BEST OF 2016 SF Bay Area Theatre
BEST OF BAY AREA LIVE THEATRE 2016
Composing my “Top Lists of the Year” is not easy since so many outstanding productions are part of the greater Bay Area Theatre in a region with so many wonderful companies - with 300 stages plus in the Bay Area. My list includes two musicals and plays Directed by Daren AC Carollo, and Michael Socrates Moran. Two productions that include the brilliant talent of TBA winner Edward Hightower and up and coming actor singer Kevin Redrico are both in two of my picks for this past season. The high light of 2016 is Nicholas A. Olivero's SF SPEAKEASY. Here is my list of Plays and Musicals - 20 in all for Best of 2016 -
BEST PLAYS OF 2016
Ten to Number One Production
NUMBER TEN
Douglas Morrisson Theatre, Presents
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
By Josefina Lopez
Directed by Dale Katja Rivera,
with Elena Ruggiero, Emily Alvarado, Annette Amelia Oliveira,
Janelle Aguirre, and Leticia Duarte.
NUMBER 9
The Berkeley Playhouse Presents
‘PETER AND THE STARCATCHER’
By Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Music by Wayne Barker
Directed by Michael Socrates Moran,
Music Director Michael Patrick Wiles
NUMBER 8
San Francisco Playhouse presents
the West Coast Premiere of
RED VELVET
Written by Lolita Chakrabarti
Directed by Margo Hall
NUMBER 7
Town Hall Theatre presents
'ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA'
By Tony Kushner, Directed by Joel Roster
March 19, 2016
NUMBER 6
FAULTLINE THEATRE PRESENTS
MAGGIE’S RIFF
Based on Jack Kerouac’s Maggie Cassidy
Written by Jon Lipsky, Directed
by Cole Ferraiuolo.
Music by Adam Lipsky
NUMBER 5
The Ubuntu Theater Project Presents
'THE GRAPES OF WRATH'
By Frank Galati, adapted from
the John Steinbeck novel,
Directed by Michael Socrates Moran,
Music by Tommy Crawford
and Branice McKenzie
NUMBER 4
Golden Thread Productions presents
The World Premiere of
The Most Dangerous Highway in the World
by Kevin Artigue,
directed by Evren Odcikin
tale of resilience inspired by the real-life “Pepsi-bottle boys” of Afghanistan
NUMBER 3
San Jose Stage Company and El Teatro Campesino Presents
World Premiere
VALLEY OF THE HEART
A KABUKI CORRIDO
Written and Directed By Luis Valdez
NUMBER 2
San Francisco Playhouse Presents
COLOSSAL
Written by Andrew Hinderaker, Directed by Jon Tracy
Choreographer Keith Pinto
NUMBER ONE BEST PLAY OF 2016
Boxcar Theatre
SF SPEAKEASY
Created by Nick A. Olivero
Written by
Bennett Fisher and Nick A. Olivero
Directed by Michael French, Leah Gardner, Erin Gilley, Nick A. Olivero
Produced by David Gluck, Geoffrey Libby and Nick A. Olivero
BEST MUSICALS OF 2016
NUMBER 10
Palo Alto Players Present
THE LITTLE MERMAID
Book by Doug Wright,
Music by Alan Menken,
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Based on the Disney Film
Director and Choreographer
Janie Scott,
Music Director Lauren F Bevilacqua,
NUMBER 9
Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre Presents
MY FAIR LADY
Book Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe,
Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo
Music Director Brett Strader, Choreography Christina Lazo
NUMBER 8
Ray of Light Theatre
Presents
THE WILD PARTY
Book Music and Lyrics
by Andrew Lippa
Based on poem by
Joseph Moncure March
Directed by Jenn BeVard, Music Director David Aaron Brown
Choreographer Alex Rodriguez
NUMBER 7
WOODMINSTER SUMMER MUSICALS
PRESENTS
Shrek The Musical
book by William Steig
Musical Book and Lyrics
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Jeanine Tesori
"I'm A Believer" by Neil Diamond
Directed by Joel Schlader,
Musical Direction by Daniel Thomas,
Choreographer Jody Jaron
NUMBER 6
Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre Presents:
Mary Poppins
by Julian Fellows, Music by Roger and Richard Sherman
Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo.
Vocal Direction by Sierra Dee, Choreography by Kelly Cooper.
Musical Direction
by Jo Anne Fosselman,
Produced by Kathleen Breedveld.
NUMBER 5
Broadway By The Bay
Presents
OKLAHOMA
Directed by
JOSHUA MARX
Music Director
SEAN KANA
Choreographed by
CAMILLE EDRALIN
NUMBER 4
City Lights Theatre Presents
AMERICAN IDIOT
Music by Green Day
lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Directed by Jeffrey Bracco, Choreographed by
Christine Herrera
Music Direction by
Samuel Cisneros
NUMBER 3
Center Repertory Company Presents
'ROCK OF AGES'
By Chris D'Arienzo, drawn from rock and pop hits of the 1980s,
Directed by Dyan McBride, Music Direction Kevin Roland,
Choreography by Staci Arriaga
NUMBER 2
Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre Presents:
In the Heights
Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes
Directed and Choreography
by Christina Lazo
Musical Direction by Sierra Dee,
Produced by Kathleen Breedveld.
NUMBER ONE
MISS SAIGON
Broadway By The Bay
Presents
MISS SAIGON
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Book by Alain Boublil
Directed by Jasen Jeffrey, Music Director Sean Kana,
Choreographer Nicole Helfer
I was asked to list my favorites this season that didn’t make my top 10
Honorable Mention Productions in 2016
In no particular order
SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF - AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER
Directed by Gordon Edelstein
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Bay Area Musicals
Directed by Matthew McCoy
EQUUS
Rhino Theatre -
Directed by John Fisher
WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF -
Shotgun Players -
Directed by Mark Jackson
1776 Musical -
Contra Costa Musical Theatre,
Directed by Scott Fryer
BAGYO’ Theatre First -
Directed by Bridgette Lorioux
IT SHOULD’A BEEN YOU
Center Rep -
Directed by Marc Jacobs
LEGALLY BLONDE -
HillBarn Theatre
Directed by Dan Demers
SHOWGIRLS THE MUSICAL -
Directed by Joshua Granell
RAGTIME
Woodside Community Theatre
Directed by Gary Stanford Jr
THE GIN GAME
The Altarena Theatre -
Directed by Sue Tigg
MOTHERS AND SONS
The New Conservator Theatre -
Directed by Arturo Catricala