Theater News

San Francisco Spotlight: December 2006

Boys’ Night Out

Erich Bergen, Christopher Kale Jones, Deven May,
and Michael Ingersoll in Jersey Boys
(© Michael Portantiere)
Erich Bergen, Christopher Kale Jones, Deven May,
and Michael Ingersoll in Jersey Boys
(© Michael Portantiere)

The calendar might say winter, but San Franciscans will be enjoying all four seasons with the premiere of the national tour of Jersey Boys, the smash hit musical that snatched up a 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, which comes to the Curran Theatre (December 1-February 11). Written by Academy Award winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, four working-class heroes who went from having nothing to having it all. The cast features Erich Bergen as Bob Gaudio, Michael Ingersoll as Nick Massi, Christopher Kale Jones as Frankie Valli and Deven May as Tommy DeVito. Directed by two-time Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff, the acclaimed musical features the fabulously famous singles “”Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Oh, What A Night,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

Jesus Christ Superstar, the groovy musical that put the legendary writing team Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on the map, plays the Orpheum Theatre (December 19-30). Ted Neeley, who starred in Norman Jewison’s cinematic version of the rock opera in 1973 (for which he won a Golden Globe Award) takes on the title role once again, and Living Colour’s Corey Glover plays Judas.

Traditionalists should be sure to check out the Northside Theatre Company’s presentation of the Charles Dickens’ perennial classic A Christmas Carol (December 6-24). This year marks the theater company’s 25th year of staging this much-loved production.The Altarena Playhouse dresses up the holiday-themed roster with The Man Who Saved Christmas (Decembrt 1-17), its new family musical featuring book, music, and lyrics by Ron Lytle, the writer and director who brought the sensational Oh My Godmother! last year to Altarena. It chronicles toy manufacturer A.C. Gilbert’s real-life battle with Washington D.C. policymakers who instituted a ban on toy sales during the holiday season when America was engaged in World War I.

Forget all those larger than life stories that monopolize our seasonal lore and get to the heart of the holiday season with the colorful characters in A Tuna Christmas (December 1-17), where the real heroes of Christmas agonize over annual lawn decorating contests.

Cinnabar Young Rep in Petaluma presents The Tailor of Gloucester (December 1-17) for its third consecutive year. This wonderful operetta is great for the whole family and is based on the story by Beatrix Potter. Its hero is a kindly old tailor who lovingly cares for the children and animals of the neighborhood, despite knowing pockets that are more empty than full. His luck stands to change however, when the Mayor of Gloucester commissions him to make a special red coat for his Christmas wedding. A horrible and sudden illness strikes the poor tailor and it is his furry, palm-sized pals who must come to his rescue.

Finally, prepare to be seduced by Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango (Post Street Theatre, December 26-January 21). This sultry evening traces the fascinating and alluring history of tango through music, dance, and dramatic vignettes. The production boasts an all-Argentine cast of 14 dancers and a 12-piece orchestra.