JazzAdapted by Nambi E. KelleyBased on the Book by Toni MorrisonMarin Theatre CompanyDezi Solèy & C. Kelly WrightAs mourners audibly sob and somewhere a choir sings the gospel hymn “Steal Away,” a stunned-looking, steely-eyed woman approaches the rectangle of flowers guarding the unseen corpse of the young girl whose portrait we see near-by. With increasing snarl, she … [Read more...] about “Jazz”
MUST SEE
“The Jungle”
The JungleJoe Murphy & Joe RobertsonCurran TheatreJonathan Nyati, Tommy Letts & Ammar Haj AhmadOne young woman tells how she walked 3000 miles just to get to the Mediterranean, still a sea and a continent away from her destination. An Iraqi with a guitar sings a song and relates how this song moved the hearts of guards to let him and 200 others cross a closed … [Read more...] about “The Jungle”
“Eurydice”
EurydiceSarah RuhlCity Lights Theater Company Leah Cohen and Lauren RhodesSince its premiere by Madison Repertory Theatre, the metaphor-rich, watery underworld Eurydice has received many creative productions from Off-Broadway and London to regional stages across the county to hundreds of high schools and universities – including a fabulously creative, … [Read more...] about “Eurydice”
“The Great Leap”
The Great LeapLauren YeeAmerican Conservatory TheaterBD Wong, TIm Liu, Arye Gross & Ruibo Qian“I am quick, I am relentless. I am the most relentless person you have ever met and if you have met someone more relentless than me, tell me, tell me and I will meet them and I will find a way to become even more relentless than them!” He may be still a senior in high school; he … [Read more...] about “The Great Leap”
“Metamorphoses”
MetamorphosesMary Zimmerman (From the translations of Ovid by David R. Slavitt)Berkeley Repertory Theatre (in co-production with GuthrieTheater)Steven Epp & Sango TajimaThe element that flows, freezes, and flies into the sky as steam is the medium in which multiple, life-altering transformations occur in each of dozen-plus vignettes of Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, now in … [Read more...] about “Metamorphoses”
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Hugh Wheeler (Book)Hillbarn TheatreHeather Orth & Keith PintoOne lone, frozen figure stares blankly forward, singing with almost no emotion those words so well-known to Sondheim lovers everywhere:“Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.His skin was pale and his eye was odd.He shaved the faces of … [Read more...] about “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
“Paradise Square: A New Musical”
Paradise Square: A New MusicalMarcus Gardley, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan (Book); Conceived by Larry Kirwan; Jason Howland & Larry Kirwan (Music); Nathan Tysen (Lyrics)Based on the Songs of Stephen FosterBerkeley Repertory TheatreThe Cast of Paradise Square: A New MusicalIn what is now regarded as the first inner-city slum in America -- one teeming by the early 1860s … [Read more...] about “Paradise Square: A New Musical”
“Tuck Everlasting”
Tuck Everlasting Chris Miller (Music); Nathan Tysen (Lyrics); Claudia Shear & Tim Federle (Book)Based on the Novel by Natalie BabbittTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyNatalie Schroeder and Eddie GreyFor anyone who has seen even a few of the over 165 productions that Artistic Director Robert Kelley has directed in his near fifty years at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, then it soon … [Read more...] about “Tuck Everlasting”
“Mary Poppins”
Mary PoppinsRichard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (Music & Lyrics); Julian Fellowes (Book) with Additional Songs/Lyrics by George Stiles & Anthony DreweBased on the Stories of P.L. Travers and the Film by Walt DisneySan Francisco Playhouse El BehMary and Bert have danced with animated animals in a cinematic Mary Poppins for almost fifty-five years with Julie Andrews … [Read more...] about “Mary Poppins”
“All the Way”
All the WayRobert SchenkkanPalo Alto Players The Cast of All the WayIn the Palo Alto Players’ magnificently produced, regional premiere of Robert Schenkkan’s 2014 Tony winning Best Play, All the Way, we as an audience are challenged to ask ourselves if questionable tactics of a nation’s leader are ever acceptable if the desired outcomes match our own sense of … [Read more...] about “All the Way”
“The Resting Place”
The Resting PlaceAshlin HalfnightMagic TheatreJames Carpenter and Cast of The Resting PlaceHow many times a month, a week do we read yet another headline of one person’s atrocious act against innocent others -- be it extortion, murder, or sexual abuse of other adults or of children? And while any passing thoughts and sympathies we may pause a few minutes to contemplate … [Read more...] about “The Resting Place”
“fairview”
fairviewJackie Sibblies DruryBerkeley Repertory Theatre, In Association with Soho RepNatalie Venetia Belcon, Monique Robinson & Charles BrowingFor the first forty minutes or so, we seem to be watching what one character calls, “a good ol’ family drama ... a slice of life ... nothing big and flashy ... just a real story about real people.” The situations are familiar … [Read more...] about “fairview”
“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”
“Oslo”
OsloJ.T. RogersMarin Theatre CompanyJ Paul Nicolas, Ashkon Davaran, Ryan Tasker, Brian Herndon & Paris Hunter PaulOn September 13, 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization negotiator Mahmoud Abbas signed a Declaration of Principles in which the PLO recognized the legitimacy of the State of Israel and the Israelis recognized the PLO … [Read more...] about “Oslo”
“Detroit ’67”
Detroit ‘67Dominique MorisseauAurora Theatre CompanyHalili Knox & Akilah A. WalkerLast year, many celebrations and exhibitions packed the San Francisco calendar to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of 1967, known here and beyond as “The Summer of Love.” While so-called hippies roamed with peace signs and tie-dyes the streets and parks of The City with their … [Read more...] about “Detroit ’67”
