The Pride of Lions Roger Q. Mason Theatre Rhinoceros On October 1, 1928, Mae West opened her latest play, The Pleasure Man – a comic, murder mystery with a climatic Drag Ball spectacle, resulting in the show being raided in its first two – and only – performances before being permanently shut down by the New York vice squad. Over fifty performers were hauled off to … [Read more...] about The Pride of Lions
Theatre Rhinoceros
“Sister Act”
Sister ActAlan Menken (Music); Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Cheri & Bill Steinkellner (Book)Theatre RhinocerosThe Cast of Sister ActBrothers and Sisters, may I have an “Amen.” Glory hallelujah, a miracle hath been wrought in San Francisco that is heavenly in a wonderfully sinful kind of way. Theatre Rhinoceros has received permission from the Almighty of Broadway to … [Read more...] about “Sister Act”
“The Boy from Oz”
The Boy from OzMartin Sherman & Nick Enright (Book); Peter Allen (Music & Lyrics)Theatre RhinocerosJustin Gellen & Justin LopezOne of the most memorable performances that I have ever seen on Broadway was from the second row, reveling in Hugh Jackman’s performance as Peter Allen in the 2003 The Boy from Oz –a role that won him that year’s Tony for Best Leading Actor … [Read more...] about “The Boy from Oz”
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosCharles Peoples III, Rudy Guerrero & Kim LarsenOnce again as Pride Month begins, the wonderfully garish Priscilla bus has pulled into Gateway Theatre full of its fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, and proudly prancing divas in sparkly wigs. Yes, Theatre Rhinoceros has … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
Priscilla, Queen of the DesertStephen Elliott & Allan ScottTheatre RhinocerosDiogo Zavadzki, Charles Peoples III & Derek MillerIt’s Pride 2017 in San Francisco; and what better way to celebrate than with fabulously attired drag queens, shirtless twinks, singing divas in sparkly wigs, and a garishly decorated school bus named Priscilla? Oh, and there are kangaroos, … [Read more...] about “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”
“Flim-Flam”
Flim-Flam / John Fisher / Theatre Rhinoceros John Fisher, Donald Currie & Daniel Chung As a noun, ‘flim-flam’ means “deceptive nonsense;” and as a verb, “swindle with a confidence game.” According to his program notes, John Fisher in September 2016 clearly had a certain, orange-haired politician-of-sorts in mind as he got the idea to write a farce … [Read more...] about “Flim-Flam”
“The Brothers Size”
The Brothers SizeTarell Alvin McCraneyTheatre RhinocerosJulian Green, Gabriel Christian & LaKeidrick S. WimberlyWith a tribal air of a long-ago continent or of fields in the another century’s cotton-filled South, three young, black men dance in a trance-like state and sing with moaning tone and hum, “The road is rough ... hmmm, haaaah ... Lord God, it’s rough and … [Read more...] about “The Brothers Size”
“Present Laughter”
Present LaughterNoël CowardTheatre RhinocerosThe Cast of Theatre Rhino's "Present Laughter"Intriguing plot? No, not much there. New theatrical grounds explored? No, why break what has already worked for the playwright? Redeeming social value and food for thought? Ha, are you kidding? A rip-roaringly fun night of theatre? Bingo! … [Read more...] about “Present Laughter”
“The Call”
The CallTanya BarfieldTheatre RhinocerosAlexaendrai Bond, Nkechi Emeruwa, Melissa Keith, Darryl V. Jones & Hawlan NgAs more and more women delay having their first babies in order to finish school, pursue careers, and/or trek the world on one last grand adventure before settling down to parenting, they and their spouses/partners also face increasing issues of fertility … [Read more...] about “The Call”
“Shakespeare Goes to War”
"Shakespeare Goes to War"John FisherTheatre RhinocerosJesse F. Vaughn, Gabriel A. Ross, John Fisher & Sean KeehanSubtitled “Everything I needed to know about Shakespeare I learned from my high school English teacher,” John Fisher’s latest play, "Shakespeare Goes to War," is clearly his personal homage to one or more teachers who pointed him toward his career in … [Read more...] about “Shakespeare Goes to War”
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
“Breaking the Code”
Breaking the CodeHugh WhitemoreTheatre RhinocerosWith the recent Academy-nominated film The Imitation Game, the story of World War II Enigma code-breaker and computer pioneer Alan Turing is now much more widely known than when Hugh Whitemore’s 1986 Breaking the Code premiered. His play, however, brings to the 2015 audience aspects of Turing’s life … [Read more...] about “Breaking the Code”
