Kpfa - Bay Area Theater

Christina Augello is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Fringe Festival, which runs September 8-23 at one of the three venues in the Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy St. in San Francisco. She is also the Artistic Director of the Exit, which has its own schedule. Christine Augello is a solo performance artist who works the Fringe circuit when she’s not at home producing plays. She talks about the Festival, the history of Fringe, her own life story and other matters with host Richard Wolinsky. San Francisco Fringe website Exit Theatre website The post Interview: Christina Augello, San Francisco Fringe Festival, Sept. 8-23, 2017 appeared first on KPFA.

Brady Morales Woolery, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Brady Morales Woolery plays four different characters named Watson in “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence,” a play by Madeleine George presented by Shotgun Players at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley through September 10. Nancy Carlin directs this play about people’s dependence on technology, on political institutions, and on other people. The Ashby Stage is located at 1901 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. Shotgun Players website Brady Morales Woolery’s website (Photo by Jessica Palopoli.)   The post Interview: Brady Morales Woolery about “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence,” at Shotgun Players appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Black Odyssey” by Marcus Gardley, directed by Eric Ting, at Cal Shakes in Orinda through September 3, 2017. California Shakespeare Theatre website The post Review: Black Odyssey, at California Shakespeare Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Blues Is A Woman” at Custom Made Theatre through August 27, 2017. Custom Made website Writer/creator Pamela Rose talks about “Blues Is A Woman” https://kpfa.org/app/uploads/2017/08/Pamela-Rose-Interview.mp3 The post Review: Blues Is A Woman, at Custom Made Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the musical “La Cage aux Folles” at San Francisco Playhouse through September 16, 2017. SF Playhouse website The post Review: La Cage aux Folles at SF Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Glass Menagerie,” directed by Lisa Portes, at California Shakespeare Theatre through July 30th. Cal Shakes website The post Review: The Glass Menagerie at Cal Shakes appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “An Octoroon” by Branden Jacobs Jenkins, directed by Eric Ting, at Berkeley Rep, extended to July 29, 2017. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: An Octoroon, at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Spendour” by Abi Morgan, at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through July 23, 2017. Aurora website The post Review: Splendour by Abi Morgan, at Aurora appeared first on KPFA.

John Fisher, artistic director of Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco, discusses its latest production, the musical “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” at the Eureka Theater in San Francisco through July 1st. He also discusses the upcoming season as well as the production of Shakespeare’s King Lear at Yerba Buena Gardens July 7th through 9th. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. This interview was heard  on Arts-Waves on KPFA, June 26, 2017. Theatre Rhino website The post Interview: John Fisher, “Priscilla” at Theatre Rhino appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Legend of Georgia McBride” by Matthew Lopez, at Marin Theatre Company through July 2, 2017. Marin Theatre Company website The post Review: The Legend of Georgia McBride, at Marin Theatre Company appeared first on KPFA.

Han Ong is a playwright whose latest work is “Grandeur,” at the Magic Theater in San Francisco through June 25, 2017. He is interviewed by KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky. Han Ong has written several plays since the 1990s, and two novels, including the well-reviewed “Fixer Chao” in 2001. This is his second play following a twelve-year absence. “Grandeur” concerns a meeting between a journalist and the late poet and writer Gil Scott-Heron in 2010 upon the release of the album “I’m New Here,” and a year before the poet’s death. Han Ong was born to Chinese parents and spent his first sixteen years in the Philippines before moving to Los Angeles and getting involved in the theater world. A high school dropout who received a MacArthur Genius Award, he is well known for his plays about dislocation and alienation. A shorter version of the interview aired on KPFA’s Arts-Waves program. Magic Theatre website. The post Interview: Han Ong, “Grandeur” at the Magic appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Roommate” by Jen Silverman, directed by Becca Wolff, at San Francisco Playhouse through July 1, 2017. SF Playhouse website The post Review: The Roommate at SF Playhouse appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the pre-Broadway production of the musical “Roman Holiday” at SHN Golden Gate Theater through June 18, 2017. SHN website The post Review: Roman Holiday, at SHN Golden Gate appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the musical adaptation of the film “Monsoon Wedding,” directed by Mira Nair, at Berkeley Rep through July 9, 2017. Berkeley Rep website The post Review: Monsoon Wedding at Berkeley Rep appeared first on KPFA.

Susannah Martin, in conversation with KPFA associate theater critic C.S. Soong. Susannah Martin directs “The Events,” a play by David Greig presented by Shotgun Players at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley through June 4. In “The Events,” Claire, the surviving leader of a community choir, tries to understand why the gunman (“The Boy”) went on a shooting rampage. The Ashby Stage is located at 1901 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. Shotgun Players website Susannah Martin’s website The post Interview: Susannah Martin about “The Events,” at Shotgun Players appeared first on KPFA.

Richard Wolinsky and Simon McBurney. Simon McBurney, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Simon McBurney is the director and performer of “The Encounter,” a theatrical piece inspired by the Book Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu, playing at the Curran in San Francisco through May 7th. Simon McBurney is the artistic director of Complicite, a London based theatrical company. He’s directed several plays and operas over the years, and acted in such films as The Theory of Everything, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and other films, as well as the TV series The Borgias and The Casual Vacancy. “The Encounter” comes to San Francisco after a successful run in London and New York, and an American tour. Curran website. “The Encounter” involves the use of headphones and binaural sounds to not only tell the story of the photographer Loren McIntyre in the jungles of Peru but to take the audience on its own trip, A shorter version of this interview aired as an Arts-Waves program. The post Interv

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky interviews Evren Odcikin, director of “Autobiography of a Terrorist” by Said Sayrafiezadeh, a Golden Thread production at Potrero Stage (Thick House) in San Francisco, through May 7, 2017. Golden Thread website The post Interview: Autobiography of a Terrorist at Potrero Stage (Thick House) appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Temple” by Steve Waters, directed by Tom Ross, at Aurora Theatre in Berkeley through May 14, 2017. Aurora website The post Review: Temple by Steve Waters, at Aurora Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Robert Hurwitt, former drama critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, and before that the San Francisco Examiner and the East Bay Express, is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky. Robert Hurwitt retired in April 2016 after a long and distinguished career as a critic and theater reviewer. Born as a “red diaper baby” and growing up in New York City’s suburbs, his love of theater began early. After moving to San Francisco and working as a free-lance writer, he was hired by the Express and later the Examiner — and when the Examiner was bought by Hearst, the San Francisco Chronicle, where he spent several years as the single most important critic in the region. In this interview, he discusses his life and career, his feelings about criticism, and recommends three shows currently running in San Francisco. A shorter version of this interview aired on KPFA’s Arts-Waves program.   The post Interview: Robert Hurwitt, former theater critic, SF Chronicle appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “Needles and Opium,” written and directed by Robert LaPage, at ACT’s Geary Theater through April 23, 2017.   ACT website The post Review: Needles and Opium, at ACT Geary appeared first on KPFA.