top of page

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


Featured Posts
Recent Posts
bottom of page