All stories by Jim Allen on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Virtual Dance: HELGI TOMASSON’S SWAN LAKE (SF Ballet) by Jim Allen

San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) is presenting Helgi Tomasson’s Swan Lake from May 20 to June 9, 2021, closing SF Ballet’s 2021 Digital Season. The archival capture from 2016 stars Princ…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:41AM
Sunday, May 16, 2021

Virtual Theatrical Event: COMMUNION (A.C.T. in San Francisco) by Jim Allen

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is stretching the theatrical landscape with the world premiere production of Obie Award–winning Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen’s virtual p…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:27AM
Saturday, May 15, 2021

Cabaret: FEINSTEIN’S AT THE NIKKO (San Francisco’s Premier Nightclub Re-Opens This Week) by Jim Allen

FEINSTEIN’S AT THE NIKKO ANNOUNCES REOPENING WITH LINEUP OF FAN FAVORITES, BROADWAY STARS, AND LOCAL ICONS Following a year of shuttered doors, Feinstein’s at the Nikko announced today …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:37PM
Thursday, May 13, 2021

Theater: AN OCTOROON (Fountain Theatre Live) by Jim Allen

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the Los Angeles premiere of a radical, incendiary and subversively funny Obie award-winning play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Performances of…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:09AM
Saturday, May 1, 2021

Theatre: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST: LIVE IN HD (Directed by and starring Brian Bedford) by Jim Allen

Roundabout Theatre Company, L.A. Theatre Works and BY Experience are bringing back Roundabout’s critically acclaimed Broadway production of Oscar Wilde’s comedy The Importance of Bein…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:41AM
Friday, April 16, 2021

Theater: CREATIVE ARTS CENTER OPENS (Children’s Musical Theater San Jose by Jim Allen

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (CMT) Announces Grand Opening of New Creative Arts Center CMT, the nationally-acclaimed theater company honored 12 times by the National Endowment for t…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:26AM
Monday, March 29, 2021

Theater: A.C.T. OUT LOUD: Alice Childress’s ‘Trouble in Mind’; Shaw’s ‘Arms and the Man’; Wilder’s ‘The Matchmaker’) by Jim Allen

Beginning tonight, A.C.T. begins its Out Loud series, which features a series of enduring play readings by some of the greatest minds of generations past. It begins tonight with Alice Childr…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:22PM
Monday, March 15, 2021

Events: THE BEST OF CHICAGO STREAMING FOR FREE (The Harris’s Resident Companies) by Jim Allen

Chicago’s Harris Theater is a home venue for more than 20 not-for-profit arts and culture organizations. Now, you don’t have to go to Chicago to see these thrilling events. This rich col…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:00PM
Friday, March 5, 2021

Opera: RING FESTIVAL (San Francisco Opera) by Jim Allen

RING FESTIVAL March 5–30 Wagner’s Ring Cycle Streams in March Accompanied by Live Ring Festival Virtual Events Featuring Special Guests Daniel Brenna (Siegfried) and Iréne Theorin (…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:53PM

Dance: MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM #3 (San Francisco Ballet) by Jim Allen

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET’S MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM #3 OPENS TONIGHT The world premiere of Danielle Rowe’s roaring ’20s dance film Wooden Dimes, the return of Yuri Possokhov’s fan-favori…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:53PM

Theater: WHAT WILL I BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? (The Marsh) by Jim Allen

THE MARSH PRESENTS GEOFF HOYLE’S WHAT WILL I BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Written and Performed by Geoff Hoyle Developed and Directed by David Ford 7:00pm, Saturday, March 20, 2021 Geoff Hoyle did…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:53PM
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

L.A. Theater: 29th SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT (The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood) by Jim Allen

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY 29th SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT The Road Theatre Company takes a sharp turn off the beaten path for their 2021 season. Pulling out of a year that turned many artistic avenu…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:02PM
Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Theater Preview: HOLIDAY SAUCE… PANDEMIC! (Taylor Mac) by Jim Allen

TWAS THE MAC BEFORE CHRISTMAS Taylor Mac is back this holiday season with a full serving of virtual vaudeville. Celebrating the holiday season in all of its dysfunction, Taylor Mac’s HOLID…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 12:33AM
Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Theater Review: ART (San Francisco Playhouse) by Jim Allen

YES, BUT IS IT ART? Yasmina Reza’s oft-produced Art (English translation by Christopher Hampton) may be singularly responsible for the current plethora of new plays today with one set, a s…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:44PM
Saturday, October 24, 2020

Theater Preview: BERKELEY REP’s 2020-21 SEASON by Jim Allen

BERKELEY REP’S IN SEASON As with most theater companies, Berkeley Rep’s season goes virtual. Titled Rep On-Air, it will include collaborations with Raúl Esparza, New Yorker cartoon art…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:09PM
Thursday, October 8, 2020

Theater Preview: THE HUMAN OUNCE (Central Works 30th Anniversary Season) by Jim Allen

MORE FROM CENTRAL WORKS The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau opened Central Works’ 30th season and was the first offering from the Central Works Script Club. A CW world-premiere about art an…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:45PM
Saturday, September 26, 2020

Theater Preview: MOONBEAMS (42nd Street Moon’s Virtual Series) by Jim Allen

CARRY MOONBEAMS HOME IN A JAR Here comes 42nd Street Moon’s announcement for its fall season, with plenty of showtunes to keep you going until COVID-19 takes a big fat hike. The season, Mo…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:25AM
Saturday, June 20, 2020

Film Preview: FIRST PHYSICAL MOVIE THEATER OPENS IN LOS ANGELES (Arena Cinelounge on Sunset) by Jim Allen

FIRST THEATER RE-OPENS IN LOS ANGELES TODAY Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood’s location for arthouse, genre, and independent cinema, will be the first physical movie theater in Los Angel…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM
Friday, June 5, 2020

Theater Preview: PRIDE PLAYS 2020 FESTIVAL (Pride Plays, Playbill, and Rattlestick) by Jim Allen

GAY PLAYS STREAMED LIVE FOR PRIDE BY PRIDE PLAYS Pride Plays (Festival Producers Doug Nevin and Michael Urie, and Festival Director Nick Mayo) and Playbill, in partnership with Rattlestick P…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:56PM
Friday, March 22, 2019

Theater Preview: MOMENTOS MORI (Manual Cinema) by Jim Allen

THIS IS THE MOMENTOS I have seen the Chicago-based performance collective Manual Cinema on their home turf twice, and the theatricality is awesome. This endlessly inventive group of artists …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 10:11PM
Friday, February 22, 2019

CD Review: BULLDOZER: THE BALLAD OF ROBERT MOSES (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording) by Jim Allen

BULLDOZED It breaks my heart that another poorly made production with no soul or message gets recorded as an Original Cast Recording. Those who may think that Bulldozer is a musical about c…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:10PM
Saturday, October 27, 2018

Film and Music Preview: NOSFERATU & VAMPYR (Theatre at the Ace Hotel and Disney Hall) by Jim Allen

SILENT SCREAMS Two of the spookiest horror films ever made were completed before much of today’s audiences were born. One, Nosferatu, is far better known than the other, especially for the…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:47AM
Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Theater Preview: THE BARBERSHOP CHRONICLES (Freud Playhouse at UCLA) by Jim Allen

Newsroom, political platform, local hot spot, confession box, preacher-pulpit and football stadium. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world. They talk…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:03PM
Monday, August 6, 2018

Theater Preview: THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (Musical Theatre West in Long Beach) by Jim Allen

ABBONDONZA If ever there was a reason to say, “Absolutely, positively, do not miss this event,” this is it. For one night only on Sunday August 19 at 7pm, Musical Theatre West…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:43PM
Friday, July 20, 2018

Theater Preview: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (5-Star Theatricals in Thousand Oaks) by Jim Allen

SHE’S STILL A BEAUTY It is sheer luck that I’ve been able to see Broadway Baby Susan Egan in over 10 shows since the mid-1980s. From intimate stages (Babes at the Matrix; Hello, Ag…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:24AM
Thursday, October 15, 2015

Bay Area Theater Review: AMÉLIE, A NEW MUSICAL (Berkeley Repertory Theatre) by Jim Allen

IN CHARM’S WAY Turning a beloved French film into an American stage musical is a dicey proposition at best, but that’s precisely what Berkeley Rep has done with Jean-Pierre Jeunet’…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 10:52AM
Monday, July 13, 2015

San Francisco Theater Review: CALL ME MISS BIRDS EYE: A CELEBRATION OF ETHEL MERMAN (A.C.T.) by Jim Allen

MAY THIS SHOW NEVER BE FROZEN One of the first rules of etiquette I ever learned was: if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Were I inclined to heed that sage advic…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 10:32PM
Thursday, December 18, 2014

San Francisco Theater Review: ELF THE MUSICAL (Curran Theatre) by Jim Allen

MY KINGDOM FOR SOME INSULIN Known by many as “the most wonderful time of the year,” Christmas has richly earned its reputation for gooey sentimentality, decking the halls with mucho kits…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:34PM
Thursday, December 11, 2014

Bay Area Theater Review: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (TheatreWorks in Palo Alto) by Jim Allen

NOT ONLY WILL YOU FLOAT OUT OF THE THEATER, YOU MAY EVEN FLY Have you ever wondered how the original “lost boy” became Peter Pan and what his life was like before flying out the Darling�…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:57PM
Sunday, October 12, 2014

Bay Area Dance Preview: SWAN LAKE (The Australian Ballet at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley) by Jim Allen

SWAN IN A MILLION Featuring a live performance by the Berkeley Symphony with guest conductor Nicolette Fraillon, The Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake comes to Zellerbach Hall this weekend, Oc…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:27AM
Thursday, October 9, 2014

San Francisco Theater Review: DO I HEAR A WALTZ? (42nd Street Moon) by Jim Allen

DO I FEAR A WALTZ? Musicals are generally “lost” for any one of a number of reasons: the libretto may be filled with once topical socio-political humor now meaningless to contemporary au…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:11PM

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