If you’re unfamiliar with Lorraine Hansberry’s work, Cal Shakes’ revival of her innovative play "A Raisin in the Sun" (1959) will shake you out of your woeful stupor.

In both of his plays soon to make their Bay Area debuts, Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins gives away the endings at the beginnings. "Stylistically, they’re very different," Dawkins said of "The Homosexuals" and "Failure."

Ever since Angels in America announced Tony Kushner as a playwright of enormous talent and even more daring, there have been followers with a pressing desire. When would Kushner write another "gay" play?

Has it really been 20 years since John Waters’ Serial Mom opened in theaters? The film, one of Waters’ best from his post-Divine period, will screen at the beautiful Castro Theatre on Saturday, May 10.