Review: “Scrooge in Love!” in Napa

Movies and television have long been a haven for sequels and spin-offs. Live theatre? Not so much. Which is why it’s interesting that North Bay theatres have programmed three such shows for the holiday season. Marin Theatre Company is presenting the latest installment of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s Christmas at Pemberley extensions of Pride…

Review: “The House of Yes” in Sebastopol

Calling Wendy MacLeod’s The House of Yes a “family” show – while accurate – is not entirely truthful. Calling it a “fucked-up family” show would be infinitely more precise. The jet-black comedy is running now at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West through December 16. Meet Mrs. Pascal (Laura Jorgensen), the matriarch of a family that has…

Preview: Once More at Pemberley

In 2016, the Marin Theatre Company participated in the “rolling” world premiere of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. The ‘continuation’ of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was born, according to Gunderson, of the playwrights’ desire “to write something fun, grand, female-driven, and hopeful but with that wonderful wit and complication…

Preview: The Return of “Twisted Christmas”

Once upon a time, way back in the summer of 2003, Bohemian contributor David Templeton and producer Dan Zastrow were having a conversation about a strange Christmas story that David had written.  “You know what would be cool?”, David said, “Maybe someday finding some interesting people to gather on stage and read a bunch of…

Preview: Sonoma/Napa Holiday Theatre

For folks looking for some respite from Christmas shopping or from becoming participants in the demolition derby that is mall parking, North Bay theatre companies are providing several seasonal entertainments to help keep you in the holiday spirit. Family-friendly musicals are the usual fare and there are several on tap. While not all would be…

Preview: Marin Holiday Theatre

If you’re trying to avoid attending the umpteenth production of The Nutcracker in your lifetime, Marin theatre companies are providing several other entertainment options for this holiday season. Last year, the Marin Theatre Company (marintheatre.org) was one of the participants in the rolling world premiere of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at…

Review: “Shrek, the Musical” in Santa Rosa

‘Tis the season for family-friendly musicals and the SRJC Theatre Arts folks are first out of the gate with their production of Shrek, the Musical, running through December 2 at the Maria Carrillo High School Theatre. Yes, it just ran in July in Healdsburg and yes, a youth rep production is running simultaneously in Petaluma,…