Satchmo at the Waldorf Terry Teachout San Jose Stage Company Coughing and wheezing desperately for his next breath and with shoulders hunched as he stumbles toward the portable oxygen tank in the corner, the elderly man we see entering the large, backstage dressing room still is recognizable at first sight. After all, who else always has a white handkerchief hanging … [Read more...] about Satchmo at the Waldorf
The Stage
August: Osage County
August: Osage County Tracy Letts San Jose Stage Company Why do we return time and again to the muck and mirk, the venom and vile of such time-honored works as Macbeth or Who Killed Virginia Woolf? In many ways, these are not pleasant outings at the theatre; but a great production of either can be exhilarating and entertaining just the same, given great … [Read more...] about August: Osage County
Chicago
Hips snap and swirl. Hands spread their fingers, Fosse-style. Shoulders roll as twelve bodies slowly swing around in unison, grouped together in a triangle that moves in soft but precisely placed steps. Through the center in her black lingerie snakes a slinking gal singing in a smoky, sensuous voice, “C’mon babe, why don’t we paint the town, and all that jazz?” And onto … [Read more...] about Chicago
“Adiós Mamá Carlota”
Adiós Mamá CarlotaLuis ValdezThe Stage in association with El Teatro CampesinoAlison F. Rich and Will Springhorn, Jr.Luis Valdez and El Teatro Campesino partner with The Stage to premiere a play about a short, little known period of Mexican history when the younger brother, Maximilian I, of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph was named in 1864 by Napoleon III to be Emperor of Mexico, … [Read more...] about “Adiós Mamá Carlota”
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
Cat on a Hot Tin RoofTennessee WilliamsThe StageRob August & Allison F. RichWhat is it about sixty-plus-year-old this play about one family’s secrets, doubts, deceptions, lies, greed, unmet sexual desires, and mores still reflecting the Deep South’s century-old defeat that makes it one of the American stage’s favorites? The Stage presents a stellar … [Read more...] about “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
“The Lieutenant of Inishmore”
The Lieutenant of InishmoreMartin McDonaghThe Stage Rob AugustUnder the astute, no-holes-barred direction of Joshua Marx, The Stage presents a shockingly horrific and a totally hilarious The Lieutenant of Inishmore -- ninety minutes that keeps us on the edge of our seats with our hands often wanting to hide our eyes while at the same time we … [Read more...] about “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
Hedwig and the Angry InchJohn Cameron Mitchell (Book); Stephen Trask (Music & Lyrics)The Stage Keith Pinto as HedwigIn full fury on the compact floor arena of San Jose’s The Stage, Hedwig and the Angry Inchexplodes. Bay Area favorites Keith Pinto and Ashley Garlick play gender-fluid Hedwig and her back-up singing husband, Yitzhak, a former drag … [Read more...] about “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Hugh Wheeler (Book)The StageNoel Anthony The Stage takes the Sondheim favorite, Sweeney Todd, that has graced Broadway three times, the West End four, and grand opera stages in at least ten countries worldwide and strips the musical down to a bare minimum of cast, set, and orchestra, putting … [Read more...] about “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
“The Toxic Avenger”
The Toxic AvengerJoe DiPietro (Book & Lyrics); David Bryan (Music & Lyrics)The Stage Courtney Hatcher, Brandon Noel Thomas, Joshua Marx, Allison F. Rich & Will Springhorn Jr. The Toxic Avengeris a solid choice by The Stage for summertime fun in much the same way local movie houses decide to give us silly comedies and super-hero … [Read more...] about “The Toxic Avenger”
“The Memory Stick”
The Memory StickDonal O’KellyThe Stage John R. Lewis, Joseph D. Valdez, & Lyndsy KailIn a co-commission with the Dublin City Arts Office and the Irish Theatre Institute, The Stage opens a world premiere The Memory Stick by Donal O’Kelly – a play about what it means and what it costs to stand up against all odds. Lyrically directed, often as in a dreamscape, by … [Read more...] about “The Memory Stick”
“Disgraced”
DisgracedAyad AkhtarThe StageAllison F. Rich, Damien Seperi, Kathryn Smith-McGlynn, & Jonathan Rhys Williams If in the midst of the salad course at a dinner party with friends, friendly chatter begins to be peppered by the topics of a) religion, b) ethnic origins, c) politics, then politely remember you left something burning on the stove at home and dash out … [Read more...] about “Disgraced”
“Boeing Boeing”
Boeing BoeingMarc CamolettiTranslation by Beverly Cross & Francis EvansThe StageJoshua Hollister, Halsey Varady & Michael Barrett AustinSeeing seven doors across the stage wall can only mean one thing: Buckle your seat belt because it’s going to be a wild and wooly night of loud slams, just misses, surprise comings, and split-second goings. And be prepared … [Read more...] about “Boeing Boeing”
“Valley of the Heart”
Valley of the HeartLuis ValdezSan Jose Stage Company in Partnership with El Teatro Campesino Lakin Vladez & Melanie Arii MahGrand and epic in theme and scope while intensely personal in individual stories, Luis Valdez’s Valley of the Heart receives its world premiere through a partnership between two award-winning companies, San Jose Stage and El Teatro … [Read more...] about “Valley of the Heart”
“The 39 Steps”
The 39 StepsAdapted by Patrick BarlowBased on the Novel by John BuchanFrom the Movie by Alfred HitchcockThe StageCassidy Brown & Allison F. RichBeginning as a 1915 novel by British author John Buchan, The 39 Steps became one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most enduring thriller films, ranked in 1999 by the British Film Institute as the fourth best, 20th century film. In 2005, … [Read more...] about “The 39 Steps”
“RFK”
RFK Jack Holmes The Stage David Arrow as RFK For anyone younger than 45, the first question might be, “Who is RFK?” and a quick second might be, “And why should I spend two hours listening to a guy in heavy Bostonian accent who constantly swipes at his floppy hair talk about his life?” Only a few mesmerizing minutes of David Arrow playing the solo … [Read more...] about “RFK”
