Wayman Wong

Matthew Morrison couldn't be more 'Glee'-ful about launching Bay Area Cabaret's 15th Anniversary Season on Sept. 30 at the world-famous Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. 'I love places that have so much history,' says the Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee. Among the celebrated singers who've sung there: Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Peggy Lee and Tina Turner. And in 1961, Tony Bennett first performed 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' there, which is especially apt since the Fairmont sits high upon Nob Hill, 'where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars.'

Critics are calling San Francisco Playhouse's revival of 'Sunday in the Park With George' a 'masterpiece.' But its director, Bill English, found out firsthand that 'Art isn't easy,' to quote one of the show's lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. In putting it together (with James Lapine's libretto), English knew he had cast 'the perfect Dot' in the award-winning actress Nanci Zoppi.

David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori's 'Soft Power,' a new musical satire that takes a hard look at America and China, hopes to go out with a bang this Fourth of July weekend.

Conrad Ricamora is best-known to millions of TV viewers as Oliver, the cute computer whiz, on ABC's 'How to Get Away With Murder.' But this 2013 Theatre World Award winner also can slay an audience onstage as he has proven Off-Broadway in 'Here Lies Love' and on Broadway in 'The King and I.' And Ricamora is currently 'killing it' as the star of 'Soft Power,' David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori's bold, new musical. Directed by Leigh Silverman, it is playing through July 8 at the Curran in San Francisco.

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that marriage equality would be the law of the land in America. Three days later, Tom Andersen, an award-winning, out singer-songwriter released a music video that wed his recording of 'Morning Glow' (from 'Pippin') to dozens of images of happy gay couples. The golden-toned tenor said he sought to capture the feel-good euphoria of the LGBT community and its straight allies. Since its posting on YouTube, Andersen says he's heard from fans of the video from all around the world.

Jeremy Jordan plays Winn on the CW's 'Supergirl,' but he proved to be a superguy himself as he raised thousands for charity Sunday at a Broadway @ the Herbst concert in San Francisco. The Tony nominee from 'Newsies' sent his golden voice skyrocketing into the rafters of the historic hall. He was accompanied by Seth Rudetsky, his wise and wisecracking musical director and Sirius XM radio star. And proceeds went to benefit the San Francisco Men's Chorus, Project Open Hand and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

'Disney's Newsies' has been making headlines all this summer at America's regional theaters, from the MUNY in St. Louis to the Music Theatre of Wichita. Others 'carrying this banner,' Tony-winning musical have included the Wagon Wheel in Indiana, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre Company in Alabama, the Maine State Music Theatre and Orlando REP in Florida.

When David Moscow made his 'Big'-screen debut in 1988, it was huge. Penny Marshall had plucked this precocious, 11-year-old kid from the Bronx to play the younger version of Tom Hanks' character, Josh Baskin. This comic fantasy-fable about a boy who literally became 'Big' overnight, was a giant box-office hit. Moscow was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Comedy. And in that same season, another kid won for Best Young Actor in a Drama: Christian Bale for 'Empire of the Sun.'

'Monsoon Wedding,' the new musical based on Mira Nair's acclaimed 2001 movie, has been showered with praise at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, Calif. Karen D'Souza of the San Jose Mercury News writes: 'You are swept up' by its 'swirling typhoon of sound and color.' This Indian musical has curried such favor with its audiences that it's been extended through July 16.

Stephen Sondheim says his new musical with David Ives was never called 'Bunuel,' and he criticized Michael Riedel's 'misreporting' of the title in the New York Post last fall.

Here's how I slept with dozens of guys and gals on Wednesday, April 19 ... to get bargain tickets to 'Sunday in the Park With George.' It's called 'rush,' and many Broadway shows offer discounted seats around $40-$50 (a pittance compared to the regular ducats that run $150 and up). They're sold as soon as the box office opens at 10 a.m., so the early bird gets the rush. At many shows, getting in line by 7 a.m. often does the trick.