All stories by Leslie Katz on BroadwayStars

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Top-notch pro vocalists light up Cappella SF by Leslie Katz

There are hundreds of choruses in the Bay Area, but only one professional group singing a cappella music from all periods of the choral repertoire. That’s the niche Cappella SF » The …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:05AM

Dance Theatre of San Francisco is up and coming by Leslie Katz

Dance Theatre of San Francisco’s Dexandro “D” Montalvo is nothing short of ecstatic in his new gig as artistic director of the young contemporary ballet troupe. “It’s a dream of &#…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Survivor brings on laughs in ‘Having Cancer Is Hilarious’ by Leslie Katz

As advertised, Megan Timpane’s one-woman show “Having Cancer is Hilarious” isn’t a downer. Telling her story of being diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 22, then unde…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 11:05PM
Thursday, October 29, 2015

Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Lisa Fischer combine forces by Leslie Katz

The thing vocalist Lisa Fischer is enjoying most about her upcoming world-premiere collaboration with San Francisco-based choreographer Alonzo King is the freedom permeating the project. “…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:26PM
Wednesday, October 28, 2015

‘Arctic Requiem’ a touching tale of a fight for clean water by Leslie Katz

“Arctic Requiem,” an intimate world premiere based on true events, is educational, evocative, and, perhaps most important, entertaining. Subtitled “The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina,…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 11:23PM
Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Intimacy appeals in Joe Goode’s ‘Poetics of Space’ by Leslie Katz

Despite the lofty title, there aren’t many huge revelations about the nature of space in Joe Goode Performance Group’s newest production “Poetics of Space.” Granted, the site-specifi…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 09:00PM

S.F. Opera stages mystical ‘Magic Flute’ by Leslie Katz

Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” is filled with allegorical elements that deftly disguised taboo subjects of his era, such as reigning monarchs, the shadowy order of the Freemasons, and the …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 08:54PM
Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Madonna takes control in San Jose by Leslie Katz

It’s really hard to determine exactly which part of Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” tour, which hit San Jose’s SAP Center on Monday night, was the best. Was it when she emerged » The …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:47PM
Thursday, October 15, 2015

We Players bring heroes, monsters to life by Leslie Katz

Three dynamic performers comprise “Heromonster,” a one-of-kind production, both earthly and other-worldly, in the chapel at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The piece is the latest c…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:15AM
Friday, October 9, 2015

San Francisco Opera sets the right mood for ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ by Leslie Katz

After San Francisco Opera opened its 2015-16 season with “Luisa Miller,” in which a meddlesome man interferes with the happiness of his relative, and proceeded to the musical thriller �…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:04PM
Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Dancer Rosy Simas exposes Native Americans’ struggles by Leslie Katz

Choreographer Rosy Simas admits that “We Wait in the Darkness,” a solo piece based on her grandmother’s struggles as a Native American, isn’t happy. Yet the process of telling its &#…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Monday, September 28, 2015

‘Dogfight’ a sentimental, authentic charmer by Leslie Katz

A love story with unorthodox, yet real, characters is a rare thing – and “Dogfight” is one of them. San Francisco Playhouse began its 13th season (“It’s our bar mitzvah,” » …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:55PM
Friday, September 25, 2015

Festival, show tunes ring in S.F. Symphony’s 2015-16 season by Leslie Katz

Stars and show tunes sparkled in Davies Symphony Hall on opening night of the San Francisco Symphony’s 104th season. While festivities typically are high and programs are light at the …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01PM
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Tuesday comedy thrives at Throckmorton by Leslie Katz

Now entering its second decade in a new format, Tuesday Night Live! Comedy is an extraordinary hybrid. “We don’t have a drink minimum and the audience faces the stage,” says » The…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:01AM

ReOrient tells modern tales from the Middle East by Leslie Katz

udging by the new short plays comprising the first segment of its 2015 ReOrient Festival, Bay Area theater troupe Golden Thread Productions is clearly fulfilling its mission to offer compell…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Sexy, sassy Smuin Ballet by Leslie Katz

Smuin Ballet has begun its 22nd season with a joyful, contemporary yet classic program including ready-to-watch again world premieres. Among them is choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert’…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Renovated War Memorial Veterans Building reopens with dedication ceremony by Leslie Katz

San Francisco city officials and veterans gathered on Wednesday to celebrate and rededicate the War Memorial Veterans Building, the Civic Center’s historic 1932 Beaux Arts structure newly …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 08:37PM
Monday, September 14, 2015

S.F. Opera allures with ‘Luisa Miller,’ ‘Sweeney Todd’ by Leslie Katz

On Saturday, a thoroughly bloody affair supplanted Friday’s tragic affair at San Francisco Opera’s first production of “Sweeney Todd.” Unlike the relatively pale staging of the previ…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:15PM
Thursday, September 3, 2015

‘Oh No’ amusingly details 1970s lesbian journey by Leslie Katz

The title of lesbian comic Karen Ripley’s solo show “Oh No There’s Men On The Land” comes from her remembrances of attending the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival decades ago. It …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:30PM

2015 Fall Arts Classical and Dance Preview by Leslie Katz

Bay area stages will be filled with performing artists of local, national and international acclaim — dance, sing and play on! Chick Corea: SFJAZZ opens its season with the piano »…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:22PM

2015 Fall Arts Theater Preview by Leslie Katz

The Bay Area’s ultra rich theater community presents old favorites, Broadway hits, world premieres, comedies, musicals and more. Amélie: Samantha Banks (of “Les Miserables” fame) star…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:09PM
Sunday, August 23, 2015

George Cole celebrates Nat King Cole by Leslie Katz

Guitar great George Cole’s upcoming gig at Yoshi’s centering on the music of Nat King Cole stems from a suggestion made by mandolin master David Grisman. “My day job is » The post…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Wednesday, August 19, 2015

CounterPulse readies modern Tenderloin facility by Leslie Katz

Edgy arts presenter CounterPulse is on a big journey, moving from its scrappy home at Mission and Ninth streets to a spiffy renovated site in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. Earlier this »…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:15AM
Thursday, June 4, 2015

‘Diver’s Clothes’ an intriguing tale of changing identity by Leslie Katz

by Leslie Katz High anxiety appealingly fuels every page of San Francisco’s writer Vendela Vida’s new novel “The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty.” The journey of a 30-somethi…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards