San Francisco Theatre + Broadway News

Dragon Productions Theatre Hosts 2013 New Play Development Factory, Now thru 6/9

(5/24/2013) - Join Dragon Productions Theatre Company as it celebrates the creativity and talent of Bay Area playwrights. The team read more than 40 scripts and picked new, original scripts by three local writers. Now Dragon Productions Theatre is hosting three weekends of staged readings of these scripts.

Cinnabar Theater to Present CARMEN, 5/31-6/16

(5/23/2013) - Cinnabar Theater presents Carmen, with Music by Georges Bizet / Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, Based on the novella by Prosper Merimee

Aurora Theatre Mourns Passing of Founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver

(5/23/2013) - It is with great sadness that Aurora Theatre Company announces the passing of the company's founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver due to complications from a recent stroke. Barbara passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 20 at her Berkeley home, surrounded by family.

San Francisco Mime Troupe Presents OIL AND WATER, 7/4-9/2

(5/23/2013) - The Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe (SFMT) opens its 54th season with OIL & WATER - Two New One Act Musical Productions. After a successful grassroots fundraising effort, SFMT fans rallied to underwrite the SFMT's 54th season. This summer SFMT is doing something different. Within a larger musical/comedic frame, OIL & WATER is actually two shorter plays - CRUDE INTENTIONS and DEAL WITH THE DEVIL - each stylistically unique but topically linked and musically interwoven. True to the SFMT's theatrical grassroots of exaggerated genre and oversized characters, the plays challenge the dangerous energy practices of both corporations and the rest of us. In addition SFMT is committed to creating a smaller carbon footprint with this 2013 production.

Aurora Theatre Company Announces Call for GAP Submissions

(5/23/2013) - Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company is proud to announce a call for submissions for its ninth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February and March of 2014; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged Bay Area Premiere of Johnna Adams's incendiary new play GIDION'S KNOT, directed by Jon Tracy (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity). Each of the four prizewinners will receive a $1,000 award and their work will be considered for further development and production during Aurora Theatre Company's regular season; out of town artists will receive travel and accommodation expenses. The submission period opens June 3; deadline for play submission is July 31, 2013. Finalists will be announced in early December 2013.

Marin Theatre Presents THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, Now thru 6/16

(5/23/2013) - The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh will play Marin Theatre Company, directed by Mark Jackson and featuring Joy Carlin,* Rod Gnapp,* Joseph Salazar and Beth Wilmurt (* member, Actor's Equity Association), from May 23 to June 16, 2013. Opening night is Tuesday, May 28, with previews tonight, May 23 - Sunday, May 26.

BWW Reviews: Virago's SONIA FLEW Finely Crafted, Must-See Theatre

(5/22/2013) - Virago Theatre Company steps boldly and passionately into heart-wrenching territory with its production of 'Sonia Flew,'....one of the most finely crafted dramatic productions of recent note.

Magic Theatre Begins First American Production of Mark O'Rowe's TERMINUS Tonight

(5/22/2013) - Magic Theatre will welcome back Irish playwright Mark O'Rowe and director Jon Tracy for the first American production of Terminus running tonight, May 22 - June 16.

Marin Theatre Company Presents Free Reading of SEVEN SPOTS ON THE SUN, 6/3

(5/21/2013) - Join Marin Theatre Company for a FREE public reading of MTC's 2012 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize winner Seven Spots on the Sun by Martin Zimmerman.

A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory Presents DARLING, A NEW MUSICAL, 6/14-29

(5/21/2013) - American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight has announced Darling, A New Musical June 14-29, 2013, at The Theater at the Children's Creativity Museum (221 4th Street, San Francisco). Tickets are $20 and available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or going online to www.act-sf.org/ycshows.

Photo Flash: First Look at Rebekah Brockman, Jack Cutmore-Scott and More in ARCADIA

(5/21/2013) - American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) closes its 2012-13 season with a dazzling new production of Tom Stoppard's masterwork, Arcadia. Directed by A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff, Arcadia unfolds in a beautiful English country house and moves between the nineteenth century and the present through a series of love stories, as characters from both eras discover connections, unearth mysteries, and unravel hidden truths about the nature of heat and desire. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

BWW Reviews: Hillbarn Provides A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

(5/20/2013) - It's fitting that Stephen Sondheim wrote "A Little Night Music" as one grand waltz. When Hillbarn Theatre's production of the musical opens, a semi-narrating chorus dances in the waltz and foreshadow the characters and events about to unfold. A young girl observes their dance, following her grandmother's advice to watch the sky for its smiles. We, too, will soon smile at the follies of mankind. We will join the girl, a lively maid and a conservative student as they perceive and comment on those dancing around them.

SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS to Open at Sierra Rep, 5/31

(5/20/2013) - When dance teacher Michael Minetti first meets his elderly student Lily Harrison in her Florida-coast high rise, it seems pretty clear these two will barely make it past 'Hello,' let alone their first full lesson. Besides their 30-year age difference, they clash at every turn. A former teacher and minister's wife, she's guarded, uptight and suspicious. A former Broadway dancer, he blurts out jokes and insults and swings from glib to desperate to nonchalant in 10 seconds flat. It's fun to watch, but how will they make it through a six-week dance course? That's the hilarious and touching journey that unfolds in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, a new comedy that opens at Sierra Rep's East Sonora Theatre stage May 31.

The Playwrights Foundation Announces 36th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival

(5/20/2013) - The Playwrights Foundation has announced the winners of the 36th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF) that will take place July 19-28, 2012 at the Thick House Theater in San Francisco. Of the six selected plays, three are by Bay Area playwrights Joan Holden, Prince Gomolvilas and Erin Bregman; and three are by New York emerging artists Jiehae Park, Laura Schellhardt and Kimber Lee. Running the gamut from a fever dream in the North/South Korean DMZ to a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Free Speech Movement - each of these plays use bold, beautifully poetic and dramatic language and vivid characters to tear into the very fabric of contemporary political and social upheaval - globally and locally.

Ray of Light Theatre's INTO THE WOODS Begins 5/31

(5/20/2013) - Ray of Light Theatre (www.rayoflighttheatre.com) will bring Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods to the San Francisco stage this June at The Eureka Theatre.

Now Playing Onstage in San Francisco - Week of 5/19/2013

(5/19/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/19/2013 for San Francisco

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Opens The Mountain Play Association's 100th Season Today

(5/19/2013) - The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, presents the Tony Award-winning musical The Sound of Music directed by Jay Manley for its 100th season in 2013.

Ross Valley Players Presents ALL MY SONS, Now thru 6/16

(5/18/2013) - Ross Valley Players presents for its fifth production of the season the Tony award winning play All My Sons, a deeply engaging tale of morality and conscience by renowned playwright Arthur Miller. Two years after World War II, the Keller family is torn apart by their patriarch's moral weakness and a shameful family secret. With great tenderness and compassion, this searing saga explores the ever changing sense of family, social responsibility, and values still relevant today, as two very different generations seek to heal and rebuild. All My Sons opened on Friday, May 17 at 8PM.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC to Open The Mountain Play Association's 100th Season, 5/19

(5/17/2013) - The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, is proud to present the Tony Award-winning musical The Sound of Music directed by Jay Manley for its 100th season in 2013.

The San Francisco Early Music Society Announces Upcoming Season

(5/17/2013) - The San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS), the nation's leading organization for the advancement of historically informed performance of early music, is proud to announce its 37th annual concert season, featuring six concerts by some of the most respected early music professionals from around the country: Archetti Baroque String Ensemble, Farallon Recorder Quartet, Galax Quartet, Magnificat, Ostraka, and Quicksilver.

KRISPY CRITTERS IN THE SCARLETT NIGHT Plays Cutting Ball Theater, Now thru 6/16

(5/17/2013) - Cutting Ball Theater concludes its 14th season with the World Premiere of KRISPY KRITTERS IN THE SCARLETT NIGHT, San Francisco playwright Andrew Saito's poetic portrayal of the heart of the city in the spirit of Alan Ginsburg's Howl, William S. Burroughs, and the plays of Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose, KRISPY KRITTERS IN THE SCARLETT NIGHT dazzles with sublime, surreal language and images fit for a Dali painting in a play about love and longing in the neglected neighborhoods of a fictional city.

BOOK OF MORMON's Josh Gad Speaks at Stanford University Today

(5/17/2013) - At the Fountain Theatricals, a new theatre organization at Stanford University, will host its Inaugural Event today, May 17 at 3pm. The organization is aimed at providing students with additional opportunities for arts education and musical theatre performance. To present their mission to the Stanford student body and the general public, the inaugural event will consist of an introduction to the organization by the founding members as well as keynote speaker, Broadway's Josh Gad. Mr. Gad will also participate in a Q&A session following his speech.

Custom Made Theatre Presents PRELUDE TO A KISS, Now thru 6/16

(5/17/2013) - Directed by Stuart Bousel, Prelude to a Kiss previews tonight, May 17-19, opens May 21, and runs through June 16 at the Gough Street Playhouse.

2013 Sandbox Series of World Premieres Debut Production of the National New Play Network's GROUNDED

(5/16/2013) - The San Francisco Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) concludes its fourth season of the Sandbox Series of new plays in alliance with theNational New Play Network (NNPN) to present the 'Rolling World Premiere' of Grounded by George Brant. The one-woman play will be directed by Susannah Martin and feature Lauren English*. The San Francisco Playhouse is proud to host the first production for this year's 'Rolling World Premiere.'

LAUGH, GATHER AT THE RIVER and More Set for TheatreWorks' 2013 New Works Festival, 8/10-18

(5/15/2013) - Continuing its commitment to developing new works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the lineup for its 2013 New Works Festival, including a new comedy from Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest).

A.C.T.'s MFA Program Presents CLOUD 9, GALILEO and SEVEN GUITARS in Rep, Beg. Today

(5/15/2013) - The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, which has trained such celebrated actors as Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Anna Deavere Smith, Anika Noni Rose, and Denzel Washington, will present three classic works in repertory this spring: Caryl Churchill's innovative and provocative comedy Cloud 9; Bertolt Brecht's riveting drama Galileo; and August Wilson's classic American drama Seven Guitars. Performances will feature students from all three years of A.C.T.'s acclaimed M.F.A. Program.

SJStage Announces 2013 Bay Area HS Musical Theartre Stage Top Honor Nominees

(5/14/2013) - San Jose Stage Company has announced the nominations for the 2013 Bay Area High School Musical Theatre Stage Top Honor Awards.

Dragon Productions Theatre to Host 2013 New Play Development Factory, 5/24-6/9

(5/14/2013) - Join Dragon Productions Theatre Company as it celebrates the creativity and talent of Bay Area playwrights. The team read more than 40 scripts and picked new, original scripts by three local writers. Now Dragon Productions Theatre is hosting three weekends of staged readings of these scripts.

Presidio Dance Theatre Presents 15th Anniversary 'Dancing Across Cultures,' 5/31

(5/14/2013) - PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO: Artistic Director Sherene Melania creates a retrospective of PDT's signature production with interviews from former young artists who began dance through PDT's DANCE OUT! free community outreach program. The production will feature an exciting cast of Presidio Dance Theatre's multi-generational international artists, and outstanding Young Artists who have now toured in Russia at the White Nights Festival (2008) Turkey (2010); Budapest (2012) , Brussels (2013) and Paris (2013) at the invitation of UNESCO and the European Parliament, Vice-President Isabelle Durant. 2013 Dancing Across Cultures will surely provide audience members with a lively celebration of world cultures through dance. All Ticket Donation Proceeds from this event will be used for the second phase of renovations for Presidio Performing Arts Center, home of PDT. On the Presidio's Main Post at 386 Arguello at Moraga.

StageWrite Showcases Short Plays by 5th Graders in MUTANT CREATURES & UNLIKELY TEACHERS, Now thru 5/17

(5/14/2013) - StageWrite, a San Francisco literacy project for kids, now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, presents Mutant Creatures & Unlikely Teachers: Short Plays by Short People at the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park today, May 14 and at Brava Theater Center on May 16 and 17. Seven hilarious and insightful plays written by fifth graders of Starr King Elementary School, inspired by works of visual art at the de Young Museum will be performed as staged readings by professional actors and musicians.

Photo Flash: HANOMAN THE MUSICAL to Make US Premiere in San Jose

(5/13/2013) - Direct from sold-out performances in Asia, producer and director Mirwan Suwarso announced today that Hanoman The Musical will make its U.S. premiere at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts for three performances only. Inspired by the epic tale of Ramayana, Hanoman The Musical tells the story of the origin of one of the fiercest warriors in ancient Asian mythology. Hanoman The Musical runs Tuesday, June 25 thru Thursday, June 27, 2013 at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose (255 Almaden Boulevard). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

We Players to Stage Shakespeare's MACBETH Under Golden Gate Bridge, 8/30-10/6

(5/13/2013) - We Players, in partnership with the National Park Service/ Golden Gate National Recreation Area will present a site-integrated production of Shakespeare's Macbeth at Fort Point, the civil war era fortress located beneath the Golden Gate bridge. The production previews August 30 -September 1, then runs September 5 through October 6, 2013.

Berkeley Rep Announces Summer Programs

(5/13/2013) - This summer, as Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes the lush love songs of George Gershwin and the bittersweet marriage of true minds between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell, Berkeley Rep's School of Theatre has announced a new slate of classes that people of all ages will love. Whether nurturing a lifelong commitment to theatre or just looking for a summer fling, students this season can fine-tune their skills in acting, directing, writing, and even flirting, under the guidance of Bay Area arts professionals.

Now Playing Onstage in San Francisco - Week of 5/12/2013

(5/12/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/12/2013 for San Francisco

Photo Flash: First Look at Foothill Music Theatre's DAMN YANKEES

(5/11/2013) - Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical DAMN YANKEES, July 26-August 18, 2013, at the Smithwick Theatre in Los Altos, Calif. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Cutting Ball Theatre to Stage Reading of THE BLACK MASKS, 6/9

(5/10/2013) - Cutting Ball Theater presents the final installment of this season's Hidden Classics Reading Series, THE BLACK MASKS, by Leonid Andreev, in a new translation by Allison Horsley.

THE WIZ to Close Berkeley Playhouse's 5th Season, 7/13-8/25

(5/10/2013) - The final main stage production of Berkeley Playhouse's fifth season is the Tony Award-winning THE WIZ, a soulful re-imaging of L. Frank Baum's family classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The production will run July 13-August 25, 2013, featuring Book by William F. Brown and Music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls.

Richard Isen's CHANCE to Make World Premiere at Alcove Theater, 7/5-28

(5/10/2013) - After its workshop production at the York Theatre in NYC in Nov. 2011, Chance - A Musical Play about Love, Risk & Getting it Right -will be having the its world premiere staging at The Alcove Theatre in SF. July 5 -28, 2013.

Lauren Post and Ana Laura Nicolicchia Share Title Role in Raven Theater's EVITA, 6/21-7/14

(5/10/2013) - Director John DeGaetano thought he'd have trouble finding one Evita for a production opening June 21 at the Raven Performing Arts Theater. Instead, he found two.

BWW Reviews: LITTLE ME Big on Talent and Value

(5/10/2013) - Jason Graae is a comic genius. With his flawless changes from personality to personality, one might think 'Little Me' a one-man show. But a fantastic ensemble also mounts an impossible-to-ignore smorgasbord of ever-changing, delightful characters. Performed in the capable hands of 42nd Street Moon, the 'little' done musical perfectly combines melodrama and musical theatre.