Arts & Culture :: Theater

Fiddling through a difficult history

Fiddling through a difficult history

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jul 23, 2019

The opening-night film for the 39th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival lit up the Castro Theatre screen last Thursday night.

Take part & stay still: 'Kill Move Paradise'

Take part & stay still: 'Kill Move Paradise'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 16, 2019

In "Kill Move Paradise," directed here by Darryl V. Jones, playwright James Ijames emphasizes the commonalities of his four protagonists more than their differences.

Come to this 'Cabaret'

Come to this 'Cabaret'

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jul 9, 2019

"Cabaret" is one of those shows that just won't go away. Nor should it.

'Hairspray': Uplift, SF-style

'Hairspray': Uplift, SF-style

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 9, 2019

I'd already been grinning for a good 10 minutes when the cast of Bay Area Musicals' joyful production of "Hairspray" launched into the civic swoon of their opening anthem, "Good Morning Baltimore."

Terrence McNally, a life in the theatre

Terrence McNally, a life in the theatre

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jul 9, 2019

"I'm of the school 'Write what you know.' You can educate yourself, but the best writing usually comes from the heart," says playwright Terrence McNally.

'Passion' is a compelling creep show

'Passion' is a compelling creep show

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jul 2, 2019

Love and misery intertwine to the point of strangulation in the delectably creepy "Passion" (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine), now playing in the appropriately claustrophobic confines of the Custom Made Theatre.

Paws and reflect: MTC's 'Wink'

Paws and reflect: MTC's 'Wink'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 25, 2019

The fog comes in on little cat feet in "Wink," playwright Jen Silverman's absurd dark comedy now making a promising world premiere at the Marin Theater Company.

Pride 2019: The Master, remarkable Noel Coward

Pride 2019: The Master, remarkable Noel Coward

  • by Tavo Amador
  • Jun 25, 2019

Prominent stage, movie, and television actor. Dramatist. Novelist. Lyricist. Composer. Singer. Cabaret star. Theatre and film director. Celebrated raconteur. Insightful diarist. Noel Coward (1899-1973) was all those things.

Cruise control at Theatre Rhino: 'Action Hero'

Cruise control at Theatre Rhino: 'Action Hero'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 18, 2019

John Fisher's "Action Hero" (in addition to writing the script, he directed, and is one-third of the cast) is a multi-layered Los Angeles fantasia.

Trans performance celebrated: 'Fresh Meat'

Trans performance celebrated: 'Fresh Meat'

  • by Rae Raucci
  • Jun 14, 2019

The Fresh Meat Festival is an annual San Francisco performance celebration of transgender talent in diverse areas, from musical and vocal acts to dance performances, performance arts, theater pieces, and beyond.

Kiss My Aztec @ Berkeley Rep

Kiss My Aztec @ Berkeley Rep

  • by Steven Underhill
  • Jun 12, 2019

Berkeley Repertory's opening night of comic and playwright John Leguizamo's 'Kiss My Aztec' brought out local luminaries like Rita Moreno, director Tony Taccone, and of course the cast members and musicians in the show.

Enduring 'Carmen'

Enduring 'Carmen'

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jun 11, 2019

The latest revival of Bizet's "Carmen," which opened the San Francisco Opera's summer season last week, proves something we always knew.

Yucca, yucca: 'Kiss My Aztec'

Yucca, yucca: 'Kiss My Aztec'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 11, 2019

Aztec society worshipped the sun. "Kiss My Aztec" frenetically proves the adage that there's nothing new under it.

Horns of plenty: 'Rhinoceros'

Horns of plenty: 'Rhinoceros'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jun 11, 2019

You'd need an awfully thick skin to resist being tickled by the production of "Rhinoceros," Eugene Ionesco's 1959 classic now at the American Conservatory Theater.