Don’t Steal My Shine: ‘The Light’ online at Shotgun Players
Misogynoir is taken to task in Shotgun’s virtual production of Loy A. Webb’s breezy script.
Don’t You think You’re Falling: ‘Gloria’ West Coast Premiere at ACT
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins leans too heavily on shock value and “death (wink, wink) of print” clichés in his latest show at the ACT.
The ‘Things’ We Say have Meaning: ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ Bay Area Premiere at SF Playhouse
Cheryl Strayed’s tenure as an advice columnist makes for an excellent 2020 opener for the Playhouse.
Not the Worst Witch: ‘Becky Nurse of Salem’ World Premiere at the Berkeley Rep
The second Witch Trial play I’ve seen in a week is an imperfect misfire for Sarah Ruhl and the Rep.
Not the Worst ‘Day’ Ever: ‘Groundhog Day: The Musical’ West Coast premiere at SF Playhouse
Tim Minchin amps up the darkness of the classic film in SF Playhouse’s (mostly) well-organized production.
Better off Broken: ‘Bull in a China Shop’ Bay Area Premiere at Aurora Theatre
Aurora’s final 2019 is a winning dramatic-comedy set during the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Fine China Doll: ‘The Chinese Lady’ Bay Area premiere at The Magic
The US may have forgotten its first Chinese immigrant, but her tale is beautifully told by the Magic Theatre.
Because ‘Nice’ is a Trap: ‘Dionysus was such a Nice Man’ West Coast premiere at foolsFURY
Kate Tarker’s darkly comic Greek myth remix is incredibly timely, if a bit bloated.
Inside-Out: My 2019 in Bay Area Theatre
No “Best Of” yet, but here are some emotional ponderances on the decade-ending year that was.