TarzanPhil Collins (Music & Lyrics); David Henry Hwang (Book)Palo Alto PlayersJimmy Mason, Jessica LaFever & the Cast of TarzanEven before the first note of the Phil Collins (music and lyrics) and David Henry Hwang (book) musical Tarzan is sounded, Director Patrick Klein and his cast – one that includes a dozen or so gorillas of all sizes, shapes, and ages -- have … [Read more...] about “Tarzan’
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“Kiss”
KissGuillermo CalderónShotgun PlayersRasha Mohamed, Roneet Aliza Rahamin, Elissa Beth Stebbins, Wiley Naman Strasser & Phil Wong How many of us gloss over the almost daily headlines that have been on the inner pages of our newspapers or deep in the online news feeds for the past five years about the civil war in Syria? How many of us hardly notice any more a … [Read more...] about “Kiss”
“Sunday in the Park with George”
Sunday in the Park with GeorgeStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseJohn Bambery as George“Order.”“Design.”“Tension.”“Composition.”“Balance.”“Light.”As each word is announced by the artist whose science of painting is guided by these exacting principles, the members of his most famous composition move into place, aided by his … [Read more...] about “Sunday in the Park with George”
“Romeo and Juliet”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Romeo and JulietWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Cast of Romeo and JulietAs a robed, hooded, and totally anonymous community surrounds them and solemnly listens, a young man and woman remove all mystery how their story will end. Romeo and Juliet together recount how the long-term, oft-deadly rivalry between their two families will soon result in a tragedy … [Read more...] about “Romeo and Juliet”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys at 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Six Characters in Search of a Play”
Six Characters in Search of a PlayDel ShoresNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDel Shores“I’m a storytelling thief,” confesses the ever-smiling, hands-flying “minor gay celebrity” (his words) standing just a few feet from his already enraptured audience – about fifty of what must be hundreds of thousands of loyal fans of Brother Boy, Bitsy Mae, Latrelle, Sissy, LaVonda, and ‘Bubba’ … [Read more...] about “Six Characters in Search of a Play”
“The Siegel”
The SiegelMichael MitnickCity Lights Theater Company Luisa Sermol & Ben Euphrat “Do you think there is only person out there for us?” is a question Ethan is struggling to answer in his life. When he shows up to ask Alice’s parents for her hand in marriage, he is sure that the answer is ‘yes’ and that she is the one. The … [Read more...] about “The Siegel”
“All the Shah’s Men”
All the Shah’s MenMatthew SpanglerArabian Shakespeare FestivalKen Boswell, Christian Haines & Annamarie MacLeodIf one wanted to find out the origins of today’s deeply divided and dangerous issues between the U.S. and Iran, there is probably some semester-long, poli-sci course a local community college is offering on the subject or a number of detailed books that could be … [Read more...] about “All the Shah’s Men”
“Marjorie Prime”
Marjorie PrimeJordan HarrisonMarin Theatre CompanyJoy Carlin & Tommy GorrebeeckMemory is a tricky proposition for any of us. Is that story I am now recalling really the way it happened, or am I providing a slightly embellished version with details that have been added in the past twenty tellings in order to make it more interesting? Was the event really as … [Read more...] about “Marjorie Prime”
“Pear Slices 2018”
Pear Slices 2018Various PlaywrightsPear TheatreAriel Aronica and Bill C. JonesA dusty town in the old West, a cell holding Galileo imprisoned, a home where technological devices rule, a kid’s pirate birthday party, a ‘rolly-doggy’ oven of hot dogs in rotation: All are examples of the varied settings in time and place for this year’s menu of Pear Slices 2018, an annual … [Read more...] about “Pear Slices 2018”
“Disruption”
Disruption AJ Baker3Girls Theatre Company, Z Below Nancy Madden, Sally Dana & Heather GordonEven though classical music floats serenely through the attractively attired, office setting, any sense of peace and well-being is about to shatter as two execs and a lawyer enter the room clearly irritated and looking ready to go to war. In a scene oft-repeated in today’s … [Read more...] about “Disruption”
“F*ck Tinder: a love story
F*ck Tinder: a love storyDavid RodwinPianoFightWhen a show begins with the invitation for the San Francisco, mostly thirty-something audience to yell “Fuck Tinder” so loud that they can be heard in Oakland -- and they do -- it is clear that we are in for a wild and wooly ride. After all, the nearly fifty-year-old guy before us declares that following a sudden, surprise … [Read more...] about “F*ck Tinder: a love story
“Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies”
Hooded, or Being Black for DummiesTearrance Arvelle ChisholmCustom Made TheatreTre'Vonne Bell & Jesse VaughnTwo, mid-teen guys chat about their aspirations and dreams:- “So you don’t want to be a vet any more?”- “No.”- “What do you want to be?”- “Alive.”Even though “Laugh” signs light up to prompt us as an audience to take this as a joke, there is mostly silence as the … [Read more...] about “Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies”
“It’s Only a Play”
It’s Only a PlayTerrence McNallyNew Conservatory Theatre CenterThe Cast of It's Only a Play“The party of the year for the play of the century” is getting louder and louder on the floor below, with celebrities galore in attendance for the opening night’s post-play celebration (Al Pacino, Rosie O’Donnell, Barack Obama, the Pope -- just to name-drop a few). The casts of The … [Read more...] about “It’s Only a Play”
“9 to 5 The Musical”
9 to 5 The MusicalDolly Parton (Music & Lyrics): Patricia Resnick (Book)Foothill Musical TheatreThe Cast of 9 to 5 The Musical Dolly Parton’s premiere of 9 to 5 The Musical may have had a short run on Broadway in 2009; but in 2018, the trimmed, tongue-in-cheek comedy takes on new and pointed relevance in the Foothill Musical Theatre production, given the ongoing … [Read more...] about “9 to 5 The Musical”
“Office Hour”
Office HourJulia ChoBerkeley Repertory TheatreDaniel ChungConsider this: Since Julia Cho’s Office Hour premiered in April 2016 – a play dealing head-on with the threat of gun violence in schools – 28 shootings have occurred in U.S. schools, resulting in at least 44 deaths and 80+ injuries. The event that the playwright says in the Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s program … [Read more...] about “Office Hour”
