Arts & Culture :: Theater

Subtle puzzles of prejudice

Subtle puzzles of prejudice

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 26, 2018

Do you enjoy puzzles? If you answered "Yes," please continue to the next question; you may be a likely admirer of Christopher Chen's "You Mean To Do Me Harm" now playing at the San Francisco Playhouse.

Turn these beats around

Turn these beats around

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Sep 19, 2018

Last week Out There was in the house when "On Your Feet!," the touring Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway musical, opened at the newly remodeled SHN Golden Gate Theatre.

A 'House' haunted by Henrik Ibsen

A 'House' haunted by Henrik Ibsen

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 19, 2018

Berkeley Rep's new season blew in on a chilly Norwegian breeze with last Thursday night's opening of "A Doll's House, Part 2."

Mercy killing

Mercy killing

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 19, 2018

I felt jealous of the gentleman sitting in front of me at a performance of Theater Rhinoceros' "Dead and Breathing" last week. For 10 of the show's 90 minutes, he escaped, drifting off to sleep.

Revisiting the Rose

Revisiting the Rose

  • by Sari Staver
  • Sep 12, 2018

David Pavlovsky's new 30-minute documentary, "Stand Up, Stand Out," tells the story of three gay teachers' fight for equal rights during the 1970s gay liberation movement, which led to the founding of the Valencia Rose Cabaret.

Lily Tomlin returns

Lily Tomlin returns

  • by Sari Staver
  • Sep 12, 2018

The incomparable Lily Tomlin returns to the Bay Area stage for a benefit performance of her one-woman show "An Evening of the Classic Lily Tomlin." The award-winning actress will perform a two-hour show on Thurs., Sept. 20, 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall.

Just Jackie!

Just Jackie!

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 12, 2018

It's been almost a year since Jackie Hoffman turned in what may be the most widely seen performance of her career.

Catch a rising star: Aaron Tveit

Catch a rising star: Aaron Tveit

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 5, 2018

Catch him if you can: Broadway heartthrob Aaron Tveit.

Syrian complications

Syrian complications

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Sep 5, 2018

On the first page of the program for Shotgun Players' production of Guillermo Calderón's "Kiss," "A Note from the Director" is subtitled, "Spoiler Alert: Please read after the show!"

Fall Preview: Theatre

Fall Preview: Theatre

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Aug 29, 2018

Bay Area theater companies are putting a smorgasbord on the boards this fall. Unfortunately, with dozens of productions on offer, it's not an all-you-can-eat affair. Here's a selection of quirky canapés and dramatic dishes that have my mouth watering.

Curtain up on new leadership at A.C.T.

Curtain up on new leadership at A.C.T.

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Aug 29, 2018

This fall, San Francisco's venerable American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) raises the curtain not only on a new season of productions, but also on its new leadership team, artistic director Pam MacKinnon and executive director Jennifer Bielstein.

NCTC celebrates Charles Busch

NCTC celebrates Charles Busch

  • by Sari Staver
  • Aug 22, 2018

The New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) will honor actor, playwright, director and cabaret performer Charles Busch at the theatre's annual gala on Saturday, August 25, and will open their 2018 season with his play "Red Scare at Sunset."

Riffing on office-mates' conversations

Riffing on office-mates' conversations

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Aug 22, 2018

Playwright Lynn Rosen slices, dices and juliennes the banal chit-chat of unmotivated office workers in "Washed Up on the Potomac."

Performing pros are on their way

Performing pros are on their way

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Aug 15, 2018

Carole Cook, still quite active in cabaret, is one of more than a dozen performers who will be taking to the stage of the Herbst Theatre on Sun., Aug. 19 for "Help Is on the Way 24," the latest fundraising variety show for Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation.