Hairspray – The Broadway MusicalMark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan (Book); Marc Shaiman (Music); Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman (Lyrics)Oregon Shakespeare TheatreKaty Geraghty, Daniel T. Parker & CastIt is only fair to open this review of Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Hairspray – The Broadway Musical with a warning: From the opening “Good Morning Baltimore” to the … [Read more...] about “Hairspray — The Broadway Musical”: Day 8, Play 8, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Musical
“Passion”
PassionStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)Custom Made Theatre CompanyJuliana Lustenader & John MelisTwo voices intertwine as their beautifully sung notes erotically embrace in an opening song that mirrors the locked eyes, the probing hands, and the lip-to-lip brushes of two lovers singing “Happiness” in duet:“I’ve never known what love was ...But now, … [Read more...] about “Passion”
“Once”
OnceEnda Walsh (Book); Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglov (Music & Lyrics)(Based on the Movie by John Carney)42nd Street Moon The Ensemble of OnceEven if the pre-show were the show, how could one not rush to pocket a ticket for 42nd Street Moon’s regional premiere of Once? Thirteen hand-clapping, body-swaying, and foot-stomping singers – all also musicians – fill the … [Read more...] about “Once”
“Grease”
GreaseWarren Casey & Jim Jacobs (Book, Music & Lyrics)Broadway by the Bay Nick Quintell, Katharine Andrade & CastWhy are over one thousand people inside the Fox on a sunny Sunday in order to see yet one more Grease, this time presented by Broadway by the Bay’s cast of twenty-two? Probably it is because we just cannot get enough of songs like … [Read more...] about “Grease”
“Kiss My Aztec!”
Kiss My Aztec!John Leguizamo and Tony Taccone (Book)Benjamin Velez (Music and Arrangements)David Kemp, Benjamin Velez & John Leguizamo (Lyrics)Berkeley Repertory Theater KC de la Cruz, Chad Carastarphen & Angelica BeliardElectricity sparks through the air as the arriving audience is already in full abuzz. After all, big red balloons are bouncing off their … [Read more...] about “Kiss My Aztec!”
“Next to Normal”
Next to NormalBrian Yorkey and Tom KittLos Altos Stage CompanyJillian Toby-Cummings & Mitchell MosleyIn 2008, a rock-music-infused premiere at Washington’s Arena Stage hit and dug deep into every topic that the Great American Musical had overall been reticent to put on its stages: lifelong mental disease, paralyzing grief, severe depression, drug abuse, the … [Read more...] about “Next to Normal”
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Beautiful: The Carole King MusicalDouglas McGrath (Book)Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (Music & Lyrics)SHNSarah BockelIt is a testament to the touchstone popularity of a musical that had its world premiere in San Francisco in 2013, returned in 2016, and now is in a limited appearance for its third SF run in a half dozen years that the opening … [Read more...] about “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
“Falstaff”
FalstaffGiuseppe Verdi, with Libretto by Arigo BoitoWest Bay OperaMichael Orlinsky, Kiril Havezov & Richard Zeller“In this great abdomen are a thousand tongues that proclaim my name ... This is my kingdom.” With a measure of self-worth and a confidence in his own attraction to the fairer sex that are almost as mammoth as his rotund belly, Falstaff sings with from his … [Read more...] about “Falstaff”
“American Psycho”
American PsychoDuncan Sheik (Music & Lyrics); Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Book)Ray of Light TheatreKyle Ewalt & Kipp GlassHow possible is it that having the perfectly tanned body that has been honed to the hilt so that every muscle tautly glistens, wearing only the latest and most expensive big-name designer wear, and always eating in the restaurants where most can never … [Read more...] about “American Psycho”
“Fiddler on the Roof”
Fiddler on the RoofJoseph Stein (Book); Jerry Bock (Music); Sheldon Harnick (Lyrics)Broadway San JoseThe Cast of Fiddler on the RoofAfter its record-setting, award-winning initial run on Broadway in 1964; its five Broadway revivals since; countless openings on local and touring stages globally and in towns and cities from coast to coast in America – not to mention the 1971 film … [Read more...] about “Fiddler on the Roof”
“Sister Act”
Sister ActAlan Menken (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Cheri & Bill Steinkellner (Book)Theatre RhinocerosThe Cast of Sister ActBrothers and Sisters, may I have an “Amen.” Glory hallelujah, a miracle hath been wrought in San Francisco that is heavenly in a wonderfully sinful kind of way. Theatre Rhinoceros has received permission from the Almighty of Broadway to … [Read more...] about “Sister Act”
“The View Upstairs”
The View UpstairsMax VernonNew Conservatory Theatre CenterNick Rodrigues & Ensemble MembersAs the fiftieth anniversary of Stonewall fast approaches and as we in San Francisco also recall in honor the drag and transgender heroes of the Compton Cafeteria riots of 1966, what better time for us to take every chance to remember those who came before us, to celebrate how far we … [Read more...] about “The View Upstairs”
“Mamma Mia!”
Mamma Mia!Catherin Johnson (Book); Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (Music & Lyrics); Stig Anderson (Additional Songs)Hillbarn Theatre Christine Capsuto-Shulman, Merrill Peiffer & Jacquie McCarleyThe sheer joy of this Mamma Mia! is the big-stage quality we as an audience get to enjoy in the intimate, close-up space of the Hillbarn Theatre. The cast of … [Read more...] about “Mamma Mia!”
“Flower Drum Song”
Flower Drum SongRichard Rodgers (Music); Oscar Hammerstein II (Lyrics); David Henry Hwang (Book)Palo Alto Players Emily SongPalo Alto Players offers a gift to Bay Area audiences in producing the rarely performed Flower Drum Song, but the present is all the more welcome because of a production that is conceived and performed with the look, sound, style, and … [Read more...] about “Flower Drum Song”
“110 in the Shade”
110 in the ShadeN. Richard Nash (Book); Harvey Schmidt (Music); Tom Jones (Lyrics)Based on the Play, The Rainmaker, by N. Richard Nash42nd Street MoonElliot Hanson, James Schott, Andrea Dennison-Laufer & Jesse CaldwellEven in the best of productions – like the outstanding 2007 Roundabout revival in New York starring the incomparable Audra McDonald along with Steve Kazee and … [Read more...] about “110 in the Shade”
