AubergineJulia ChoBerkeley Repertory TheatreSab Shimono & Tim KangA small, homegrown carrot; specially bought bread fried in butter and topped with warmed pastrami; multi-colored eggplants the size of golf balls; a soup of turtle, cabbages, and scallions; even a bowl of cheap ramen or a plate of cold fried chicken: What is it about each that elicits sweet, even … [Read more...] about “Aubergine”
5 E
“Satchmo at the Waldorf”
Satchmo at the WaldorfTerry TeachoutAmerican Conservatory TheatreJohn Douglas Thompson as Louis ArmstrongOur first glimpse of him is not what we remember from those bigger-than-life pictures of his sparkling eyes shining through squinted slots, huge smile of ivories that became his trademark, and rounded face always aimed upwards ready to rasp out a familiar tune we so … [Read more...] about “Satchmo at the Waldorf”
“Gem of the Ocean”
Gem of the OceanAugust WilsonMarin Theatre CompanyJuney Smith, Namir Smallwood, David Everett Moore & Margo HallThrough her walled displays that could as easily be in an art gallery as on a theatre’s stage, Kimberlee Koym-Murteira captures the essence of the themes and stories of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. A beautiful liquid prism wall of overlapping squares of … [Read more...] about “Gem of the Ocean”
“The Nether”
The NetherJennifer HaleySan Francisco PlayhouseThe Cast of "The Nether"Already we live in a world where increasingly people are more apt to converse with a colleague in the next-door cube or the date across the dining table online versus in person. Millions escape to imaginary lands to fight battles and kill invaders as well as to plant farms, sell goods, or solve world … [Read more...] about “The Nether”
“Jersey Boys”
Jersey BoysMarshall Brickman & Rick Elice (Book)Bob Gaudio (Music); Bob Crewe (Lyrics)SHN Orpheum TheatreKeith Hines, Matthew Dailey, Aaron De Jesus & Drew SeeleyWhat is it about the 2005, multi-Tony-award-winning Jersey Boys in its third U.S. tour and third visit to San Francisco that still results in a standing ovation, sold-out Opening Night and a beginning of yet … [Read more...] about “Jersey Boys”
“Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
Hershey Felder as Irving BerlinLyrics & Music by Irving BerlinBook by Hershey FelderTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hershey FelderWith over 1500 published songs to consider (232 hitting Top 10 charts and 25 reaching Number One) ranging from universal classics such as “White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Easter Parade,” and even “God Bless America,” how … [Read more...] about “Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
“The Mountaintop”
The MountaintopKatori HallPear TheatreMichael Wayne Rice & Nathalie Autumn Bennet Whether someone has previously seen or not The Mountaintop, Pear Theatre’s production is the perfect way to honor Dr. King and his legacy as we celebrate his birthday season this January. This is a production not to be missed. Follow the link to my full review on … [Read more...] about “The Mountaintop”
“Avenue Q”
Avenue QRobert Lopez & Jeff Marx (Music, Lyrics & Original Concept)Jeff Whitty (Book)New Conservatory Theatre CenterThe Cast of "Avenue Q"What does it mean when the same theatre company brings back the same musical three years in a row – one that is still selling out each night -- and is extending the run yet again? What it means is that New Conservatory Theatre … [Read more...] about “Avenue Q”
“The Mousetrap”
The MousetrapAgatha ChristieShotgun PlayersThe Cast of "The Mousetrap"For as much as any one of us decries the awful acts of gun violence we hear about on a near-daily basis, who among us does not like a juicy, suspenseful murder mystery? And who is better to tell such a tale than the master herself, Agatha Christie, the most-published novelist in history and the … [Read more...] about “The Mousetrap”
“The Jewelry Box”
Brian Copeland as a 6-Year-Old The Jewelry BoxBrian CopelandThe MarshWhen a six-year-old boy decides he must buy his Mom a wooden jewelry box with gold latch and rich velvet interior for her Christmas, there is nothing that can deter his big-eyed dream. The $11.97 needed for this White Front Stores purchase is like a Fort Knox fortune to the young … [Read more...] about “The Jewelry Box”
“Jane Austen’s Emma”
Jane Austen’s EmmaPaul Gordon (Music, Lyrics & Book)Adapted from the novel by Jane AustenTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Travis Leland & Lianne Marie DobbsWith a bit too much pride in the prejudices she firmly holds about who should be married to whom, Emma allows her sense and sensibilities to cloud her good-hearted judgments about others’ lives and to squelch her own true … [Read more...] about “Jane Austen’s Emma”
“Stage Kiss”
Stage KissSarah RuhlSan Francisco PlayhouseGabriel Marin as He & Carrie Paff as SheHarry Potter snogs; teens suck face; others peck, smack, make out, or tongue wrestle. In Sarah Ruhl’s hilarious Stage Kiss, the meeting of two sets of lips and the co-tangling of tongues becomes the central and most-repeated action of the play, from quick brush-by’s to seriously long … [Read more...] about “Stage Kiss”
“Handle with Care”
Handle with CareJason Odell Williams (Hebrew Written by Charlotte Cohn)City Lights Theater Company Roneet Aliza Rahamim and Max Tachis A snowy Christmas Eve, a nondescript motel room in tiny Goodview, Virginia, and It’s a Wonderful Life marathons on every TV channel can only mean one thing: a miracle is about to happen. But before … [Read more...] about “Handle with Care”
“Steve Cuiffo Is Lenny Bruce”
Steve Cuiffo Is Lenny BruceSteve Cuiffo, Arranger & PerformerCurran: Under Construction Steve Cuiffo As part of the ongoing Curran: Under Construction series, the Curran’s owner and producer extraordinaire, Carole Shorenstein, offers Steve Cuiffo Is Lenny Bruce for just three nights in an intimate, nightclub setting on the main stage, complete with open bar … [Read more...] about “Steve Cuiffo Is Lenny Bruce”
“The Kid Thing”
The Kid ThingSarah GubbinsNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDesiree Rogers, Sarah Coykendall, Jaq Nguyen Victor & Kimberley RidgewaySometimes it is the unsaid more than the said that speaks the loudest. We arrive in the midst of an increasingly heated, even vicious argument between two African American women -- one chugging alternatively Scotch and wine and the … [Read more...] about “The Kid Thing”
