Arts & Culture :: Theater

Summer in the theater with Sondheim

Summer in the theater with Sondheim

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 18, 2018

My favorite moment in "Sunday in the Park with George" is when the titular artist, George Seurat, describes the inventiveness of the pointillist brushwork in "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grand Jatte."

Oedipal complex among lesbians

Oedipal complex among lesbians

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 18, 2018

"Oedipus at Palm Springs," written and originally performed by the Five Lesbian Brothers collaborative, is particularly reliant on the performers' delivery rather than the plot.

Homosexual 'Oklahoma!' wows in Oregon

Homosexual 'Oklahoma!' wows in Oregon

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 11, 2018

Raise your curtains of preconception and imagine a musical: There's a spunky, sexually adventurous gay boy pursued by a hardworking man, a few years older, who wants to tame the young-un's wandering eye and get domestic.

Five Lesbian Brothers in the mix

Five Lesbian Brothers in the mix

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 11, 2018

"Oedipus in Palm Springs," a play by The Five Lesbian Brothers, a writing collaborative that includes Lisa Kron, was in rehearsals for a rare revival at Theater Rhinoceros (opening July 12 at the Gateway Theatre, with a local cast).

Eclectic performance events

Eclectic performance events

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 6, 2018

Beginning on July 10, the Fury Factory Festival of performer-creators from around the country will take over spaces throughout the Mission District and in Oakland to present an eclectic, boundary-pushing series of theatrical events.

Alan Cumming multitasks

Alan Cumming multitasks

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 4, 2018

"Excuse me," says Alan Cumming, through the jangle of Manhattan traffic noise. "I'm hailing a taxi. It's a bit frantic right now." When, one wonders, is it not?

For those about to rock

For those about to rock

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jul 4, 2018

The touring production of "School of Rock" now playing the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco through July 22 is the perfect opportunity to bring your secret air-guitar moves out of the closet.

Once upon a time in America

Once upon a time in America

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 4, 2018

The world premiere of Oakland resident Jonathan Spector's "Good. Better. Best. Bested." - a co-production of Custom Made Theatre and Just Theater - is messy and black-humored, repulsive yet compelling.

The Clinton & I: a Chinese twist

The Clinton & I: a Chinese twist

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 27, 2018

A provocative popcorn machine of intellectual entertainment, "Soft Power," playing the Curran Theater through July 8, delivers a rat-a-tat fusillade of sociopolitical satire, musical parody, and autobiographical angst.

Patti LuPone pulls no punches

Patti LuPone pulls no punches

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 20, 2018

No San Francisco queen worth his salt would turn down a salty sit-down with Patti LuPone. So we were out in full force last Wednesday night at the Curran Theatre.

Moonshadows

Moonshadows

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 20, 2018

In the American Conservatory Theater's guileless, bighearted new musical "A Walk on the Moon," at the Geary Theater through July 1, there are sweet, small elements that achieve liftoff.

Countess Luann is a class act

Countess Luann is a class act

  • by Adam Sandel
  • Jun 20, 2018

Countess Luann brings her nightclub act to Feinstein's at the Nikko on Fri. & Sat., June 22 & 23.

Preaching to the converted

Preaching to the converted

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 13, 2018

Following the inspirational lead of Jeff Sessions - who bears a striking resemblance to Leslie Jordan - I feel a duty to recuse myself from future reviews of the Del Shores oeuvre.

Kathy Griffin, back from the backlash

Kathy Griffin, back from the backlash

  • by Sari Staver
  • Jun 13, 2018

Kathy Griffin is killing it at the box office again, after a yearlong boycott by the entertainment industry after the celebrity gossip website TMZ leaked a picture of Griffin with a fake severed head of Donald Trump.