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THEATRE NEWS FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

Posted by:	Richard Connema 04:38 pm EST 12/14/14

BERKELEY REP BRINGS BACK SMASH HIT THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE FOR ENCORE PRESENTATION Piano virtuoso Mona Golabek returns this February for a limited engagement – Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to announce that its critically lauded presentation of The Pianist of Willesden Lane, starring acclaimed pianist Mona Golabek, will return in February for a limited engagement. After a record-breaking run last fall and a triumphant New York premiere, Golabek is back with the true story of her mother, Lisa Jura, a young Jewish musician whose dreams are interrupted by the Nazi regime. Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Golabek and Lee Cohen, the play is set in Vienna in 1938 and in London during the Blitzkrieg. In this heart-stirring show, Golabek performs some of the world’s most beautiful piano music live as she shares her mother’s riveting story of survival. Adapted and directed by Hershey Felder, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is infused with hope and invokes the life-affirming power of music. The show was one of the biggest hits in Berkeley Rep’s history, selling out virtually all 52 performances of its originally scheduled engagement and all 29 performances of its extension. The Pianist of Willesden Lane will have a three-week run February 3 – February 22, 2015 in the Roda Theatre. “I’m thrilled to return to Berkeley Rep,” remarks Golabek. “I’m truly honored that the Bay Area audience has wholeheartedly embraced my mother’s story and her music; it warms my heart. I’m excited to perform the show for a new audience and to welcome back those who have seen it before.” “Mona’s story and performance resonated profoundly with so many,” adds Felder. “We were deeply moved by the audience’s appreciation of the show and couldn’t be happier to be back for a second run.” ############################## AURORA THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS “THE LYONS” January 30-March 1, 2015Bay Area Premiere – Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver’s (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company’s productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences. Rita Lyons is the indomitable matriarch of a family facing a major crossroads. Her husband, Ben, is dying, her son is in a dubious relationship, and her daughter is barely keeping her head above water. Not to mention Rita’s living room is in desperate need of redecoration. As the family gathers around Ben’s hospital bed, they discover that they’re as terrified of being together as they are of being alone as tempers flare and vicious accusations replace sentimental memories. Hailed as “Hilariously frank, clear-sighted, compassionate and forgiving” by The New York Times, and “Black-comedy perfection,” by The Hollywood Reporter, THE LYONS is a deliciously savage, intimate examination of how we cope with life, death, loneliness, and disappointment. ########################### THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICAL in a LIMITED SAN FRANCISCO ENGAGEMENT MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL WRITTEN BY AND STARRING ANTHONY WAYNE “A mighty good time!” - THE NEW YORK TIMES “The MIGHTY REAL deal for disco fans.” - NEW YORK POST CURRENTLY FEATURED AS ONE OF OUT MAGAZINE’S “OUT 100” BRAVA THEATER CENTER WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 – SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015 OPENING: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 MORE INFO AND TICKETS AT www.brava.org Brava! for Women in the Arts, AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The Diva Foundation are pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the musical celebration of the life of the original 1970s “Queen of Disco” Sylvester, will open for a limited engagement in Sylvester’s beloved city, San Francisco, where it will play the Brava Theater Center (2781 24th Street) from Wednesday, February 11th – Sunday, March 1, 2015 (Official Press Opening: February 14th, 2015). MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is written by and stars Anthony Wayne (who has been seen on Broadway in the musicals Pippin, Anything Goes, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert), currently selected as one of OUT magazine’s “Out 100” for 2014. The musical is co-directed by Mr. Wayne and Kendrell Bowman, who also serves as the show’s costume designer. Joining Mr. Wayne in the cast of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL are Anastacia McCleskey (Violet, The Book of Mormon) as Izora Rhodes Armstead and Jacqueline B. Arnold (We Will Rock You, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Martha Wash – a.k.a. the Weather Girls (Two Tons of Fun); as well as DeAnne Stewart and Rahmel McDade. MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL set and lighting design by two-time Tony-nomineeDavid Lander (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, 33 Variations), costumes design by Kendrell Bowman, and sound design by Rafe Carlotto / Sound Associates, and choreography by Anastacia McCleskey. Mr. Wayne and Mr. Bowman, life partners, were inspired to create the musical after seeing the “Unsung” documentary about the artist on TV One in 2010. Moved by his story – by Sylvester’s bravery to openly be who he was in an era in which that was not supported or encouraged by society - Mr. Wayne sought out his music. Hooked, he discussed Sylvester's music and influence with Mr. Bowman and they both put their talents together with determination to bring the icon's story to the stage. The first incarnation of the show was a series of concerts at le poisson rouge in New York City in 2012, which were followed by sold-out performances in Washington, D.C. and Miami in 2013. When the couple decided to present their creation Off-Broadway, they took to Twitter seeking celebrity support. Through these efforts they gained the support of the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, as well as Sheryl Lee Ralph, who came on board with the duo as a co-producer. The team financed the one-month Off-Broadway engagement through funds and investments partially acquired through a Kickstarter campaign, as well as Wayne and Bowman’s own personal investment. MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL began performances at Theatre at St. Clement’s (423 W. 46th Street) on Friday, September 5th and opened on Sunday, September 14th. The limited engagement ended on Sunday, October 5th a sell-out, and with the producers having recouped their investment. Before that limited run ended, Wayne and Bowman were interviewed for “Unsung,” and will become part of a new edit of the documentary that inspired the musical (airing on TV One this upcoming season). ##################### HUGHIE HEADS TO DANVILLE FOR A RETURN VISIT IN JANURY For the sixth year in a row, the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House returns to the Museum of the San Ramon Valley as the location for the first Playwrights’ Theatre series of staged readings for 2015. Written by Eugene O’Neill while living in Danville from 1937 – 1944, Hughie will be seen for only two performances on Saturday, January 10 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m. The production of Hughie follows the overwhelming community response to the Eugene O’Neill Festival Festival production of The Iceman Cometh last September. The sold-out performances of Iceman should alert theatre-goers of the need to reserve early for the January performances. Reservations are available online at the Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s website www.eugeneoneill.org or by phone at (925) 820-1818. Tickets are $25.00 per person. Hughie tells the tale of the lonely late night struggles as a traveling man who spends the midnight hours with the world’s most disinterested lobby clerk in a small New York hotel in 1928. Aaron Murphy, who portrayed Hickey in the September production of The Iceman Cometh returns to play the role of Erie Smith in the Hughie production. He will be joined by Dirk Alphin as the lobby clerk. “Hughie is a complement to last September’s production,” says Foundation Vice President for Programs Eric Fraisher Hayes. “Hughie, however, provides a lot more humor than most playgoers expect from O’Neill.”

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