“A Bright New Boise” at Big Idea Theatre

One of my favorite things about Big Idea Theatre is that their production values are always top-notch. Excellent actors, beautiful sets, good lighting and sound. This leaves the audience the opportunity to really focus on the content of the work being presented.

This is very much the case with A Bright New Boise, which plays through  July 16. I’m still thinking about the arguments and implications of the play, days after seeing it, and mulling over the literary merit of this dark comedy.

“The Unfortunates” at ACT

In The Unfortunates, a prisoner of war journeys through a dream world (inspired by the classic blues tune “St. James Infirmary”) where he faces a number of enemies and risks everything to save the woman he loves. The characters’ quest for salvation is marked by willingness to make music in the face of loss, and searching for love in times of desperation. It’s as life-affirming as it is dark and imaginative.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Crest

I have loved Big Bad Voodoo Daddy since middle school, and I went to a concert of theirs in Tahoe when I was… 14 years old? Maybe?

I so clearly recall BBVD’s superb music. How well they played together. Their fantastic stage presence and candor. How huge a crush I had on the bass player.

Nothing has changed. (Dirk, you’re as crush-worthy as ever!)

The band has been together for 22 years, still has all its original members, and is swinging like there’s no tomorrow.

“Next to Normal” at Runaway Stage Productions

Runaway Stage’s Next to Normal at the Black Box Theatre in West Sacramento is excellent. The show deals with a woman’s struggle with bipolar disorder and her family’s struggle to cope. Though there is humor in the piece, the content gets pretty hefty. Grief, drug abuse, suicide and complex relationships pile up on an already difficult subject matter. But it’s a nice change to see some theater with some weight in it every so often.

“Dogfight” at Green Valley Theatre

Dogfight, playing now through May 17 at Green Valley Theatre Company, definitely fits into the “Something Else” category of the company’s slogan: Classics. Comedy. And Something Else.

The story follows U.S. Marine Eddie Birdlace and the shy waitress Rose Fenny, whose relationship starts off on absolutely terrible footing. Eddie and his fellow Marines are participating in a dogfight — a cruel game with simple rules — each Marine puts $50 in the pot, and the man who brings the ugliest date to the party wins the money. Eddie asks Rose to come with him, not mentioning the dogfight, and things go downhill very fast when she finds out about it.

“In the Heights” at Green Valley Theatre Company

“In the Heights” Green Valley Theatre Company 2015. Photo by Meg Masterson

“In the Heights” Green Valley Theatre Company 2015. Photo by Meg Masterson

“In the Heights” Green Valley Theatre Company 2015. Photo by Meg Masterson

“In the Heights” Green Valley Theatre Company 2015. Photo by Meg Masterson

This is a first. Never before have I reviewed a show that was completely sold out.

I don’t mean the first performance being sold out. Or opening weekend being sold out. I mean the entire run of the show.

What’s even more remarkable is that the show was sold out before opening night.

“Cloud 9” at Big Idea Theatre

Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill is a weird play.

Act I is set in British colonial Africa during the late 1800’s, and Act II is set in 1979 London. The characters, who are played by different actors in each act, age 25 years over intermission.

Ellen loves Betty, who is married to Clive, who cheats on her with Mrs. Saunders, while Betty lusts after Harry, who is secretly having sex with Joshua and Edward. And that’s just Act I.

Confused yet?

“The Addams Family” at Runaway Stage Productions

Runaway Stage kicks off 2015 with The Addams Family, playing through Jan. 25.

The musical’s story revolves around Wednesday Addams, who has grown up and fallen in love. Wednesday has invited her boyfriend Lucas and his family to dinner, and she begs her family for “one normal night.” As in any good musical comedy, chaos ensues. And, eventually, all turns out right in the end.

2014 in Review

With the new year nearly upon us, I thought I’d take a look back at the shows I saw in 2014. It’s been a great season for theaters in the Sacramento area, and I can’t wait to see what comes to the stage in 2015!

Enter if you Dare: Sacramento’s Haunted Houses

As Halloween approaches, ghoulish attractions and shows rise to frighten and delight scare-seekers. This year, the Express visited four of the region’s headliner haunted houses.