Gabriel King, Chad Goodridge and Jeanna Phillips star in the world premiere of ‘Troublemaker’ at Berkeley Rep. Photo: kevinberne.com Gabriel King, Chad Goodridge and Jeanna Phillips star in the world premiere of ‘Troublemaker’ at Berkeley Rep. Photo: kevinberne.com Troublemaker, or The Freakin Kick-A Adventures of Bradley Boatright, written by the young, talented Dan LeFranc (Sixty […]
Emily S. Mendel
Emily S. Mendel reviews Berkeley’s vibrant theater scene for Berkeleyside. As a native New Yorker (although an East Bay resident for most of her life), Emily grew up loving and studying theater, from Off-Off to On Broadway, as her multi-volume Playbill collection attests. Ending her law practice has given Emily the time to indulge in her love of the arts and travel.
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Zimmerman reinvents Chinese legend at Berkeley Rep
Tanya Thai McBride as Greenie in the world premiere production of “The White Snake” at Berkeley Rep. Photo: courtesy mellopix.com Tanya Thai McBride as Greenie in the world premiere production of “The White Snake” at Berkeley Rep. Photo: courtesy mellopix.com The worldwide premiere of The White Snake, Mary Zimmerman’s atmospheric retelling of an ancient Chinese legend, is […]
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‘Wilder Times’ at the Aurora: Engaging, thought-provoking
Tommy ( Patrick Russell) and Moe (Brian Trybom) chat about what they want to be when they grow up in “Wilder Times.” Photo: Jessica Palopoli. Tommy ( Patrick Russell) and Moe (Brian Trybom) chat about what they want to be when they grow up in “Wilder Times.” Photo: Jessica Palopoli. Four engaging one-act plays by […]
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Woronicz is a tour de force in Berkeley Rep’s “An Iliad”
Henry Woronicz stars in Obie Award-winner Lisa Peterson’s visceral new version of An Iliad. Photo: courtesy kevinberne.com At Berkeley Rep, one phenomenal actor on a bare stage performs a version of The Iliad — and keeps us spellbound for 100 minutes. This haunting, yet animated theatrical event focuses on events in the tenth and final year […]
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Review: “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”
Chad Deity (Beethovan Oden) pummels The Bad Guy (Dave Maier) in “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.” Photo: David Allen Chad Deity (Beethovan Oden) pummels The Bad Guy (Dave Maier) in “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.” Photo: David Allen Aurora theatergoers will have ringside seats to see the Bay Area premiere of Kristoffer Diaz’s […]
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Berkeley Rep’s Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men is thrilling
Dael Orlandersmith in her solo show Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men. Photo: Kevin Berne/Berkeley Rep The world premiere of Dael Orlandersmith’s compelling play, Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men, is now at Berkeley Rep through June 24. Ms. Orlandersmith, sole writer and actor in this powerful production, portrays a handful of abused […]
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‘Red’: Spellbinding musings on art, philosophy, and nature
Ken (John Brummer) engages in a battle of wits with renowned painter Mark Rothko in “Red”. Photo: kevinberne.com Ken (John Brummer) engages in a battle of wits with renowned painter Mark Rothko in “Red”. Photo: kevinberne.com After its successful London and Broadway run, the powerful Paint it Red! is now at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage. […]
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Frederick Wiseman behind the scenes at Crazy Horse
The legendary Paris exotic dance show, the Crazy Horse, is famous worldwide as the premier venue for sophisticated and sensual female nudity Frederick Wiseman has made 37 award-winning documentaries, beginning with Titicut Follies (1967), a stark graphic portrayal of the conditions at the Massachusetts State Prison for the Criminally Insane. Now, after a long career […]
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Slapstick and schtick, not enough bite in Molière at Rep
L to R: Liam Craig, Renata Friedman, Steven Epp and Julie Briskman star in "A Doctor in Spite of Himself". Photo courtesy: kevinberne.com For more than 325 years, Molière’s comedies have been entertaining audiences around the world. Although some of his characters were derived from the Italian Punch and Judy shows of the Commedia dell’Arte, […]