Theater

From left, Ariela Morgenstern, Jade Shojaee and DC Scarpelli appear in Bay Area Musicals’ “Gypsy.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz Studio)

Bay Area Musicals stages thoroughly entertaining ‘Gypsy’

Troupe kicks off fifth season with solid cast in classic show biz tale

From left, Ariela Morgenstern, Jade Shojaee and DC Scarpelli appear in Bay Area Musicals’ “Gypsy.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz Studio)
Sara Moore appears in “Atomic Clown” at Potrero Stage this week. (Courtesy Fernando Gambaroni)

‘Triptych of hell’ inspires ‘Atomic Clown’

Sara Moore details bad spell in funny semi-autobiographical play

Sara Moore appears in “Atomic Clown” at Potrero Stage this week. (Courtesy Fernando Gambaroni)
From left, Millie Brooks, Arwen Anderson, Lipica Shah, Meera Rohit Kumbhani and Avanthika Srinivasan are excellent American Conservatory Theater’s “Testmatch.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

ACT’s ‘Testmatch’ takes on cricket, colonialism

Political messages are clear in amusing century-spanning premiere

From left, Millie Brooks, Arwen Anderson, Lipica Shah, Meera Rohit Kumbhani and Avanthika Srinivasan are excellent American Conservatory Theater’s “Testmatch.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
LaChaze brings her semi-autobiographical cabaret act to The City. (Courtesy photo)

Tony winner LaChanze is ‘Feeling Good’

Broadway star makes SF Bay Area Cabaret debut

LaChaze brings her semi-autobiographical cabaret act to The City. (Courtesy photo)
Madonna dazzles the audience on her all-over-the-place “Madame X” tour. (Courtesy Stufish)

Madonna’s Madame X comes alive, rises

Pop diva takes control in ‘intimate’ Golden Gate Theatre

Madonna dazzles the audience on her all-over-the-place “Madame X” tour. (Courtesy Stufish)
Erik Preminger and Ariela Morgenstern visit at a rehearsal for Bay Area Musicals’ upcoming production of “Gypsy.” (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner Staff)

Erik Preminger shares intimate details with ‘Gypsy’ cast

Famed stripper’s son visits with Bay Area Musicals as it preps to open hit show

Erik Preminger and Ariela Morgenstern visit at a rehearsal for Bay Area Musicals’ upcoming production of “Gypsy.” (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner Staff)
Lenora Lee and Hien Huynh appear in “In the Skin of Her Hands” at Dance Mission. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)

Lenora Lee dancers get under cancer survivors’ skin

Powerful multimedia premiere at Dance Mission tells personal stories

Lenora Lee and Hien Huynh appear in “In the Skin of Her Hands” at Dance Mission. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)
One of two new routines in “Stomp,” onstage at American Conservatory Theater’s Geary Theater this week, features suitcases on wheels. (Courtesy Steve McNicholas)

‘Stomp’ tromps on

Fun, percussive dance extravaganza returns to The City

One of two new routines in “Stomp,” onstage at American Conservatory Theater’s Geary Theater this week, features suitcases on wheels. (Courtesy Steve McNicholas)
From left, Molly Shaiken, Olivia Levine, Jeunée Simon, Em Lee Reaves, Katie Rubin (replaced by Martha Brigham) and Erin Anderson appear in “The Daughters.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)

‘Daughters’ a light look at SF’s lesbians through decades

Patricia Cotter’s premiere tackles complex issues with humor

From left, Molly Shaiken, Olivia Levine, Jeunée Simon, Em Lee Reaves, Katie Rubin (replaced by Martha Brigham) and Erin Anderson appear in “The Daughters.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)
Gina Harris’ “The Magic of Ordinary Things” in The City on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1-2 is part of Reimagine End of Life programs throughout the Bay Area. (Courtesy David Hake)

Gina Harris dreams up a musical memoir

Singer’s show stems from efforts to find comfort after her parents’ deaths

Gina Harris’ “The Magic of Ordinary Things” in The City on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1-2 is part of Reimagine End of Life programs throughout the Bay Area. (Courtesy David Hake)
Will Dao and Rinabeth Apostol appear in Magic Theatre’s production of “The Chinese Lady.” (Courtesy Jennifer Reiley)

Magic Theatre’s ‘Lady’ fascinates

Lloyd Suh premiere details journey of first Chinese woman in U.S.

Will Dao and Rinabeth Apostol appear in Magic Theatre’s production of “The Chinese Lady.” (Courtesy Jennifer Reiley)
Michael Ray Wisely, left, and L. Peter Callender are excellent in African-American Shakespeare Company’s “Othello.” (Courtesy Lance Huntley)

Lead actors light up African-American Shakes’ ‘Othello’

Modern-dress version of tragedy is engrossing, electrifying

Michael Ray Wisely, left, and L. Peter Callender are excellent in African-American Shakespeare Company’s “Othello.” (Courtesy Lance Huntley)
From left, Dan Wheetman, Tony Marcus, Chic Street Man, Valisia LeKae and Rondrell McCormick sing up a storm in “Mark Twain’s River of Song” in Mountain View. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

Tunes flow freely in ‘Mark Twain’s River of Song’

But TheatreWorks show could add focus on great writer’s words

From left, Dan Wheetman, Tony Marcus, Chic Street Man, Valisia LeKae and Rondrell McCormick sing up a storm in “Mark Twain’s River of Song” in Mountain View. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
From left, Chris Herbie Holland, Therese Barbato, Aimé Donna Kelly and Nick Dillenburg appear in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s “White Noise.” (Courtesy Alessandra Mello/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)

Effects of racism play out in ‘White Noise’

Berkeley Rep stages local premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’ latest

From left, Chris Herbie Holland, Therese Barbato, Aimé Donna Kelly and Nick Dillenburg appear in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s “White Noise.” (Courtesy Alessandra Mello/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)
From left, Amy Meyers, Cheryl Smith, Alison Whismore and Christine Macomber appear in “This Side of Crazy” at New Conservatory Theatre Center. (Courtesy Lois Tema)

‘This Side of Crazy’ needs tightening

NCTC premieres Del Shores’ less sordid, too long saga

From left, Amy Meyers, Cheryl Smith, Alison Whismore and Christine Macomber appear in “This Side of Crazy” at New Conservatory Theatre Center. (Courtesy Lois Tema)
Zuzu (Krystle Piamonte, center), is congratulated by the rest of the team (from left, Indiia Wilmott, Julia Brothers, Bryan Munar, Ash Malloy and Mohana Rajagopal) in San Francisco Playhouse’s “Dance Nation.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)

‘Dance Nation’ goes all out with teen angst

Actors strong in San Francisco Playhouse show

Zuzu (Krystle Piamonte, center), is congratulated by the rest of the team (from left, Indiia Wilmott, Julia Brothers, Bryan Munar, Ash Malloy and Mohana Rajagopal) in San Francisco Playhouse’s “Dance Nation.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)
Theatre Bay Area will no longer sell discount tickets at the Union Square ticket booth. (Courtesy photo)

Union Square discount ticket booth to close

Tix Bay Area continues full-service offerings online

Theatre Bay Area will no longer sell discount tickets at the Union Square ticket booth. (Courtesy photo)
From left, Rosie Hallett, Summer Brown, Michelle Beck, Monica Lin and Julia McNeal appear in American Conservatory Theater’s funny and fierce “Top Girls.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

ACT stages top production of ‘Top Girls’

Caryl Churchill’s modern classic a strong season opener

From left, Rosie Hallett, Summer Brown, Michelle Beck, Monica Lin and Julia McNeal appear in American Conservatory Theater’s funny and fierce “Top Girls.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Stacy Ross and Phil Wong are excellent in Cutting Ball Theater’s world premiere of Megan Cohen’s “Free For All.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz)

Cutting Ball reimagines ‘Miss Julie’ with panache

‘Free For All’ cleverly updates Strindberg classsic

Stacy Ross and Phil Wong are excellent in Cutting Ball Theater’s world premiere of Megan Cohen’s “Free For All.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz)
Ryan Hill and Deborah Eliezer appear in foolsFURY’s “Dionysus Was Such a Nice Man.” (Courtesy Ben Yalom)

Zany antics spoil ‘Dionysus Was Such a Nice Man’

foolsFURY show unsuccessfully mixes comedy and tragedy

Ryan Hill and Deborah Eliezer appear in foolsFURY’s “Dionysus Was Such a Nice Man.” (Courtesy Ben Yalom)