Arts & Culture

Rotimi Agbabiaka - The talented actor adds 'Cabaret's MC to his roster, again

Rotimi Agbabiaka - The talented actor adds 'Cabaret's MC to his roster, again

  • THEATER
  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • May 21, 2024

"Cabaret," the classic musical, will be staged at the Center Repertory Company in Walnut Creek. Queer Bay Area theater performer Rotimi Agbabiaka is no stranger to playing flamboyant characters, and reprises his role of the show's MC.

'Galileo' at Berkeley Rep — Political science, oversimplicity, stellar singing

'Galileo' at Berkeley Rep — Political science, oversimplicity, stellar singing

  • THEATER
  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 21, 2024

Raúl Esparza stars in "Galileo: The Rock Musical," now making its debut at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which tries to make insightful connections between the self-serving anti-intellectualism of power brokers during the Renaissance and in today's world.

'tick, tick...BOOM!' at NCTC - Larsen musical's a pocketful of sunshine

'tick, tick...BOOM!' at NCTC - Larsen musical's a pocketful of sunshine

  • THEATER
  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 21, 2024

"tick, tick...Boom!," is more tickle than gloom. Now charming audiences in an already-extended production at NCTC, this posthumous cobbling of writer-composer Jonathan Larson's pre-"Rent" music shines a welcome light on his sly humor and jukebox wit.

Kevin Winkler's 'On Bette Midler' — Author on his entertaining biography of the singer-actress

Kevin Winkler's 'On Bette Midler' — Author on his entertaining biography of the singer-actress

  • BOOKS
  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 21, 2024

With his new book "On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide," gay writer Kevin Winkler has taken on the task of not only tracing Midler's personal chronology, but also taking an in-depth look into her performing life.

Patrick Horrigan's 'American Scholar' — A painful past, present opportunity, and an uncertain future

Patrick Horrigan's 'American Scholar' — A painful past, present opportunity, and an uncertain future

  • BOOKS
  • by Brian Bromberger
  • May 21, 2024

In the afterword to his novel, "American Scholar," author Patrick Horrigan notes that it was a historical coincidence that inspired him to write his book, and how his own life affair paralleled his scholarly subject.

Wendy Guevara — Reality star and musician soars to popularity

Wendy Guevara — Reality star and musician soars to popularity

Mexico's trans star Wendy Guevara has made headlines and made millions of fans with her success in reality shows and music.

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

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

  • THEATER
  • 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."

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

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

  • ART
  • by Robert Brokl
  • May 14, 2024

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.

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

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

  • THEATER
  • 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

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

  • MUSIC
  • 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

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

  • MUSIC
  • 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.

LZ Love's 'From The Rooter to The Tooter' - a transgender life of love & music

LZ Love's 'From The Rooter to The Tooter' - a transgender life of love & music

  • BOOKS
  • by Cornelius Washington
  • May 13, 2024

"From The Rooter to The Tooter" explores the amazing life of LZ Love, her trials, tribulations, toils and snares of being a Black child raised in the 1960s and '70s in The Bay Area.

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

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

  • MOVIES
  • 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.

Q-Music: country Pride playlist

Q-Music: country Pride playlist

  • MUSIC
  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 12, 2024

The genres of Country and Americana continue to expand in styles with queer musicians Jaime Wyatt, Amelia White, Creekbed Carter Hogan, Stephanie Sammons, Zoe Boekbinder, and The Western Civilization.