In the Heights Lin-Manuel Miranda (Music & Lyrics) Quiara Alegría Hudes (Book) South Bay Musical Theatre As our country born of immigrants seeking a better life is only weeks away from celebrating its 250th anniversary, recent immigrant citizens and non-citizens alike feel their lives and livelihood here threatened by a current administration and its cohorts … [Read more...] about In the Heights
MUST SEE
Mean Girls
Mean Girls Tina Fey (Book); Jeff Richmond (Music); Nell Benjamin (Lyrics) Ray of Light Theatre With a twenty-five-year history of picking musicals "with our gut" that "pack a punch" -- musicals that other companies often shun like Carrie, Jerry Springer: The Opera, an all-female Jesus Christ Superstar, or Lizzie the Musical -- Ray of Light Theatre triumphantly … [Read more...] about Mean Girls
Come from Away
Come from Away Irene Sankoff & David Hein (Book, Music & Lyrics) TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Whenever TheatreWorks Silicon Valley combines the masterful artistry, deep-felt values, and insightful creativity of long-time collaborators Robert Kelley as Stage Director and William Liberatore as Music Director, the heart is bound to reign forth in a magical, … [Read more...] about Come from Away
The Monsters
The Monsters Ngozi Anyanwu Berkeley Repertory Theater, in a Co-Production with La Jolla Playhouse In an octagonal space called the Cage, a bare-chested, bare-foot fighter with rippled muscles kicks, jabs, lands punches, and overcomes an unseen foe. The reigning MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) champion returns to a fan-empty locker room sans any sign of victory, looking … [Read more...] about The Monsters
The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?
The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia Edward Albee Shotgun Players Martin's life seems about as perfect as it can get. He has just received the architect world's highest award (the Pritzker); he has recently won a contract to design a $200 B Future City in the wheat fields of Kansas; and he has been married for twenty-two years to Stevie, a woman whom he admits, "We've … [Read more...] about The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?
Our Class
Our Class Tadeusz Slobodzianek, Adapted by Neman Allen Z Space and Arlekin Sitting in a semi-circle in front of a mammoth, back-wall chalk board, ten people -- obviously in the roles of young children -- nervously struggle to read lines from their books. They introduce themselves by what their parents do and what they one day hope to do for a living (e.g., … [Read more...] about Our Class
Macbeth
Macbeth William Shakespeare Modern Translation & New Version by Migdalia Cruz Magic Theatre, in partnership with Play On Shakespeare In a dark, dingy subterranean world where the sounds of New York's traffic and sirens shatter a steel and concrete atmosphere peppered sporadically by a passing subway's overhead lights, a kingdom of street-trained goons with … [Read more...] about Macbeth
Gods and Monsters
Gods and Monsters Written and Adapted by Tom Mullen, Based on the Novel Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram New Conservatory Theatre Center Best known today for directing the pre-Code, horror films Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935) but also director of twenty-plus other films of all genres (including the 1936 musical, Showboat), James … [Read more...] about Gods and Monsters
Songs for a New World
Songs for a New World James Robert Brown (Music & Lyrics) Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory With a cast of four whose stellar voices individually and collectively soar and a three-piece, on-stage band that stirs one's emotions to the core, the ground-breaking, 1995 song cycle by Jason Robert Brown, Songs for a New World, becomes incredibly current due both to … [Read more...] about Songs for a New World
All My Sons
All My Sons Arthur Miller Berkeley Repertory Theatre The American Dream: That illusive goal that so many have sought to reach, so many sacrifices have been made ... often not for one's own self but for the next generation so the lives of children will be better. A Dream supposedly open to all, but in reality, mostly available at best to those whose skin is white. … [Read more...] about All My Sons
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard Anton Chekhov; Translated by Paul Schmidt Marin Theatre Put Anton Chekhov's globally popular, much-adapted play, The Cherry Orchard, in the bold, directorial hands of the much-accomplished Carey Perloff and provide her with a Bay Area, all-star cast, and it is an easy-money bet that Marin Theater has a sure-fire hit in the making. Such is … [Read more...] about The Cherry Orchard
How Shakespeare Saved My Life
How Shakespeare Saved My Life Jacob Ming-Trent Berkeley Repertory Theatre (in co-production with Folger Theatre and Red Bull Theater In her introductory remarks to the opening night's packed audience in Berkeley Rep's Peet's Theatre, Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer told us that given all the horrific things occurring currently in our country and world, being … [Read more...] about How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me
Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me Hershey Felder, Book Music by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Bartók, Gershwin & More TheatreWorks Silicon Valley After creating and performing the past thirty years in some six thousand live performances and eighteen films the musical biographies of sixteen famed composers (Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Beethoven, … [Read more...] about Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady Alan Jay Lerner (Book & Lyrics); Frederick Lowe (Music) San Francisco Playhouse With a long history of season-ending, summer-long, sizzling musicals that consistently sell-out -- classics like Cabaret, Evita, Follies, A Chorus Line -- San Francisco Playhouse once again takes a much-loved, much-produced audience favorite and opens an exuberant, … [Read more...] about My Fair Lady
Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical
Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical Ashley Robinson (Book); Dan Gillespie Sells (Music); Shakina (Lyrics) Based on the Play by Ed Graczyk It's hot and dusty in McCarthy, Texas where it has not rained in three years. But in the summer of 1975, the loyal "Disciples of James Dean" are mopping the sweat from their brows as they gather … [Read more...] about Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical
