Arts & Culture :: Theater

Sketching a portrait of America

Sketching a portrait of America

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Mar 10, 2020

Richard Montoya, Ricardo Salinas and Herbert Siguenza are currently presenting a sort of Greatest Hits show called "Culture Clash: (Still) in America."

Peaches Christ & Co. stage classic film

Peaches Christ & Co. stage classic film

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Mar 10, 2020

"Drag Becomes Her," a mad satire of the Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn supernatural comedy "Death Becomes Her," promises to leave audiences in stitches.

'The Last Ship': Sting's blue-collar Brigadoon

'The Last Ship': Sting's blue-collar Brigadoon

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Mar 3, 2020

"The Last Ship," the autobiographically inspired, collaboratively created musical that Sting stars in at the Golden Gate Theatre, ultimately founders in toothless protest fantasy.

'Gloria' at ACT: Identities under fire

'Gloria' at ACT: Identities under fire

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Mar 3, 2020

"Gloria" is a must-see. Or a must-not-see. If you relish daring, smartly written, sharply performed theater that digs into the pith of contemporary American culture, you'll be blown away by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' harrowing workplace drama.

Online Extra: Keala Settle: This is her!

Online Extra: Keala Settle: This is her!

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Mar 3, 2020

If you don't think you know who Keala Settle is, a single song title will make you realize otherwise: "This Is Me."

Big score for G-strings & heartstrings

Big score for G-strings & heartstrings

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 28, 2020

Some of the most compelling performances in Bay Area Musicals' crowd-pleasing production of "The Full Monty" go unseen.

Online Extra: On the waterfront!

Online Extra: On the waterfront!

  • Feb 28, 2020

Longtime dinner theatre-circus-extravaganza Teatro ZinZanni is coming back to San Francisco!

Electile dysfunction in the Castro

Electile dysfunction in the Castro

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 25, 2020

It's a good thing that Theatre Rhinoceros has been presenting its recent readings and productions in the cozy ad-hoc confines of the Spark Arts gallery on 18th Street.

Under the sea, over the proscenium

Under the sea, over the proscenium

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Feb 18, 2020

"The SpongeBob Musical" briefly graced the Golden Gate Theatre last week, touring after its hit Broadway run, then just as quickly swam away. Bubbles trailed in its wake.

'Gatz': Rhapsody in green light

'Gatz': Rhapsody in green light

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 18, 2020

"Gatz"'s fine-tuned cast of 13 tells the story of "The Great Gatsby" to audience members, often reading directly from the pages of a passed-around paperback.

Dummkopf

Dummkopf

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 18, 2020

The overstuffed plot of "Born in East Berlin" takes place in 1988, when Bruce Springsteen's historic concert on the Communist side of the Berlin Wall served as a harbinger of the following year's epochal change.

Ecological slog

Ecological slog

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 11, 2020

The West Coast premiere of playwright Lucy Kirkwood's "The Children," now at the Aurora Theater in Berkeley, is dreadful. It's skillful and thoughtful as well.

'Tiny Beautiful Things': Smart advice

'Tiny Beautiful Things': Smart advice

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 11, 2020

In San Francisco Playhouse's "Tiny Beautiful Things," a woman with the pseudonym Sugar dispenses sweet empathy along with tart kicks in the pants.

Band of brothers: 'You'll Catch Flies'

Band of brothers: 'You'll Catch Flies'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 4, 2020

For a genuinely up-to-date take on urban gay men's friendships and failings, you can thank the New Conservatory Theatre Center for cultivating New York playwright Ryan Fogarty's "You'll Catch Flies."