"Memphis" Celebrates 50s Song & Dance, at Berkeley Playhouse by Robert M. Gardner

Bryan & DiPietro Passionately Pit Rock n' Roll vs. Racism by Robert M. Gardner In "Memphis," exciting music and dance move the soul. Under the inspired direction of Director Brendan Simo…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:42pm on March 7, 2020[SHARE]

"The Trial" Honors Black History with a Twist, at African-American Shakes, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Karani Marcia Leslie Johnson Strips Black Stereotypes Bare by Robert M. Gardner Karani Johnson pulls no punches in her hard-hitting exposè of Black stereotypes. We know well the history of …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:51am on February 23, 2020[SHARE]

"The Devil's Music" Brings Down the House, at Center REP, W.C. by Robert M. Gardner

Katrina Lauren McGraw Scores Triumph as Bessie Smith by Robert M. Gardner As the saxophone player (smooth Ric Alexander) steps center stage, he coaxes soulful notes and seductive rhythms to …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:09pm on February 1, 2020[SHARE]

"How to Transcend a Happy Marriage" Shocks & Titillates, at Custom Made, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Sarah Ruhl Exposes the Comedy of Polyamory by Robert M. Gardner "How to Transcend a Happy Marriage" speaks to the intelligent theatergoer with incisive and witty dialogue, and erudite refere…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:15am on January 25, 2020[SHARE]

"Magic of Ordinary Things" Triumphs, at Marsh Rising, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Gina Harris Moves Us with Her Original Songs by Robert M. Gardner In "The Magic of Ordinary Things," Gina Harris creates a solo musical memoir, taking us back to her childhood. Harris' origi…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:26pm on January 13, 2020[SHARE]

"An Invitation Out" Questions How We Live, at Quantum Dragon, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Shualee Cook Exposes Avatars as Seductive Exits by Robert M. Gardner We live in a world of social media where reality and fantasy mingle"constant companions.  In "An Invitation Out: A Neo…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:51pm on December 16, 2019[SHARE]

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Casts Multi-Cultural Spell, at Arabian Shakes, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Shakespeare Blooms in William J. Brown's Delightful "Dream" by Robert M. Gardner When we go to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," we always look forward to seeing an old friend.  We are eager t…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:24am on November 21, 2019[SHARE]

"Othello" Explodes! at African American Shakes, S.F.      by Robert M. Gardner

Carl Jordan Makes Shakespeare for Today by Robert M. Gardner Don't miss L. Peter Callender as Shakespeare's Othello. In the 30th anniversary year of African American Shakespeare Company, lon…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:04pm on October 23, 2019[SHARE]

"Mark Twain's River of Song" Sails into Our Hearts, at TheatreWorks, Mtn. View by Robert M. Gardner

Myler & Wheetman's Rousing Musical Takes Us to the River by Robert M. Gardner "Mark Twain's River of Song" launches us on a foot-tapping journey back to the music of the 1800s on Mark Tw…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 2:12am on October 10, 2019[SHARE]

"A Midsummer Night's Dream""Hilarity, Romance, & Magic, at Marin Shakes by Robert M. Gardner

Shakespeare & Currier Conjure "Midsummer" in Africa by Robert M. Gardner Marin Shakespeare Company has found the perfect backdrop for Shakespeare's most beloved comedy. A romp in the mag…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:17am on September 28, 2019[SHARE]

"52 Letters" Delivers Anti-Sex Trafficking Ritual, at Ubuntu, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Regina Y. Evans Demands, "Ain't I Somebody's Baby!" by Robert M. Gardner "52 Letters" isn't for the faint of heart. Regina Y. Evans pulls back the curtain on America's dirtiest secret. Evans…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:17pm on August 11, 2019[SHARE]

"Fahrenheit 451" Blazes, at Quantum Dragon, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Ray Bradbury Challenges Our Trumpean Hell by Robert M. Gardner Written in 1953, "Fahrenheit 451" is fifty years ahead of its time. We have become the polarized future that Ray Bradbury feare…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:17am on June 27, 2019[SHARE]

"Sister Act: The Musical" Hits Drag Heights, at Theatre Rhino, S.F.     by Robert M. Gardner

Brenden Noel Thomas Breaks Taboos, Shocks, & Delights by Robert M. Gardner Whoopi Goldberg did it on film, and now Brenden Noel Thomas in nun-drag is every inch the ideal choice for Sist…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:00pm on May 29, 2019[SHARE]

"Territories" Uncovers A Woman's Secrets, at Arabian Shakes, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Betty Shamieh Opens the Gates to Arab Treasures by Robert M. Gardner Since the medieval Crusades, Muslims and Christians have fought over the Holy Land. In "Terrritories," playwright  Bet…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:33pm on May 12, 2019[SHARE]

"Mother's Milk""A Homecoming, at The Marsh, Berkeley by Robert M. Gardner

Wayne Harris, Jazz Legend, Revives the Old Songs by Robert M. Gardner Memories hold us together, binding families and friends.They weave the fabric of our lives. For Wayne Harris, a Saint Lo…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:34pm on May 11, 2019[SHARE]

"Black Eagles" Soars, at African American Shakes, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

L. Peter Callender Celebrates Black WWII Pioneers by Robert M. Gardner "Black Eagles" opens at a 90s reception honoring General Colin Powell, attended by three surviving WWII Black fighter p…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:24am on March 20, 2019[SHARE]

"Marie and Rosetta" Break Barriers in Music & Life, at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto by Robert M. Gardner

George Brant Scores Big with Rosetta Retrospective by Robert M. Gardner Michelle E. Jordan is a powerhouse in the role of Rosetta Tharpe. Her dynamism, her conviction, and her obvious faith …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:28am on March 12, 2019[SHARE]

"I, Too, Sing America" Melds Lyrics, Diversity, Joy, at BATCO, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Othello Jefferson Sets Great Poems to Superb Song & Dance by Robert M. Gardner Hearing the powerful words of Folami Abiade's "In Daddy's Arms" coupled with the beautiful interpretative d…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:48pm on February 18, 2019[SHARE]

"Do's & Don'ts of Time Travel" Ignites Dreams, at Quantum Dragon, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Nicholas Wardigo Skips through Queer Time by Robert M. Gardner We all wish that we could travel in time to relive parts of our lives differently. Rather than changing the whole world, we onl…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:59pm on January 17, 2019[SHARE]

"Universal Robots" Mesmerizes, at Quantum Dragon, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Mac Rogers' Intelligent Dialogue Delights, Disturbs by Robert M. Gardner Do robots taking over the world sound too bizarre to be true?  Not if you go to see Quantum Dragon's latest produc…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:05pm on July 2, 2018[SHARE]

"A Walk on the Moon" Rocks the Crowd, at ACT, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Pamela Gray Pens Summer of '69 Musical by Robert M. Gardner  Sex, drugs, and rock and roll rule Pamela Gray's bold new musical "A Walk on the Moon." Premiering at ACT, based on her 1999 m…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:47pm on June 19, 2018[SHARE]

"Sense and Sensibility" Slides into Town Hall, Lafayette by Robert M. Gardner

Kate Hamill Reimagines Jane Austen by Robert M. Gardner Jane Austen's charming Dashwood sisters thrive in Town Hall's  latest production,  "Sense and Sensibility." Hilarity abounds in …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 6:10am on June 7, 2018[SHARE]

Michael Menager"Consummate Poet, Minstrel, at ArtsUp, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Menager Graces Salons with Music for Millennials by Robert M. Gardner Seated on a tall stool in an intimate 40s era living room on Nob Hill, Australian Michael Menager, American born singer-…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:56pm on May 13, 2018[SHARE]

"American Jornalero" Incarnates Workers' Woes, at Ubuntu, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Cardona, Collins Expose Exploitation on the Street by Robert M. Gardner In "American Jornalero," director Tioni Collins takes a harsh and revealing look at the lives of four day- laborers wh…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:02pm on April 22, 2018[SHARE]

"The Fantasticks" Delight! at Novato Theater Company by Robert M. Gardner

Tom Jones Remembers the Time of Our Youth by Robert M. Gardner The opening lines of "The Fantasticks" run: "Try to remember the time in September / When life was slow and oh so mellow…""se…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:56am on April 12, 2018[SHARE]