All stories by Chad Jones on BroadwayStars

Monday, February 5, 2007

Oh, joy — it’s JudyCast! by Chad Jones

The stage isn’t the only place for theater these days. And as a wise man named Peter Allen once said, “Everything old is new again.” It seems radio has been reborn in the form of podca…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:47PM
Friday, February 2, 2007

Review: Aurora’s “The Birthday Party” by Chad Jones

(opened Feb. 1, 2007) Actors sizzle, plot fizzles in Aurora’s `Birthday Party’ two and 1/2 stars A well-made muddle There’s an old saw about a tree falling in the woods, and if there�…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:48PM
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The force & Kiki by Chad Jones

Here’s some interesting local theater news — some high-powered casting, a Skywalker-y night out and, be still my heart, the return of Kiki & Herb: Carl Lumbly, last seen on TV’s �…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 05:21PM
Saturday, January 27, 2007

`Happy’ music by Chad Jones

American Conservatory Theater’s first-ever cast album _ for last year’s superb Happy End by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill _ is released Tuesday (Jan.30) on the Ghostlight Records label. …

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 12:05PM
Friday, January 26, 2007

Review: “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” by Chad Jones

Julia Mitchell (left) is Mona, Eleanor Mason Reinholdt (center) is Sissy and Candice M. Milan is the mysterious Joanne in California Conservatory Theatre’s production of Come Back to the 5…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:41PM

Pretty in pink by Chad Jones

Laura Bell Bundy (in pink, naturally) as law student Elle Woods faces off with a law professor (Michael Rupert), much to the delight of fellow student played by Kate Shindle (left) in Legall…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 04:19PM
Thursday, January 25, 2007

`Sweeney’ update by Chad Jones

We have confirmation that John Doyle’s revival of Sweeney Todd, the one in which the 10 actors also play all the instruments, will indeed open the American Conservatory Theater season on A…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 04:41PM
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Heading to `Camelot’ by Chad Jones

In this week’s Jones for Theater column, I talked with Michael Lerner, (left, with fellow film director Ludi Boeken) son of famed lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner (My Fair Lady, Bri…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 12:00PM
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Oil slick by Chad Jones

“Grease: You’re the One That I Want” is the worst kind of “reality” TV tripe. So why am I watching it and sort of looking forward to Sunday’s TWO-HOUR voting show? From the outse…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 02:44PM
Monday, January 22, 2007

The return of Daisey by Chad Jones

In his most recent e-mail newsletter, Mike Daisey, who was recently profiled in the New York Times, dropped a little nugget of information: Writes Daisey: “If you’re reading this in the …

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:32PM
Saturday, January 20, 2007

43 plays, presidents by Chad Jones

Caught up late with Rough and Tumble’s production of 43 Plays for 43 Presidents at La Val’s Subterranean Theatre in Berkeley this week. It runs through Jan. 27 and is mostly sold out. Co…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:05PM
Friday, January 19, 2007

Bloody good news by Chad Jones

Can it be true? John Doyle’s acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd — you know, the one where the actors also play all the instruments — is going on tour and SAN FRANCISCO is the first s…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 02:37AM
Thursday, January 18, 2007

B’bye, Beauty by Chad Jones

The Belle of the Disney ball is making a graceful exit. This week, Disney announced that the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast would close after nearly 6,000 performance (it is the…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 05:56PM

Review: “The Pillowman” by Chad Jones

(opened Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007) Stories spin, blood drips in Berkeley Rep’s creepy `Pillowman’ (Three stars Shockingly good) Macabre, perverse and compelling, Berkeley Repertory Theatr…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:54PM
Wednesday, January 17, 2007

ACT’s First Look by Chad Jones

Exciting new work is on tap for American Conservatory Theater’s First Look New Plays festival, which opened this week and continues through the end of the month at the Zeum Theater, Fourth…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 03:16PM
Monday, January 15, 2007

Review: “Three Seconds in the Key” by Chad Jones

(opened Jan. 13, 2007) three [1/2] stars Slam dunk You don’t automatically assume a play about Hodgkin’s disease and basketball will be a spiritual experience. But Deb Margolin’s Three…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:58PM

Wouldn’t it be loverly? by Chad Jones

If you’re going to be in New York March 7 through 10, you might want to dop by the New York Philharmonic’s semi-staged concert version of My Fair Lady. Kelsey Grammer (TV’s Dr. Frasier…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:47PM
Sunday, January 14, 2007

Review: Word for Word’s “Strangers We Know” by Chad Jones

(opened Jan. 12, 2007) three stars More Moore For 13 years now, Word for Word has offered a different sort of book club. The members — let’s call them “the audience” — all read the…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 02:22PM
Friday, January 12, 2007

Goodbye Oscar, Hello Pierre by Chad Jones

While California Shakespeare Theater artistic director Jonathan Moscone has been at San Jose Repertory Theatre, he’s been discussing more than directing Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Mo…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 11:52AM
Thursday, January 11, 2007

Review: ACT’s “The Circle” by Chad Jones

(opened Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007) 3 1/2 stars Ripping romance The Circle is rather a silly title for a fairly wonderful play. Surely author W. Somerset Maugham meant to indicate the circular…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 03:04AM
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Props to community theater by Chad Jones

Our fantastic TV writer, Ms. Susan Young, is currently embedded in Pasadena at the Winter Television Critics Association conference, which means she’s up to her eyeballs in celebrities, ne…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 03:47PM

Critic by Chad Jones

With the merging of ANG Newspapers, the Contra Costa Times and the San Jose Mercury News, I’ve taken on a position as interim assistant features editor. This means I’ll be reviewing fewe…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 03:00PM
Tuesday, January 9, 2007

A `Blonde’ moment by Chad Jones

A spy in New York went to the final run-through of Legally Blonde, The Musical in New York and says the show is in “good shape” and “hits all the right buttons.” Of course it does. W…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 05:23PM
Friday, January 5, 2007

Lunch with a ‘Jersey’ boy by Chad Jones

With the national tour of Jersey Boys settling in for what appears to be a nice, long run at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre, I was curious about how such a seemingly simple premise — tel…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:26PM
Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Buzzing into ‘07 by Chad Jones

If you were thinking about taking a month off from the theater scene because nothing exciting ever happens in January, you might want to think again. There are at least five shows of medium …

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:50PM
Monday, January 1, 2007

Endings, beginnings by Chad Jones

All of us here at Theatre Dogs thank you, dear readers, for another terrific year of all things theatrical. May this shiny new year be filled with shows, each more spectacular and meaningful…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:38PM
Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Hi sKool musiKal by Chad Jones

Went home to Reno to visit the family homestead and ended up getting stranded by high winds and a big storm that canceled all flights in and out of the Reno/Tahoe airport. Couldn’t get a f…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 02:19PM
Saturday, December 23, 2006

Tip-top ten by Chad Jones

Happy holidays, Theater Dogs! Thanks for reading the blog in 2006. I’ll try to make it bigger, better, funnier and fresher in 2007. Below you’ll find my Top 10 list of favorite theater e…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 12:53PM
Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Blame it on Broadway by Chad Jones

This was the year that Elton John and Anne Rice’s musical Lestat bit the big one and High Fidelity was a sound no one wanted to hear. Those of us who saw Lestat in its pre-Brodway run at S…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 05:14PM
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Ashland arrival by Chad Jones

Many of us here in the Bay Area consider the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in lovely little Ashland, Ore. to be a theatrical home away from home. A great number of local theater lovers make an…

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 06:51PM
Monday, December 18, 2006

‘Jersey’ mail by Chad Jones

No question Jersey Boys is one of the most exciting Bay Area theatrical events of 2006. Let’s hear from a couple readers who have their own thoughts on Jersey Boys. Jan Brown of Livermore …

SOURCE: Chad Jones' Theater Dogs at 01:45PM

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