September has come and gone. For us it marks the beginning of the local theatre season. We attended a dozen shows in the last month. A quick run down:
TheatreWorks finished an excellent run of the musical “Grey Gardens”. The presented the first regional production of this interesting musical inspired by real events and the 1975 documentary. TheatreWorks has an amazing track record of presenting difficult musicals. Last year they did a great job with “Carolyn or Change”. TheatreWorks also develops new musicals. In fact, three new productions that were work-shopped and performed at TheatreWorks are being groomed for Broadway with productions at other major theatres around the country. The new musical, “Vanities”, spent the summer at Pasadena Playhouse and now has a February opening on Broadway. “Emma” is performing at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis. And finally, “Memphis” performed at La Jolla Playhouse.
Our “Best of Broadway” series in San Francisco finished with the rock musical “Spring Awakening” and the one man show “A Bronx Tale”. We saw “Spring Awakening” off Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre 2 years ago. We noticed that the show re-sequenced and altered several scenes for Broadway and the tour. “A Bronx Tale” was a surprise and better than we were expecting. Chazz Palminteri portrays 18 people in his one-man show about growing up on the mean streets of the Bronx. It inspired the 1993 film of the same name.
New Conservatory Theatre Center opened their season with a weak sitcom type of comedy called “Friends Are Forever”. Also in over their heads with a season opener was Palo Alto Players with the musically challenging “Spitfire Grill”. A pleasant surprise was “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” at Bus Barn Stage Company in Los Altos. It is a jukebox musical of Neil Sedaka songs with a fun “Mama Mia” type love story. San Jose Repertory Theatre had a strong start with the Larry Shue’s comedy “The Foreigner”. As did American Musical Theatre of San Jose with their musical production of “The Full Monty”.We also attend San Francisco Opera’s first three operas of the season: “Simon Boccanegra” by Verdi, “Die Tote Stadt” by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and “The Bonesetter's Daughter” by Amy Tan & Stewart Wallace. They were all amazing: great singing and unbelievable sets.
Coming up we have tickets to see ACT’s opening show “Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Stoppard and San Francisco Playhouse’s “Shinning City” by Conor McPherson, 1960's musical "Irma La Douce" at 42nd Street Moon and August Wilson's final play “Radio Golf” at TheatreWorks.
TIP: Half-price tickets for many select performances, sporting events and family activities are often available on Goldstar Events. Areas include San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose, San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Boston, and Chicago.
Goldstar Events is our favorite source of cheap tickets in the SF Bay Area. But it is not the only option. You can also find half-price tickets at: Artsopolis – good for San Jose & the South Bay. And Theatre Bay Area - discount tickets from member theatres available online and/or at TIX Union Square, SF.
1 comment:
I didn't get a chance to see "A Bronx Tale" on Broadway but I think I'll try to catch it in Boston in the spring. I did see "Thurgood" on Broadway and it was my first one-person show. I really loved it, so I'd like to try another one.
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