SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA THEATER REVIEWS

Refreshingly different from its film counterpart, the original Hairspray musical offers all the highs of the movie set to the thrill of live performance. The changes from stage to screen can both enhance and take away from the charm of a musical. In the case of Broadway by the Bay's production of Ha...

A slim moon and dark scenery set the mood for Marin Theatre Company's production of Othello. The foreboding atmosphere reminds audiences that, even during the happier moments of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, they are in for an intense, soul-stirring two and a half hours. ...

A humorous and thought-provoking journey into nostalgia, Maple and Vine begins with a fun, relaxing first act that follows a couple's decision to join a sort of "cult" community that chooses to live in 1955 every year. But don't let the first half fool you, the 50s weren't as perfect as they seem on...

Virago brings 'Butterfly' to the Rhythmix Cultural Works Theatre (the Alameda venue seats 15), losing nothing of the rich lushness of Puccini's giant work and actually adding to the beauty of the Opera in the intimacy of the setting. Playing now through April 15*, 'Madama Butterfly' is a wonderful ...

The visceral and the tactile mix and swirl together with the heady intellectualness of the spoken word in this riveting play, making 'Red' a must-see performance at Berkeley Repertory Theatre....

Andrew Lloyd Webber's indisputable claim to fame, "The Phantom of the Opera," has made the composer a favorite of Broadway, West End and the masses. But while "Phantom" has its highly notable songs and romantic, breathtaking story, Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" surpasses it on so many levels. With mu...

Highly entertaining and chorally brilliant, 'Enchantingly Wicked' absolutely sparkled with pizazz. Sprinkling the evening with humor as well as quietly reflective musical moments, SFGMC gave their audience a moving and transformational night that was hands down, one of the best performances we've e...

From start to finish, "blast" consists of creative, high energy routines that make every number equally mind-blowing. After an amazing opening act that boasts impressive choreography, the multi-tasking continues. I've always wondered how actors manage to burst into song after a long dance number, an...

'Beauty and the Beast' has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people around the globe and Broadway San Jose has brought this treasure to the stage....

With ethereal music, strong acting and impressive use of the body in a visually stunning space, Cutting Ball Theater's "Tontlawald" offers an out-of-this-world experience - an that's not an description based on the quality of the show. No, "Tontlawald" literally transports audiences to an unfamiliar...

Provocative. If there was one word to describe this show it would be that; provocative. A.C.T.'s Scorched is a bizarre and powerful look into the repercussions of a drawn out war and how it changed lives in the past, as well as its continued effect on the lives of the living....

Mamma Mia! won't win any prizes for in-depth, philosophical story-telling, but its delightful mix of frothy, bouncy, romantic fun and disco/pop chart hits by ABBA make it a not-to-be-missed theatrical event....

Remember that guy whose YouTube video went viral after he recorded himself crying and yelling at people to just leave Britney alone!? Well I have to wonder what he would think of The Retro Dome's production of "Becoming Britney." They certainly don't leave Britney alone; They give Spears her own mus...

Skewered throughout with up-to-the-moment pop culture references and liberally laced with sight gags, jokes and everything but the kitchen sink, 'A Doctor In Spite of Himself' is a must-see dose of depravity that may require you to get stitches due to its propensity to provoke sidesplitting laughter...

Elle and the girls of Delta Nu Sorority go from college glam to courtroom chic now thru March 10th at Walnut Creek's Dean Lesher Theatre....

The humor of Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein: The Musical" follows that of the original 1974 film, but adds just enough new punch lines to make the show fresh for the younger generations unfamiliar with the movie. The comedy of show even sometimes exceeds that of the film, which follows the grandson...

Virago Theatre Company's A TASTE OF HONEY, playing now through Feb. 25, pays homage to playwright Shelagh Delaney's unflinching honesty with this bold and compelling production that offers a starkly realistic look into the social issues of 1960's England....

An intense and captivating look at architecture, grief, and Israeli culture and history, Carey Perloff's "Higher," challenges audiences to look at their lives and consider why they do what they do. Produced by American Conservatory Theatre, the play - both dramatic and comedic - shows now through Fe...

The Merced Playhouse production of "The King and I" leaves audiences whistling plenty of happy tunes. The tunes come easily enough after a pleasant evening of some of Rogers and Hammerstein's most well-known songs. ...

Not quite as memorable as some of its Gilbert and Sullivan counterparts, but just as enjoyable, the Lamplighters' production of "The Gondoliers" features a lush orchestra, strong vocals and a silly story of mistaken identities that serves as a satire of the class distinctions and royalty of Gilbert ...

Heartfelt, honest and peppered with humor, the TheatreWorks premiere of The Pitmen Painters will leave you with a desire to pick up a paintbrush yourself....

autobiographical show, "Humor Abuse." With a lifetime of circus training, including two years spent with Cirque du Soleil, Pisoni must be used to the body twisting, acrobatic feats, but they still come as nerve-racking, albeit humorous, shockers to the audience every performance at American Conserva...

Opening night for "Ghost Light" at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre saw luminaries from the world of politics converging for the production - a play that examines the struggle of a son coming to grips with the death of his father, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, who was assassinated in 1978. ...

In costume, creativity and sheer visual spectacle, "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil" goes beyond any other Cirque, rocking arenas with Jackson's best-known music, pumping the audience's adrenaline with dramatic lighting and blowing all expectations away with huge LED scr...

Frolicking felines took the stage last night in all their graceful glory, bringing the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic CATS to life once again - this time at Broadway San Jose. The fantastical, magical world of London's Jellicle cats, who are gathered together for their yearly Jellicle Ball, still has ...