Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

Michael Mayer and Richard Wolinsky Michael Mayer, director of “Head over Heels,” a new musical with a pre-Broadway tryout at the Curren Theatre through May 6, 2018, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Michael Mayer won the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical in 2007 and has been nominated three times for a musical, for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Thoroughly Modern Millie and most recently, for Hedwig and the Angry Itch. He was also nominated as director for the 1998 production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. He directed and wrote the book for American Idiot and the recent reconfiguring of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. He directed the film version of Michael Cunningham’s A Home at the End of the World. His latest film is an adaptation of Chekhov’s The Sea Gull, starring Annette Bening and Soursie Ronin, which will be released later this year. In this interview, he discusses the show at the Curran, and delves into elements of his career. Curran Theatre website The post Interview:

Jessica Hagedorn, playwright of “The Gangster of Love,” based on her novel of the same name, is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky. “The Gangster of Love” has its world premiere at the Magic in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center, April 11 – May 6, 2018. Jessica Hagedorn has adapted her own novel, which tells the story of a teenaged immigrant girl (based on Hagedorn’s own experienced) coming from the Philippines to San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury in the sixties and seventies, and living and working as a musician and artist in those heady times. In the interview, she talks about the play, the novel, and her own biography as an artist, novelist, playwright and musician. The post Interview: Jessica Hagedorn, playwright, “The Gangster of Love” at the Magic appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Effect” by Lucy Prebble, directed by Bill English, at San Francisco Playhouse through April 26, 2018. SF Playhouse website The post Review: The Effect at San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA’s theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Saturday Night,” the first musical by Stephen Sondheim, in its Bay Area premiere, at the Gateway (Eureka) Theatre in San Francisco through April 15, 2018. 42nd Street Moon website The post Review: Saturday Night, by Stephen Sondheim, at 42nd Street Moon Gateway Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Rachel York and Richard Wolinsky. Rachel York, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Rachel York made her Broadway debut in 1989 in the Cy Coleman show, “City of Angels.” She went on to play Fantine in “Les Miserables,” opposite Julie Andrews in the Sondheim revue, “Putting It Together,” starred in the national tour, and came to San Francisco, of the revival of “Kiss Me Kate, ” appeared in Ragtime, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and more recently, in the musical comedy “Disaster!” She is in San Francisco as a member of the ensemble of the musical “Head Over Heels!” which has its pre-Broadway try-out at the Curran from April 10th through May 6th, with a Broadway previews scheduled for June 23rd.Richard Wolinsky had a chance to talk briefly with Rachel York during one of those two-hour press interview periods in which actors go from journalist to journalist in a round robin that is as exhausting as it sounds. Curran Theatre web page The post Interview: Head Over Heels I, Rachel York appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA associate theatre critic C.S. Soong reviews “Iron Shoes,” created by Janet Kutulas, Michelle Carter, and Erika Chong Shuch, at Shotgun Players’ Ashby Stage in Berkeley through May 6, 2018. Shotgun Players website The post Review: Iron Shoes, at Shotgun Players appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Heisenberg” by Simon Stephens, at ACT’s Geary Theatre through April 8, 2018. ACT website The post Review: Heisenberg, at A.C.T. Geary appeared first on KPFA.

Richard Fouts is the playwright and Suze Allen the director of “The Birthday Lottery,” at Z Space in San Francisco, March 29th through April 1st. The play concerns the first Vietnam draft lottery of students in 1969, and is set in a fraternity house as the numbers are being called. Those with low numbers will no longer have student deferments; those with high numbers will be free of the draft. The Nixon era lottery, created to even the playing field, took the anti-war movement to new heights. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky,   Z Space Website The Birthday Lottery Website   The post Interview: Richard Fouts & Suze Allen, “The Birthday Lottery” at Z Space appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “A Number” by Caryl Churchill, directed by Barbara Damashek, at Aurora’s Harry’s Upstage theatre in Berkeley through April 22, 2018. Aurora Theatre website The post Review: A Number, by Caryl Churchill at Aurora Harry’s Upstage appeared first on KPFA.

Ryan Weible, director of the Bay Area professional premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s first show, “Saturday Night,” in conversation with KPFA chief theatre critic Richard Wolinsky. “Saturday Night: is a 42nd Street Moon production at the Gateway (formerly Eureka) Theatre in San Francisco, which runs March 28-April 15. In the interview, Ryan Weible discusses the show, its history, and his own history in theatre and as a director. 42nd Street Moon website. The post Interview: Ryan Weible, director, Sondheim’s “Saturday Night” at 42nd Street Moon appeared first on KPFA.

Jackie Chung, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. In Julia Cho’s play “Office Hour,” now at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Jackie Chung plays a writing professor named Gina who speaks to a troubled student who, in the view of Gina’s colleagues, fits the profile of a mass shooter. “Office Hour,” directed by Lisa Peterson, runs through March 25. Berkeley Repertory Theatre is located at 2025 Addison Street in Berkeley. [photo by Kevin Berne] The post Interview: Jackie Chung about “Office Hour” at Berkeley Repertory Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Vietgone” by Qui Nguyen, directed by Jaime Castaneda, at ACT Strand Theater in San Francisco through April 22, 2018. A.C.T. website     The post Review: Vietgone at A.C.T. Strand appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Office Hour,” by Julie Cho, directed by Lisa Peterson, at Berkeley Rep’s Peets Theater through March 25, 2018. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: Office Hour by Julie Cho, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Widowers’ Houses” by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Joy Carlin, at Aurora Theatre Company through March 4, 2018. Aurora website The post Review: Widowers’ Houses by G.B. Shaw, at Aurora appeared first on KPFA.

Joy Carlin, noted actor and director, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. A former member of ACT’s acting company and interim Artistic Director at Berkeley Rep, Joy Carlin has a noted career as both actor and director. She currently directs George Bernard Shaw’s first produced play, “Widowers’ Houses” at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley. The play, which focuses on housing, slum lords, urban development and the gap between rich and poor, was written in 1895 and produced three years later, and began a long and lengthy career for Shaw, recognized today as one of the greatest playwrights in the English language. Joy Carlin has directed several plays for Aurora and A.C.T. and has acted in television and film along with theater, including a recent role in “Blue Jasmine.” Later this spring she will star in the play “Marjorie Prime” at Marin Theatre Company. Aurora Theatre website Joy Carlin’s biography: Joy Carlin was born in Boston, grew up in Chicago, was graduated from the University of Chicago, attende

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Born Yesterday” by Garson Kanin, at San Francisco Playhouse through March 10, 2018. SF Playhouse website The post Review: Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin, at SF Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Skeleton Crew” by Dominique Morisseau, at Marin Theatre Company through February 18, 2018. Marin Theatre website The post Review: Skeleton Crew, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

John Kolvenbach is the author of several plays, including Sister Play and Goldfish, both previously performed at the Magic. His latest, Reel to Reel, has its world premiere January 31, 2018 and deals with a 55-year marriage, what really happens inside a marriage compared to how it appears to the outside world. His previous works have been performed all over the globe, and Love Song was a nominee in London for an Olivier Award for Best New Play. He is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky. The post Interview: John Kolvenbach, playwright “Reel to Reel” at the Magic Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the musical “Man of La Mancha” at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco through February 17, 2018. The post Review: Man of La Mancha, at Custom Made Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter, directed by Carey Perloff, at ACT’s Geary Theatre through February 4, 2018. A.C.T. webpage The post Review: The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter, at ACT Geary Theatre appeared first on KPFA.