EclipsedDanai GuriraCurran Theatre in Conjunction with Public TheatreStacey SargeantMen start wars. Men leave home and family and fight wars. Yet, women and children bear so much of the actual brutality, pain, and suffering – usually silently and in the shadows. Their stories are rarely told, superseded in the poems of Homer, the plays of Shakespeare, and the … [Read more...] about “Eclipsed”
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“Leaving the Blues”
Leaving the BluesJewelle GomezNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDesiree Rogers as Alberta HunterWhat does a nurse who is told to retire at age seventy (but who is really eighty-two since she once lied about her age) do next with her life? Half singing, half whispering, she tells her unseen patient with some evident sadness, “Trouble, looks like I had it all my day ... looks … [Read more...] about “Leaving the Blues”
“Roe”
RoeLisa LoomerBerkeley Repertory Company(In co-production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and ArenaStage)Sara Bruner & Sarah Jane AgnewAlmost forty-five years later after Justice Blackmun offered the Supreme Court’s decision and in a time when the country is now more divided than ever on almost every important social, environmental, and political issue, nothing still … [Read more...] about “Roe”
“Into the Woods”
Into the WoodsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)SHN & Fiasco TheatreThe Cast of "Into the Woods"As the audience meander into their seats, actors in various smocks of muslin white wander about, too -- waving at arrivals, coming down to say hello, and generally chatting with themselves and whomever. In a cross between what could be a bunch of … [Read more...] about “Into the Woods”
“Side Show”
Side ShowBill Russell (Book & Lyrics); Henry Krieger (Music); Bill Condon (Additional Book Material)Foothill Musical TheatreThe Cast of Side ShowWith much critical acclaim and yet two failed attempts in winning a Broadway audience (1997 and 2014, with major reworking in between), Side Show may have a troubled White Way history but has time and again thrived in numerous … [Read more...] about “Side Show”
“Daughter of a Garbage Man”
Daughter of a Garbage ManMaureen LanganThe MarshMaureen LanganMaureen Langan -- accomplished stand-up comedian, journalist, and talk show host – has a fixation on the Kardashians. She can hardly stop talking about Kim, especially when comparing their two lives and the unfair difference between their fame and fortune. One of the two followed the advice of her … [Read more...] about “Daughter of a Garbage Man”
“Assassins”
AssassinsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); John Weidman (Book)Bay Area MusicalsWith a white-painted face and its black-encircled eyes and lips blood-red, a big-smiling clown -- more demon than not -- steps forward, luring in one-by-one a bizarre collection of passers-by to his side. In an upbeat, tempting voice, this Proprietor cajoles, “Hey pal, I mean you ... You … [Read more...] about “Assassins”
“A Thousand Splendid Suns”
A Thousand Splendid SunsAdapted by Ursula Rani SarmaBased on the Novel by Khaled HosseiniDavid Coulter (Music)American Conservatory Theatre David Coulter and Cast of "A Thousand Splendid Suns"For many years -- actually several decades -- daily headlines have presented themselves about the ongoing wars, devastation, atrocities, and yes, human suffering of a faraway land most of … [Read more...] about “A Thousand Splendid Suns”
“Hand to God”
Hand to GodRobert AskinsBerkeley Repertory TheatreTyrone & Michael DohertyIn a brightly hued room full of rainbows, craft materials, and more than one happy Jesus, a friendly looking sock puppet pops out of a small, make-shift, cardboard theatre and starts telling us his version of the world’s beginning. This is not the Genesis, seven-day version usually coming from a … [Read more...] about “Hand to God”
“Fool for Love”
Fool for LoveSam ShepardMagic TheatreJessi Campbell, Andrew Pastides & Patrick RussellClassic Shepard: It is all here. The dry, dusty, desert setting of the American Southwest. The unmade, iron-frame bed and yellow kitchen chair leftover from the ‘50s (only missing the usual, out-dated Frigidare in the corner). The bare electric light hanging from the … [Read more...] about “Fool for Love”
“Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour”
Rent: 20thAnniversary TourJonathan Larson (Book, Music & Lyrics)SHNThe Cast of Rent: 20th Anniversary TourTwenty years ago, onto a Broadway stage burst a sexy, soaring musical daring to give unforgettable faces and personalities to seven artists struggling to survive not only their East Village poverty, but also the plague of AIDS/HIV that appeared ready to wipe out an … [Read more...] about “Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour”
“Disgraced”
DisgracedAyad AkhtarThe StageAllison F. Rich, Damien Seperi, Kathryn Smith-McGlynn, & Jonathan Rhys Williams If in the midst of the salad course at a dinner party with friends, friendly chatter begins to be peppered by the topics of a) religion, b) ethnic origins, c) politics, then politely remember you left something burning on the stove at home and dash out … [Read more...] about “Disgraced”
“Patience”
PatienceWilliam S. Gilbert (Libretto) & Arthur Sullivan (Music)Lamplighters Music TheatreJennifer Mitchell & F. Lawrence EwingThose master geniuses of satire, rhyming lyrics, and operatic melodies -- William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan – primed their pens and aimed their alliterative arrows at a target too conceited and flamboyant for them to ignore in the 1880s of … [Read more...] about “Patience”
“Silence! The Musical”
Silence! The MusicalJon Kaplan & Al Kaplan (Music & Lyrics); Hunter Bell (Book)Cloud 9 Theatricals In association with Lang Entertainment Group & Ray ofLight TheatreWith cute, floppy ears and paws of wool, a flock of lambs sings and dances with harmonized voices and clever steps as they warn: Homicidal freaks!Lunatics behind steel bars,Women missing … [Read more...] about “Silence! The Musical”
“Anything Goes”
Anything GoesCole Porter (Music & Lyrics)P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse (Original Book)Timothy Crouse & John Weidman (New Book)Pacific Coast Repertory TheatreJoy SherrattA trumpet, echoed by a saxophone, announces those first few notes that has everyone in the audience ready to sing along; and once the classic hits start tumbling one … [Read more...] about “Anything Goes”
