Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

Michael Gene Sullivan, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. The San Francisco Mime Troupe’s current production, “Seeing Red: A Time-Traveling Musical,” juxtaposes the current political conjuncture with a time in the U.S. when socialism wasn’t a dirty word. Veteran actor, writer, and Mime Troupe member Michael Gene Sullivan plays two roles in the production: a present-day bartender and a union leader in 1912. “Seeing Red” runs through September 9 in parks and other venues throughout the Bay Area and beyond. The San Francisco Mime Troupe’s website The post Interview: Michael Gene Sullivan about “Seeing Red” by the San Francisco Mime Troupe appeared first on KPFA.

Jeanne Sakata is the author of the play “Hold These Truths” at Theatreworks Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, July 11 – August 5, 2019. Jeanne Sakata is an actress who has appeared on several TV shows and films, and on stage at both ACT and Berkeley Rep. Hold These Truths is the true true story following Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese-American student who fought internment to a relocation camp during World War II. This Northern California premiere celebrates the human spirit as it chronicles Hirabayashi’s journey from college in Seattle all the way to the Supreme Court, and eventually to a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Directed by Lisa Rothe, with Joel de la Fuente starring as Hirabayashi, Hold These Truths made its world premiere in 2007 at East West Players in Los Angeles. In 2012, the solo play made its Off Broadway premiere at Epic Theatre Company starring Joel de la Fuente, and received a 2013 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. Since its world premiere, it has gone on to play

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the James Lapine-Stephen Sondheim musical, “Sunday in the Park with George,” directed by Bill English, at San Francisco Playhouse through September 8, 2018. SF Playhouse website   The post Review: Sunday in the Park with George, at SF Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

Emily Jeanne Brown, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Emily Jeanne Brown plays the role of a private equity firm’s managing director in Sarah Burgess’s play “Dry Powder,” now at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through July 29. In “Dry Powder,” sparks fly and ethical questions arise when two principals of the firm disagree on what to do with a company that the firm plans to acquire. The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street in Berkeley. Aurora Theatre Company’s website The post Interview: Emily Jeanne Brown about “Dry Powder” at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Dry Powder,” written by Sarah Burgess and directed by Jennifer King, at Aurora Theatre Company through July 22, 2018. The post Review: Dry Powder, at Aurora Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the new musical “Soft Power,” at the Curran Theatre through July 8, 2018. Curran website The post Review: Soft Power, at the Curran appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Straight White Men” by Young Jean Lee, at Marin Theatre Company through July 8, 2018. Marin Theatre Company website The post Review: Straight White Men, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Octavio Solis, whose latest play is “Quixote Nuevo” at California Shakespeare Theatre, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Author of over 20 plays, Octavio Solis is considered by many to be one of the most prominent Latino playwrights in America. With works that both draw on and transcend the Mexican-American experience, he is a writer and director whose style defies formula, examining the darkness, magic and humor of humanity with brutal honesty and characteristic intensity. His imaginative and ever-evolving work continues to cross cultural and aesthetic boundaries, solidifying him as one of the great playwrights of our time. His latest play, at Cal Shakes June 13 through July 1, 2018, updates the Cervantes story of an elderly man who believes himself to be a medieval knight, taking it to the border of Mexico and Texas, in the El Paso area, and giving the would-be Quixote the backstory of a professor going through the stages of Alzheimer’s. Cal Shakes website Octavio Solis website Scenes from “Quixote Nue

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews a world premiere musical, “A Walk on the Moon” at ACT’s Geary Theatre, through July 1, 2018. ACT website The post Review: A Walk on the Moon, at ACT Geary Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Playwright David Henry Hwang and composer Jeanine Tesori discuss their latest project, an original musical titled “Soft Power,” at the Curran Theatre June 20-July 8, 2018, with host Richard Wolinsky. “Soft Power” starts with a play and turns into a musical, about a reverse “King and I” created in China and produced fifty years in the future, concerning the relationship between a Chinese envoy and Hillary Clinton, which brings up questions regarding cultural appropriation and what is called “soft power,” the power of culture to influence society. David Henry Hwang is a Tony winning playwright, the author of, among other works, “M. Butterfly”, “Chinglish” and “Yellow Face,” along with a recently reworked “Flower Drum Song.” He is also on the writing staff of the Showtime TV show “The Affair.” Jeanine Tesori is a Tony winning composer. Among her works are “Caroline, or Change,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Violet” (to be seen in a Bay Area Musicals production next season) and “Fun Home.” Curran theatre website T

Sheryl Kaller, Richard Wolinsky and Pamela Gray. Sheryl Kaller, director, and Pamela Gray, playwright of “A Walk on the Moon,” a world premiere musical at A.C.T. Geary Theatre, June 9-July 1, 2018, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. “A Walk in the Moon” is based on the 1999 film with a screenplay by Pamela Gray. The show deals with life in a Jewish bungalow colony in the Catskills during the summer of 1969, and the sexual awakening of a mother and daughter. Sheryl Kaller is a Tony-nominated director whose most recent Broadway play was “Mothers & Sons” by Terence McNally in 2014. And among Pamela Gray’s other screenplays are “Music of the Heart” and more recently, “Megan Leavey.” The post Interview: Sheryl Kaller & Pamela Gray, A Walk on the Moon at ACT appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly,” at New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco through June 10, 2018 New Conservatory website The post Review: When Pigs Fly, at New Conservatory appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “An Entomologist’s Love Story” by Melissa Ross, at San Francisco Playhouse through June 23, 2018. San Francisco Playhouse website The post Review: An Entomologist’s Love Story, at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “What The Constitution Means to Me” by Heidi Schreck, at Berkeley Rep through June 17, 2018. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: What The Constitution Means to Me, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Marjorie Prime” by Jordan Harrison at Marin Theatre Company through May 27, 2018. Marin Theatre Company   The post Review: Marjorie Prime, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Liz Diamond, director of “Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 and 3” by Suzan-Lori Parks, at ACT’s Geary Theatre April 25-May 20, 2018, and the head of Yale Drama School’s Directing Department, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Liz Diamond’s love affair with theatre began when she was in the Peace Corps in Africa, and took off after she teamed with playwright Suzan Lori-Parks, working on plays in New York. Eventually she found herself at Yale, where she began to teach, eventually becoming the Chair of the Directing Department at Yale School of Theatre. She returns to directing with the latest Suzan-Lori Parks play, an epic about African-American slaves during the Civil War. The post Interview: Director Liz Diamond appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky gives capsule reviews of Angels in America at Berkeley Rep; FAther Comes Home from the Wars Parts 1, 2 and 3 at ACT Geary Theatre; The Color Purple at SHN Orpheum, and Tinderella, a Faultline Theatre production at Custom Made. The post Review Round-up appeared first on KPFA.

Tom Alan Robbins portrayed Pumbaa the warthog on Broadway for thirteen years in The Lion King. At present he plays Dametas, the king’s servant, in Head over Heels at the Curran through May 6, 2018 and in June, on Broadway. He also performed in the original casts of Sunset Blvd, Jerome Robbins Broadway and other shows. Richard Wolinsky had a chance to speak with Tom Alan Robbins during press day for Head Over Heels. He turned out to be an extremely articulate and interesting guy. This Bay Area Theatre interview is web-only Curran Theatre website The post Interview: Head Over Heels III, Tom Alan Robbins appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Aurora Day,” a world premiere play by Jonathan Spector, at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley through May 13, 2018 Aurora website The post Review: Eureka Day, at Aurora Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Head Over Heels” a new musical in its pre-Broadway run, at the Curran through May 6, 2018. Curran website The post Review: Head Over Heels, at the Curran appeared first on KPFA.