tokyo fish storyKimber LeeTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Frances Jue, Linden Tailor & James SeolAudiences may soon forget the ‘story,’ but the visual memories of Kimber Lee’s tokyo fish story as produced in its Northern California premiere by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley may well last a lifetime. An old Japanese man biking with meditative strokes high in a … [Read more...] about “tokyo fish story”
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“Swimmers”
SwimmersRachel BondsMarin Theatre CompanyAaron Roman Weiner & Max RosenakA mysterious black billboard is said to proclaim in blaring white letters, “7/7/16 – End of the World.” Coyotes suddenly roam urban industrial parks; a scraggly woman in the woods taps a passer’s-by head warning, “The time has come,” and there is talk in the hallways of the sure-to-happen … [Read more...] about “Swimmers”
“Uncle Vanya:
Uncle VanyaAnton ChekhovTranslated and Adapted by Dave SikulaPear Theatre Stephen Muterspaugh & Jeffrey BraccoPear Theatre presents Dave Sikula’s new translation of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in language that is modern in flow and feel and in a setting that is intimate and immediate. Adding a highly talented cast and beautifully orchestrated direction, this … [Read more...] about “Uncle Vanya:
“Three’s Company LIVE!”
Three’s Company LIVE! Adapted by D’Arcy Drollinger Oasis The Cast of Three's Company LIVE! I must make two confessions up front before beginning this review. 1) The two or three times I happened to turn on “Three’s Company” during its 1977-1984 run as a sitcom hit (in the top ten of all TV shows for seven of those years), I never … [Read more...] about “Three’s Company LIVE!”
“Macbeth”
MacbethWilliam ShakespeareBerkeley Repertory Company Conleth Hill & Frances McDormandYears from now when I look back at all the productions of Macbeth that I have seen from Ashland to London to Edinburgh and many places in between, I am confident that the current rendition at Berkeley Repertory Theatre will be emblazoned in my fondest memories. While the searing, … [Read more...] about “Macbeth”
“Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage”
Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on StageEleanor BergsteinSHNChristopher Tierney and the Cast of Dancers of "Dirty Dancing"As two voices in duet brilliantly sing the words all in the audience have been salivating for over two hours to hear, the dance of all dances begins in sultry swerves and dips to raised cheers (and probably some tears) among the thousand-plus in … [Read more...] about “Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“Tigers Be Still”
Tigers Be StillKim RosenstockCity Lights Theater Company Akemi Okamura & Melissa WeinsteinCity Lights Theater Company has taken the extremely clever script of Kim Rosenstock and produced through a fine production team and talented cast a Tigers Be Still that keeps the audience in tears – either through hundreds of reasons to laugh or a few heartthrob … [Read more...] about “Tigers Be Still”
“Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play”
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio PlayAdapted by Hayley Lovgren from the Original Screen Play by George SeatonBased on The LUX Radio Theatre Broadcast of December 22, 1948The Tabard Theatre CompanyThe Cast of Tabard's "Miracle on 34th Street"For decades, millions of Americans tune in sometime during each December for their annual viewing of the 1947 George Seaton, … [Read more...] about “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play”
“Scrooge in Love”
Scrooge in LoveLarry Grossman (Music), Kellen Blair (Lyrics), Duane Poole (Book)42nd Street Moon TheatreRyan Drummond & Jason GraaeWe are rarely left to wonder what happens to our favorite characters after a blockbuster movie ends because a sequel is usually not too long in coming to update us and continue the tale. (Think Godfather, Toy Story, Men in Black, Kung Fu … [Read more...] about “Scrooge in Love”
