Theater News

San Francisco Spotlight: July 2009

Drinking Again

Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking
(© Kevin Berne)
Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking
(© Kevin Berne)

Carrie Fisher brings her solo show Wishful Drinking back to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, July 9-23, prior to its Broadway premiere. In this autobiographically-based piece, the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds — and Star Wars‘ Princess Leia — recounts the true and intoxicating tale of her life as a Hollywood legend.

Summertime has officially begun and that means Shakespeare in the Park is in full swing. The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival kicks things off with Comedy of Errors (July 18-August 2). This wonderful, chaotic comedy about a set of twins who are mistaken for each other is clever, fast-paced, and always a crowd pleaser. Meanwhile, the Livermore Shakespeare Festival presents the always popular A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where a group of actors suddenly find themselves under a spell thanks to mischievous gods with lots more shenanigans up their sleeves (July 9-August 9). Though not Shakespeare, the Livermore Shakespeare Festival also presents The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, July 16-August 1.

Kicking off its 40th anniversary, TheatreWorks presents the world premiere of Tinyard Hill (July 15-August 23), a spirited country-pop musical about a blacksmith whose world is turned upside down by an unexpected draft notice and a beautiful girl. Tinyard Hill kicks off the 8th Annual New Works Festival that draws artists from around the country and features staged readings of three musicals and three plays, two concerts, and four bonus events. For even more musical delights, catch Forbidden Broadway on its 25th anniversary tour when it stops at the San Jose Repertory Theatre. Also, Foothill Music Theatre presents the most highly awarded show in Broadway history, The Producers (Smithwick Theater, July 24-August 16), based on Mel Brooks’ 1968 film of the same name. Berkeley Playhouse closes its inaugural season with Peter Pan the Musical, on the Ashby Stage, July 17-August 23.

Take advantage of the unique opportunity to see members of Habimah, Israel’s national theater, present its take on The Dybbuk (Contemporary Jewish Museum, July 8-12), one of the classic expressionist masterpieces of the Russian Jewish theater. Using puppets and live actors, Habimah will present the play in Hebrew with English super titles. Comedian Rick Reynolds presents his new one-man show Only the Truth is Funny: Mid-Life at the Oasis, at The Marsh, July 11-August 30.

Stage Werx and Wily West Productions present one of the first plays to take on California’s controversial passage of Proposition 8; Maidrid’s Bow: An Amazon Tale (July 9-August 8) takes place in a society where the opposite sexes meet up once a year for fertilization purposes only. The rest of the time, the men mate with men and the women mate with women. David is new to living on the streets, but once veteran prostitutes Mark and Jackie take him under their wing, it isn’t long before the street drags him into its dangerous fold. Staged at the Boxcar Theatre, Rent Boy Ave.: A “Fairy’s” Tale (July 16-August 8) is an urban rock fairy tale, where everyone is fighting to find their way home.

The always entertaining and provocative San Francisco Mime Troupe presents the world premiere of Too Big to Fail (multiple venues, July 4-September 27), the story of a goat farmer struggling to save his goats once a corporate bank rescinds his loan. The production will tour throughout San Francisco, the East Bay, North Bay, Central Valley, and Peninsula. Yasmina Reza’s drama, The Unexpected Man, comes to the Exit Theatre, July 9-25. When an attractive woman discovers the author whose book she is currently reading is sitting right next to her on a train, she must decide whether to speak to him directly, or simply take out his book and start reading. The Off Broadway West Theatre Company brings Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge to the Phoenix Theatre, July 8-August 22. Penned by Miller in 1955, the play that takes a hard look at the dilemma of immigration that is still relevant more than 50 years later.

Ever wish the musical Annie was a little less dark? Then you’ll be delighted with the Willows Theatre Company’s production of Annie, Jr., a shorter, sunnier, more kid-friendly version of the original Broadway tuner, which will be presented July 17 and 18.