Tag: camille bounds

“Next Fall” is a moving story by Geoffrey Nauffts about gay rights, coming out, religion and tragedy with a mix of humor. Adam (indomitable Danny Scheie) is an avowed gay atheist who carries the heavy load of dialogue with just enough control to keep his character believable. Luke (delightful Adam Shonkwiler) is young and handsome, and raised a devout Catholic who prays for forgiveness after sex. He has not told his family about living with Adam for the past four years - but destiny has made the time and place for his coming out a hospital, where family and friends gather to hope Luke pulls through from a serious auto accident.

What do you get when you use 295 ostrich feather plumes, 24 pairs of eyelashes at each performance, 175 tubes of lipstick, 75 pots of eyeshadow, two pounds of glitter and 65 wigs? “Priscilla Queen Of the Desert,” of course!

Take some words, add some music and have Carol King meld it all into something “Beautiful.” That's what happened with the songs Carol King (a superb Jessie Mueller) created in her ingenious - sometimes - jarring life. “Beautiful” begins with songs by Carol, her husband Gerry Goffin (a moving Jake Epstein) and friends, and competitors Barry Mann (a loveable Jarrod Spector) and Cynthia Weil (outstanding Anika Larsen). It continues to the time when Carol leaves a bad marriage and reluctantly composes, writes lyrics, sings solo and records one of the most successful albums of all times - “Tapestry” - and finds her dream come true performing at Carnage Hall.

Grab the kids and get to the Disney on Ice presentation of “Passport To Adventure.” It is delightful, educational and full of clever choreography, glorious costumes, exhilarating music and special effects. It has all the favorite Disney characters you can bundle in one evening without going into overdrive.

We all know how this story will end; we all know what an important piece of history was made with the glorious words of Thomas Jefferson. What some of us do not know is that the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, and was ratified and completely signed months later. But none of this takes away from the delight of A.C.T.'s production of “1776”.

“One Night With Janis Joplin” with another cast is previewing on Broadway as we speak. San Jose Rep's bombastic production recreates some of Joplin's best moments delivered by the amazing talent of Kacee Clanton, who channels Joplin with eerie accuracy. Her voice comes across so raw and powerful and is so similar to Joplin's that you are transported to the ’60s when she reigned as queen of rock ‘n’ roll and brought her spot-on interpretations of this type of music. She delivers with no holds barred with one earthshaking song after another.

Based on Neil Simon's 1963 play that brings fun and comedy to a new area, “Barefoot In the Park” is an enjoyable comedy. It is easily digestible - especially with dinner the audience is encouraged to bring, along with wine and whatever else is desired. (But no lighted birthday candles or portable barbecues please, per city ordinances.)

When Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Jon Robin Baitz put pen to paper (or fingers to PC) to write “Other Desert Cities,” he was either in split personality mode or solving a Rubik’s cube puzzle – or both. His play is about dysfunctional family members with fragile backgrounds. Some have a secret that could break the delicate hold that - at times - keeps the family together.

Circus Vargas is circus. If you want to get the feel and flavor of what a real circus is all about, Circus Vargas is the ticket with a modern splash.

Creative, unique and inventive are understated adjectives when describing “Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.” The line “pushing the envelope” was made for this show, a production where the star is the award-winning costumes by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner and a bus, which comes onstage and helps an out-of-the-box story unfold. Written by Stephen Elliott and Allan Scott, directed by Simon Phillips and choreography by Ross Coleman, this jukebox musical uses pop songs as its score and romps through a story that has great humor and - at times - heart-wrenching moments.