Hot men and women in sensuous, black corsets of torn lace and slicked leather who are raised on high by heeled boots, all singing and dancing in rock numbers that are precursors of later musicals like Grease or Hairspray can mean only one thing: The Rocky Horror Show is yet once again in revival. Generations of costumed, crazed audiences around the world have sustained … [Read more...] about The Rocky Horror Show
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Nine the Musical
Guido Contini is turning fifty. His last three films were flops. His producer expects a new film script in four days that he has not started. His leading star and oft-lover is refusing to do another film with him. His wife is telling him she wants a divorce, and his young mistress is threatening to divorce her husband so she and Guido can marry – something he definitely … [Read more...] about Nine the Musical
This Side of Crazy
They were once known as “the little superstars for Jesus.” Now the grown Blaylock Sisters are an atheist former stripper, a mental institution patient who once strangled her ex-lover, and a Vlogger who gives scripture-based advice on her “Good Christian Women” show after making love to her comatose husband upstairs. How they each got from Point A to Point B has much to do … [Read more...] about This Side of Crazy
“Free for All: A New “Miss Julie” for a New World”
Free for All: A New “Miss Julie” for a New World Megan Cohen Cutting Ball Theater Charlie Gray, Stacy Ross & Miyaka P. Cochrane The setting is “Soon, San Francisco.” The great frost’s snows are once again falling, and all the City’s hills are glistening in fresh snow. Julie has stepped out of her home at the top of Nob Hill and is going for one last run down … [Read more...] about “Free for All: A New “Miss Julie” for a New World”
“The Great Wave”
The Great WaveFrancis TurnlyBerkeley Repertory TheatreSharon OmiAlmost every stormy winter, we natives of the San Francisco Bay Area read the tragic news that along the city’s Great Beach or nearby coastal areas someone has been swept to sea by a sudden-appearing “rogue wave,” never to be seen again. In 1979 off the west coast of Japan, two teenage sisters venture out … [Read more...] about “The Great Wave”
“As You Like It: A New Musical”
As You Like It: A New MusicalWilliam Shakespeare (Book & Lyrics); The Kilbanes [Kate Kilbane & Dan Moses] & Phil Wong (Music & Lyrics); Rebecca J. Ennals (Adapter)San Francisco Shakespeare FestivalRegina Morones & Michael Barrett AustinAs part of what many consider his most joyous and romantic comedy, William Shakespeare includes several songs, making the … [Read more...] about “As You Like It: A New Musical”
“Alice in Wonderland”: Day 7, Show 7, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Alice in WonderlandEva Le Gallienne & Florida FriebusAdapted from Lewis CarrollOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Cast of Alice in WonderlandDreams are often disjointed and full of strange things we sometimes only slightly recognize while they take us places that range from fascinating to fearful, from silly to sad, from comforting to frightful. In directing Oregon … [Read more...] about “Alice in Wonderland”: Day 7, Show 7, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“La Comedia of Errors”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
La Comedia of ErrorsWilliam ShakespeareBilingual Adaptation by Lydia G. Garcia & Bill Rauch of a Play On!Translation by Christina AndersonOregon Shakespeare FestivalFidel Gomez, Mark Murphey, Tony Sancho & Catherine Castellanos Slapstick comedy reigns supreme while at the same time, strong messages are pronounced in both English and Spanish about our country’s current … [Read more...] about “La Comedia of Errors”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Between Two Knees”: Day One, Play One, Theatre Eddys Goes to 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Between Two KneesThe 1491s (Dallas Goldtooth, Sterlin Harjo, Migizi Pensoneau, Ryan Redcorn & Bobby Wilson)Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Co-Commissioned with New NativeTheatreJustin GauthierMultiple massacres of innocent men, women, and children; forced resettlements of native peoples to the country’s most undesirable locales; reeducation of children to forget their native … [Read more...] about “Between Two Knees”: Day One, Play One, Theatre Eddys Goes to 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“OUT of Site SOMA”
OUT of Site SOMAK.M. (Karl) Soehnlein & Seth EisenEye Zen PresentsRyan Hayes & Marga GomezThe streets and alleys of San Francisco that we pass every day are brimming with stories and people often long forgotten. While many natives and visitors today associate Folsom Street as the heart of the leather community thanks to the Festival that one Sunday every September … [Read more...] about “OUT of Site SOMA”
“A History of Freaks”
A History of FreaksKatie MayPlaygroundSteven Westdahl & Elena WrightLike millions of kids before her, as soon as Claire went to her first circus as a kid, she dreamed of running away someday to be on the road with the clowns, the animal trainers, and the trapeze artists. Even as a PhD candidate when she became an avowed “researcher” for life– “I study everything and … [Read more...] about “A History of Freaks”
“Mamma Mia!”
Mamma Mia!Catherin Johnson (Book); Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (Music & Lyrics); Stig Anderson (Additional Songs)Hillbarn Theatre Christine Capsuto-Shulman, Merrill Peiffer & Jacquie McCarleyThe sheer joy of this Mamma Mia! is the big-stage quality we as an audience get to enjoy in the intimate, close-up space of the Hillbarn Theatre. The cast of … [Read more...] about “Mamma Mia!”
“Significant Other”
Significant OtherJoshua HarmonSan Francisco PlayhouseRubio Qian, Kyle Cameron, Hayley Lovgren & Nicole-Azalee Danielle‘Always a bridesmaid and never a bride’ is difficult enough to swallow if you’re the near-thirty-something who is feeling the impact of that cliché, but what if you would at least like to be a bridesmaid but your besties never ask you? For Jordan … [Read more...] about “Significant Other”
“Pear Slices 2019”
Pear Slices 2019Members of the Pear Playwrights GuildPear TheatreDaniel Zafer-Joyce, Bill C. Jones, and Becca GilbertIt’s only spring, and pears are not yet in season; but at Pear Theatre, there are plenty of fresh slices to pick from and enjoy. For the sixteenth year, the Mountain View company has called upon its members of the Pear Playwrights Guild to create eight, … [Read more...] about “Pear Slices 2019”
“Undiscovered Country”
Undiscovered CountryAva RoyWe PlayersHunter Scott MacNair, Ava Roy & Chris SteeleIt’s the ol’ West when armed, masked bandits regularly rob frightened passengers riding bumpy stagecoaches, only to turn around the next day to hold up a bank, tying up teeth-chattering customers while taking their jewelry, watches, guns, and money. Only in this version of the Ol’ West, … [Read more...] about “Undiscovered Country”