Rita Moreno returns to Berkeley Rep by Karen D'Souza

One of the very few performers to have scored the coveted EGOT (winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony) Rita Moreno has been a celeb since the Golden Age of Hollywood. From her Acade…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 5:56pm on September 1, 2011[SHARE]

SF FRINGE FESTIVAL celebrates 20th anniversary by Karen D'Souza

Ready, set, get your fringe on. Hard-core culture vultures and assorted hipsters will rejoice that it's time for the 20th annual San Francisco Fringe Festival. One of the oldest alternative …

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 5:22pm on September 1, 2011[SHARE]

Supernatural: Season 6 by Karen D'Souza

Cracked open a pile of mail today to find this juicy bite of glossy DVD nirvana: Supernatural Season 6!!! I know I am a self-respecting theater critic but I must admit that I took a moment t…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 5:17pm on September 1, 2011[SHARE]

Hugh Jackman takes questions on Facebook by Karen D'Souza

Sing out, Hugh! Aussie hottie Hugh Jackman will be on Facebook for a live streaming Q&A just hours before his new solo show opens in SF Wednesday. If you want to poke Wolverine, as it we…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 5:02pm on May 3, 2011[SHARE]

"Memphis" goes to the movies by Karen D'Souza

“Memphis,” the downhome Broadway musical that began life at TheatreWorks before wowing the Great White Way and winning the 2010 Tony for best musical is coming to a cinema near y…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 6:59pm on April 18, 2011[SHARE]

"Clybourne Park" nabs Pulitzer for drama by Karen D'Souza

Kudos to Bruce Norris’ “Clybourne Park” which just won the 2011 Pulitzer for best drama. The nervy riff on “A Raisin in the Sun,”  which Jon Moscone directed…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 4:26pm on April 18, 2011[SHARE]

Get thee to Ashland (for free!) by Karen D'Souza

Are you dying to make an annual pilgrimage to Ashland for the estimable Oregon Shakespeare Festival? Would you love to see the new  Taccone/Moscone project “Ghost Light?” But …

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 7:43pm on April 15, 2011[SHARE]

CAST ALBUM FROM BERKELEY REP'S AMERICAN IDIOT WINS GRAMMY AWARD by Karen D'Souza

Bravo to Berkeley Rep! The cast album from the Rep’s smash hit “American Idiot” has won a Grammy award. Produced by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, the recording features bo…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 8:53pm on February 14, 2011[SHARE]

Get $30 rush seats to "Next to Normal" by Karen D'Souza

Calling all culture vultures! $30 rush seats are now available for the Broadway hit “Next to Normal.” So if you’ve got more taste than dough (and who doesn’t in this …

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 7:03pm on January 31, 2011[SHARE]

Mike Daisey versus the iMac by Karen D'Souza

Sat down at my gorgeous new iMac this weekend but instead of glorying in the seductive little whooshing sound it makes when it turns on and the dizzying clarity of the kaleidoscopic wide scr…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 4:18pm on January 31, 2011[SHARE]

"Next to Normal" rages into San Francisco by Karen D'Souza

On the outside, Diana Goodman is a sitcom-worthy suburban soccer mom with glossy blond hair and a perky smile. On the inside, she's a click away from a psychotic breakdown. The only thing ho…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 2:57pm on January 28, 2011[SHARE]

"Oedipus El Rey" wins the 2010 Will Glickman Award. by Karen D'Souza

Luis Alfaro's smoldering “Oedipus El Rey” is the winner of the 2010 Will Glickman Award. Sophocles goes to the barrio in this lusty gangland soap opera which electrifies Greek tr…

SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News at 2:46pm on January 28, 2011[SHARE]