Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

Judith Ivey and Richard Wolinsky. Judith Ivey, two-time Tony winning actress, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Judith Ivey is appearing in Harold Pinter’s classic play The Birthday Party, directed by Carey Perloff, at ACT’s Geary Theatre January 10th through February 4th. Judith Ivey has appeared in several Broadway productions, including the role of Amanda in The Glass Menagerie and Sally Durant in Sondheim’s Follies, and is the winner of two Tony Awards for her work. She’s appeared in numerous films and television shows, from The Devil’s Advocate and Flags of Our Fathers to a season’s stint on Designing Women and guest starring roles in dozens of programs. In The Birthday Party, she portrays Meg, half of a couple who run a boarding house where the events of the play occur. The post Interview: Judith Ivey in Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party” at ACT appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky takes a look back at the 2017 in the world of Bay Area theatre. The post Commentary: Bay Area Theatre, 2017 appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Watch on the Rhine” by Lillian Hellman, at Berkeley Rep through January 14, 2017. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: Watch on the Rhine at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Shakespeare in Love,” based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, at Marin Theatre Company through December 23, 2017. Marin Theatre Company website The post Review: Shakespeare in Love, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Darryl V. Jones, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Darryl V. Jones directs Marco Ramirez’s play “The Royale,” now at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through December 10. The play is loosely based on the life and times of Jack Johnson, who in 1908 became the first African American heavyweight boxing champion. In “The Royale,” Jay Jackson pursues his dream of becoming the champ in the face of social and institutional racism and a family member’s intervention. Darryl V. Jones is Chair of the Theatre Program at Cal State East Bay. The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street in Berkeley. Aurora Theatre Company’s website The post Interview: Darryl V. Jones about “The Royale” at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Lisa Peterson, Associate Director of Berkeley Rep, and director of “Watch On The Rhine” at Berkeley Rep, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. “Watch on the Rhine” by Lillian Hellman was first presented before the U.S. entered World War II, when few people in this country understood the dangers of the rise of fascism in Europe. Today, it’s still a relevant anti-fascist play. During World War II, it became a film starring Bette Davis and Paul Lukas (who won the Best Actor Oscar that year) and is available via streaming. In this interview, Lisa Peterson talks about this new stage production of “Watch on the Rhine,” as well as her upcoming directorial project, “Office Hour” by Julia Cho, and her history as a director. Berkeley Rep website A scene from “Watch on the Rhine.”   The post Interview: Lisa Peterson, “Watch on the Rhine” at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

Bill English, Artistic Director of San Francisco Playhouse, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Every year or so, Bill English comes over to KPFA to discuss his theater company and the upcoming season. In this interview, he talks about the origins of SF Playhouse and how it came to be in its current location at 450 Post Street. The discussion includes a look at the upcoming season, including the musical “A Christmas Story’ which runs during the 2017 holiday season into January 2018, as well as the company’s previous productions this season. San Francisco Playhouse website The post Interview: Bill English, San Francisco Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Royale” a play by Marco Ramirez, directed by Darryl V. Jones, at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley through December 10, 2017. Aurora website The post Review: The Royale, at Aurora Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Emma Keith, producer of the National Theatre Live series of theatrical broadcasts, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, talks about the latest broadcast, the National Theatre in London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1971 musical, “Follies.” The producer of the series since 2016, she discusses what is required to put on this kind of international live broadcast, some of the technical issues involved, and how the National brings in a younger audience. The Royal National Theatre is the English equivalent of New York’s Public Theatre, or perhaps Lincoln Center, supported to a great degree by the government’s National Arts Council, and is in that sense a model of how government can support the arts. Founded in 1963 with Sir Laurence Olivier as its first director, the National now encompasses three theaters on its side near Waterloo Bridge in London. “Follies” airs on November 16, 2017 with encore presentations following. To find out more, National Theatre Live website The post Interview: Emma Keith, National Thea

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Small Mouth Sounds” by Bess Whol, at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater through December 10, 2017. A.CT. website The post Review: Small Mouth Sounds, at ACT Strand appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Eva Trilogy” by Barbara Hammond, directed by Loretta Greco, at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco through November 12, 2017. Magic Theatre website The post Review: The Eva Trilogy, at the Magic Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Loretta Greco, Artistic Director of the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Entering her tenth year as Artistic Director of the Magic at Fort Mason Center, Loretta Greco is directing “The Eva Trilogy” by Barbara Hammond, three related one-act plays, in performance through November 12, 2017. In this wide-ranging interview, she discusses these plays and the rest of the Magic season, as well as directing at different theaters, the controversy at Marin Theatre Company and diversity in artistic director hires on the San Francisco Bay Area. Magic theatre website The post Interview: Loretta Greco, Magic Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit” by Daniel Handler, directed by Tony Taccone, at Berkeley Rep through November 19, 2017. The post Review: Imaginary Comforts, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

Jonathan Moscone, Chief of Civic Engagement at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and former Artistic Director, California Shakespeare Theatre, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. On Saturday, October 28th, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco is presenting the YBCA 100 Summit, based on “an annual compilation of the creative minds that inspire YBCA. The list celebrates thought leaders, provocateurs, and innovators who are using their platform to create cultural movement.” The program starts at 12:30 pm and continues into the evening. For more information, go to ybca.org In this interview, Jon Moscone discusses the event as well as other projects by YBCA, goes into depth about his direction of Paula Vogel’s play “Baltimore Waltz,” recently at the Magic Theatre, discusses the controversial “Glass Menagerie” at Cal Shakes this past season, and talks about the relationship of politics and the arts. The post Interview: Jonathan Moscone, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Thomas and Sally” by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by Jasson Minadakis, at Marin Theatre Company through October 29, 2017 The post Review: Thomas and Sally, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the West Coast premiere of “Barbecue”, directed by Margo Hall, at San Francisco Playhouse through November 11, 2017. SF Playhouse website The post Review: Barbecue, at SF Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “How I Learned to Drive” by Paula Vogel, at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco through October 7, 2017. Custom Made website The post Review: How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel, at Custom Made Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Tom Ross, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Tom Ross directs Rebecca Gilman’s play “Luna Gale,” now at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through October 1. In “Luna Gale,” a social worker meets two teenaged meth addicts whose baby becomes the object of a tug-of-war between her parents and her evangelical Christian grandmother. Tom Ross is also Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre Company. The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street in Berkeley. Aurora Theatre Company’s website The post Interview: Tom Ross about “Luna Gale” at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Taylor Mac, playwright/performer, “A 24 Decade History of Popular Music,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Taylor Mac is a playwright, actor, performance artist whose latest work is performed at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco over four six-hour performances Sept. 15th and 17th, and 22nd and 24th and in a three-hour abbreviated version on Sept. 27th at Stanford University. Wearing wild costumes and singing hundreds of songs, Taylor Mac takes the audience for a ride in order to open their eyes to America  and unpack the hidden meanings of the country’s most popular songs, decade by decade. It’s an audacious work, coming to San Francisco after rave reviews in New York, and a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Theater. Taylor Mac has written several successful plays, two of which, “Hir” and “The Lily’s Revenge” recently played at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre. Curran website Taylor Mac website Stanford Live website The post Interview: Taylor Mac, “A 24 Decade History of Popular Music,” at the Curr

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Luna Gale,” a play by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Tom Ross, at Aurora Theatre Company through October 1, 2017. Aurora Theatre website The post Review: Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman, at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.