Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Music, movies, drama, poetry and comedy for Valentine’s Day by Examiner Staff

Have no Valentine’s Day plans? Check out a show, concert, party or reading on Thursday: András Schiff: The pianist and conductor appears with the San Francisco Symphony and guests sol…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 06:50PM
Saturday, December 29, 2018

2018: The best in arts by Leslie Katz

In chronological order, these were the year’s most notable moments in the arts, from this editor’s highly personal perspective. “Vietgone” at American Conservatory Theater (March) Th…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Sunday, December 2, 2018

Circus Bella takes Treasure Island by Leslie Katz

In “Kaleidoscope,” the new Circus Bella show under a big tent on Treasure Island, clown Sara Moore balances a broom on her hand and has an amusing bit chasing the » The post Circus …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 05:00PM
Monday, November 19, 2018

SF Opera sets holiday mood with gratifying ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ by Leslie Katz

San Francisco Opera’s revised production of Jake Heggie’s opera “It’s a Wonderful Life” in its West Coast premiere is a feel-good holiday-themed piece, even as it could add some �…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:15PM
Sunday, November 11, 2018

Bay Area arts organizations see changes at the top by Janos Gereben

After years, sometimes decades, of steady leadership, major Bay Area arts organizations are undergoing big changes. San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, 73, is steppi…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, June 13, 2018

SF Opera launches ‘Ring’ with shimmering ‘Rheingold’ by Leslie Katz

Fresh mixed-media effects and a strong cast set the stage for San Francisco Opera’s engaging revival of Francesca Zambello’s 2011 production of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle at Tuesday’s…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:00PM
Wednesday, May 30, 2018

New tech brings SF Opera’s ‘Ring’ revival solidly into 21st century by Leslie Katz

Opera fans from around the world, especially Richard Wagner aficionados, will flock to the War Memorial Opera House June 12-July 1 as San Francisco Opera presents three cycles of the » …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Sunday, May 20, 2018

SF International Arts fest again takes on social issues by Leslie Katz

Since 2003, the San Francisco International Arts Festival has presented artists from across the world with innovative projects dedicated to increasing human awareness and understanding ̵…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Friday, May 4, 2018

Free Yerba Buena Gardens fest kicks off with mariachi by Leslie Katz

It’s time for the 2018 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and that means free outdoor entertainment in The City from spring through fall. The festival’s 18th season begins at 1 p.m. » Th…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:00PM
Thursday, March 1, 2018

Nocturnists share powerful stories of love by Leslie Katz

Bay Area doctors told touching stories about love on Tuesday at Brava theater in The City in a live version of The Nocturnists, a San Francisco-based podcast dedicated to bringing » The…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

‘Star Trek’ parody provides comic relief  by Jean Schiffman

On opening night of the Drag Kings’ wacky and wonderful parody of “Turnabout Intruder” — the final episode of the original “Star Trek” TV series from 1969 — the audience »…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Friday, January 19, 2018

Best of all possible worlds in SF Symphony’s ‘Candide’ by Georgia Rowe

Someone in the audience at Thursday night’s San Francisco Symphony performance of “Candide” could probably tell you how many times it changed moods, styles, tempo and locale. I admit I…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:15PM
Wednesday, January 17, 2018

96th SF Opera season charts journey through emotions by Leslie Katz

San Francisco Opera will present a chronological, comprehensive selection of nine operas — from Handel’s rarely performed Baroque classic “Orlando” to Jake Heggie’s contemporary �…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:01PM
Monday, November 6, 2017

Love and talent conquer all in SF Opera’s ‘Manon’ by Leslie Katz

San Francisco Opera brought back Massenet’s opera “Manon” after a 19-year absence Saturday evening in Vincent Boussard’s new production, which raised questions over its setti…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:30PM
Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Sundays-in-the-park band leader Michael Wirgler retires by Janos Gereben

Maestro Michael Wirgler’s fondest memories of making music in Golden Gate Park for decades have been of families listening to the concerts together and children dancing in the front row. &…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:45PM
Monday, September 25, 2017

Principal performances energize SF Opera ‘La Traviata’ revival by Leslie Katz

Although San Francisco Opera didn’t break new ground Saturday night opening its sixth revival of John Copley’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” strong company debuts from sopra…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:00PM
Sunday, June 11, 2017

Artistry and love flourish in SF Opera’s ‘La Bohème’ by Leslie Katz

Paris in February can be a city as chilly as it is costly, as it is in Puccini’s “La Bohème.” But San Francisco Opera’s strong cast of bohemians breathed warmth » The post Arti…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:00PM
Monday, June 5, 2017

Dynamic duo rules SF Opera’s ‘Don Giovanni’ by Leslie Katz

Mozart’s masterpiece “Don Giovanni” makes it quite clear it’s a man’s world. And two powerhouse bass-baritones, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (in the title role) and Erwin Schrott (as h…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 05:45PM
Sunday, June 4, 2017

Erwin Schrott happy to sing Leporello in The City by Leslie Katz

San Francisco Opera’s announcement that bass-baritone Erwin Schrott would replace the ailing Marco Vinco as Leporello in “Don Giovanni” is a win-win: The opera lands a renowned Mozart …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, June 1, 2017

SF Opera’s ‘Rigoletto’ regally holds court by Leslie Katz

Early on in “Rigoletto,” a curse befalls the title character that will dog him throughout the tale. But San Francisco Opera’s re-staging of the Verdi favorite, which opened Wednesday, …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:45PM
Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Merola commissions new work on 60th anniversary by Janos Gereben

San Francisco composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer are embarking on what seems like an impossible mission: writing a two-act opera based on Julien Green’s 1947 Faustian fantasy,…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:45PM
Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Headliners announced for BottleRock Napa Valley festival by Bay City News

The Foo Fighters, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Maroon 5 were announced Tuesday as the headlining acts for the fifth-annual BottleRock Napa Valley festival taking place in Napa in &…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 12:05PM
Monday, November 7, 2016

SF Opera’s ‘Aida’ looks a bit like ‘Evita’ by Leslie Katz

Director Francesca Zambello’s new San Francisco Opera production of “Aida” — boasting bold, contemporary designs by Los Angeles street artist RETNA — meets the challenges o…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:15PM
Thursday, November 3, 2016

Poet Al Letson has a moving ‘Summer of Sanctuary’ by Leslie Katz

There are many parts of Al Letson’s one-man show that are truly moving. One is when he, a black man, offers to shake the hand of a white cop who » The post Poet Al Letson has a moving…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:00PM
Monday, October 17, 2016

‘Disney On Ice’ brings ‘Frozen’ to Bay Area by Examiner Staff

It’s time to gather up the kiddies for the newest skating spectacular: Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure!” is about to hit the Bay Area. This time around, Mickey » The po…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 06:35PM

Nadja Michael gives timeless performance in SF Opera’s ‘Makropulos Case’ by Leslie Katz

German soprano Nadja Michael, singing the lead role of San Francisco Opera’s revival of Olivier Tambosi’s riveting production of Leoš Janáček’s “The Makropulos Case,” is exc…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:30PM
Thursday, September 29, 2016

SF Opera’s ‘Don Pasquale’ an uproarious delight by Leslie Katz

There’s no fool like an old fool, and few old fools endure comic flimflammery quite like the aging title character in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” which has been revived after 32 …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 09:00PM
Sunday, September 11, 2016

SF Opera bridges East-West divide in lush ‘Dream’ by Leslie Katz

The attempt to adapt a 2,400-page-plus classic novel of Chinese literature into an English-language opera might seem destined to please neither Asian literary scholars nor Western opera puri…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 09:00PM
Saturday, September 10, 2016

Production, guillotine sharp in SF Opera’s ‘Andrea Chénier’ by Leslie Katz

In Giordano’s pinnacle verismo work “Andrea Chénier,” which takes place during the French Revolution, it’s only a matter of time before heads start to roll. Fortunately, heads are m…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 06:45PM
Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Chinese epic gets grand opera treatment by Leslie Katz

San Francisco Opera faces a seemingly daunting challenge with its world premiere of composer Bright Sheng and co-librettist David Henry Hwang’s “Dream of the Red Chamber,” which is bas…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Friday, August 19, 2016

Wild stunts fire up elephant-free Ringling extravaganza by Leslie Katz

The 146th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus doesn’t have any elephants, and, guess what? They weren’t missed on Thursday’s opening night at Oracle Arena in …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:30PM

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