Category: Review
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when science, morality, and a split personality collide? Jekyll & Hyde at Woodminster Summer Musicals brings the iconic story to life in a sweeping outdoor production that takes full advantage of its unique setting. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale and featuring one of musical theatre’s most dramatic scores,…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when one of the greatest vocal groups in music history gets the jukebox musical treatment? Ain’t Too Proud at Transcendence Theatre Company celebrates the music, legacy, and enduring influence of The Temptations through a high-energy evening filled with unforgettable songs and powerhouse performances. While jukebox musicals aren’t always my favorite…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a quiet weekend getaway turns into a revolving door of secrets, affairs, and utter chaos? The Cottage at Palo Alto Players embraces the timeless tradition of farce, delivering an evening filled with mistaken assumptions, rapid-fire revelations, and enough door-slamming antics to keep audiences on their toes. Sandy Rustin’s comedy…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a radioactive accident, a blind librarian, and a corrupt mayor collide in one of the campiest musicals ever written? The Toxic Avenger at Los Altos Stage Company embraces its outrageous premise with open arms, delivering a delightfully absurd evening of musical theatre that refuses to take itself too seriously.…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when one of the most iconic musicals of all time returns to the stage with all of its grandeur intact? The Phantom of the Opera at ATG San Francisco proves that some classics never lose their power. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sweeping score, paired with its timeless story of obsession, artistry,…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a centuries-old horror story is stripped down, modernized, and injected with fresh theatrical energy? SF Playhouse’s production of Kate Hamill’s Dracula reimagines the classic vampire tale with wit, tension, and a contemporary edge that feels both unexpected and invigorating. Rather than leaning solely into gothic melodrama, Hamill’s adaptation embraces…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when an entire neighborhood becomes the heartbeat of a musical? In the Heights at South Bay Musical Theatre brings the streets of Washington Heights to life through music, movement, and stories centered on community, family, and the pursuit of something more. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award–winning musical continues to resonate through…
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By Sarah Duarte The Cornley Drama Society is newly in residence at Hillbarn Theatre with their production of The Murder at Haversham Manor. At the helm is the President of the Cornley Drama Society and director of the show, Chris Bean. (Also, do note that Mr. Bean is also acting in the show, serving as…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a small town is asked to hold the weight of the world?Come From Away at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley reminds us of the extraordinary power of human kindness in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Centered around the events of September 11, 2001, the musical tells the true story of the…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a simple train ride becomes something far more revealing? The Coast Starlight at The Stage transforms an ordinary journey into something quietly introspective, where connection, curiosity, and vulnerability take center stage. Keith Bunin’s play doesn’t rely on spectacle—instead, it leans into stillness, allowing its characters the space to exist,…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a lie meant to comfort spirals into something far more complicated? Dear Evan Hansen at CMT Marquee dives into the fragile intersection of loneliness, connection, and the deep human desire to be seen. With its contemporary score and emotionally charged story, the musical explores how one moment—one decision—can ripple…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when tap shoes, mistaken identities, and a Cole Porter score set sail all at once? Anything Goes at Altarena Playhouse delivers a delightful dose of classic musical theatre charm, where romance, comedy, and show-stopping numbers collide on the high seas. With its witty book and timeless songs like “I Get…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when music becomes the language for everything we can’t quite say out loud? Once at Berkeley Playhouse reminds us that sometimes the most powerful love stories aren’t the ones that end with grand gestures, but the ones built through quiet moments and shared melodies. With its folk-inspired score and deeply…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when one of musical theatre’s most iconic rock operas returns to the stage with all its power and passion intact? Jesus Christ Superstar at Broadway at Music Circus proves that even decades after its debut, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s groundbreaking score still pulses with urgency and intensity. With…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when loneliness becomes routine—and courage feels just out of reach? Primary Trust at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is a quiet, tender meditation on isolation, friendship, and the small acts of bravery that change a life. Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play doesn’t rely on spectacle; instead, it gently unfolds, inviting us into…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when you mix Monty Python absurdity with Broadway spectacle? Spamalot at ATG San Francisco gallops onto the stage with coconuts in hand and absolutely no intention of taking itself seriously. Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this musical adaptation embraces the ridiculous at every turn—complete with…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when fear refuses to stay confined to the screen? A.C.T.’s stage adaptation of Paranormal Activity dares to translate the quiet dread of the cult horror film into a live theatrical experience, where every creak, shadow, and silence feels amplified. Stripped of cinematic jump cuts and handheld cameras, the story leans…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when love is built on illusion—and the truth refuses to stay hidden? M. Butterfly at SF Playhouse unfolds as a haunting exploration of desire, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. David Henry Hwang’s Tony Award–winning play challenges assumptions about gender, power, and fantasy, blending political intrigue with…
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By AJ Jaffari What happens when a bestselling thriller makes the leap from page to stage? The Da Vinci Code at Palo Alto Players showcases the widely known novel by Dan Brown into a fast-moving theatrical experience that leans heavily on mystery and puzzles. The production invites audiences into a world of hidden symbols, secret…