This is a trip back in time for those of you who remember "The Rat Pack" allegedly so nicknamed by their 5th member's wife. We had the opportunity on Saturday night to visit "The Sands Hotel" as it was on a similar night in 1940. For just...

Summer love. Baseball. Drive-in movies. And music—plenty of it. Berkeley Rep might be onto something. First with the white hot, soon-to-open on Broadway American Idiot musical powered by Green Day and now Girlfriend set to Matthew Sweet's 1991 album of the same name, the Rep seems to be perfecting...

Palo Alto Players has announced the availability of a limited number of student “rush” tickets for their upcoming production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent, opening April 24, 2010 at the Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto. This much-loved and multiple award-winning musical will have a paid preview on April 23...

In the end hope prevails in TheatreWorks' To Kill a Mockingbird. And despite a down South journey involving serious—and very relevant—issues including racism, rape, and justice, we're left feeling inspired and convinced that humanity can triumph. Yes, Harper Lee's classic novel still packs emotional punch. In fact, it serves as a...

Indeed James Carpenter does make for the perfect lone wolf. Howling at the moon, so to speak, and trying to convince anyone that will listen to his delusional rants, he truly believes he was—and is—a savior in Aurora Theatre's John Gabriel Borkman. He's equally brooding and charismatic. And, as always...

Normally I prefer to receive facial punishment at the end of the night - either that or on ice during a hockey game; you know, when I really deserve it. Saturday night in San Francisco, however, was a most unusual exception. Not only would I receive a slap to...

A.C.T.'s favorite theatrical couple return in Vigil, a heartfelt fable about life, aging and companionship. Academy award winner (Moonstruck) Olympia Dukakis and Marco Barricelli positively light up the stage with scintillating chemistry and natural emotion that's never overwrought. Dukakis plays Grace, a woman of few words, who's enjoying butterscotch pudding and...

Time for another round of shows opening across the Bay Area. Every 6 weeks or so there is a cycle of new shows at the majors, plus assorted quirky and interesting live stage events at smaller venues. A potpourri. A feast for the senses. An all-you-can-eat buffet. Well, okay,...

The Illusion is a mad, mad, mad pastiche of steam punk, commedia del arte, and 17th century drama that only Tony Kushner could put together.   Adapted from Pierre Corneille’s L’Illusion Comique, this comedy deals with parenthood, love (both parental and romantic), and illusion.  It is laugh-aloud funny, while at...

"He took money from the bank ... he's looking at establishing his own kingdom," says actor James Carpenter. "He's more than a bit mad. He's spent five years in prison, and the next eight years upstairs in the attic. He doesn't come down." No, this is not Bernie Madoff. It...