East 14thDon ReedThe Marsh Don Reed is currently reviving at Berkeley’s The Marsh his much-touted, critically acclaimed East 14th, a solo show that has played in past years at both at The Marsh and on New York stages and has even been heard in excerpts on NPR. The one-man writer, performer, producer, and director joyfully and playfully walks us … [Read more...] about “East 14th”
The Marsh
“Lightning in the Brain”
Lightning in the BrainCorey Fischer (Writer, Composer, Performer)The Marsh Corey FischerWhen spending time as a young man in New York, Corey Fischer says it was like “walking through layers of history that were sliced as thin as pastrami.” While his new work, Lightning in the Brain -- now at The Marsh in San Francisco -- is a pleasant, harmless hour of … [Read more...] about “Lightning in the Brain”
“Elect to Laugh”
Elect to LaughWill DurstThe MarshWill DurstSoon after I first arrived in the Bay Area in late 1978, my newly wed spouse and I started checking out the bountiful comedy club scene that existed in San Francisco at venues like The Other Café, The Holy City Zoo, and Cobb’s Comedy Club. One of our favorite stand-ups soon became Will Durst, and almost forty years later this … [Read more...] about “Elect to Laugh”
“Grey Matter”
Grey MatterJulie KatzThe MarshJulie KatzLike a melding of a daily comic strip come to life and of snippets of a TV sitcom, a parade of caricatured, corporate types pass before us as they go about their daily lives at The Company. Led by “the new guy who will change things” to carry out the highly unique mission to “make our aspect of the industry better,” The Company is a … [Read more...] about “Grey Matter”
“Colette Uncensored”
Colette UncensoredZack Rogow and Lorri HoltThe MarshLorri Holt as ColetteThe pupils dance in excitement across the surface of her eyes. Her hands clasp in tiny balls, grasp at unseen objects, and then fly in five directions at once. Lips move with well-formed purpose with a slight quiver on the right side as her life story unfolds, and then they suddenly freeze in … [Read more...] about “Colette Uncensored”
“Second Time Around: A Duet for Cello and Storyteller”
Second Time Around: A Duet for Cello and StorytellerCharlie Varon (monologue) and Joan Jeanrenaud (score)The MarshCharlie Varon & Joan JeanrenaudPlaintive, lower chords merge into slowly picked notes that then give way to faster rhythms and phrases higher on the scale of the cello’s strings. All the while, a bearded man watches the cellist with a look of reverent … [Read more...] about “Second Time Around: A Duet for Cello and Storyteller”
“The Jewelry Box”
Brian Copeland as a 6-Year-Old The Jewelry BoxBrian CopelandThe MarshWhen a six-year-old boy decides he must buy his Mom a wooden jewelry box with gold latch and rich velvet interior for her Christmas, there is nothing that can deter his big-eyed dream. The $11.97 needed for this White Front Stores purchase is like a Fort Knox fortune to the young … [Read more...] about “The Jewelry Box”
“Mother’s Milk: A Blues Riff in Three Acts”
Mother’s Milk: A Blues Riff in Three ActsWayne Harris (Book); Randy Craig (Music)The MarshWayne HarrisInterspersed with soulful snippets of blues and gospel, Wayne Harris lovingly and humorously tells the life story of his mother, Ruth, a woman “when she smiled, her cheeks rose up like pop-up biscuits.” With his own dimpled cheeks, winning smile, and eyes that pop and … [Read more...] about “Mother’s Milk: A Blues Riff in Three Acts”
“Loveland: Good Grief”
Loveland: Good GriefAnn RandolphThe MarshAnn Randolph as Frannie PottsAs we settle into our seats in the intimate setting of San Francisco’s The Marsh, a familiar greeting echoes out of the dark, warning us to buckle up and refrain from our electronic devices until we reach our cruising altitude. Clearly we are about to be airlifted into a journey of some sort, but none … [Read more...] about “Loveland: Good Grief”
Two Highly Rated Shows Return for Encores in August
By popular demand of audiences, two excellent productions that graced local stages earlier this year will re-open this month for extended runs. Each tells a GLBT-related story and relates an important story of our not-too-distant history.Photo by David WilsonBreaking the Code: The Alan Turing Story (Hugh Whitemore) reopens at Theatre Rhinoceros August 5-29, 2015, … [Read more...] about Two Highly Rated Shows Return for Encores in August
“Each and Every Thing”
Photo by Peter Prado Each and EverythingWritten and Performed by Dan HoyleDeveloped with Charlie Varon & Marueen Towey; Origianl Music by Mars TodayThe MarshSpanning several decades and landing in cities around the globe, Dan Hoyle’s latest one-person show, Each and Everything, is a virtual romp through disconnected scenes of many ethnicities, beginning with the … [Read more...] about “Each and Every Thing”
“Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters”
Black Virgins Are Not for HipstersWritten & Performed by Echo BrownDeveloped with David FordThe Marsh, San FranciscoPhoto by Alexis Keenan Echo Brown lures us in with funny stories and interesting characters; and once we are fully engaged, then shatters many of our preconceptions and stereotypes that both Whites and Blacks have about women of color. … [Read more...] about “Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters”
“Oh No There’s Men On The Land”
Oh No There’s Men On The LandKaren S. RipleyThe MarshCabaret, BerkeleyAs my husband and I settled into our seats and table in the intimate, cozy Cabaret of the Berkeley Marsh for the 5 p.m. show, we soon started to feel a bit uneasy as we realized that we were the only two men in a room of women, many of whom clearly knew each other and most of whom appeared to be possible … [Read more...] about “Oh No There’s Men On The Land”
