Steve Murray - Page
Steve Murray is a writer for Cabaret Scenes magazine, contributor to ForAllEvents and now BroadwayWorld. He started writing rock reviews for his college newspaper in the 1970’s, produced a variety show in San Francisco for 6 years and staged comedy, theatre and music performances in the Bay Area. An avid tennis player and competitive swimmer, Steve works in Biotech for his paychecks.
BWW Review: THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX at Berkeley Repertory Theatre is PigPen Theatre Co.'s stunning re-imagining of the award-winning book and film.
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL at SF Playhouse is a Story of Redemption and Hope
BWW Review: BECKY NURSE OF SALEM at Berkeley Repertory
BWW Review: THE SUPERS at Z Space
BWW Review: SOVEREIGNTY at Marin Theatre Company is a powerful, fact-based story of the historical and present day plight of the Cherokee Nation.
BWW Review: A NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Of Yugen is a stunning traditional Japanese theatre re-imagining of Dicken's famous tale.
BWW Review: ON THE PERIPHERY at Potrero StageBWW Review: LOVE at Marin Theatre Company
March 16, 2020
Straight out of recent headlines of #metoo, Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein comes the World Premiere of Kate Cortesi's Love, a clever, well-acted examination of sexual abuse from the perspective of abuser and victim that challenges the black and white image of right and wrong by adding in heavy shades of grey. The results are a thoughtful, yet perplexing look at the dynamics of sexual power politics.
BWW Review: THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
March 10, 2020
BWW Review: ON THE PERIPHERY at Potrero Stage
March 7, 2020
BWW Review: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Gateway Theatre
March 1, 2020
BWW Review: THE SUPERS at Z Space
February 22, 2020
BWW Review: TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS at SF Playhouse
February 7, 2020
Susi Damilano gives a career-defining performance in the Bay Area premiere of Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated writer Nia Vardalos' emotionally rewarding adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's best-selling book. Gorgeously directed by husband Bill English, Tiny Beautiful Things will touch everyone's heartstrings in numerous aspects, leaving you moved, exhilarated and yes, maybe even a tiny bit healed.
BWW Review: MORE GUNS! A Musical Comedy About the NRA
February 3, 2020
San Francisco theatre goers got gypped! Oh, not by this sensationally funny satire on America's gun culture, but by the fact that it only got a limited three-performance run. Running for the past 18 months in LA, a musical comedy that pokes fun at our warped political processes, conservatives and 'woke' liberals is perfect fodder for San Francisco audiences. Three sold put audiences here were treated to a perfect musical comedy- great performances, a compelling story and a fantastic hummable score.
BWW Review: YOU'LL CATCH FLIES at New Conservatory Theatre Center
January 27, 2020
A fun party among best friends takes a decidedly dark turn in the World Premiere of Ryan Fogarty's cautionary tale of the deleterious effects of gossip, judgement and miscommunications. Based on a series of real-life encounters, Fogarty presents a nightmare orgy of sniping, back-stabbing and behavior most decidedly un-friendly. While my generation had The Broken Hearts Club and Longtime Companion, You'll Catch Flies feels like a millennial version of 1968's Boys in the Band'. Playing to a young demographic, this play, like its predecessors, should scare the bejesus out of gays by representing an unapologetic vision of the worst of human nature.
BWW Review: HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE at Custom Made Theatre Co.
January 25, 2020
BWW Review: THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE at Mountain View Center For The Performing Arts
January 20, 2020
Hershey Felder has mastered the niche of incorporating the beauty of classical music with a dramatic arc to create compelling works of theatre that satisfy emotionally and educate as well. Channeling the masters Gershwin, Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and others, Felder is a master portraitist, concert pianist and storyteller. Here, he adapts the amazing story of Mona Golabeck's mother Lisa Jura, a pianist and survivor of the Nazi atrocities in WW II. There's no denying the artistry of Golabeck's skill as she presents the works of Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Edvard Grieg and her loving tribute to her mother's journey is powerful and authentic.
BWW Review: NOURA at Marin Theatre Company
January 18, 2020
BWW Review: BECKY NURSE OF SALEM at Berkeley Repertory
December 21, 2019
BWW Review: VINEGAR TOM at Shotgun Players
December 17, 2019
Four-time Obie Award-winner Caryl Churchill is the pre-eminent writer of feminist themes involving sexual politics, abuses of power and gender equality. There's no better metaphor of these themes than the witch hunts of 17th century England which provide the backstory of Vinegar Tom, an allegory that rings so true today. The play, which includes a modern score by Diana Lawrence sung by a Greek chorus dressed as street walkers, bridges time to illustrate the continuity of women's struggle against shaming, disempowerment and inequality. In director Ariel Craft's skillful hands, Churchill's sad satire blazes anew with a remarkable cast and technical crew that conjure both history and the present in vivid detail.
BWW Review: HEAD OVER HEELS at New Conservatory Theatre Center
December 15, 2019
BWW Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Lucie Stern Theatre
December 10, 2019
BWW Review: A NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Of Yugen is a stunning traditional Japanese theatre re-imagining of Dicken's famous tale.
December 8, 2019
BWW Review: A NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Of Yugen is a stunning traditional Japanese theatre re-imagining of Dicken's famous tale.
BWW Review: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP at Aurora Theatre Dramatizes the Love Letters of Women's Rights Activist Mary Wooley
December 1, 2019
BWW Review: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP at Aurora Theatre dramatizes the love letters of early women's rights activist Mary Wooley, President of Mt. Holyoke 1901-1937.
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL at SF Playhouse is a Story of Redemption and Hope
November 30, 2019
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL at SF Playhouse is a story of redemption and hope.
BWW Review: THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX at Berkeley Repertory Theatre is PigPen Theatre Co.'s stunning re-imagining of the award-winning book and film.
November 26, 2019
BWW Review: THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX at Berkeley Repertory Theatre is PigPen Theatre Co.'s stunning re-imagining of the award-winning book and film.
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
November 21, 2019
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
March 16, 2020
Straight out of recent headlines of #metoo, Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein comes the World Premiere of Kate Cortesi's Love, a clever, well-acted examination of sexual abuse from the perspective of abuser and victim that challenges the black and white image of right and wrong by adding in heavy shades of grey. The results are a thoughtful, yet perplexing look at the dynamics of sexual power politics.
BWW Review: THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
March 10, 2020
BWW Review: ON THE PERIPHERY at Potrero Stage
March 7, 2020
BWW Review: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Gateway Theatre
March 1, 2020
BWW Review: THE SUPERS at Z Space
February 22, 2020
BWW Review: TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS at SF Playhouse
February 7, 2020
Susi Damilano gives a career-defining performance in the Bay Area premiere of Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated writer Nia Vardalos' emotionally rewarding adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's best-selling book. Gorgeously directed by husband Bill English, Tiny Beautiful Things will touch everyone's heartstrings in numerous aspects, leaving you moved, exhilarated and yes, maybe even a tiny bit healed.
BWW Review: MORE GUNS! A Musical Comedy About the NRA
February 3, 2020
San Francisco theatre goers got gypped! Oh, not by this sensationally funny satire on America's gun culture, but by the fact that it only got a limited three-performance run. Running for the past 18 months in LA, a musical comedy that pokes fun at our warped political processes, conservatives and 'woke' liberals is perfect fodder for San Francisco audiences. Three sold put audiences here were treated to a perfect musical comedy- great performances, a compelling story and a fantastic hummable score.
BWW Review: YOU'LL CATCH FLIES at New Conservatory Theatre Center
January 27, 2020
A fun party among best friends takes a decidedly dark turn in the World Premiere of Ryan Fogarty's cautionary tale of the deleterious effects of gossip, judgement and miscommunications. Based on a series of real-life encounters, Fogarty presents a nightmare orgy of sniping, back-stabbing and behavior most decidedly un-friendly. While my generation had The Broken Hearts Club and Longtime Companion, You'll Catch Flies feels like a millennial version of 1968's Boys in the Band'. Playing to a young demographic, this play, like its predecessors, should scare the bejesus out of gays by representing an unapologetic vision of the worst of human nature.
BWW Review: HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE at Custom Made Theatre Co.
January 25, 2020
BWW Review: THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE at Mountain View Center For The Performing Arts
January 20, 2020
Hershey Felder has mastered the niche of incorporating the beauty of classical music with a dramatic arc to create compelling works of theatre that satisfy emotionally and educate as well. Channeling the masters Gershwin, Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and others, Felder is a master portraitist, concert pianist and storyteller. Here, he adapts the amazing story of Mona Golabeck's mother Lisa Jura, a pianist and survivor of the Nazi atrocities in WW II. There's no denying the artistry of Golabeck's skill as she presents the works of Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Edvard Grieg and her loving tribute to her mother's journey is powerful and authentic.
BWW Review: NOURA at Marin Theatre Company
January 18, 2020
BWW Review: BECKY NURSE OF SALEM at Berkeley Repertory
December 21, 2019
BWW Review: VINEGAR TOM at Shotgun Players
December 17, 2019
Four-time Obie Award-winner Caryl Churchill is the pre-eminent writer of feminist themes involving sexual politics, abuses of power and gender equality. There's no better metaphor of these themes than the witch hunts of 17th century England which provide the backstory of Vinegar Tom, an allegory that rings so true today. The play, which includes a modern score by Diana Lawrence sung by a Greek chorus dressed as street walkers, bridges time to illustrate the continuity of women's struggle against shaming, disempowerment and inequality. In director Ariel Craft's skillful hands, Churchill's sad satire blazes anew with a remarkable cast and technical crew that conjure both history and the present in vivid detail.
BWW Review: HEAD OVER HEELS at New Conservatory Theatre Center
December 15, 2019
BWW Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Lucie Stern Theatre
December 10, 2019
BWW Review: A NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Of Yugen is a stunning traditional Japanese theatre re-imagining of Dicken's famous tale.
December 8, 2019
BWW Review: A NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Of Yugen is a stunning traditional Japanese theatre re-imagining of Dicken's famous tale.
BWW Review: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP at Aurora Theatre Dramatizes the Love Letters of Women's Rights Activist Mary Wooley
December 1, 2019
BWW Review: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP at Aurora Theatre dramatizes the love letters of early women's rights activist Mary Wooley, President of Mt. Holyoke 1901-1937.
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL at SF Playhouse is a Story of Redemption and Hope
November 30, 2019
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL at SF Playhouse is a story of redemption and hope.
BWW Review: THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX at Berkeley Repertory Theatre is PigPen Theatre Co.'s stunning re-imagining of the award-winning book and film.
November 26, 2019
BWW Review: THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX at Berkeley Repertory Theatre is PigPen Theatre Co.'s stunning re-imagining of the award-winning book and film.
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
November 21, 2019
BWW Review: MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company is dramatization of the life of Joan of Arc as seen through the eyes of her mother.
