WOODLAND OPERA HOUSE

by Courtney Symes - May 03, 2026

Big Idea Theatre continues its exciting 2026 season with a classic -- Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 work, Hedda Gabler. The show remains an unsettling study of human psychology, and director Sasha Kostyrko offers a look into what happens when naivete meets cunning, and societal expectations don’t go as an...

by Courtney Symes - April 29, 2026

Audiences can never get enough of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, as evidenced by its continuing popularity since its 1957 premiere. It’s always a feel-good choice, and Dixon Community Theater leans fully into the show’s warmth, humor, and heartfelt message of kindness. From the opening ...

by Courtney Symes - April 21, 2026

The Gospel of Matthew is alive and well on stage at Folsom Lake College, as Falcon’s Eye Theatre presents Godspell. In 1971, composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and writer John-Michael Tebelak introduced their show that reimagines the Gospel through a series of parables, songs, and storytelling. Th...

by Courtney Symes - April 12, 2026

It’s time to “Jam” at Broadway Sacramento, with the four-time Tony Award winning MJ the Musical. With a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage and choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, this National tour is a high-energy visual spectacle that checks all the boxes for pure, unadulterated en...

by Courtney Symes - April 08, 2026

In its latest celebration of women, Women’s Theatre Collective (WTC) is staging Brian Friel’s hauntingly beautiful memory play, Dancing at Lughnasa. Set in Ballybeg, Ireland, in 1936, it follows a summer in the lives of the five Mundy sisters as told by the narrator, Michael....

by Courtney Symes - April 06, 2026

True to its dedication to introducing quality, thought-provoking theatre, Capital Stage is now boasting the Pulitzer-Prize winning James Ijames play, Fat Ham. Under Anthony D’Juan’s direction, the characters seem like a family: messy, familiar, and with all the complications shared history bring...

by Courtney Symes - April 01, 2026

When Jack Gallagher introduced us to Letters to Declan over thirty years ago, Sacramento fell in love with his honest storytelling and flawless delivery. Now, he gives his adopted city the gift of a farewell, although not in the form one might expect. It’s An Irish Goodbye, a quiet exit without fa...

by Courtney Symes - February 25, 2026

My first experience at Lincoln Theatre Company last weekend left me with one question: why did it take me so long? Under new Executive Director Cary Litchford, the arts in Lincoln are continuing to thrive. From first-class hospitality to top-tier performances, this community treasure is something wo...

by Courtney Symes - February 19, 2026

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! You’ve done it, Sacramento! You’ve summoned the ghost with the most, and you’re going to love every minute of his antics. We first fell in love with him in Tim Burton’s 1988 film, Beetlejuice, starring Michael Keaton as the titular character. Continuing...

by Courtney Symes - February 13, 2026

When depression, art deco, and satirical mischief align, the delight that is The Drowsy Chaperone is born. Rise Up Theatre Company is staging its own vision of this 2006 hit, replete with inspiration drawn from famous dolls and puppets (think Malibu Barbie). Director Peter DeMarzio puts a creative s...