Jesus Christ SuperstarAndrew Lloyd Webber (Music); Tim Rice (Lyrics)Ray of Light TheatreJanelle Lasalle as Jesus, with ApostlesFor a week, our smart phone and TV screens have been filled with the scenes of burning tires, hurling rocks, and flying bullets as bodies fall on the border of Gaza and Israel. All day, those same small and mega screens have shocked us once more … [Read more...] about “Jesus Christ Superstar”
Musical
“Me and My Girl”
Me and My GirlNoel Gray (Music); Douglas Furber & L. Arthur Rose (Book & Lyrics)Stephen Fry (Book Revisions); Mike Ockrent (Further Book Contributions)42nd Street MoonMelissa WolkKlain & Keith PintoRing the sirens; clang the bells; light the neon marquee; turn on the sky-roving spotlights. Do whatever necessary to tell the San Francisco Bay Area to head to the … [Read more...] about “Me and My Girl”
“The Full Monty”
The Full MontyTerrence McNally (Book); David Yazbek (Music & Lyrics)Hillbarn Theatre Greg Lynch, Brian Palac, James Creer, Bradley Satterwhite, Linda Piccone, and Andy Cooperfauss The entire production Hillbarn's Monty is packed with humor and heart, gusto and grit, love almost lost and love newly found. From jogging women silently … [Read more...] about “The Full Monty”
“Rock of Ages”
Rock of AgesChris D’Arienzo (Book); Ethan Popp (Arrangements & Orchestrations)Palo Alto PlayersThere are unfortunately too many wrong notes in the current Palo Alto Players production of Rock of Ages, even though the athletic enthusiasm of the cast could not be higher. There is much fun in what to see but not enough solid songs in what to hear, making this a show I … [Read more...] about “Rock of Ages”
“The Color Purple”
The Color PurpleMarsha Norman (Book); Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray (Music & Lyrics); Based on the Novel by Alice WalkerSHNAdrianna Hicks & The Cast of The Color PurpleEntering the SHN’s Orpheum Theatre to see the latest revival of Marsha Norman’s (book) The Color Purple, I immediately recalled July 5, 2006, when I first saw the musical at The Broadway … [Read more...] about “The Color Purple”
“Tinderella: The Modern Musical”
Tinderella: The Modern MusicalRose Oser (Book), Weston Scott (Lyrics) & Christian B. Schmidt (Music) CustomMade Theatre Company & Faultline TheaterThe Cast of TinderellaTwo years ago, I raved in a review about a world premiere musical that I described as “a modern fairy tale with no happy ending guaranteed but a lot of sex and excitement getting there.” The tight, … [Read more...] about “Tinderella: The Modern Musical”
“The People in the Picture”
The People in the PictureIris Rainer Dart (Book & Lyrics); Mike Stoller & Artie Butler (Music)3 Below Theaters & LoungeThe Cast of The People in the PictureThat there will be an eternity through our living in the memories of those we leave behind is the uplifting promise of the inspiring, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining musical, The People in the Picture, now … [Read more...] about “The People in the Picture”
“Head Over Heels”
Head Over HeelsThe Go-Gos (Songs); Jeff Whitty (Book); James Magruder (Adapter of Book)Inspired by The Arcadia by Sir Philip SidneyCurran TheatreThe Cast of Head Over Heels"What happens when a Renaissance tale of royal romance written in iambic pentameter collides head-on with the jukebox music of the 1980s all-female group, the Go-Go’s? And what if twists and turns of … [Read more...] about “Head Over Heels”
“The Bridges of Madison County”
The Bridges of Madison CountyMarsha Norman (Book); Jason Robert Brown (Music & Lyrics)Based on the Novel by Robert James WallerTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Rob Robertson & Joan HessAnyone coming to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s The Bridges of Madison County fearing the evening could drip with sappiness certainly left thinking anything but. … [Read more...] about “The Bridges of Madison County”
“Saturday Night”
Saturday NightJulius J. Epstein (Book); Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics)42nd Street MoonThe Cast of Saturday NightWhile it is not that unusual to hear about a first-born baby arriving late, forty-three years is probably some kind of a Guinness world record. That is exactly how long it took Stephen Sondheim’s first musical, Saturday Night, to receive its first … [Read more...] about “Saturday Night”
“The Music Man”
The Music ManMeredith Wilson (Book, Music & Lyrics)Broadway by the Bay As many times as I have personally seen the show, I experienced a week’s build-up of excitement to see Broadway by the Bay’s latest staging of the ever-popular tale of the huckster Hill, The Music Man. I am happy to report that the Broadway by the Bay production has the all brassiness, the … [Read more...] about “The Music Man”
“Love Never Dies”
Love Never DiesAndrew Lloyd Webber (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Ben Elton (Book)Charles Hart (Additional Lyrics); David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber (Orchestration)Broadway San JoseGarder Thor Cortes & Meghan PicernoSince the longest running show in Broadway history opened in 1988 and after its six-year, record-breaking run in San Francisco (1993-1999), I must admit … [Read more...] about “Love Never Dies”
“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”
“Weightless”
WeightlessThe Kilbanes (Music, Lyrics & Book)Z Space Kate Kilbane & Lila BlueIn the beginning, everything looks and sounds like a rock concert in an intimate space where audience members tiered on either side of the stage will sit on cushions and sip wine from the bar nearby. Two women, one straddling a bass guitar, face each other and begin singing a somewhat … [Read more...] about “Weightless”
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Hugh Wheeler (Book)The StageNoel Anthony The Stage takes the Sondheim favorite, Sweeney Todd, that has graced Broadway three times, the West End four, and grand opera stages in at least ten countries worldwide and strips the musical down to a bare minimum of cast, set, and orchestra, putting … [Read more...] about “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
