The Berkeley Repertory Theatre production of fairview is disturbing. That's good. If you are white and liberal and experiencing mild to major discomfort by the end of the performance, that's even better.... (more...)
SWEAT neither romanticizes nor demonizes the factory worker or their situations. You know most of these people voted for Trump, but they are at worst, desperate, not deplorable. They face hard choices with honesty and determination, understanding the limited cards they have been dealt.... (more...)
Red Scare on Sunset is a high-camp and all-to-relevant play by Charles Busch, currently playing at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco.... (more...)
Broadway San Jose is serving up some hot Latin Salsa with the hit Broadway show 'On Your Feet,' a jukebox musical that follows the life -- and rise to stardom -- of Gloria and Emilio Estefan and their band, Miami Sound Machine.... (more...)
I highly recommend this modern-day war of the roses. If NATIVE GARDENS is a prognosticator of things to come in this country, then the art of compromise and not the art of the deal is what will be needed to overcome all our border disputes and prejudices.... (more...)
Woodminister Summer Musicals is closing its season with a dynamic production of In the Heights, which won four Tonys (Best Musical, Score, Choreography and Orchestrations) in 2008. The show was conceived in the heart and soul of composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was homesick for his Wash... (more...)
Bay Area Musical's production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame came to glorious life on opening night in San Francisco's Victoria Theatre in the heart of the Mission district this past weekend. The show, written by Peter Parnell with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, is based on Vi... (more...)
SCHOOL OF ROCK is a fleetingly affable evening composed by Lloyd Webber for lyrics by Glenn Slater (Sister Act) and a book by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey). The kids are more than alright, saving the night and earning an 'A' for natural talent and a refreshingly unaffected stage presence.... (more...)
The new musical A WALK ON THE MOON, based on the 1999 film written by Pamela Gary, does a fine job of telling its story, and patrons will have a good time at this nice musical. In the era of making things great again are fine, good, and nice enuf?... (more...)
'Every Moment Counts' as Director/Choreographer Tony Gonzalez reminds us to embrace the sights and sounds and soak up every second of life as we climb the 'Stairway to Paradise' -- the theme of this year's 'Broadway Under the Stars' by the incomparable Transcendence Theatre Company.... (more...)
The San Diego Symphony, along with many others, is this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. The first half of the Symphony's 'Dances Suites and Serenades' concert consisted of 'Three Dance Variations' from Bernstein's ballet Fancy Free, and Serenade (After Plato... (more...)
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 ... (more...)
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... (more...)
Vietgone by Qui Nguyen is a refreshingly upending night of theatre. It's also an extremely funny, sexy, tender, and truthful night of theatre.... (more...)
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.... (more...)
LOVE NEVER DIES is an unnecessary sequel to the megahit PHANTOM that wisely skips Broadway and hits the national tour road for ALW fans. The ladies of this evening rule even though the guys are (supposed to be) in charge of the action in this passable evening of musical theatre.... (more...)
At 67, this King is timely and timeless in a lush tour based on the Tony-winning Lincoln Center Theater revival directed by Bartlett Sher. As on Broadway, Lady Thiang steals the show.... (more...)
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!... (more...)
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 o... (more...)
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.... (more...)
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 creati... (more...)
Delicious dancing, gorgeous design, and great Gershwin songs are a joy but can't mask the musical theatre shortcomings of another film-to-stage transfer in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.... (more...)
There's not a lot to be written about The Book of Mormon that's new but the tour currently in San Jose is definitely worth another joyful, irreverent look.... (more...)
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!... (more...)
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 imagin... (more...)
BWW Review: FAIRVIEW Tears It Down For Good At Berkeley Repertory Theatre
BWW Review: SWEAT tests loyalty and identity at the Geary Theater
BWW Review: RED SCARE ON SUNSET at New Conservatory Theatre Center
BWW Review: ON YOUR FEET! Thrills Now Through October 14th at Broadway San Jose
BWW Review: NATIVE GARDENS Sows Mayhem Through Comedy Through 9/16 at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
IN THE HEIGHTS Hits All the Right Notes at Woodminster Now Thru Sep 9
BWW Review: Bay Area Musical's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is Glorious
BWW Review: SCHOOL OF ROCK is an easy roll at the Orpheum Theatre
BWW Review: A.C.T. Takes a Nice WALK ON THE MOON at Geary Theater
BWW Review: Transcendence Theatre's 'Broadway Under the Stars' Triumphantly Climbs the 'Stairway to Paradise'
BWW Review: THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY CONDUCTED BY FABIEN GABEL at The Jacobs Music Center
BWW Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at the Orpheum Theatre is Extraordinary
BWW Review: HEAD OVER HEELS Pre-Broadway Premiere
BWW Review: VIETGONE deconstructs Vietnam immigrant tropes with laughter at American Conservatory Theater's Strand Theater
BWW Review: TheatreWorks Brings the Passion of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY to the Stage and Into Your Heart
BWW Review: LOVE NEVER DIES at Broadway San Jose but Lloyd Webber lays it to rest in PHANTOM sequel
BWW Review: THE KING AND I at Broadway San Jose is a welcome visitor
BWW Review: Broadway San Jose's RENT: It's All About LOVE!
BWW Review: THE LARAMIE PROJECT at 20 YEARS: Still Powerful
ALADDIN a Magical Musical Delight Now Thru Jan 7
BWW Review: World Premiere of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is Magnificent
BWW Review: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is Lighter Than Air at the Orpheum Theatre
BWW Review: THE BOOK OF MORMON at Broadway San Jose has you at 'Hello!'
Playwright Min Kahng's 'THE FOUR IMMIGRANTS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL MANGA' is a World Premiere Masterpiece
BWW Review: Imaginative and Thought-Provoking, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, Now Thru July 23
