‘Wicked’ defies gravity in San Jose (Review)

'Wicked' leaves you leaving the theater with a spring in your step and a slightly bigger heart, which is a taller order than all the green “ozmopolitans” offered at the bar during intermission
Hedwig and The Angry Inch - Shotgun Players, Berkeley

Cult musical ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ headed to Berkeley

If there's one musical that might be able to match the midnight madness of something like The Rocky Horror Picture Show it would surely be Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Featuring iconic musical numbers, fourth-wall breaking, stand-up comedy, and outlandish costumes, the cult favorite is now headed to Berkeley. Shotgun Players...

Film Review: ‘Raspberry Magic’

As a guy it pains me sometimes to use adjectives such as cute, charming, delightful. But these are entirely appropriate for the latest Cinequest screener I watched called Raspberry Magic. Of a strong group of films so far, it may be the best yet. The story is centered around a...
Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Review: ‘A Doctor in Spite of Himself’ a mishy-mashy mash-up

There's a neat trick involving puppets at the beginning of the show, which repeats at the end under a striking moon lit evening sky. Once again, there's no shortage of creativity on Addison.

Oakland Redemption: Brian Copeland at the Marsh

Just as the hungry know more about the value of food than any foodie gourmet, Copeland knows more about hope and Christmas miracles than any Macy’s display or Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
HP Pavilion

Disney on Ice Toy Story 3: A Critical Analysis

This flicker of intelligence ended in act II, which proffered a steady drumbeat of bad dinosaur rock. Suffice to say if you’ve had enough of the '70s, you’ll cringe at Toy Story 3.
San Francisco Symphony Chorus

Touching Benjamin Franklin – San Francisco Symphony’s ‘The Messiah’

One fascinating bit of Messiah trivia is that Benjamin Franklin attended a “Messiah’’ performance in Dublin in 1759.
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

Nothing Youthful About It: SFSYO rocks Davies Symphony Hall

As performed by the SFSYO, this first movement is pure gold, especially the end that fakes you out – much like a contemporary vocalist – only to deliver the most majestic of crescendos at the end
00:05:59

Phantom of the Opera tops Broadway San Jose’s new season (Video)

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Andrew Llyod Webber's famed The Phantom of the Opera leads the upcoming Broadway San Jose season. Revealed today, the eight show line-up features a thoughtful mix of classic musicals such as Cabaret, Annie and The Sound of Music, alongside contemporary hits like Kinky Boots, Matilda...
David (Gabriel Marin*) reluctantly gives Hannah (Carrie Paff*) a hormone shot in the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Collapse

Theater Review: Falling together in ‘Collapse’

Nerves are frayed and everyone is operating in a neurotically-charged frenzy.