Bay Area Stage

Look! “Creatively staged” Northanger Abbey is a hit at the Pear!

2008-05-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Just got this from the Director, Rebecca Ennals.... "Reviews are coming in for “Northanger Abbey” at the Pear Ave. Theatre, and they’re great! We’ve heard from the San Jose Metro, KQED, and, most importantly, the audience.“Throughout the play, the

Two Excellent Reviews for Pear Slices 2008

2008-04-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Review from the Mountain View Voice. Arts & Entertainment - Friday, April 18, 2008 Superb slices from The Pear by Alexa Tondreau Who knew the folks at Mountain View's Pear Avenue Theatre were such serious multi-taskers? Not only have they established themselves as being top-notch actors, directors and producers, but with Pear Slices 2008, these thespians have proved once and for all they can

Google Takes Over The Pear

2008-03-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Pear Avenue Theatre is about to be crushed by the Goliath on the block. Google has recently purchased The Pear's building in a defensive move against Microsoft who's trying to take over the Mountain View neighborhood. Will the little Pear be smashed by the two monsters at war? It looks like October will mark the witching hour.. Read on...

New Works Festival at The Pear

2008-03-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Bravo Pear! New works are what keep theatre alive and vital and The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View is dedicated to giving new playwrights there moment in the sun each season. Coming up is The Pear's annual one act festival featuring plays from The Pear's playwright's guild. Take a look ....

Moving "Blood Knot" at A.C.T.

2008-03-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw a very moving and beautifully staged production of Athol Fugard's "Blood Knot" at A.C.T. It's in it's last week and highly recommend this show. The Bay Area's own Tracy Chapman composed the wonderful music that accompanies the show.

2007 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards

2008-02-20T21:59:00.000-08:00

Here they are: the 2007 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards. I have so many things to say about this list, but I shall bite my tongue. Read it and rejoice, or weep, whatever you wish. **Please go to the TBA web site for the most accurate list of nominees; the list below was the first published and may contain errors.*** Theatres Over 99 Seats DRAMA ENTIRE PRODUCTION: After the Quake,

Theatreworks Announces Its 2008/09 Season

2008-02-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

Theatreworks is once again teaming up with the Schwartz's and they are doing Doubt. I love Doubt. I think it's a great play. Here it is... SNAPSHOTS (West Coast Premiere) Conceived by Michael Scheman and David Stern Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by David Stern June 18-July 13, 2008 (press opening: June 21) Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts TheatreWorks opens its 39th

Review of The Pear's "True West"

2008-01-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

There's a nice review of True West on the KQED web site. Check it out. True West is currently showing at The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View. Check out www.thepear.org for details. Theater Review : True West Somewhere in the thick of True West, Sam Shepard's classic tale of brothers, alcohol, Hollywood -- and toasters,

Oscar Nominees Announced

2008-01-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here's the list of this year's nominees. Surprisingly, Sweeney Todd wasn't nominated for Best Picture. Johnny Depp was nominated for Best Actor, though in his role as Sweeney. Best Picture "Atonement" "Juno" "Michael Clayton" "No Country for Old Men" "There Will Be Blood" Best Director Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" Jason Reitman, "Juno" Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"

American Idol - The Path to Broadway Fame

2008-01-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

American Idol has really become quite a vehicle for launching Broadway careers for a number of graduates of the ubiquitous reality TV series. Who'd a' thunk that ClayAiken, the quintessential nerd, from Season 2 would be starring in Spamalot! Apparently, he is very funny and is doing a great job with the role. I have such mixed feelings about this phenomenon. I have friends that have worked

San Jose Mercury Top 10 Theatre List of 2007

2007-12-31T20:14:00.000-08:00

The San Jose Mercury has picked it's top 10 list for 2007s Bay Area theatre scene. Here's the list with my comments... “Pillowman” (Berkeley Rep)... I missed this but I heard it was just amazing. “Sweeney Todd” (ACT)... I saw this and it was wonderful except for the character of the Judge having been watered down. “Anna Bella Eema” (Crowded Fire) “Argonautika” (Berkeley Rep) “Tings Dey Happen”

Best of 2007: Bay Area Theater - From the Contra Costa Times

2007-12-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

The Contra Cost Times chose it's best and worst shows of the year. The writer of this Blog (me) was one of the actors in their choice for No. 9! It's very exciting for our cast and crew because CTA Crossroads Theatre is a small theatre in the East Bay that most people don't even know exists. Our show is listed with shows from Berkeley Rep, A.C.T., Cal Shakes and others. Thank you Mr. Craig for

Sweeney Todd on the Big Screen, Tim Burton's Masterpiece

2007-12-23T22:38:00.001-08:00

Tim Burton has finally created his masterpiece. The new film, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is one of the most provocative and artistic musicals ever made. You’ll barely realize that you’re watching a musical even though the actors are singing for practically the entire film. The entire cast is superb due precisely to the fact that none of them are primarily singers. They are

True West is Coming

2007-12-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Get ready for TRUE WEST at The Pear opening Jan. 11. As you can see the set is coming along and the actors are hard at work. You might want to wear a raincoat to this show as things may get a little messy near the end.

"Three Tall Women" at The Pear

2007-10-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

Edward Albee, one of our greatest playwrights, wrote perhaps his most biographical play in "Three Tall Women" showing at The Pear Avenue Theatre through November 18th. The play features three strong actors - Monica Cappuccini, Rebecca J. Ennals, and Diane Tasca. The play is written in two acts. The first act features Diane Tasca as the semi-senile character of "A" who reminisces about her life,

Driving Miss Daisy at CTA Crossroads Theatre

2007-10-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm playing Boolie in a production of Driving Miss Daisy. Here's our first review. It's been a great experience to be in this production. My fellow actors and our director are wonderful people and dedicated artists. Here's the review.. Subtlety drives powerful 'Daisy' By Pat Craig STAFF WRITER Contra Costa Times Article Launched:10/23/2007 03:04:25 AM PDT The movie version of Alfred Uhry's

Idiot Actor Syndrome (IAS)

2007-10-18T16:20:00.001-07:00

Got 5 minutes? Watch this. You will laugh - a lot!

Free Tickets To Angels for TBA Members

2007-10-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Angels in America, Part 2: Perestroika at City Lights Don't miss the production hailed by the San Jose Mercury News as "brave," "visionary," and "extremely gratifying"! A limited number of complimentary tickets to City Lights Theater Company's acclaimed production of Angels in America, Part 2: Perestroika are now available to members of Theatre Bay Area only for the October 20 (8 p.m.) and

ANGELS IN AMERICA - Part II: Perestroika at City Lights

2007-10-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

There's one more weekend left for you to see ANGELS IN AMERICA - Part II: Perestroika at City Lights Theatre Company in San Jose. The show which runs through this Sunday (Oct. 21), is directed by Kit Wilder and performed by a multi-talented cast of actors. City Lights has really done something spectacular here. They have tackled one of the most challenging plays of the 1980s. The play, written

The Diary of Anne Frank at San Jose Stage Company

2007-10-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

The sad thing about attending a production of a play like The Diary of Anne Frank is that you know exactly how it's going to end. As you watch these people stuck in this little loft for years, trying their best to get along and stave off the terror that lurks in every corner of their minds, you know that in the end it's all an exercise of futility. The Nazis will come. The Nazis will throw them

Outstanding Weekend of Bay Area Theatre

2007-10-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Friday night I went to see Three Sisters by Anton Chekov at The Pear Avenue Theatre. What an absolutely wonderful job they did with this extremely difficult and tragically comic play. With a new translation by Craig Lucas, Chekov's genius was channeled by these actors at the forty seat gem of a theatre in Mountain View. The thing that's tough with Chekov is that his writing provokes deft humor

"Sisters" Has Only a Week Left

2007-09-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View has developed quite a reputation for producing excellent classical theatre. The current production of Chekov's "Three Sisters" is no exception. Keith Kreitman of the San Mateo County Times says, "....As a result, director Jeanie Forte was able to gather together one of the best casts in memory." And Kevin Kirby from the Palo Alto Weekly says, "...

A Little Rain Must Fall

2007-09-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

A.C.T. has finished casting for their upcoming production of "The Rainmaker". I'm very surprised that A.C.T. is doing this play. I guess I associate it mostly with community theatre and acting classes. But it is a classic story and if done well, should be very entertaining. I am happy to see that the wonderful René Augesen will be playing the lead role of Lizzie. Ms. Augesen is always a delight

Sondheim's Bloodiest and Best Bonus

2007-09-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

I've heard from a friend that the current production of Sweeney Todd at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco is "freaking AWESOME". This is a new take on Sweeney in which the actors actually play the instruments on stage in addition to performing the show. Today I just read that the two young lovers of the show, will also be singing at the Plush Room. Lauren Molina and Benjamin

Luciano Pavarotti Sings

2007-09-13T22:33:00.001-07:00

Rest in Peace, Signore. You were wonderful and will live in our hearts forever.Thank you for touching us all with your genius.