Bay Area Reporter :: Culture News

Bringing Bacon Home: collection of Francis Bacon letters shows the painter in a new light

May 14, 2024 | by Robert Brokl

Edited by critic/curator Michael Peppiatt, with a forward by novelist Colm Toibin, "Francis Bacon: A Self-Portrait in Words" arrives at a propitious moment. Bacon's paintings have set world record-breaking prices at auction.

Romelo Urbi steps out in Ray of Light Theatre's 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie'

by Jim Gladstone
May 14, 2024

Romelo Urbi is poised for breakout local stardom as he takes on the title role in Ray of Light Theatre's upcoming Bay Area premiere of "Everybody's Talking About Jamie."

'The Glass Menagerie' - a bumpy update at San Francisco Playhouse

by Jim Gladstone
May 14, 2024

The Wingfields' wings have been clipped. That's the burning kernel of pain at the center of "The Glass Menagerie," Tennessee Williams' oft-revived 1944 family drama, now playing in a frustratingly unfocused production at SF Playhouse.

In the 'Spotlight' - Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band celebrates animation, video games

by David-Elijah Nahmod
May 14, 2024

Each year the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band produces "Spotlight," the band's annual gala and fundraiser. This year's event will take place on May 18 with music from animated films and video games.

Great Britten from the jump — Violin Concerto, 'Spring Symphony,' shorter works in new recordings

by Tim Pfaff
May 13, 2024

Harmonia Mundi has released a new live recording of Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto, with Isabelle Faust as soloist. As in the case of "Spring Symphony," the recording is rounded out with shorter pieces that demonstrate how fine a composer Britten was.

'I Saw the TV Glow' — Surreal, mind-blowing nightmare or just mad TV?

by Brian Bromberger
May 12, 2024

The new film "I Saw the TV Glow" both revels in this compulsive escapism but critiques our culture's fixation with nostalgia as a kind of cocoon and the ways we find and identify ourselves in the shows we watch.

'Torch Song' at Marin Theatre Company — Harvey Fierstein's breakthrough classic revised and revived

by Jim Gladstone
May 7, 2024

More than four decades after its New York premiere, Harvey Fierstein's streamlined 2017 revision of "Torch Song Trilogy," retitled simply "Torch Song," makes its Bay Area debut at the Marin Theatre Company beginning May 9.

A.E. Hines' 'Adam in the Garden' - poetic fluidity

by Mark William Norby
May 7, 2024

A.E. Hines' poetry is the opposite of labeling himself or others. His work is a true breath of fresh air in our universality. Not just our sameness but our kinship with human life, our beingness, our essence. In this, we share authentic power.

'Martyr!' - Kaveh Akbar's poetic meltdown saga

by Brian Bromberger
May 6, 2024

Perhaps the only way one can find purpose in life and avoid meaninglessness is to author one's own story, or so asserts Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar in his wondrous, incandescent new novel "Martyr!"

Going Out, May 2-10, 2024

by Jim Provenzano, Arts Editor
May 2, 2024

From delicate dances to robust theatrics, Bay Area arts and nightlife events spring forth, including the queer rock cover band GayC/DC, who perform at The Ivy Room in Albany on May 3. Rock on with plenty more events in Going Out.

Artist grant recipients announced; film fests, theater submissions open

by Laura Moreno
Apr 29, 2024

The winners of La Asamblea's Pa'lante Artist Grant Program have been announced by Kimzin Creative. Also, two film festivals and a theater company announced calls for submission.

Words: savoring Saints & Sinners: Gerard Cabrera on the LGBTQ literary festival

by Michele Karlsberg
Apr 28, 2024

At the 2024 Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans, writer Gerard Cabrera had the opportunity to immerse himself in a vibrant and diverse community of writers and readers.

Going Out, April 25-May 3, 2024

by Jim Provenzano
Apr 25, 2024

Some really big shows are coming up in theater, dance, music and the visual arts. But probably nothing is as big as the giant sheep DJ art car, aka BAAAHS, that'll be at the April 28 Leather District block party. See plenty more events in Going Out.

Stephen Mark Lukas: the 'Funny Girl' guy - classic musical arrives at the Orpheum

by Jim Gladstone
Apr 23, 2024

Actor Stepen Mark Lukas — who stars as Fanny Brice's suave-to-a-fault gambler husband, Nicky Arnstein on the current tour of "Funny Girl," talks about his various experiences performing with six actresses, including his current co-star Katerina McCrimmon.

Xiangqi Chen's 'Out Museum' at 41 Ross

by Heather Cassell
Apr 23, 2024

Nearly 100 people came out to the opening reception of "Out Museum: A Chinese Queer Museum" exhibit on April 12. The "Chinese queer museum prototype" by lesbian Chinese artist Xiangqi Chen opened at 41 Ross Alley art studio in the historic Chinatown.

Arts & Culture :: Culture

Bringing Bacon Home: collection of Francis Bacon letters shows the painter in a new light

Romelo Urbi steps out in Ray of Light Theatre's 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie'

'The Glass Menagerie' - a bumpy update at San Francisco Playhouse

In the 'Spotlight' - Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band celebrates animation, video games

Great Britten from the jump — Violin Concerto, 'Spring Symphony,' shorter works in new recordings

'I Saw the TV Glow' — Surreal, mind-blowing nightmare or just mad TV?

'Torch Song' at Marin Theatre Company — Harvey Fierstein's breakthrough classic revised and revived

A.E. Hines' 'Adam in the Garden' - poetic fluidity

'Martyr!' - Kaveh Akbar's poetic meltdown saga

Going Out, May 2-10, 2024

Artist grant recipients announced; film fests, theater submissions open

Words: savoring Saints & Sinners: Gerard Cabrera on the LGBTQ literary festival

Going Out, April 25-May 3, 2024

Stephen Mark Lukas: the 'Funny Girl' guy - classic musical arrives at the Orpheum

Xiangqi Chen's 'Out Museum' at 41 Ross

Popular Stories in Arts

'Torch Song' at Marin Theatre Company — Harvey Fierstein's breakthrough classic revised and revived

Subscribe