Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

Marc Bruni, co-director of “The Tale of Despereaux,” a new musical, at Berkeley Rep through January 5, 2020, in conversation with KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky. The Tale of Despereaux is based on the Newberry winning children’s book by Kate Di Camillo and the animated film released in 2008, and concerns a mouse intent on rescuing a human princess kidnapped by the castle rats. The story is adapted by the PigPen Theatre Company, who wrote the book, music and lyrics and serve as co-directors with Mark Bruni. Marc Bruni directed the hit Broadway Carole King musical, Beautiful, and before that served as assistant director on several different shows, primarily revivals, over the course of a nearly two-decade career. He discusses this latest project, along with how he came to be a director, and his work on Beautiful. The post Interview: Marc Bruni, “The Tale of Desperaux” at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Mother of the Maid” by Jane Anderson, directed by Jasson Minadakis, at Marin Theatre Company through November 15, 2019.     The post Review: Mother of the Maid, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Pam MacKinnon & Richard Wolinsky Pam MacKinnon, Artistic Director of A.C.T., American Conservatory Theatre, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. In this wide-ranging interview, Pam talks about some of the challenges she faced coming to San Francisco a year ago, and how she’s working in partnership with other companies. She also discusses the previous seasons, and presents the shows in this 2019-2020 theatrical season, and concludes by discussing Market Street and the Strand. The post Interview: Pam MacKinnon, Artistic Director, A.C.T. appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Bull in a China Shop” by by Bryna Turner, at Aurora Theatre Company through December 8, 2019 Aurora website Review transcript: When Mary Woolley became president of the all-woman Mount Holyoke College in 1900, she had a plan – to change the curriculum from one that focused on women as subservient to men, to one focused on actual education. She also took along, and hired, her partner Jeannette Marks, who became a professor at the school, and they lived openly together for a total of fifty five years. No closet for them. Putting the two ideas together — Woolley as feminist reformer and Woolley as openly gay lover — playwright Bryna Turner crafted “Bull in a China Shop, starring the extraordinary Stacey Ross, playing at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through December 8th. Through a series of small scenes – vignettes ranging from full-on confrontations to monologues, we learn about Woolley’s opposition to suffrage and observe conflicts with her more radical lover, conflic

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Test Match” by Kate Attwell, directed by Pam MacKinnon, at ACT Strand Theatre through December 8, 2019 ACT website   The post Review: “Test Match” by Kate Attwell, at ACT Strand appeared first on KPFA.

Robert Kelley, Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Retiring after fifty years , Robert Kelley talks about TheatreWorks and its two venues, looks at how TheatreWorks and other companies vie for plays, discusses upcoming shows in the current season, as well as other issues in this in-depth discussion. The post Interview: Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley appeared first on KPFA.

Kate Attwell is a playwright whose latest work is “Test Match” having its World Premiere at ACT’s Strand Theatre through December 8, 2019. She is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Born in South Africa and raised in London, Texas and elsewhere, she is a member of Ars Nova’s PlayGroup 2017/18, a member of Page 73’s writers’ group and a finalist for the 2016 Page 73 playwriting fellowship, a 2018 NNPN Smith Prize for Political Theatre nominee, a Mabou Mines Resident Artist and a member of the Public Theater’s Devised Theater Working Group. Kate co-founded and creates theater with I AM A BOYS CHOIR. “Test Match” seems to be about a women’s cricket team, but its underlying themes include gender roles and colonialism, and the nature of power. The post Interview: Kate Attwell, “Test Match” at ACT Strand appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Chinese Lady” by Lloyd Suh at the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason Center through November 3, 2019. Magic Theatre website The post Review: “The Chinese Lady” by Lloyd Suh, at the Magic appeared first on KPFA.

Yurié Collins and Sharon Omi, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Sharon Omi and Yurié Collins play a mother and daughter residing in a Japanese coastal town in “The Great Wave,” a play by Francis Turnly now at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. In “The Great Wave,” the family tragedy of a young woman’s disappearance takes on the added dimension of a political thriller, one rooted in the fraught relationship between Japan and North Korea. Turnly’s play, directed by Mark Wing-Davey, runs through October 27. Berkeley Repertory Theatre is located at 2025 Addison Street in Berkeley. [photo by Kevin Berne] The post Interview: Yurié Collins and Sharon Omi about “The Great Wave” at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

left to right: Randal Myler, Dan Wheetman Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, creators of the play “Mark Twain’s River of Song” at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, through October 27, 2019, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. “Mark Twain’s River of Song” tells the story of the Mississippi River from its starting point in the north down to the delta, through songs and stories, and through the eyes of Mark Twain, played by Dan Hiatt. Randal Myler, who also directed the show, has created several shows including “Love Janis,” and with Dan Wheetman, the Tony nominated “Ain’t Nothing But The Blues.” Dan Wheetman is a multi-instrument musician who, when not creating shows with Randal Myler, performs in a band called Marley’s Ghost, and has released several albums under his own name. For several years he performed in John Denver’s band. The post Interview: Randal Myler & Dan Wheetman, “Mark Twain’s River of Song” at TheatreWorks appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Great Wave” by Francis Turnly at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theater through October 27, 2019. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: The Great Wave, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

Tamilla Woodard, director of “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill, at ACT’s Geary Theatre through October 13, 2019, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Tamilla is the recently named Associate Artistic Director of WP Theater (Formerly Womens Project). She is the co-founder of PopUP Theatrics, which has created immersive and participatory theatre for audiences in Europe, South America, Mexico and the US since 2007 and she serves as the Artistic Director of The Five Boroughs/One City Project, a multi-year initiative of The Working Theater. The project commissions Theatre makers to work in collaboration in creating works in response to working class communities in all 5 boroughs of New York City. “Top Girls,” set in England in the early 1980s, deals with the role of women in business, and women in society, during a period when, despite Margaret Thatcher being Prime Minister, it seemed the glass ceiling was only breakable through cold and heartless methods. ACT website The post Interview: Tamilla Woodard, director

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Exit Strategy” by Ike Holter, directed by Josh Costello, at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through September 29, 2019. Aurora website The post Review: Exit Strategy, at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Michael J. Asberry, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Actor Michael J. Asberry plays a veteran Chicago public school teacher in “Exit Strategy,” a play by Ike Holter, now at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. In “Exit Strategy,” five teachers, an administrator, and a student react to news of the planned closure of their school. The play is directed by Josh Costello, Aurora Theatre Company’s new artistic director. The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street in Berkeley. Aurora Theatre Company’s website The post Interview: Michael J. Asberry about “Exit Strategy” at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Director of 42nd Street Moon theatre company, discusses the upcoming season at the Gateway Theatre, along with a brief history of the company and his own involvement, with host Richard Wolinsky. 42nd Street Moon website The post Interview: Daniel Thomas, 42nd St. Moon appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the musical “Anastasia” at SHN Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco through Sept. 29, 2019. SHN website The post Review: “Anastasia” at SHN Golden Gate Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the world premiere production of “House of Joy” by Madhuri Shekar, at California Shakespeare Theatre in Orinda through September 1, 2019. Cal Shakes website The post Review: House of Joy, at Cal Shakes appeared first on KPFA.

John Fisher talks about his one man show, “A History of World War II, The D-Day Invasion to the Fall of Berlin,” which deals with his own obsession about war movies, war heroes and villains, the the joys of the epic tale, which can be seen at the Marsh in Berkeley through September 7, 2019. He is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. John Fisher is also the Artistic Director of Theatre Rhinoceros, billed as “the longest running queer theatre in the world.” in this interview, he also discusses the upcoming 2019-2020 season, as well as his future projects.   The Marsh website    Theatre Rhino website The post Interview: John Fisher, “A History of World War II” at the Marsh, Berkeley appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Good Person of Szechwan” by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Tony Kushner, directed by Eric Ting, at California Shakespeare Theatre in Orinda through July 28, 2019. Cal Shakes website The post Review: The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, at Cal Shakes appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the musical “Cabaret,” directed by Susi Damilano, at San Francisco Playhouse through September 14, 2019. SF Playhouse website The post Review: “Cabaret” at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.