PYT presents: “Annie”

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PYT_Annie_300x450By Ande Jacobson

The long time Broadway favorite, Annie, is coming to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts 14-22 November 2015. Peninsula Youth Theatre (PYT) is mounting a spectacle that should bring smiles to Annie fans young and old with its upbeat score, lively singing and dancing, and heart-warming story. Follow the adventures of the spunky orphan Annie who wins the heart of a billionaire and changes not only her life, but also the lives of everyone she meets for the better (well, except for the villains). Continue reading →

The Pear explores communication complexities in “Tribes”

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pear-tribes-sylvia-billyBy Ande Jacobson

The Pear makes quite a statement with its current production of Tribes, by Nina Raine. Humans are by nature tribal, i.e., as a species, we tend to gather based on some kind of commonality. That commonality can be defined in many ways such as being descended from a common ancestor, forming a community of common customs and traditions, following a common leader, or any other distinction that provides a basis for cohesion. Within a given tribe, there’s usually some form of hierarchy, and in modern times, it’s common for someone to belong to a number of tribes. Continue reading →

A good old-fashioned band concert that helps the community

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csb-veterans-day-2014By Ande Jacobson

How would you like to enjoy “An Afternoon of American Music” on a lazy Sunday afternoon this November? If you’re near Cupertino, CA on Sunday, 8 November, you’re in luck. The Cupertino Symphonic Band is going to be performing at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino at 3PM. This annual concert is presented to honor our veterans on the Sunday closest to Veteran’s Day and promises to be a moving experience. In addition to a program of symphonic American music, the CSB Jazz Ensemble will also be making an appearance playing a few charts during intermission. Continue reading →

The fuzzy line between amateur and professional theatre

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Orpheum_Theatre_Vancouver_View_Of_StageBy Ande Jacobson

As I mentioned in my previous commentary discussing the role of a theatre reviewer, I’ve often been asked if I review professional and amateur productions differently. My short answer then and now remains no, but I started thinking about what defines a professional production. Perhaps my refusal to treat them differently should have been a clue that there is a fuzzy line separating professional from amateur theatre in many circles. For instance, in theatre-rich areas such as the San Francisco Bay Area, one can find high quality productions without regard to whether the company is professional or not. Still, I was curious, so I started digging a little deeper. Continue reading →

“Proof” examines the infinitesimally short distance between genius and crazy

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Proof Prod 6_Kevin BerneBy Ande Jacobson

When I was an undergraduate, I took a number theory course. I wasn’t a math major, but something about the subject called to me, even though it wasn’t required for my major. Our professor’s eyes danced with joy as he described the beauty inherent in number theory because of its “pretty proofs”. He went on to teach us some of their intricacies, and his proofs were indeed beautiful. Proof, by David Auburn, explores the artistry and drama of mathematics (specifically prime numbers), along with the genius and madness of its practitioners. As expected, TheatreWorks’ production of Auburn’s prize-winning play is primed for greatness. Continue reading →

The nightly rise and fall of “The Walls of Jericho”

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pear-jericho-1By Ande Jacobson

The Pear christened its new space on 19 September 2015 with the gala opening of The Walls of Jericho, and A Good Reed Review missed it. Although a little late to the party this time, this world premiere run of Diane Tasca’s stage adaptation of Samuel Hopkins Adams’ short story, “Night Bus”, was well-worth waiting for. In this second week of production, the cast members are comfortable in their characters, and the new space is everything one could hope for in an intimate black box theatre. Continue reading →

Let PAP dazzle you

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press_chicago_0711-lo-resBy Ande Jacobson

Bob Fosse collaborated with John Kander and Fred Ebb to create a show that in 1975 first dazzled audiences with its glitz, glamor, murder, and corruption, although the critical response was initially mixed. The show later enjoyed a 1996 revival that hasn’t quit. Chicago is that show, and it exemplifies the Fosse style. It is based on a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins’ play was a satirical story based on two real-life, high profile murder cases from 1924 that she covered as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. A popular musical form of the time, jazz, figures very heavily in the musical score, and Palo Alto Players is pleased to open its 85th season with a spirited, high quality production of this classic Fosse extravaganza. Continue reading →

A house collided

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Country House Production 12_Kevin BerneBy Ande Jacobson

Life is theatre, and theatre is life. TheatreWorks opens its 2015/2016 season with the Northern California premiere of Donald Margulies’ Broadway hit, The Country House. The play is an homage to Chekhov’s The Seagull and Uncle Vanya with many parallels in character, setting, and subtext, modernized to current time. Margulies’ writing is witty and relatable, and it keeps the audience engaged, at times laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all. Continue reading →

A look inside The Pear’s new digs

A Good Reed Review News

By Ande Jacobson

pear-new-frontTo paraphrase Mayor John McAllister, these are exciting times in Mountain View. Mayor McAllister bubbled with pride praising The Pear for its achievements and bright future at the 15 August ribbon cutting ceremony. He was clearly as thrilled as The Pear’s staff and supporters in attendance that the (not-quite-so-tiny) theatre is staying in Mountain View, only moving a few blocks from its previous home. Its new address is 1110 La Avenida St.

Supporters and press snuck into the lobby to get out of the intense heat outside a bit prior to the formal ribbon cutting. Some of the curious peeked around the corners from the lobby at the hallway to the restrooms and into the performance space. While the old facility on Pear Avenue sported a 40-seat black box performance space, no set shop, no rehearsal studio, and only one restroom for everyone, the new space is palatial by comparison. After the kind words from the mayor, several members of The Pear’s board excitedly showed those in attendance all the new features of The Pear Theatre. Continue reading →

Buckle up for an emotional ride with BBB’s “West Side Story”

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bbb-wss-at-danceBy Ande Jacobson

West Side Story first hit the Broadway stage in 1957, and this famous musical, with book by Arthur Larents and music by Leonard Bernstein, gave the youthful lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, his Broadway debut. The show was groundbreaking, particularly for its explosive action, and it was nominated for six Tony Awards. While the show won for Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design, alas, it lost the Best Musical Award to Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Most theatre or movie aficionados are familiar with the show, its plot bringing the classic story of Romeo and Juliet to the current era when it debuted. Today, its tale of the star-crossed lovers from opposite gangs forms a period piece, keeping the tension and angst of the time alive, and Broadway By The Bay’s production is one to be treasured. Continue reading →