SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA THEATER REVIEWS

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Berkeley Playhouse hits all the right notes. With a song list among the hardest in musical theater canon, the show wows with multiple vocalists who make a statement of prowess. With a massive set, extraordinary lighting, and some blinged out costumes, the production goes bi...

What did our critic think of CLAYBOURNE ELDER: IF THE STARS WERE MINE at Feinstein's At The Nikko?...

What did our critic think of WASTE at Marin Theatre?...

Conor McPherson’s 2020 revitalized translation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya was hailed as a breath of fresh air and this production, featuring a stellar performance by Hugh Bonneville in the titular role, feels updated, and more humorous than previous incarnations.  The pace of the drama about the ...

What did our critic think of COOL BRITANNIA at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews 'Cool Britannia' at San Francisco Ballet, a rewarding mixed rep program of contemporary ballets by British choreographers....

Without flash or bang, without glitter or glam, but with truth and beauty, THE HEART SELLERS will steal your heart. It is a simple story with a simple set, and only two actors, but the show makes an impact that will resonate for some time. Both laughter and tears flow freely in this magic mix of a s...

A whacky who-done-it is the subject of Nathan Tylutki’s one-man performance piece currently on the board at New Conservatory for a short run. Playing numerous characters, and including the use of recorded video mixed with the live performance, Tylutki attempts a gumshoe sleuth style ala Thin Man o...

Award-winning playwright Keiko Green’s surreal comedy is a sure-fire hit featuring a stellar cast, smart writing and absurd situations. Director Jesca Prudencio who helmed the 23 world premiere at the Old Globe once again directs this outrageous  story that involves time-travel, high school awkwa...

Berkeley Rep’s World Premiere of Ali Benjamin’s coming of age story The Thing About Jellyfish is a tremendous technical achievement highlighted by an impressive lead performance by Matilda Lawler (HBO’s “Station Eleven” and “The Gilded Age,” The Ferryman on Broadway) in the role of Suz...

The chance to see a classic full-length ballet for the first time is always a rare and welcome opportunity, so it’s especially exciting that San Francisco Ballet is kicking off its 2025 Repertory Season with Kenneth McMillan’s Manon, choreographed in 1974 and subsequently performed all over the ...

The press release on this coupling promised “an evening of unparalleled artistry,” a very lofty intention indeed. But after a few numbers I tend to agree whole-heartedly – these two critically-acclaimed musicians put on a master class that at moments, took my breath away....

Smart and funny, GRAND HORIZONS at Altarena Playhouse makes a big statement on opening night. Defying easy categorization into comedy or drama, the show demonstrates how funny the serious matters of life can be as well as the nuggets of sobering truth that are part of the best jokes. With witty dial...

What did our critic think of LEA DELARIA OUT RAGE at The Chan National Queer Arts Center?...

What did our critic think of RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley?...

What did our critic think of CABARET at Theatre Rhinoceros?...

What did our critic think of BALONEY - SF'S GAY ALL-MALE REVUE at Oasis?...

What did our critic think of A RED CAROL at Z Space?...

What did our critic think of A WHYNOT CHRISTMAS CAROL at American Conservatory Theatre?...

What did our critic think of DEEP INSIDE TONIGHT! THE KINSEY SICKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR at New Conservatory Theatre Center?...

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly might be my favorite secular Holiday offering – a shining jewel that follows the Bennet sisters of Jane Austin fame attempt at a cheery Xmas week mired by romantic foibles reminiscent of a good Shakespeare play. Award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson developed...

What did our critic think of THE GOLDEN GIRLS LIVE: THE CHRISTMAS EPISODES at Curran Theatre?...

What did our critic think of SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S CHORUS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR 2024 at Sydney Goldstein Theater?...

What did our critic think of WAITRESS at SF Playhouse?...

History, spooky stories, and a quest are all woven together with hypnotic melodies and intoxicating harmonies. GHOST QUARTET by Oakland Theater Project is unlike any other show. This song cycle takes the audience on a journey through lands and stories and time with bits of familiar things as guides....

A sold out two-night engagement at Feinstein’s at the Nikko was a testament to the enduring draw power of veteran actor/director/song stylist Lucie Arnaz. Those in attendance were treated to a reprise of her well-crafted, autobiographical concert performed and recorded live at the Purple Room in P...