Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Year of Magical Thinking” with Stacey Ross, directed by Nancy Carlin, at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley through July 21, 2019. Aurora website The post Review: The Year of Magical Thinking, at Aurora Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Passion” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, directed by Stuart Bousel, at Custom Made Theatre through July 20, 2019. Custom Made Website The post Review: “Passion” by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine, at Custom Made Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Kiss My Aztec” by John Leguizamo and Tony Taccone, directed by John Leguizamo, at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre through July 14, 2019. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: Kiss My Aztec, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Fit” by Carey Perloff, directed by Bill English, at the Reuff black box at the Strand, through June 29, 2019. The post Review: The Fit, at SF Playhouse, The Reuff at the Strand appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Archduke” by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, at TheatreWorks Mountain View Center for the Arts through June 30, 2019. TheatreWorks website The post Review: Archduke, at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Rhinoceros” by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Frank Galati, at ACT Geary Theatre through June 23, 2019. ACT website The post Review: Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco, at ACT Geary appeared first on KPFA.

Giovanna Sardelli, director of “Archduke” by Rajiv Joseph, at Theatreworks Silicon Valley Mountain View Center for the Arts through June 30, 2019, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. “Archduke” tells the story of the recruitment of young men who were to commit the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, an assassination that led directly to what become known as The Great War, and later World War I. Giovanna Sardelli, director of the production, is also the director of New Works at Silicon Valley, and her career is closely intertwined with that of playwright Rajiv Joseph, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his earlier play, “Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo.” A graduate of NYU, Giovanna Sardelli spent five years on the soap opera “Another World” before choosing her current career path. She worked closely with Rajiv Joseph on the creation of “Archduke,” which was originally a commission from the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. This new production fea

Frank Galati, director of “Rhinoceros” by Eugene Ionesco, at ACT’s Geary Theatre through June 23, 2019, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Frank Galati is a long-time member of the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and has taught at Northwestern University. The winner of Tony Awards for the adaptation and direction of The Grapes of Wrath in 1990, was nominated for an Oscar for co-adapting The Accidental Tourist for the screen, and was the director of Ragtime and The Pirate Queen on Broadway Frank Galati is also known for adapting several other works for stage and screen. “Rhinoceros” is considered to be one of the greatest works of political theatre of the absurd. Originally produced in the late 1950s, the play hearkens back to the origins of fascism and how propaganda infects the minds of citizens.   The post Interview: Frank Galati: Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros” at ACT Geary appeared first on KPFA.

Joanie McBrien, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Joanie McBrien directs “Kings,” a play by Sarah Burgess presented by Shotgun Players at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley through June 16. In “Kings,” two lobbyists and an entrenched U.S. senator react to an upstart lawmaker critical of money’s role in politics. The Ashby Stage is located at 1901 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. Shotgun Players’ website (Photo: Kyle Adler Photography) The post Interview: Joanie McBrien about “Kings” at Shotgun Players appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Good Book” by Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson, directed by Lisa Peterson, at Berkeley Rep’s Peets Theatre through June 9, 2019. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: The Good Book, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic reviews “Significant Other,” written by Joshua Harmon and directed by Lauren English, at SF Playhouse through June 15, 2019. San Francisco Playhouse website The post Review: Significant Other, at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

Annette O’Toole & Richard Wolinsky. Annette O’Toole, lead performer in the Berkeley Rep production, “The Good Book,” written by Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson,  and directed by Lisa Peterson, through June 9, 2019, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Annette O’Toole has had a long career in television, film and theatre, including regular stints as Superboy’s mother, Martha Kent, on Smallville, as the star of the TV series The Huntress and most recently in stints on the current Netflix series The Punisher and the upcoming series Virgin River. She has also appeared in leading and supporting roles in film, and more recently has appeared in several off-Broadway plays. The post Interview: Annette O’Toole, “The Good Book” at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

Kate Kilbane and and Dan Moses, The Kilbanes, discuss their rock opera “Weightless,” at ACT’s Strand Theatre through May 12, 2019 with host Richard Wolinsky. This is the second of three rock operas by the Kilbanes, and played previously at San Francisco’s Z Space. The story comes out of Ovid’s Metamorphosis, and tells the story of two sisters, Procne and Philomela, and their betrayal and subsequent revenge. Weightless hovers somewhere between a concert and a play, starting with songs and narration and gradually expanding into a story with additional actors. The Kilbanes also discuss their other projects, including a musical based on the life of Helen Gurley Brown. Photos: Emily Sevin The post Interview: The Kilbanes, “Weightless” at ACT Strand appeared first on KPFA.

Mohammad Shehata, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Mohammad Shehata plays the role of Jack in Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” now at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through May 19. In Wilde’s comic jewel, the superficial preoccupations of Victorian society are skewered as an elaborate farce plays out among two friends, the imaginary personae they’ve created, and two women intent on only marrying men with the name “Ernest.” The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street in Berkeley. Aurora Theatre Company’s website [Photo: Lisa Keating Photography] The post Interview: Mohammad Shehata about “The Importance of Being Earnest” at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The New Musical” at SHN Golden Gate Theatre through May 12, 2019. SHN website. The post Review: Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at SHN Golden Gate appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Jungle” by Joe Murphy & Joe Robertson, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, at the Curran in San Francisco through May 18, 2019. Curran website The post Review: The Jungle, at the Curran appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “In Old Age,” a world premiere play by Mfoniso Udofia, at the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason Center in San Francisco through April 21, 2019 Magic Theatre website The post Review: In Old Age by Mfoniso Udofia, at Magic Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Actually” by Anna Ziegler, at Aurora Theatre Harry’s Upstage through May 5, 2019. Aurora Theatre website The post Review: Actually, at Aurora Theatre Harry’s Upstage appeared first on KPFA.

Justin Martin Ammar Haj Ahmad Justin Martin, co-director, and Ammar Haj Ahmad, one of the principal actors of “The Jungle,” a play by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco through May 18, 2019, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. The Jungle tells the story of a refugee camp near Calais, France, where people fleeing violence in their own countries came while they awaited asylum in England. The camp lasted around nine months, and during that time, developed its own culture and community. Playwrights Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson opened a theatre there, and took notes on the people and events during the Jungle’s existence. Co-directors Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin joined with the playwrights, and actors representing the various countries in the camp, and created an environmental theatre piece, which received accolades in earlier productions at the Old Vic in London and St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York, before coming to San Francisco. Justin Martin has worked as associate direc

KPFA theatre critic reviews the national touring company of the Lincoln Center production of “Falsettos” by James Lapine and William Finn, at SHN Golden Gate through April 14, 2019. SHN website The post Review: Falsettos, at SHN Golden Gate Theatre appeared first on KPFA.