THE NAPA VALLEY PLAYHOUSE OPENED THE FINAL SHOW of its long-time residence at Napa’s River Park Shopping Center on Friday. “The Marvelous Wonderettes” by Roger Bean delights with good humor, fun style and a long list of memorable tunes from the ’50s and ’60s as four high school song leaders perform at their prom (“Lollipop,” […]
2 types of celebration mark season-ending Vallejo Symphony concert
THE VALLEJO SYMPHONY PERFORMED THE FINAL CONCERT of its 82nd season Sunday at the Hogan Auditorium in Vallejo, pairing Handel’s joyful Water Music, Suite No. 2 in D together with the profound and brilliant German Requiem, Op. 45 by Johannes Brahms. Benicia bass/baritone Paul Cheak and Bay Area soprano Lauren Woody performed the monumental requiem […]
Review: VOENA marks 20th anniversary in style
VOENA, the Voices of Eve ‘N Angels, celebrates its 20th year of stylized children’s vocal music this year with “Voices of the Journey,” a special anniversary program that includes performances by guitarist Peppino D’Agostino and percussionist Jeff Campitelli. “Voices” was presented at the Lincoln Center in Yountville on Sunday and will be repeated at the […]
Napa’s new City Winery at the Opera House hosts fun ‘Scoundrels’
THE HISTORIC NAPA VALLEY OPERA HOUSE is now operating under a new name, debuting earlier this month after extensive renovation as “City Winery,” a restaurant chain based in New York with additional sites in Nashville and Chicago. Napa’s Lucky Penny Productions, in conjunction with 6th Street Playhouse of Santa Rosa, opened “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” to […]
On the Stage: BOTTG’s ‘Same Time’ polished, professional — but feels dated
Benicia Old Town Theatre Group opened the final play of its 2013-14 season, Bernard Slade’s “Same Time, Next Year,” at the B.D.E.S. Hall on Friday. The 1975 play follows a man and woman who prolong their extramarital affair by meeting in the same hotel room every year over a 25-year span. The performance elicited knowing […]
Winning cast brightens Contra Costa’s ‘August’
I WASN’T ACTUALLY PLANNING to catch this Contra Costa Civic Theatre production. There are times, like now, when a few promising shows are going on at the same time and I have to choose among them, usually favoring those most local to Benicia. Last Friday, though, just a couple of hours before showtime, the show […]
Review: Center Rep’s ‘Sleuth’ is sharp but loosely knit
CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY, the in-house theatrical arm at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, continues its production of Anthony Shaffer’s classic mystery, “Sleuth” through Saturday, April 26. Actors Equity Association member Kit Wilder is excellent as the snobbish and boorish wealthy author who invites his sexual rival (Equity actor Thomas Gorrebeeck as Milo Tindle) […]
Review: Zany humor, great acting in DVC’s ‘Noises’
SOME FINE YOUNG ACTORS ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR TALENT at Diablo Valley College in the troupe’s current production of “Noises Off,” Michael Frayn’s frolicking farce about what goes on behind the scenes at a theatrical production. In fact, countless things can go wrong, and Frayn has chosen some doozies to spoof in this, his most […]
ON THE STAGE: Napa Playhouse does Coward’s ‘Angels’ right
NAPA VALLEY PLAYHOUSE OPENED NOEL COWARD’S “FALLEN ANGELS,” a comic send-up of marriage and loyalty, to a full crowd at the River Park Shopping Center theater last Friday. Jessica Loesch and Sarah Lundstrom are bright and funny in the lead roles as married friends Julia and Jane, respectively, each easily carrying her part of extensive […]
ON THE STAGE: Napa College’s ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ hits its mark
NAPA CONSERVATORY THEATRE HAS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS for its current production, “Annie Get Your Gun,” directed by Richard Rossi and playing at the beautiful new Performing Arts Center near the main college campus through Sunday. Rebecca Pingree is the show’s shining star as Annie, a young woman living in the woods with her […]