IdeationAaron LoebCity Lights Theater CompanyTom Gough, Sunny Moza & George PsarrasThe outlandish possibilities flouted about have too many bits of troubling plausibility tucked into them for us to say that Ideation is just a sci-fi, comic thriller. Premiering in 2014, Aaron Loeb’s play is unfortunately even more grippingly alarming just three years later, given some … [Read more...] about “Ideation”
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“The Christians”
The ChristiansLucas HnathSan Francisco PlayhouseAnthony Fusco & the Cast of "The Christians"Eerily, it does immediately feel as if we are in a church rather than the San Francisco Playhouse that we thought we had entered (although maybe the glasses of wine many of us still have in our hands is a dead give-away of the true location). Before us is another incredible, … [Read more...] about “The Christians”
“Uncanny Valley”
Uncanny ValleyThomas GibbonsPear Theatre Mary Price Moore & Evan Kokklia Schumacher Thought-provoking, increasingly intriguing, eventually deeply troubling questions begin to emerge during the current, first-class offering by Pear Theatre of Thomas Gibbon’s Uncanny Valley – a term that refers to the uneasy and even repulsive feelings … [Read more...] about “Uncanny Valley”
“The Speakeasy”
The SpeakeasyBennett Fisher & Nick A. OliveroBoxcar Theatre Megan WicksA secret location, back alley meetings, required passwords, strict rules delivered with stern warning, boutonnieres denoting messages, and an entrance through a Chinese laundry into curtained passages in a basement-world below – All and more are the beginning parts of an evening of uproarious fun and … [Read more...] about “The Speakeasy”
“Crimes of the Heart”
Crimes of the HeartBeth HenleyTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Therese Plaehn, Lizzie O'Hara & Sarah MoserThe sometimes sad, often wacky, and usually hilarious goings on in the Magrath household of 1974 Mississippi remind us that forgiveness of family foibles is the road to keeping solid the bonds that in the end, hold families together. TheatreWorks … [Read more...] about “Crimes of the Heart”
“Annie”
AnnieThomas Meehan (Book); Charles Strouse (Music); Martin Charnin (Lyrics)Broadway San JoseSandy & Tori BatesAs the trumpet and trombone trade notes and intertwine in an opening duet of just a few seconds, the universally familiar words must be running through virtually all audience members’ heads: “The sun will come out ... tomorrow.” It would seem that if there is … [Read more...] about “Annie”
“Avenue Q”
Avenue QRobert Lopez Y Jeff Marx (Music & Lyrics); Jeff Whitty (Book)New Conservatory Theatre Center The 2017 "Purple" Cast of Avenue QEd Decker, Artistic Director of New Conservatory Theatre Center, begins his program introduction with “It’s the final, final, final ‘Furwell’ tour of Avenue Q, now in its fourth year of the company’s holiday productions. However, one … [Read more...] about “Avenue Q”
“The Sound of Music”
The Sound of MusicRichard Rodgers (Music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (Lyrics)Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse (Book)Broadway San JoseKerstin Anderson as 'Maria Rainer' and the von Trapp Children: Iris Davies (Brigitta), Anika Lore Hatch (Gretl), Austin Levine (Kurt), Kyla Carter (Marta), Ashley Brooke (Louisa), Roy Gantz (Friedrich), Paige Silvester (Liesl)For many in … [Read more...] about “The Sound of Music”
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Edward Albee Shotgun PlayersDavid Sinaiko, Josh Schell, Megan Trout & Beth WilmurtTruth or illusion? A marriage based on some sort of perverted but still very real love or one condemned to be a no-exit hell of gotcha games and daily battles? For over fifty years, audiences have returned time and again to see if the latest … [Read more...] about “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
“A Few Good Men”
A Few Good MenAaron SorkinHillbarn Theatre Brad Satterwhite & Thomas GorrebeeckMany audience members probably arrive at Hillbarn Theatre's A Few Good Men with Tom Cruise, Jack Nicolson, and Demi Moore in their mind’s eyes in the roles of Kaffee, Jessup, and Galloway. The wonderful aspect of live theatre and of a production so well cast, directed, and … [Read more...] about “A Few Good Men”
“Casa Valentina”
Casa ValentinaHarvey FiersteinNew Conservatory Theatre CenterThe Cast of "Ladies" of "Casa Valentina"The tall, curly-headed twenty-something with boyish face is greeted at the door of the bungalow inn by hostess Rita, “Grab a dish towel, and make your dreams come true.” Later her husband George adds, “Welcome to the best weekend of your life.” With tentative … [Read more...] about “Casa Valentina”
“It Can’t Happen Here”
It Can’t Happen HereAdapted by Tony Taccone & Bennett S. CohenFrom the Novel by Sinclair LewisBerkeley Repertory TheatreThe Cast of It Can't Happen HereOn an immense wooden floor surrounded by tall brick walls, a group of Ft. Beulah, Vermont townspeople of all shapes, colors, and sizes gathers to set the 1936 scene in the U.S: race riots in cities across the land, the … [Read more...] about “It Can’t Happen Here”
“August: Osage County”
August: Osage CountyTracy LettsMarin Theatre Company The Cast of "August: Osage County"Without a doubt, the star of Marin Theatre Company’s daring, innovative production of the wildly popular, dark family comedy by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County, is J. B. Wilson’s set. The multi-storied, multi-room weathered-wood and metal-framed skeleton with no solid walls enables … [Read more...] about “August: Osage County”
“Little Shop of Horrors”
Little Shop of HorrorsHoward Ashman (Book & Lyrics); Alan Menkin (Music)Ray of Light TheatreMary Kalita & Sam FaustineHow do you take everyone’s favorite horror, fully-tongue-in-cheek, rock musical about a human-eating plant and ensure that your production will be noticed when this musical has already been produced in the past thirty years on almost every community’s … [Read more...] about “Little Shop of Horrors”
“all of what you love and none of what you hate”
all of what you love and none of what you hatePhilip HowzeSan Francisco PlayhouseBritney FrazierIt would be a frustrating mistake to attempt understanding every single aspect of Philip Howze’s new play, all of what you love and none of what you hate. Better to step back and take in the gestalt, the totality. In San Francisco Playhouse’s world premiere production as … [Read more...] about “all of what you love and none of what you hate”
