Bethany Cox (Doralee) , Andrea “Andee” Thorpe (Violet) & Lauren Sutton-Beattie( Judy) Photo by Marilyn Izdebski Novato Theater Company delivers a fast-paced, vibrant, top-grade production of “9 to 5,” adapted from the 1980 film. With music and lyrics by the dynamic Dolly Parton and book by Playwright Patricia Resnick, the songs surpass the flimsy plot. … Read more
Marc (David Sinaiko) and Serge (Benoît Monin) Shotgun Players’ superb production of Yasmina Reza’s “Art” is a laugh-out-loud, thought-provoking experience that leaves audiences reflecting on their relationships. An Olivier, Tony, and Molière award-winning play, “Art” is a dark comedy about three long-time friends whose differing perspectives on a single all-white abstract painting threaten to unravel … Read more
Central Works’ stirring world premiere of “Push/Pull” by Harry Davis artfully immerses audiences in a rarely explored theatrical setting—a gym—while remarkably tackling an equally distinctive subject: weightlifting and manhood. Under the deft direction of Gary Graves, two weightlifters perform just feet from the audience, leaving the audience to wonder: How much weight do we carry? … Read more
Monica Rose Slater (Rose) The Oakland Theatre Project and New Performance Traditions, existential musical, “Ghost Quartet” by David Malloy, magnificently unravels a complex, multi-generational fairytale. The paranormal mystery unfolds through four storytellers who portray multiple characters and sporadically travel through time. Malloy’s diverse musical styles—ranging from folk and electropop to doo-wop, jazz, honky-tonk, and ballads—mirror … Read more
Benicia Theatre Group’s “The Odd Couple” fills the air with non-stop laughter, a welcome relief in this overwhelmingly chaotic time. Set Designers Brian Hough and Beate Bruhl layout a colorful, homey 1960’s sloppy apartment. Complementing multi-Lighting and Sound, Tom Kvech and Veronica Bearce also blend the sense of chaos in each scene. The story centers … Read more