Men on BoatsJaclyn BackhausAmerican Conservatory TheatreThe Cast of Men on BoatsEvery day as we travel through our city streets, down our highways, and across our bridges, we encounter names that we mostly have no idea who the person being honored actually was. Most of the time, we do not even wonder. But behind many of those nomenclatures are forgotten stories of … [Read more...] about “Men on Boats”
American Conservatory Theatre
“Sweat”
SweatLynn NottageAmerican Conservatory TheatreThe Cast of ACT's SweatFor San Franciscans still scratching their heads and wondering how in the world Donald Trump was able to win the last election (and why he seems still to be so popular in so many places other than San Francisco), all they need to do is spend an evening at the American Conservatory Theatre between now and … [Read more...] about “Sweat”
“A Walk on the Moon”
A Walk on the MoonPamela Gray (Book); Paul Scott Goodman (Music & Lyrics with Additional Lyrics by Pamela Gray)American Conservative TheatreThe Cast of A Walk on the MoonSummer, 1969: Daily, numbers of casualties from Vietnam scroll across living room television screens while streets fill with angry, mostly young anti-war protestors. Their peace-loving folk and … [Read more...] about “A Walk on the Moon”
“Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts I, II III”
Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts I, II, IIISuzan-Lori ParksAmerican Conservatory TheatreSteven Anthony Jones, Rotima Agbabiaka, Safiya Fredericks, Julian Elijah Martinez, Chivas MichaelWith their arms raised in front of them, hands forming an “L” shape with thumb extended, the four strain to see the first rays of the next morning’s dawn. All the while, they place … [Read more...] about “Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts I, II III”
“Heisenberg”
HeisenbergSimon StephensAmerican Conservatory TheatreJames Carpenter & Sarah Grace Wilson“If you watch something close enough, you never knew where it’s going or how fast you’re getting there.”That observation made by one of the two principles in Simon Stephens’ 2015 play, Heisenberg, describes the inability to predict something, even and perhaps especially if one closely … [Read more...] about “Heisenberg”
“Vietgone”
VietgoneQui NguyenAmerican Conservatory TheatreJames Seol & Stephen HuA romantic comedy? A musical? A sex-filled, expletive-packed, action play? A parody about immigrants views of America or their love story for their new home in America? A tale set in the mid-‘70s or one that is actually contemporary? Starkly realistic or wildly fantastic, … [Read more...] about “Vietgone”
“The Birthday Party”
The Birthday PartyHarold PinterAmerican Conservatory Theatre Dan Hiatt & Judith IveyIf after twenty-five years of being Artistic Director someone is directing a play for the last time in that role, what better thing to do than throw a party, correct? But when that party is scripted by Harold Pinter, there is no guarantee the games are not going to get a bit scary and … [Read more...] about “The Birthday Party”
“Small Mouth Sounds”
Small Mouth SoundsBess WohlAmerican Conservatory Theatre The Cast of Small Mouth SoundsWhat happens if we allow silence to dominate our world – at least the silence of our own voices? What might we hear if words no longer clutter our day-to-day lives? In Bess Wohl’s 2016 Off-Broadway hit, Small Mouth Sounds, six seekers of needed solace arrive for a week of forested … [Read more...] about “Small Mouth Sounds”
“Hamlet”
HamletWilliam ShakespeareAmerican Conservatory TheatreJohn Douglas ThompsonThat something is “rotten in Denmark” becomes immediately obvious in the opening minutes of American Conservatory Theatre’s current production of Hamlet. Black-clad men climb from the bowels of some underground passageway, with streaks of stark light emanating from the subterranean world onto … [Read more...] about “Hamlet”
“A Night with Janis Joplin”
A Night with Janis JoplinRandy Johnson (Creator & Writer)American Conservatory TheatreKacee ClantonIt’s 1969, homecoming, and the arena is packed. Up to the microphone steps a curly haired woman full of fringes, beads, and bracelets. She grins broadly, shouts out, “Hell-oooo, Knoxville,” and then grabs the now-standing audience in her outstretched hands and … [Read more...] about “A Night with Janis Joplin”
“Battlefield”
BattlefieldAdapted by Peter BrookBased on The Mahabharata and the Play by Jean-Claude CarrièreAmerican Conservatory TheatreJared McNeill, Sean O'Callaghan, Ery Nzaramba & Carole KaremeraAn old man -- obviously blind and in a cloak and outfit indistinguishable as to historical era or geography -- steps forward to tell us in a tired, low-keyed voice with little movement of … [Read more...] about “Battlefield”
“Needles and Opium”
Needles and OpiumRobert LepageAmerican Conservatory TheatreOliver NormandTwo similar comments seem to be on the lips of everyone as the house lights come up after the final stage bows – whether it is the woman sitting next to me, couples exiting with question marks written all across their faces, or the guys joining me along the downstairs urinals after the ninety-five minute, … [Read more...] about “Needles and Opium”
“John”
JohnAnnie BakerAmerican Conservatory TheatreStacey Yen, Georgia Engel & Joe PaulikSilence speaks loudly and often in Annie Baker’s 2015 play, John – so often that without all the periods of pause, the three-hour play might be half-to-two-thirds that length. But it is those moments when the characters are silently taking in what was just said, when someone is thinking … [Read more...] about “John”
“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”
“The Hard Problem”
The Hard ProblemTom StoppardAmerican Conservatory Theatre Dan Clegg as Spike & Brenda Meaney as HilaryWhen a baby is born, does the human come into the world ready to put the welfare of others ahead of self; or is the infant already geared up to look out for self above all else? Is the consciousness that the baby-turned-toddler-turned-child eventually acquires a … [Read more...] about “The Hard Problem”
