Theater

Jeunée Simon, left, and Lauren Hayes appear in the premiere of “Roan @ The Gates” in Berkeley. (Courtesy J. Norrena)

‘Roan @ The Gates’ looks at whistleblower’s dilemma

Yet drama’s missing in Central Works’ production of Christina Gorman play

Jeunée Simon, left, and Lauren Hayes appear in the premiere of “Roan @ The Gates” in Berkeley. (Courtesy J. Norrena)
A Theatre Near U’s “Guppy,” a comedy about the big man on a high school campus, is onstage at Fort Mason. (Courtesy Rob Wilen)

New musical ‘Guppy’ bravely swims upstream

A Theatre Near U performers show spirit

A Theatre Near U’s “Guppy,” a comedy about the big man on a high school campus, is onstage at Fort Mason. (Courtesy Rob Wilen)
Leontyne Mbele-Mbong and Adrian Roberts appear in African-American Shakespeare Company’s contemporary interpretation of “Macbeth.” (Courtesy Joseph Giammarco)

African-American Shakespeare Co. sharpens Macbeth’s dagger

Modern translation of classic tragedy resonates

Leontyne Mbele-Mbong and Adrian Roberts appear in African-American Shakespeare Company’s contemporary interpretation of “Macbeth.” (Courtesy Joseph Giammarco)
Jomar Tagatac, left, and Adrienne Kaori Walters, foreground — along with, background, from left, Elena Wright, Francis Jue and Emily Kuroda — appear in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production of “The Language Archive.” (Courtesy Alessandra Mello)

Sweet, loving words spoken in ‘Language Archive’

TheatreWorks mines comedy in quirky Julia Cho script

Jomar Tagatac, left, and Adrienne Kaori Walters, foreground — along with, background, from left, Elena Wright, Francis Jue and Emily Kuroda — appear in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production of “The Language Archive.” (Courtesy Alessandra Mello)
Front (from left), Melissa Momboisse, Cassie Grilley and Lauren Meyer, and back (from left), Bonnie Lafer, Scott Di Lorenzo and Sarah Sloan appear in Bay Area Musicals’ lively production of “Hairspray.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz Studio)

Bay Area Musicals stages buoyant ‘Hairspray’

Show has catchy tunes, fun dancing, social statement

Front (from left), Melissa Momboisse, Cassie Grilley and Lauren Meyer, and back (from left), Bonnie Lafer, Scott Di Lorenzo and Sarah Sloan appear in Bay Area Musicals’ lively production of “Hairspray.” (Courtesy Ben Krantz Studio)
From left, Margo Hall, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie and Lily Tung Crystal appear in California Shakespeare Theater’s “The Good Person of Szechwan.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

Brechtian morality tale goes down well at Cal Shakes

Comic talent abounds in ‘Good Person of Szechwan’

From left, Margo Hall, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie and Lily Tung Crystal appear in California Shakespeare Theater’s “The Good Person of Szechwan.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
San Francisco Playhouse’s “Cabaret” boasts bawdy Kit Kat Club dancers; John Paul Gonzalez as the Master of Ceremonies is at center. (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)

SF Playhouse’s ‘Cabaret’ dazzling and timely

Nationalistic numbers reflect today’s America

San Francisco Playhouse’s “Cabaret” boasts bawdy Kit Kat Club dancers; John Paul Gonzalez as the Master of Ceremonies is at center. (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)
From left, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, Michael Gene Sullivan, Brian Rivera and Andre Amarotico appear in San Francisco Mime Troupe’s “Treasure Island.” (Courtesy Mike Melnyk)

SF Mime Troupe takes witty trip to Treasure Island

Environmental issues abound in fun political comedy

From left, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, Michael Gene Sullivan, Brian Rivera and Andre Amarotico appear in San Francisco Mime Troupe’s “Treasure Island.” (Courtesy Mike Melnyk)
Lizzie Calogero and Michael Gene Sullivan appear in the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s “Treasure Island.” (Courtesy Mike Melnyk)

SF Mime Troupe goes to Treasure Island for 60th anniversary

Social justice remains theater group’s primary focus

Lizzie Calogero and Michael Gene Sullivan appear in the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s “Treasure Island.” (Courtesy Mike Melnyk)
Michael Patrick Gaffney is a riot in “The Oldest Living Cater Waiter” onstage at the Gateway Theatre through July 9. (Courtesy DC Scarpelli)

Michael Patrick Gaffney is a hilarious ‘Cater Waiter’

Performer a tour de force in delightful one-man show

  • Jun 27, 2019
Michael Patrick Gaffney is a riot in “The Oldest Living Cater Waiter” onstage at the Gateway Theatre through July 9. (Courtesy DC Scarpelli)
Ogie Zulueta and Carla Pauli appear in Alter Theater’s premiere of “Circular” by Laura Shamas. (Courtesy David Allen)

‘Circular’ confusingly mixes myth, modern-day issues

Worthy themes in Alter Theater premiere don’t register

Ogie Zulueta and Carla Pauli appear in Alter Theater’s premiere of “Circular” by Laura Shamas. (Courtesy David Allen)
From left, Avanthika Srinivasan, Johnny Moreno and Jeff Kim are excellent in San Francisco Playhouse’s premiere of “The Fit.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)

Carey Perloff’s ‘The Fit’ snappily takes on Silicon Valley

SF Playhouse stages insightful premiere

From left, Avanthika Srinivasan, Johnny Moreno and Jeff Kim are excellent in San Francisco Playhouse’s premiere of “The Fit.” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)
From left, John Fisher, Jake Soss and Gabriel A. Ross appear in Theatre Rhinoceros’ “Action Hero.” (Courtesy David Wilson)

‘Action Hero’ could use more action

Actors stranded in Theatre Rhino’s idea-packed comedy

From left, John Fisher, Jake Soss and Gabriel A. Ross appear in Theatre Rhinoceros’ “Action Hero.” (Courtesy David Wilson)
The ensemble in Cutting Ball Theater’s production of Ionesco’s “The Bald Soprano” is terrific. (Courtesy photo)

Cutting Ball Theater reprises ‘Bald Soprano’ with hilarity

Actors shine in Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist classic

The ensemble in Cutting Ball Theater’s production of Ionesco’s “The Bald Soprano” is terrific. (Courtesy photo)
From left, Jeremy Kahn, Stephen Stocking, Scott Coopwood and Adam Shonkwiler appear in “Archduke,” presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in Mountain View. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

TheatreWorks wins Tony, opens Rajiv Joseph’s ‘Archduke”

South Bay troupe celebrates 50 years with regional award, premiere

From left, Jeremy Kahn, Stephen Stocking, Scott Coopwood and Adam Shonkwiler appear in “Archduke,” presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in Mountain View. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
From left, Angelica Beliard, Zachary Infante, Yani Marin, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Chad Carstarphen, Joél Pérez, Jesús E. Martínez, Desiree Rodriguez, KC de la Cruz and Richard Henry Ruiz appear in in “Kiss My Aztec!” at Berkeley Rep. (Courtesy Alessandra Mello/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)

‘Kiss My Aztec’ turns the historical hysterical

Berkeley Rep Mesoamerica-set premiere cheerily takes on colonialism

From left, Angelica Beliard, Zachary Infante, Yani Marin, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Chad Carstarphen, Joél Pérez, Jesús E. Martínez, Desiree Rodriguez, KC de la Cruz and Richard Henry Ruiz appear in in “Kiss My Aztec!” at Berkeley Rep. (Courtesy Alessandra Mello/Berkeley Repertory Theatre)
From left, Jomar Tagatac, Danny Scheie, David Breitbarth, Rona Figueroa and Teddy Spencer appear in American Conservatory Theater’s “Rhinoceros.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

ACT’s ‘Rhinoceros’ lively and timely

Ionesco’s absurdist classic relevant in 21st century

From left, Jomar Tagatac, Danny Scheie, David Breitbarth, Rona Figueroa and Teddy Spencer appear in American Conservatory Theater’s “Rhinoceros.” (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Berenger (David Breitbarth) watches a rhinoceros in Eugène Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” presented by American Conservatory Theater. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)

ACT’s ‘Rhinoceros’ director doesn’t strive for creature comforts

Frank Galati calls Ionesco classic ‘a philosophical romp’

Berenger (David Breitbarth) watches a rhinoceros in Eugène Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” presented by American Conservatory Theater. (Courtesy Kevin Berne)
Matt Doyle’s act includes his “tried and true” favorites. (Courtesy Feinstein’s at the Nikko)

Matt Doyle makes a homecoming cabaret debut

B’way star pulls out Huey Lewis tunes from ‘Heart of Rock & Roll’

Matt Doyle’s act includes his “tried and true” favorites. (Courtesy Feinstein’s at the Nikko)
From left, Sarah Bockel, Alison Whitehurst, Jacob Heimer and Dylan S. Wallach star in “Beautiful The Carole King Musical” at the Golden Gate Theatre for a brief run. (Courtesy Joan Marcus)

Carole King is king in ‘Beautiful’ on tour

Delightful musical tells story behind 1960s hits

From left, Sarah Bockel, Alison Whitehurst, Jacob Heimer and Dylan S. Wallach star in “Beautiful The Carole King Musical” at the Golden Gate Theatre for a brief run. (Courtesy Joan Marcus)