Theater

Set and costume designer Robert Perdziola discusses choices he made in American Conservatory Theater’s production of “Rhinoceros” — actor David Breitbarth is pictured — in the company’s online “Takes on a Scene” presentation. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

From ‘Rhinoceros’ to Chekhov and Black Lives Matter

Theater classics go online, troupes take viewers behind the scenes

Set and costume designer Robert Perdziola discusses choices he made in American Conservatory Theater’s production of “Rhinoceros” — actor David Breitbarth is pictured — in the company’s online “Takes on a Scene” presentation. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Linda Amayo-Hassan’s “La Vida Lobo” — the 2019 premiere is pictured – is among the myriad works in PlayGround Zoom Fest; billed as the nation’s largest digital new play festival and presented by the renowned Bay Area theater development lab, it runs through June 14. (Courtesy Mellophoto.com)

PlayGround celebrates 25 years with big Zoom Fest

Local theaters expand online activity with plentiful offerings

Linda Amayo-Hassan’s “La Vida Lobo” — the 2019 premiere is pictured – is among the myriad works in PlayGround Zoom Fest; billed as the nation’s largest digital new play festival and presented by the renowned Bay Area theater development lab, it runs through June 14. (Courtesy Mellophoto.com)
Comedian Margo Gomez’s May 7 appearance on “Stephanie’s MarshStream,” an online show presented by Marsh co-founder Stephanie Weisman, can be seen on YouTube. (Courtesy Fabian Echevarria)

Podcasts, performances from Marsh, SF Playhouse, Magic and more

Theaters cleverly transition from stage to small screen

Comedian Margo Gomez’s May 7 appearance on “Stephanie’s MarshStream,” an online show presented by Marsh co-founder Stephanie Weisman, can be seen on YouTube. (Courtesy Fabian Echevarria)
Pianist Max Chanowitz appeared in PianoFight’s new Virtual Venue show on Facebook on March 20. (Courtesy photo)

The fight isn’t over for this San Francisco venue

PianoFight finds new ways to keep the show going

Pianist Max Chanowitz appeared in PianoFight’s new Virtual Venue show on Facebook on March 20. (Courtesy photo)
Winchester Mystery House is offering online tours of the haunted mansion during California’s shelter-in-place orders. (Courtesy Winchester Mystery House)

Attractions, theaters, galleries serve up virtual diversions

Winchestery Mystery House, arts groups move to video, online gatherings

Winchester Mystery House is offering online tours of the haunted mansion during California’s shelter-in-place orders. (Courtesy Winchester Mystery House)
Berkeley Repertory Theatre is offering the opportunity to view its production of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” online. (Courtesy Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)

Local arts groups stream canceled productions

Berkeley Rep, ACT selling tickets to see recorded shows

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is offering the opportunity to view its production of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” online. (Courtesy Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)
“The Book of Mormon” tour will not play in San Francisco in April. (Courtesy Julieta Cervantes)

San Francisco run of ‘Book of Mormon’ canceled

Broadway SF shuts ‘Hamilton’ through April 30

“The Book of Mormon” tour will not play in San Francisco in April. (Courtesy Julieta Cervantes)
Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz’s surreal show “you & me” will be live streamed from the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose on Monday and Tuesday. Courtesy Marco Hartmann/Mummenschanz

Most shows not going on in Bay Area and beyond

Some local troupes offering live-streaming alternatives

Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz’s surreal show “you & me” will be live streamed from the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose on Monday and Tuesday. Courtesy Marco Hartmann/Mummenschanz
Dawn Ursula, center is excellent as the title character American Conservatory Theater’s “Toni Stone.” Performances have been canceled, but ticket holders will have the opportunity to view a recording. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

‘Toni Stone’ tells story of little-known baseball hero

ACT to provide recording of show to ticketholders

Dawn Ursula, center is excellent as the title character American Conservatory Theater’s “Toni Stone.” Performances have been canceled, but ticket holders will have the opportunity to view a recording. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Julia K Harriman and Julius Thomas III are starring in the “Hamilton” national tour at the Orpheum. (Courtesy Joan Marcus)

BroadwaySF cancels ‘Hamilton,’ ‘Last Ship’ through March 25

Presenter will continue to ‘monitor the situation closely’

  • Mar 11, 2020
Julia K Harriman and Julius Thomas III are starring in the “Hamilton” national tour at the Orpheum. (Courtesy Joan Marcus)
Magic Theatre’s ‘Mangos’ a rich, memorable family tale

Magic Theatre’s ‘Mangos’ a rich, memorable family tale

Ricardo Pérez González premiere cleverly weaves varied tones

Magic Theatre’s ‘Mangos’ a rich, memorable family tale
Singer-actress Keala Settle appears in conversation and song at the Herbst Theatre on March 15. (Courtesy photo)

Keala Settle lives the greatest showman’s rule

Singer overcomes fears with success of ‘This Is Me’

Singer-actress Keala Settle appears in conversation and song at the Herbst Theatre on March 15. (Courtesy photo)
From left, Carla Gallardo, Brady Morales-Woolery, Gendell Hernández (dancing) and Edie Flores appear in Word for Word’s “Retablos” by Octavio Solis. (Courtesy Lorenzo Fernandez-Kopec)

‘Retablos,’ ‘On the Periphery’ explore life on the border

Word for Word, Golden Thread, Crowded Fire dramas set in Texas, Turkey

From left, Carla Gallardo, Brady Morales-Woolery, Gendell Hernández (dancing) and Edie Flores appear in Word for Word’s “Retablos” by Octavio Solis. (Courtesy Lorenzo Fernandez-Kopec)
From left, Jared Corbin, Melanie Arii Mah and Martha Brigham are excellent in American Conservatory Theater’s production of “Gloria.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

Comedy, tragedy and lived experience explode in ‘Gloria’

Playwright Jacobs-Jenkins asks pointed questions about telling, and owning, stories

From left, Jared Corbin, Melanie Arii Mah and Martha Brigham are excellent in American Conservatory Theater’s production of “Gloria.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Sting, center, harmonizes nicely with the cast of “The Last Ship,” onstage at the Golden Gate Theatre through March 22. (Courtesy Matthew Murphy)

Sting builds tuneful ‘Last Ship’

Vivid score, great singers buoy pop star’s musical

Sting, center, harmonizes nicely with the cast of “The Last Ship,” onstage at the Golden Gate Theatre through March 22. (Courtesy Matthew Murphy)
From left, Champagne Hughes, Kimberly Ridgeway and Don Wood appear in “The Human Ounce. (Courtesy Jim Norrena)

‘Human Ounce’ engagingly explores art and responsibility

‘The Supers’ packed with clowning and chaos

From left, Champagne Hughes, Kimberly Ridgeway and Don Wood appear in “The Human Ounce. (Courtesy Jim Norrena)
Scott Shepherd (foreground) and Elevator Repair Service bring “The Great Gatsby” to life in “Gatz.” (Courtesy Ian Douglas)

Fitzgerald classic springs to life in ‘Gatz’ at Berkeley Rep

‘Born in East Berlin’ explores pivotal Springsteen concert

Scott Shepherd (foreground) and Elevator Repair Service bring “The Great Gatsby” to life in “Gatz.” (Courtesy Ian Douglas)
The underwater world of “The SpongeBob Musical,” onstage at the Golden Gate Theatre, is a colorful place. (Courtesy Jeremy Daniel)

Soak up some fun at ‘The SpongeBob Musical’

Cartoon comes to life onstage with great cast, design, tunes

The underwater world of “The SpongeBob Musical,” onstage at the Golden Gate Theatre, is a colorful place. (Courtesy Jeremy Daniel)
From left, Desiree Rogers, Juanita Harris and Zoe Hodge appear in “The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae.” (Courtesy Lance Huntley)

Contemporary satire puts black female stereotypes on trial

Comedy brings to light back stories of Mammy, Jezebel characters

From left, Desiree Rogers, Juanita Harris and Zoe Hodge appear in “The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae.” (Courtesy Lance Huntley)
From left, James Carpenter, Anne Darragh and Julie Eccles appear in “The Children” at Aurora Theatre Company. (Courtesy Kevin Berne).

Senior scientists reunite post-nuclear disaster in ‘The Children’

Aurora stages West Coast premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s drama about love and responsibility

From left, James Carpenter, Anne Darragh and Julie Eccles appear in “The Children” at Aurora Theatre Company. (Courtesy Kevin Berne).