San Francisco Spotlight: November 2010

The actor is mute, the director is crying, the dancer is lazy and more unfortunate events occur in Lemony Snicket’s The Composer is Dead (November 26-January 15). Tony Taccone directs the world premiere, which he conceived with Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), Phantom Limb and Geoff Hoyle, the latter of whom also stars in the show.

Grammy-nominee and American Idol Frenchie Davis is the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella [Enchanted Edition] (November 5-December 6) for Berkeley Playhouse at the Julia Morgan Center. At Berekely’s Aurora Theatre is David Cale’s multi-character solo show, Palomino, about a Central Park carriage driver.

Terrence McNally’s A Perfect Ganesh (November 5-December 19) brings exotic India to the Walker stage at New Conservatory Theatre Center. Magic Theatre tears it up with Liz Duffy Adams’ bodice-ripper comedy Or, (November 4-December 5) about Aphra Behn, who wants to quit the spy game and become the first professional female playwright. It’s edible intrigue in License to Kiss II: A Sweet Conspiracy at Teatro ZinZanni (November 4-March 6, 2011).

SF Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of Coraline (November 16-January 15) with a book by David Greenspan and music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt. Bill English directs the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel which stars Susi Damilano, Jackson Davis, Maureen McVerry, Stacy Ross, Brian Degan Scott, Brian Yates Sharber and introduces 12-year-old Maya Donato in the title role.

Getting the holidays rolling, Diablo Theatre Company in Walnut Creek is dreaming of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (November 26-December 4). Jeffrey Adams and Alicia Teeter star in the musical stage adaptation of the classic 1954 film. More comedic peace on earth happens in Los Altos as Bus Barn Stage celebrates A Tuna Christmas (November 18-December 18) and The Stage in San Jose tells Every Christmas Story Ever Told (November 17-December 19).

Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley asks if you are Happy Now? (November 11-December 5) with a new British comedy by Lucinda Coxon starring Rosemary Garrison as Kitty, teetering on the edge of burnout and juggling works, parenthood, an idealistic husband, needy parents, and bickering friends. Catholic school never quite looked like Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class (November 29-January 15) when Willows Theatre Company presents another bit of musical “Nunsense” by Dan Goggins at the Campbell Theatre in Martinez.

Murder For Two: A Killer Musical (November 3-21) combines two parts Agatha Christie with one part musical comedy, featuring songs by Joe Kinossian (music) and Keller Blair (lyrics) who both appear in a book they wrote in the West Coast premiere at 42nd Street Moon’s Eureka Theatre.

Cutting Ball Theatre’s Rob Melrose adapts Shakespeare’s The Tempest (November 5-28) to a three-person chamber theatre presentation at the EXIT on Taylor. Under the same EXIT roof: Christian Cagigal’s Obscura: A Magic Show runs through December 18 at EXIT Studio; Susie Butler sings Sarah Vaughn: The Glamour Years until November 20 at EXIT Café; Ken Ruta is The Unexpected Man through November 14; and Dark Porch Theatre presents Martin Schwartz’s Comedy Ballet (November 4-20).

Jewish Theatre San Francisco and The Hub present Dan Fishback in his Thirty Nothing (November 4-7). Molly Bell spends two weekends Becoming Britney (November 4-14) with all the pop star trappings at Off Center for Center Rep in Walnut Creek. Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma pairs Menotti’s The Medium with We [heart] You Nosferatu or At Home With the Dracula’s (November 5-21), a spoof on today’s vampire-obsessed entertainment trend.

Ross Valley Players feel Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (November 12-December 12). City Lights in San Jose throws abraham lincoln’s big, gay dance party (November 24-December 19). San Jose’s Tabard Theatre Company will be Driving Miss Daisy (November 12-27). John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt continues at California Conservatory Theatre through November 21.

There are also lots of musicals around the bay. Hayward’s Douglas Morrisson Theatre is home to the Dickstein-Howland musical adaptation of Little Women (November 12-December 5) seen on Broadway in 2005. The Masquers Playhouse in Richmond stages The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (November 5-December 18), which also plays at Coastal Rep in Half Moon Bay (November 19-December 18).

Sixth Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa time travels to The 1940s Radio Hour (November 12-December 12). Contra Costa Civic Theatre presents the Northern California premiere of Neil Bartram and Brian Hill’s The Story of My Life (November 5-28). Palo Alto Players take a drive down Sunset Boulevard (Lucie Stern Theater, November 5-21). Peninsula Youth Theatre at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts visits The Wizard of Oz (November 13-21).