Hedwig and the Angry InchJohn Cameron Mitchell (Book); Stephen Trask (Music & Lyrics)SHN Darren Criss as HedwigAs one of the most recently anticipated arrivals of a major touring musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch explodes in full fury on the SHN Golden Gate stage with two hometown stars reprising their celebrated roles from Broadway. Darren Criss and Lena Hall play … [Read more...] about “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
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“Seared”
SearedTheresa RebeckSan Francisco PlayhouseLarry Powell, Brian Dykstra, Rod Gnapp & Alex SunderhausThe first sound heard is an enticing sizzle as oil hits a hot skillet, leading to a plume of white smoke rising from the stove as smells of onion and garlic waft into the first rows of the audience. That initial sizzle is only the beginning of a play that will snap, … [Read more...] about “Seared”
“Other Desert Cities”
Other Desert CitiesJon Robin BaitzCity Lights Theater Company http://cltc.org Lauren Tothero, Jeff Kramer & Mary GibboneyIt’s Christmas 2004 in a Jewish home in the desert; and the family is going through morning, holiday rituals before heading to the club for crab claws and roasted pork. Welcome to the loving Wyeth household, where a … [Read more...] about “Other Desert Cities”
“King Charles III”
King Charles IIIMike BartlettAmerican Conservatory TheatreRobert Joy as CharlesWhat is it about us Americans that we have such a fascination with the very Crown and its royals that almost 250 years ago we fought a revolution to escape? And when we hear the accented speech of that faraway Isle, why do we tend to go gaga and give immediate credence to whoever is … [Read more...] about “King Charles III”
“Chess”
ChessBenny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (Music); Tim Rice (Lyrics)Custom Made Theatre Company The Cast of "Chess"Produced first as a concept album in 1984 with music by Benny Andersson and BjörnUlvaeus (both formerly with ABBA and later to be associated with the mega hit Mamma Mia) and lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor … [Read more...] about “Chess”
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Disney’s The Little MermaidAlan Menken (Music); Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Doug Wright (Book)Palo Alto Players Kristen Hermosillo & Cheyenne Wells The Little Mermaidmay sound like the perfect outing for young girls and their parents. While that is certainly true, the opening night crowd at Palo Alto Players that included folks of … [Read more...] about “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
“Life of the Party”
Life of the PartyAndrew Lippa (Music & Lyrics)Conceived by Andrew Lippa & David BabaniTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Sally Ann Triplett, Teal Wicks, Damian Humbley & Andrew LippaTheatreWorks Silicon Valley welcomes home one whom Artistic Director Robert Kelley refers to as “family” as the company presents the U.S. premiere of Life of the … [Read more...] about “Life of the Party”
“The Awakening”
The AwakeningAdapted by Oren Stevens (from novel by Kate Chopin)The BreadboxThe Cast of "The Awakening"“There’s so much I cannot understand about myself ... my motives ... I have no grand plan.” But Edna Pontellier is very willing to explore new boundaries and to break a few along the way as she mostly ignores late-nineteenth-century societal rules of what is proper and … [Read more...] about “The Awakening”
“Wild Boy”
Wild BoyOliver GoldstickDragon Productions Theatre CompanyJohnathan TierneyWild Boy focuses on Oliver Goldstick's research about England’s Kings George I & II and a found, feral boy named Peter as well as on Mr. Collins’ and his wife’s parallel discoveries about their little ‘wild boy’ and themselves. With astute direction, intriguing … [Read more...] about “Wild Boy”
“Grand Concourse”
Grand ConcourseHeidi SchreckShotgun PlayersKevin Clarke, Cathleen Riddley, Megan Trout & Caleb Cabrera The soup slowly simmers as more and more cut veggies are added to the large pot in the squeaky clean, industrial kitchen. While the actual brew in this neighborhood soup kitchen never boils over, the metaphorical soup that is stirring in the kitchen run by a … [Read more...] about “Grand Concourse”
“Confederates”
ConfederatesSuzanne BradbeerTheatreWorks Silicon Valley Jessica Lynn Carroll as Maddie & Richard Prioleau as WillCould a compromising picture of a coed and a confederate flag really be just a naïve girl’s attempt to create an edgy art project, or is it just the quickly invented, convenient explanation for what was really a drunken prank, now deemed mistake? What … [Read more...] about “Confederates”
“The Real Americans”
The Real AmericansDan HoyleThe MarshDan Hoyle as a Man Met in MississippiDan Hoyle, the master of disguise, chameleon of personality, mimic of dialect, and man with the sharpest of wits and the biggest of hearts has returned after a several-year hiatus better than ever, bringing folk from all across America with him to The Marsh to tell their stories, in their own words and … [Read more...] about “The Real Americans”
“City of Angels”
City of AngelsCy Coleman (Music); David Zippel (Lyrics); Larry Gelbart (Book)San Francisco Playhouse The Cast of "City of Angels"--> The tough, hunky private eye hero who falls prey to beautiful women who fall for him ... or at least the femme fatales who make him think they fall for him as they seduce with snake-like charms, shapely hips, and breasts bursting from low … [Read more...] about “City of Angels”
“East 14th”
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”
“Cabaret”
CabaretJoe Masteroff (Book); John Kander (Music); Fred Ebb (Lyrics)SHN Randy Harrison as MC with the Kit Kat Girls and BoysSince its 1966 Broadway debut and its initial eight Tonys, the inspiring hit Cabaret has continued to evolve through several major, award-winning revivals in both New York and London, becoming ever darker, starker, and rawer with each new production during … [Read more...] about “Cabaret”
