Review: “Stones in His Pockets” in Rohnert Park

What happens when Hollywood comes to town is a well-worn plot device best exemplified by the classic ‘Mayberry Goes Hollywood’ episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Mayberry’s reactions to the arrival of a film company in their quaint Southern town was played for gentle humor as the residents go about changing everything about the town…

Review: “Romeo & Juliet” in Mill Valley

Mill Valley’s Curtain Theatre must not have gotten the memo about Summer Shakespeare al fresco in Marin requiring a production of Twelfth Night (two other companies are doing it.) Instead of a comedy, Mill Valley’s Old Mill Park Amphitheatre is the scene of great tragedy as the company presents Romeo & Juliet through Sept. 4.…

Review: “War of the Wills”

Several North Bay theatre artists move to the big screen (well, a big television screen, at least) with War of the Wills. It’s the hoary old “spend the night in a haunted house and inherit a million dollars” plot with a few adjustments. The Sonoma County-lensed thriller is now available for rent on Amazon Prime.…

Review: “Chapatti” in Healdsburg

The 222 is a non-profit, member-supported arts, culture, and entertainment venue that’s housed in the Paul Mahder Gallery in Healdsburg. Open since 2021, to date it’s presented musical programs, literary readings, film presentations, and other community events. Professional theatre now enters that mix with a series of productions programmed by well-known Bay Area theatre artist…

Review: “Smart People” in Santa Rosa

Conversations overheard during the intermission of a show often provide fascinating insights into an audience’s immediate reaction to what they’re experiencing. Topics can range from the temperature in the theater (“too cold”) to the running time of the first act (“too long”) to the volume level of the actors when delivering dialogue (“too low.”). All…

KSRO Interview – “Smart People”

My guests on the second of two “Theatre Thursday” segments on the May 18 broadcast of The Drive on KSRO were stage manager John Ruzika and cast member Keene Hudson from the 6th Street Playhouse production of Smart People. Click below to listen: ********** Click the graphic below for more information:

Review: “Dry Powder” in Santa Rosa

Fans of corporate dramas like Oliver Stone’s Wall Street and Jerry Sterner’s Other People’s Money might do well to check out the last couple of performances of Dry Powder. The California in Santa Rosa is hosting the Left Edge Theatre production of the Sara Burgess drama through March 26. It’s set in the offices of…

Review: “A Raisin in the Sun” in Santa Rosa

A lot of “firsts” were achieved when Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959. It was the first time Broadway produced a play written by a Black woman and the first Broadway show helmed by a Black director. The show was a critical and commercial success and spawned a film…