Chester BaileyJoseph DoughertyAmerican Conservatory TheaterDavid Strathairn as Dr. Philip Cotton & Dan Clegg as Chester BaileySometimes there are not the words to capture fully the magic that is happening at a live theater performance. No matter how much a reviewer might try, the combination of the setting itself, the skilled nuances of the actors, and the spontaneous … [Read more...] about “Chester Bailey”
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“Out of Darkness”
Out of DarknessJake Heggie (Music); Gene Scheer (Libretto)Music of RemembranceThe Cast of Out of DarknessSingle droplets of instrumental notes slowly meld into a haunting flow of melody that evokes a memory of another time, another place. The stunning music alerts that what is to follow is intimate, intense, and important. From such beginnings, two stories of … [Read more...] about “Out of Darkness”
“I and You”
I and YouLauren GundersonCity Lights Theater Company Ivette Deltoro & Davied Morales Once again, City Lights Theater Company has chosen a winning script, a superb production team, and an exciting duet of actors to present to its audience a gift that will continue to give for a long time. Not only will I and You lead to both self-reflection and conversations … [Read more...] about “I and You”
“The Wild Party”
The Wild PartyAndrew Lippa (Book, Music & Lyrics)Ray of Light TheatreJocelyn Pickett as Queenie Held on HighIn case there were any remaining doubts that the most consistently exciting, exuberant, and excelling musical theatre being staged in San Francisco was not coming from Ray of Light Theatre, then the company’s current production of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party will … [Read more...] about “The Wild Party”
“The Last Five Years”
The Last Five YearsJason Robert Brown (music & lyrics)AmericanConservatory TheatreZak Resnick (Jamie) & Margo Seibert (Cathy)Fourteen months ago, social media in the San Francisco Bay Area lit up like a Times Square explosion with messages like “Drop everything ... You must not miss this” and “Hurry up ... It’s only here a few days!” The reference was to a brief … [Read more...] about “The Last Five Years”
“Red Velvet”
Red VelvetLolita ChakrabartiSan Francisco PlayhouseThe Cast of "Red Velvet"A play a decade in the writing about a story of a Shakespeare actor nine score years in the telling bursts onto the stage with fever, fervor, and fury that the Bard himself would surely admire. That this classical actor is a black American, son of a straw-farming preacher and a floor-scrubbing … [Read more...] about “Red Velvet”
“Disney’s Newsies”
Disney’s NewsiesAlan Menken (Music); Jack Feldman (Lyrics); Harvey Fierstein (Book)Broadway San JoseThe Newsies in FlightHow better to get a packed audience, from first row to last seat in the balcony, rip-roaring excited about a little-told piece of history than through a stage full of high-jumping, midair-flipping, split-legging, fist-pumping guys in perfectly coordinated … [Read more...] about “Disney’s Newsies”
“Rodger + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CinderellaRichard Rodgers (music), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics and original book),Douglas Carter Beane (new book)SHNAndy Huntington Jones as Prince Topher & Kaitlyn Davidson as Cinderella with CastOnce upon a time originated a now-centuries-old tale with origins both East and West about a little girl in unfortunate, oppressive home circumstances who … [Read more...] about “Rodger + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
“Treasure Island”
Treasure IslandAdapted by Mary ZimmermanFrom the Novel by Robert Louis StevensonBerkeley Repertory Theatre Demetrios Troy as Israel Hands & John Babbo as Jim HawkinsBouncing balls as cannon shot, a wooden box pulled on a rope as a boat crossing the sea, and cut branches to dodge as trees in a thick jungle. Gnarly pirates full of “Arrrrgh,” wild chases and fierce … [Read more...] about “Treasure Island”
“The Most Happy Fella”
The Most Happy FellaFrank Loesser (Book, Music & Lyrics)Based on Sidney Howard’s They Knew What They Wanted42nd Street Moon Martin Rojas Dietrich as Tony & Amanda Johnson as RosabellaWhen a musical begins with a waitress on stage’s edge taking off her shoes, rubbing her tired toes, and singing nasally in Texas drawl (addressing each of her toes, one by one, as if an old … [Read more...] about “The Most Happy Fella”
“Boeing Boeing”
Boeing BoeingMarc CamolettiTranslation by Beverly Cross & Francis EvansThe StageJoshua Hollister, Halsey Varady & Michael Barrett AustinSeeing seven doors across the stage wall can only mean one thing: Buckle your seat belt because it’s going to be a wild and wooly night of loud slams, just misses, surprise comings, and split-second goings. And be prepared … [Read more...] about “Boeing Boeing”
“Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls”
Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra ShowgirlsD’Arcy Drollinger (Book) Enrique (Music & Lyrics); Steve Bolinger (Additional Music)OasisD'Arcy Drollinger, Nancy French & John Paul GonzalezHard rock, drug overdoses, murder, lots (and lots) of T & A, miracles from heaven, space invaders, and of course wild and wooly sex. What else would we expect from D’Arcy … [Read more...] about “Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls”
“Anne Boleyn”
Anne BoleynHoward BrentonMarin Theatre CompanyCraig Marker as Henry VIII & Liz Sklar as Anne BolyenShe was Queen of England, yet there is no portrait of her since her husband and King scoured the country to destroy all traces of her very existence. She was decapitated, but exactly what she did to warrant (or not) such vile punishment is still an argument among … [Read more...] about “Anne Boleyn”
“Hamlet”
HamletWilliam ShakespeareShotgun PlayersThe Cast of "Hamlet" Awaits Their Roles for the NightOne definition of “shotgun” is, “Aimed at a wide range of things, with no particular target.” Shotgun Players, a company that played in forty-four different venues before landing in its permanent spot on Ashby Avenue in Berkeley in 2004, once again lives up to its name by opening … [Read more...] about “Hamlet”
“Colette Uncensored”
Colette UncensoredZack Rogow and Lorri HoltThe MarshLorri Holt as ColetteThe pupils dance in excitement across the surface of her eyes. Her hands clasp in tiny balls, grasp at unseen objects, and then fly in five directions at once. Lips move with well-formed purpose with a slight quiver on the right side as her life story unfolds, and then they suddenly freeze in … [Read more...] about “Colette Uncensored”
