AnastasiaTerrence McNally (Book); Stephen Flaherty (Music); Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics)SHNLila Coogan & Stephen BrowerSoon after a group of Bolsheviks brutally murdered Tsar Nicolas II and his entire family on July 17, 1918, rumors spread faster than the Revolutionary Guard could extinguish them that Grand Duchess Anastasia had somehow escaped and was living in hiding. … [Read more...] about “Anastasia”
SHN
“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”
Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryDavid Grieg (Book); Marc Shaiman (Music); Scott Wittiman & Marc Shaiman (Lyrics)SHNHenry Boshart & Noah WeisbergCurrently at SHN’s Golden Gate Theatre, there are two one-act musicals appearing, both under the same title as Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – or at least it feels that way sitting through … [Read more...] about Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
“Falsettos”
FalsettosWilliam Finn (Music & Lyrics); William Finn & James Lapine (Book)SHNThe Cast of "Falsettos"Facing us on the other wise dark, blank stage is one of the four corners of a large, light-gray cube consisting of many large, various shaped pieces fit tightly together like a puzzle. From that incredibly fascinating Rubiks-like cube will emerge living rooms, … [Read more...] about “Falsettos”
“Come from Away”
Come from AwayIrene Sankoff & David Hein (Book, Music & Lyrics)SHNThe Cast of Come from Away“I’m sitting in my car.”“I’m in the library.”“I’m in the staff room.”“And I turned on the radio.”Like almost everyone worldwide and everyone in the opening night audience of SHN’s Golden Gate Theatre, citizens of Gander, Newfoundland remember where they were at 8:46 a.m. on … [Read more...] about “Come from Away”
“A Bronx Tale”
A Bronx TaleChazz Palminteri (Book); Alan Menken (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics)SHNJoey Barreiro & Frannkie LeoniBased on real life occurrences, A Bronx Tale is a coming of age musical about the life of its writer, Chazz Palminteri, ages nine to seventeen. Set in the 1960s Italian and African-American neighborhoods of New York – two neighborhoods close in distance but … [Read more...] about “A Bronx Tale”
“Waitress”
WaitressJessie Nelson (Book): Sara Bareilles (Music & Lyrics)SHNChristine DwyerEvery day she bakes twenty-seven pies, including one each day that she creates as a new recipe on the spot – pies with names like Big Guy Strawberry, Polka Dot Peach, Lost Shepard’s, and Deep (Shit) Blueberry. At Joe’s Pie Diner where everyone wants once again to know “What’s Inside,” Jenna … [Read more...] about “Waitress”
“School of Rock”
School of RockJulian Fellowes (Book); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Andrew Lloyd Webber (Music)SHNThe Cast of School of RockThe man who began his celebrated, much-awarded career writing a rock musical when he was twenty-two (Jesus Christ Superstar) returned to that genre to premiere in 2015 School of Rock, an electrically pounding good time featuring this time not twenty-somethings, … [Read more...] about “School of Rock”
“The Humans”
The HumansStephen KaramSHNRichard Thomas, Therese Plaehn, Pamela Reed, Daisy Eagan & Luis VegaA play where sound, light, and set play starring roles along with a stellar cast and a hilarious and haunting script, Stephen Karam’s The Humans arrives in San Francisco as a most welcome and anticipated part of SHN’s current Broadway season. Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for … [Read more...] about “The Humans”
“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”
“Aladdin”
AladdinAlan Menkin (Music); Howard Ashman, Tim Rice & Chad Beguelin (Lyrics); Chad Beguelin (Book)SHNThe Cast of AladdinWith exotic, kaleidoscopic colors of every hue imaginable, Disney’s Aladdin bursts onto the SHN Orpheum stage in a touring version that has more elaborate scene changes, more dazzling costumes, and more jumping tumbling, and even flying cast members than … [Read more...] about “Aladdin”
“An American in Paris”
An American in ParisGeorge Gershwin and Ira Gershwin (Music and Lyrics); Craig Lucas (Book)SHNTaking a 1951 film starring the dancing likes of Gene Kelly and Leslie Carron – a film that is idolized by members of a certain generation and one hardly if at all known by those known as Millennials – and turning that film decades later into a stage musical is nothing short of risky … [Read more...] about “An American in Paris”
“Something Rotten”
Something RottenKarey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell (Book); Wayne & Karey Kirkpatrick (Music & Lyrics)SHNNick Rashad Burroughs & Cast of Something's RottenWith a face that literally glows in excitement and a voice that pops and zings with full exuberance, the Minstrel sings, “Welcome to the Renaissance, where we ooh and ahh you with ambiance ... where everything … [Read more...] about “Something Rotten”
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeSimon StephensSHNAdam Langdon“I see everything. Other people are lazy; they don’t see everything.”A boy of fifteen years, three months, five days indeed can count from a fast moving train the exact number of trees on a hillside, of clouds in the sky, and of hues of green in the meadows passing by. He notes without … [Read more...] about “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
“Roman Holiday”
Roman HolidayCole Porter (Music & Lyrics)Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman & Paul Blake (Book)SHNStephanie Styles & Drew GehlingFor one evening of eye-popping scenery changes, jaw-dropping choreography, and swirling skirts among Italian shopkeepers and Roman tourists, we are as close to being a part of a 1950s, movie-theatre audience as we could imagine ever being. … [Read more...] about “Roman Holiday”
