Linda Hodges - Page 9

Alice Walker's poignantly sad, yet ultimately empowering classic novel, 'The Color Purple,' has found expression on the page, on film and twice now on the musical stage. The revival (book by Marsha Norman; songs by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray), honed to its finest points, tears at your heart as the story of Southern black girl Celie unfolds over decades of poverty, abuse and a loveless existence, only to see her rise triumphantly as she finally comes into her own. Directed by John Doyle (who was also responsible for the sepia-toned, minimalist set design), the show won the 2016 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical and is now on tour, with a wonderous stop at San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre, now through May 27.

San Francisco's Curran Theater is playing host to Head Over Heels, an Elizabethan farce and romp featuring the 80s pop-rock music of the Go-Go's. The all-girl band emerged out of the LA punk scene of the late 70s, but they soon found their groove in the driving beat of the power pop songs they wrote and played themselves. The catchy melodies, simple arrangements, heavy drums and prominent guitar riffs quickly took them to the top of the charts while also making a star of lead singer Belinda Carlisle. (Some of her solo hits are featured in the show.)

Brilliant in its simplicity, epic in its scope and poignant in its delivery, TheatreWorks"The Bridges of Madison County" will capture your heart and leave you wondering about the journeys that you've made, the bridges you've crossed and perhaps the road not taken.

In an age of angst, with an administration that threatens the fabric of our communities, Broadway San Jose presents RENT and all of sudden, it's all about LOVE! We will survive!

Theatre, at its best, can entertain you so much you forget all your troubles for a blissful two hours before remembering your dental appointment the next day. It can also cause you to delve deeply into questions about life, human nature and the gut-wrenching misery that human beings can visit upon one another. The Laramie Project eloquently, painfully and painstakingly belongs in the latter category. The powerful drama, as the Palo Alto Players' press release tells us, was originally developed by playwright Mois s Kaufman and members of his company, Tectonic Theater Project in the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming. Twenty years later it is still as powerful as ever.

If you're looking for a holiday confectionary delight then get prepared to be dazzled by ALADDIN, playing now thru Jan. 7, 2018 at SF's Orpheum Theatre.

This weekend saw the TheatreWorks world premiere of The Prince of Egypt, which first came to life almost 20 years ago as a DreamWorks animated movie of the same name. Taking its cue more from Cecil B. de Mille's 'The Ten Commandments' and less so from the Bible, Philip LaZebnik's musical book creatively reimagines Moses as 'spare to the heir' behind his adoptive brother Ramses in this retelling of the Exodus story. Coupled with Stephen Schwartz' rich and nuanced score and lyrics, and an absolutely dynamic, multi-ethnic international cast, this epic saga of two brothers caught up in a destiny-defining relationship is altogether magnificent.

Playwright Min Kahng's 'THE FOUR IMMIGRANTS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL MANGA' is a World Premiere Masterpiece. Get your tickets now at www.theatreworks.org. This show is not to be missed!

Playing now through July 23, 'The Curious Incident' gets curiouser and curiouser until you're completely pulled in - at once enthralled and appalled by what's unfolding and what it takes for Christopher to simply be himself in the world. Winner of five 2015 Tonys, including Best Play, it's an imaginative and thought-provoking story.

“Roman Holiday” is a sweet confection of a show for sure, though in its present form, it lacks the meaty bite needed to make it a Broadway special.

Alexander Hamilton Lin was waiting just to sing for you. Alexander Hamilton We're so happy that your life rings 'new!

Playing now through February 26, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is at once haunting and hopeful; shattering and uplifting and will surely open people's hearts and minds to the plight of women in the world today.

Disney's The Lion King, in all its magic and majesty, roared into San Francisco's Orpheum Theater and will be here now through December 31. If you're one for keeping a bucket list of must-see things to do and see before you 'exit stage left,' then this show is surely one for the list. Directed and loved into being by Julie Taymor, who infuses her creation with rich multicultural beauty, soul-stirring African harmonies and life-sized almost living, breathing animal puppets, Lion King will capture your heart as it surrounds your senses with magic, wonder, awe and grace.

Disney's The Lion King, in all its magic and majesty, roared into San Francisco's Orpheum Theater and will be here now through December 31. If you're one for keeping a bucket list of must-see things to do and see before you 'exit stage left,' then this show is surely one for the list. Directed and loved into being by Julie Taymor, who infuses her creation with rich multicultural beauty, soul-stirring African harmonies and life-sized almost living, breathing animal puppets, Lion King will capture your heart as it surrounds your senses with magic, wonder, awe and grace.

San Jose opened their season with the reimagined production of Phantom of the Opera. For going on three decades this show has enthralled audience members young and old and has once again captured the minds of Bay Area audience members at the beautiful San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Playing now through October 2 this dramatically lush musical, featuring our favorite phantom specter, is spectacular.

San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre plays host to the provocative and still darkly daring, Cabaret now through July 17. Set in 1931 Berlin, on the cusp of all that was to come with the rise of the Nazis, the Kander and Ebb musical revolves around the Kit Kat Club and its cast of characters who are determined to ignore the outside world. 'We have no troubles here! Here, life is beautiful,' shouts the garishly made-up emcee. He and the club's performers do their best to convince us that indeed, 'life is a cabaret' and, for a moment in time, it seems to be true. Yet they set aside the warning signs at their own peril. Coming directly from Broadway and originally directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall, SHNSF's Cabaret is a spectacular sleight of hand, giving us sinfully sexy performances even as the real depravity lies in wait like spider outside the doors of the Kit Kat Club.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Enchants at the Orpheum Now Thru July 10!

San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre plays host to the provocative and still darkly daring, Cabaret now through July 17. Set in 1931 Berlin, on the cusp of all that was to come with the rise of the Nazis, the Kander and Ebb musical revolves around the Kit Kat Club and its cast of characters who are determined to ignore the outside world. 'We have no troubles here! Here, life is beautiful,' shouts the garishly made-up emcee. He and the club's performers do their best to convince us that indeed, 'life is a cabaret' and, for a moment in time, it seems to be true. Yet they set aside the warning signs at their own peril. Coming directly from Broadway and originally directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall, SHNSF's Cabaret is a spectacular sleight of hand, giving us sinfully sexy performances even as the real depravity lies in wait like spider outside the doors of the Kit Kat Club.

Broadway San Jose's Motown the Musical is a solid gold hit and played to an enraptured audience last night at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Motown the record company was dreamed up by Berry Gordy in 1959 and the music world has never been the same. Gordy and his cavalcade of artists defined the sound of the sixties and seventies, breaking down racial barriers with a signature soul/pop sound that cut across the black/white divide at a time when segregation was still the law of the land. Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations were just a few of the artists that made up Motown. The staggering amount of talent, creativity and love that was the Motown Sound and the story behind its founder Berry Gordy -- all brought to the Broadway stage in Motown -- will touch your heart and put the beat back in your feet. Playing now through June 26 it is a must see song celebration and surely a show for your theatre bucket list.

A.C.T. Presents Will Eno's THE REALISTIC JONESES Now Thru April 3