Jeanne Powell

Stark Insider indie film review: The Wedding Ring (original title: (HAWSA) ZIN'NAARIYÂ!) which recently screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM). Director Rahmatou Keïta has given us a delicious and timeless film in The Wedding Ring. It is a 2016 release from Niger, Burkina Faso and France under the original...

Stark Insider indie film review: A Date for Mad Mary which recently screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM). Director Darren Thornton’s 2016 comedy drama was named best film at the Irish Film Academy awards in Dublin earlier this month, and it has been a favorite at the San...

Jeanne Powell is on the ground at the annual San Francisco International Film Festival. Here's her quick look at the influential fest. The San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) opened April 6, 2017 in the City. This annual two-week event continues to be an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery with...

Society Cabaret musical presentations at the Hotel Rex have been called “the essential San Francisco experience,” with quality performers in an acclaimed venue featuring excellent cocktails and food. The Hotel Rex is a “boutique” hotel owned by Joie de Vivre and located near Union Square. A recent visit to the...

Director Taylor Hackford has been creating critically acclaimed films for decades, and The Comedian is no exception.  Starring Robert De Niro, Edie Falco, Patti LuPone and an all-star cast, this trenchant comedy profiles an aging comedian at a crucial moment in his fading career – raising questions about where he...

Celebrating the Holydays.

Of all the Christmas pageants performed in the Bay Area during the holiday season, A.C.T.’s annual offering of A Christmas Carol has evolved into a must-see event, required viewing for the entire family. Some have called Charles Dickens “the man who invented Christmas.” After experiencing his novella adapted for...

Cirque du Soleil’s latest mind-bending creation is Luzia – A Waking Dream of Mexico, currently being performed in the Grand Chapiteau tent behind AT&T Park. The world tour of Luzia kicked off in Montreal in April of this year. The tent is new, elaborate and specially designed for the unique...

What would it be like if your daughter or younger sister – or you – could reach for the stars with parental support? There would be no limit to your dreams or your achievements – becoming prime minister or an astronaut or an eagle hunter would be inevitable. Despite...

Disney's iconic musical continues to entertain.