Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

On March 28, 2019, SHN productions presented their upcoming 2019-2020 season series at the Golden Gate Theatre in a noontime press and donor event on the stage of the theatre. The highlight of the upcoming season is a show called “The Last Ship,” which had a short run on Broadway in 2014. Conceived by and starring the musician/songwriter Sting, the show deals with the shipbuilding industry in Newcastle, England during the 1980s, and is based on Sting’s own memories. It will play San Francisco in February-March, 2020. Sting was on hand, at the Golden Gate, and performed a half dozen songs from the show, accompanied by a pianist and two actors from The Last Ship. Afterward, members of the press had a chance for brief interviews. KPFA’s Richard Wolinsky was on hand and was given four minutes with Sting. Not much time, but hopefully next year a full interview will be in the cards. The post A Brief Interview with Sting appeared first on KPFA.

Spencer Liff Jordan Roth Spencer Liff, choreographer, and Jordan Roth, producer of the musical “Falsettos,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The musical Falsettos, now at the Golden Gate Theatre through April 14, 2019, was originally produced in New York in April 1992 and ran for nearly 500 performances. The show, which is one of the earliest musicals to deal with coming out of the closet and with AIDS, was revived on Broadway in 2016 and it’s that Lincoln Center production which is now on tour in the Bay Area. Spencer Liff has previously been a dancer and ensemble performer on Broadway, and has choreographed the recent revivals of Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and most recently Head Over Heels. Justin Roth is the president and majority owner of Jujamcyn theatres in New York; among his most recent productions are Bruce Springsteen on Broadway, Angels in America, and Mean Girls. SHN website Part One, director James Lapine & composer lyricist William Finn. The post Interview: Falset

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Yoga Play” by Dipika Guha, directed by Bill English, at San Francisco Playhouse through April 20, 2019. SF Playhouse website The post Review: Yoga Play at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

William Finn, Richard Wolinsky and James Lapine James Lapine, director, and William Finn, composer/lyricist of the musical “Falsettos,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The musical Falsettos, now at the Golden Gate Theatre through April 14, 2019, was originally produced in New York in April 1992 and ran for nearly 500 performances. The show, which is one of the earliest musicals to deal with coming out of the closet and with AIDS, was revived on Broadway in 2016 and it’s that production which is now on tour in the Bay Area. James Lapine is one of Broadway’s most successful directors, and has worked with Stephen Sondheim on such shows as Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Sondheim on Sondheim. Among James Lapine’s film credits are Impromptu and Earthly Possessions. William Finn is not only known for Falsettos, but for the very popular musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, along with the musical A New Brain. SHN website Part Two: Choreographer Spencer Liff and producer

Mfoniso Udofia in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. One of America’s fastest riding playwrights, Mfonis Udofia is a  second-generation Nigerian-American, plays in her Ufot family cycle have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where two of those works are currently seeing productions. “Her Portmaneau” can currently be seen at ACT’s Strand Theatre through March 31st, and previews begin for the world premiere of “In Old Age” at the Magic Theatre on March 27, 2019. The post Interview: Mfoniso Udofia, “The Ufot Family Cycle” appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “American Hero” by Bess Wohl, at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco through April 6, 2019. Custom Made Theatre website The post Review: “American Hero” by Bess Wohl, at Custom Made Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Marie & Rosetta” by George Brant, at Theatreworks Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto through March 31, 2019 Theatreworks website The post Review: Marie & Rosetta, at Theatreworks Palo Alto appeared first on KPFA.

Don Reed, whose solo show, “That Don Reed Show,” can be seen at the Marsh in Berkeley through April 28th, and then later at the Marsh in San Francisco, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Growing up in Oakland set the stage for Don Reed’s breakout one-man show, “East 14th,” and his local heritage remains a key part of his work. A stand-up comedian, actor on television (currently in Amazon’s show “Bartlett”), his vocal talents are also heard on various animated programs. He’s performed on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, and served as the warm-up comedian for several television audiences. But he always returns to The Marsh, where he got his start. Don Reed website The Marsh The post Interview: Don Reed, “That Don Reed Show” appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Who & The What” by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Hana S. Sharif, at Marin Theatre Company through March 24, 2019. Marin Theatre Company website The post Review: The Who & The What at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Her Portmanteau” by Mfoniso Udofia, at ACT’s Strand Theatre through March 31, 2019. ACT website. The post Review: Her Portmanteau, at ACT Strand appeared first on KPFA.

Josh Costello, just named new Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre Company starting in July, 2019, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. For the past five years, Josh Costello has served as the Associate Director of the company, directing one play a season. Prior to that, he worked at Marin Theatre Company and was the founder of Impact Theatre. His goal, he says, at Aurora, is to enlarge the company’s footprint and bring new audiences to its thrust stage by producing works relevant to the Berkeley and Bay Area community. The post Interview: Josh Costello, Aurora Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Pam MacKinnon, the new Artistic Director of A.C.T., American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. The Tony Award winning director of 2013’s Broadway revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and Obie winning director of “Clybourne Park” was hired by A.C.T. as Artistic Director on January 18, 2018, and is now in the midst of the first season she has curated since her arrival. In this interview, she discusses the challenges of working at A.C.T., her perspective as a leading interpreter of the plays of Edward Albee, the rest of this season, and other topics. A.C.T’s latest production is Edward Albee’s “Seascape,” which Pam MacKinnon is directing. It runs through February 17, 2019. ACT website The post Interview: Pam MacKinnon, A.C.T. Artistic Director appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Paradise Square,” a new musical at Berkeley Rep through February 24, 2019. The post Review: Paradise Square, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the Broadway musical “Come from Away” on its national tour at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco through February 3, 2019. SHN website The post Review: Come from Away, at SHN Golden Gate Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Dear Evan Hansen” at the Curran through December 30, 2018. Curran website The post Review: Dear Evan Hansen, at the Curran appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Tuck Everlasting: The Musical” at TheatreWorks Palo Alto Lucie Stern Theatre through December 20, 2018 TheatreWorks website The post Review: Tuck Everlasting: The Musical, at TheatreWorks Palo Alto appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “A Bronx Tale: The Musical” at SHN Golden Gate through December 23, 2018. SHN website The post Review: A Bronx Tale: The Musical, at SHN Golden Gate appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Mary Poppins,” directed by Susi Damilano, at San Francisco Playhouse through January 12, 2018. SF Playhouse website. The post Review: “Mary Poppins” at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

Nathan Tysen, lyricist for the musicals “Tuck Everlasting,” “Amelie” and the forthcoming “Paradise Square,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. “Tuck Everlasting” runs at TheatreWorks Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto through December 30th. Originally from Kansas, Nathan Tysen made a name for himself with the off-Broadway musical “The Burnt Part Boys” with composer Chris Miller, and was the lyricist for the musical “Amelie” which played at Berkeley Rep before moving to Broadway for a short run. His next project, “Paradise Square,” features the music of Stephen Foster set against the draft riots of the Five Points section of Manhattan in 1863. In this interview he discusses the history of the musical “Tuck Everlasting” from its origination to its brief life on Broadway to its revival as a mainstay of community theatrers, and now this professional production. He also talks about his own biography as a musician, the history of the musical “Amelie,” his feelings about the state of politics in his native Ka

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the world premiere play, “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, at Marin Theatre Company through December 16, 2018. The post Review: “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley,” at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.