Arts & Culture :: Theater

Quintessentially, quixotically queer: Taylor Mac brings "Bark of Millions" to Berkeley

Quintessentially, quixotically queer: Taylor Mac brings "Bark of Millions" to Berkeley

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 13, 2024

Is Taylor Mac's "Bark of Millions," making its west coast debut in a Cal Performances presentation, a pop concert? A drag show? Rock opera? Political theater? It's sll of the above, and then some.

'Sqream,' Queens! Immersive horror parody coming to Oasis

'Sqream,' Queens! Immersive horror parody coming to Oasis

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Feb 13, 2024

Look out for Ghost Face! "Sqream: A '90s Musical Drag Parody," comes to Oasis on February 14. This will be an immersive show, meaning that the cast will be performing all over the club, mixing in with the audience.

Pina Bausch's 'The Rite of Spring' reborn

Pina Bausch's 'The Rite of Spring' reborn

  • by Philip Mayard
  • Feb 6, 2024

The riotous premiere of "The Rite of Spring" in 1913 Paris is something of a legend. An iconic interpreter of this seminal music was German choreographer Pina Bausch. Her stunning dance's new production tour includes UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall.

'MJ' at the Orpheum: celebrating the music of Michael Jackson, not the man

'MJ' at the Orpheum: celebrating the music of Michael Jackson, not the man

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 6, 2024

How do you solve a problem like Michael Jackson? Amidst all the goosebump-inducing musical moments in "MJ," the Michael Jackson-inspired show now playing at the Orpheum Theatre, there's a quick snippet of song that's particularly worthy of attention.

Magnificently familiar: Berkeley Rep's 'Cult of Love' sings and prickles

Magnificently familiar: Berkeley Rep's 'Cult of Love' sings and prickles

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 6, 2024

There's lots of beautiful music in "Cult of Love," the coruscatingly funny drama now on stage at the Berkeley Rep, as the Dahl clan —elderly parents, four adult children and their partners— has gathered for Christmas and a good deal of familial conflict.

An homage to Chita Rivera, the musical theater star

An homage to Chita Rivera, the musical theater star

  • by J.A. Valentine
  • Feb 6, 2024

The passing of Chita Rivera on January 30 at age 91 will be deeply felt by many. Here, a devoted fan, and a performer himself, shares highlights of the musical theater star's epic career.

Minna Lee's big launch — 'My Home on the Moon' at SF Playhouse

Minna Lee's big launch — 'My Home on the Moon' at SF Playhouse

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 30, 2024

"I can't imagine I'll ever eat an algorithmic cookie and love it," declared queer playwright Minna Lee, whose "My Home on the Moon" is currently having its world premiere production at the San Francisco Playhouse. "Eat a what?!," you may wonder.

Jeremy Jordan's Broadway-bound once again. But next, he plays Feinstein's at the Nikko

Jeremy Jordan's Broadway-bound once again. But next, he plays Feinstein's at the Nikko

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 30, 2024

When Jeremy Jordan performs at Feinstein's at the Nikko on February 18-20, more than four years will have passed since he last played San Francisco. After his concerts, he's back on Broadway starring in the musical, "The Great Gatsby."

Trock & roll: Primo ballerino Robert Carter on his unique career

Trock & roll: Primo ballerino Robert Carter on his unique career

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Jan 23, 2024

Robert Carter may play a dying swan with Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, but he's more of a unicorn in real life. As the longest performing member in the company, he's also one of very few men, and a Black gay man, who performs ballet on pointe.

A two-man one-man show: salute to George Michael at the Curran

A two-man one-man show: salute to George Michael at the Curran

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 23, 2024

With "The Life and Music of George Michael," at the Curran Theatre on February 3, the Wham-bam leather man hunk of your teenage dreams has joined the wizened, grizzled likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash on the "concert experience" circuit.

'mouf//full' — OYSTERKNIFE's spiritual exploration at Grace Cathedral

'mouf//full' — OYSTERKNIFE's spiritual exploration at Grace Cathedral

  • by Cornelius Washington
  • Jan 23, 2024

The Bay Area's hottest live performance from the Black queer community for African-American History Month is Oysterknife's "mouf//full," February 2-4 at the venerable Grace Cathedral. The series blends song, dance and visual design in a three-day event.

'The Wiz' — Deborah Cox brings Glinda goodness to the hit musical's revival

'The Wiz' — Deborah Cox brings Glinda goodness to the hit musical's revival

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 16, 2024

"As a little kid, I didn't even know about the Broadway show," said actor and singer Deborah Cox, who plays Glinda in a revival of "The Wiz," the Tony-winning 1975 musical that's playing a local stop of a national tour at the Golden Gate Theatre.

'Two Dykes and a Mic' — podcasters McKenzie Goodwin & Rachel Scanlon serve up laughs and life lessons

'Two Dykes and a Mic' — podcasters McKenzie Goodwin & Rachel Scanlon serve up laughs and life lessons

  • by Laura Moreno
  • Jan 16, 2024

"Two Dykes and a Mic" is the hit podcast created by stand-up comedians and platonic best friends McKenzie Goodwin and Rachel Scanlon, who share their magnetic chemistry, quick wit and unique perspectives.

'Babes in Ho-lland'  Shotgun Players stages Deneen Reynolds-Knott's love story

'Babes in Ho-lland' Shotgun Players stages Deneen Reynolds-Knott's love story

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 9, 2024

Until recently, it hadn't occurred to me that it could be fraught to describe something as "gentle." But playwright Deneen Reynolds-Knott's lovely coming-of-age romance "Babes in Ho-lland," is just that; gentle.