by Harry Duke I see a lot of live theatre every year, but my first love was the movies. Some of my earliest memories are of going to see double features at the movie theatre in my hometown. (That certainly dates me.) It’s long gone, but the memories are still there. When my family moved…
by Harry Duke It’s that time of year when critics looks back and attempt to encapsulate an entire year’s worth of productions into one easily read “best of” list. Why? Because it gives them something to do during the slow period between the close of the holiday shows and the onslaught of productions in the…
by Beulah F. Vega The Gift of Nothing, now running at Marin Theater through Tuesday, Dec. 23, begins on a special day when the residents of the Mutts world celebrate by giving gifts to their friends and families. But Mooch the cat (Jordan Covington) has a problem: what to get the dog that has everything?…
My guests on the 12/18/25 “Theatre Thursday” segment on The Drive on 95.5 were Emily Cornelius and Drew Bolander from the 6th Street Playhouse’s New Year’s Eve Classical Voices Celebration 2025. The show features some of the North Bay’s most talented women (and a few men) who’ll fill New Year’s Eve with beautiful classical numbers…
by Harry Duke What’s Christmas without a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) on a local stage? Sonoma Arts Live fills the bill with their production of Scrooge! The Musical. The SAL production runs at the Sonoma Community Center through Dec. 21. The stage version, which Leslie Bricusse adapted…
My guests on the 12/11/25 “Theatre Thursday” segment on The Drive on 95.5 were Cinnabar Theater Executive Director Diane Dragone and director Bridget Codoni for a conversation about their upcoming holiday presentation of The Holiday Songbook. The show has four performances in the Warren Auditorium on the campus of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park…
When I see a show late in its run, or the run itself is short, I’ll take some time and provide a short take on the production… It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play – Spreckels Theatre Company, Rohnert Park Pluses: source material, performances, live sound effects Minuses: not really how a live radio…
by Cari Lynn Pace Scrooge! The Musical is Charles Dickens’ timeless story A Christmas Carol shined up by Leslie Bricusse with a book, music, and lyrics. It’s Sonoma Arts Live’s holiday show, now running on the Rotary Stage at the Sonoma Community Center through Dec. 21 The show gives several children and teens their shot…
by Cari Lynn Pace Want to see what goes on behind the broadcast at a 1940’s radio station? Audiences are urged to participate as station WBFR prepares to “go live.” Voice actors snuff out their cigarettes to take their places on cue. The “On Air” sign lights up as the Spreckels Theatre Company of Rohnert…
My guests on the second of two 12/04/25 “Theatre Thursday” segments on The Drive on 95.5 FM were Michael Arbitter and Drew Bolander from the Spreckels Theatre Company production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. This unique show runs in the Codding Theatre at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park…
by Cari Lynn Pace The holiday spirit charms and shines in 6th Street Playhouse’s A Christmas Story: The Musical. Fans of the classic 1983 Christmas movie will delight in this live stage production with an added musical score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The musical pieces enhance the nostalgia and heartfelt humor of the…
My guest on the first of two 12/04/25 “Theatre Thursday” segments on The Drive on 95.5 was Britta Rae from the Transcendence Theatre Company’s upcoming production of Broadway Holiday 2025. The show will have multiple performances in Santa Rosa at the Sonoma Country Day School on Dec. 13 & 14, and then in Sonoma at…
by Cari Lynn Pace With a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods involves crossing the paths of multiple characters from several Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It’s an ambitious undertaking for any theater. Challenges include strong solo voices, complex lyrics, live orchestral music, clever choreography, creative costumes, and…
When I see a show late in its run, or the run itself is short, I’ll take some time and provide a short take on the production… Bootycandy – Left Edge Theatre, Santa Rosa Pluses: script, performances Minuses: a bit disjointed, a bit long Playwright Robert O’Hara claims that every character in Bootycandy crossed his…
My guests on the 11/20/25 “Theatre Thursday” segment on The Drive on 95.5 FM were director Jenny Hollingworth and actor Matt Farrell from the Spreckels Theatre Company production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. This show runs in the Condiotti Theatre at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park through December…
North Bay Stage and Screen 