Dawn L. Troupe

Cal Shakes boasts an excellent ensemble -- from left, Lamont Thompson, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Safiya Fredericks and Aldo Billingslea -- in its West Coast premiere of Marcus Gardley’s “black odyssey.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

Ancient myth, modern-day Oakland meld in ‘black odyssey’

In Homer’s ancient epic “The Odyssey,” Ulysses sails slowly back to Greece…

 

Dawn L. Troupe takes control in Hillbarn Theatre’s “Sister Act.” (Courtesy Mark and Tracy Photography)

Hillbarn’s ‘Sister Act’ contains some blessings

Given its musical plot points and popular soundtrack, the concept of morphing…

 

From left, David Everett Moore, Dawn L. Troupe and Lance Gardner appear in Aurora Theatre Company’s West Coast premiere of “Safe House.” (Courtesy David Allen)

No one is really free in dangerous ‘Safe House’

The Kentucky of “Safe House” -- onstage at Aurora Theatre Co. in…

 

Brian Levi, left, and Anthone Jackson as Tom Robinson appear in Hillbarn Theatre's " To Kill a Mockingbird." (Courtesy Mark Kitaoka)

Hillbarn’s ‘Mockingbird’ fails to soar

If the recent death of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee engenders a…

Brian Levi, left, and Anthone Jackson as Tom Robinson appear in Hillbarn Theatre's " To Kill a Mockingbird." (Courtesy Mark Kitaoka)