calligraphy becomes a cross between an over-dramatic soap opera and a TV sitcom. And yet, in the elegantly staged version by TheatreWorks Silicon … [Read more...] about “Calligraphy”
“The Tempest”
The TempestWilliam ShakespeareStanford TAPS (Theatre and Performance Studies)Hamzed DaoudAn impressive, engrossing, and highly entertaining production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest has opened at Stanford TAPS (the Theatre and Performance Studies department of Stanford University). This final play of the Bard’s with its multiple themes and lines that can be seen as … [Read more...] about “The Tempest”
