Linda Hodges - Page 8

In the 70's, Nigeria rose up and struck a new chord for justice with Afrobeat founder and political activist, Fela, as their controversial leader. The show, which opened last night at San Francisco's Curran Theatre, sways, plays and sings the political heart song of Nigeria through the life story of this musician turned activist, Fela Kuti. In its west coast premiere, the Tony-winning Broadway sensation packed a powerful opening night musical and political punch that was dynamic and experientially transformative. Everybody, please say "yeah yeah!"

Shoot O'Malley Twice, which opened last Friday at StageWerx 446 in San Francisco, confounds the conventional and delivers a bizarre and comedic play of innocence lost and parallel universes found that is thoroughly intriguing and delightful.

Last year's theater season brought us an amazing assortment of stars and shows - and SF Bay Area theatergoers have nominated their favorites for the BWW 2011 Awards! In 2010 BWW fans broke site traffic records, solidifying BroadwayWorld.com Awards as the largest and most popular online Broadway polling event of its kind, open to all and with fully visible and audited results.

Sublimely articulated, crafted with infinite honesty, love and humor, "How to Write a New Book for the Bible" lifts up this ordinary family and makes sacred the story of their lives.

On Friday, October 21st, close to 500 women and girls, (and some men and boys) stood in line waiting for the doors to open at Berkeley Repertory's Roda Theater. They were here to soak in, celebrate and be energized by one woman, the amazing avatar of all things "girl," Eve Ensler, who was here to make a special announcement.

In this latest revival of "Richard," now playing at San Francisco's Curran Theater, director Sam Mendes and Kevin Spacey do everything in their power to make sure that we do see. As a result, Richard III is a gripping, intense tour de force and hits troublingly close to home in these times of crime and corruption on Wall Street and around the world.

The moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter is aligning with Mars on Oct. 25 - Nov 20 at the Golden Gate Theater where the Tony-award winning HAIR is getting ready to open. It's definitely the place to Be-in! Leading the HAIR tribe is actor Steel (yes, that's his real name) Burkhardt, whose long tresses and loincloth are set to bring back the 60's revolution in the city where it all began....BroadwayWorld.com's Linda Hodges had the chance to interview the Broadway star about the show, his thoughts on the darker side of the 60's movement, the craziest audience member they've had and more. That interview follows.

A bucket of New Orleans Mardi Gras beads, now a mocking memory of happier times, sit in front of what remains of a house - and one family - in the lower Ninth Ward after the storm of the century: Hurricane Katrina.

The San Jose Stage Company opened its season with the provocative and still darkly daring, Tony-winning Cabaret. Set in 1931 Berlin, on the cusp of all that was to come with the takeover of the Nazis, the Kander and Ebb musical revolves around the Kit Kat Club and its cast of characters who are determined to ignore the outside world.

The small and intimate Altarena Playhouse has got something big and outrageous to sing about and it's proving that little can sometimes be better if it's done right. Tucked away in the quiet suburban city of Alameda on the East Bay side of San Francisco, this Playhouse is packing them in - and for good reason - they are rockin' the house with an electrifying, must-see production of The Rocky Horror Show.

The national tour of "Shrek the Musical," in all its gassy green glory, opened Broadway San Jose's new season and captivated the audience from start to finish. Hilariously funny and heart-warming, "Shrek's" musical message about friendship, love and acceptance, delivered with the story's trademark unconventional quirkiness, soared.

At age 79 the svelte Puerto Rican triple threat from Hollywood's bygone golden age continues to bring the house down. Currently starring in a new TV show (Happily Divorced) she is also simultaneously starring in her spectacular one-woman show Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, which had its world premiere this week at the Berkeley Repertory Theater.

Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup will make its world premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theater on September 7th, marking a return to the stage for the legendary actress. BroadwayWorld's Linda Hodges had the chance to speak with Rita Moreno about her long career, the difficulties she's faced as a Latina from Puerto Rico and, of course, her brand new show!

Stuffed and Unstrung combines the magic of muppetry with the instant insanity of improv, all to great, R-rated effect. Playing at San Francisco's Curran Theater, now through August 27th, Stuffed and Unstrung is a muppets gone wild, great night out on the town!

Original and inventive, Fly by Night is a fantastical and lyrically rich play that bears clear signs of genius as it asks us to ponder the paths we take - both unplanned and chosen.

The winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical (plus nine other Tonys) Billy Elliot the Musical will have you reaching for the ballet barre - or at least reaching out for your own dreams again if you've happened to set them aside. Playing now through September 17th, Billy Elliot is nothing short of amazing.

Billy Elliot's Joel Blum shares his excitement at being home again (in San Francisco),thoughts about the show and the life of an actor and finally, what's next for him.

Playing now through July 10th, Let Me Down Easy bears witness to battles with illness, shares hard truths about healthcare and, when death is inevitable, talks about who gets let down easy and who does not. It will make you think, laugh and cry and it might even change the way you look at your life.

Mamma Mia! won't win any prizes for in-depth, philosophical story-telling, but its delightful mix of frothy, bouncy, romantic fun and disco/pop chart hits by ABBA make it a not-to-be missed theatrical event.

Making its regional premiere with TheaterWorks Silicon Valley [title of show] is a fresh, funny and fabulous production about - what else - two guys writing a show about writing a show - on deadline.