tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104274762012-01-24T12:01:50.284-08:00Welcome to Bay Area Arts! This online blog by arts, culture and travel journalist Stephanie Wright Hession covers the visual and performing arts, travel, cultural events and fashion in the San Francisco Bay Area via preview briefs, photographs, reviews, posts and mentions. Please e-mail press releases and website links for digital photographs to: bayareaarts@yahoo.com. Please do not send attachments.Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-81848078151626814812012-01-24T11:52:00.000-08:002012-01-24T12:01:50.305-08:00

Former Life photographer Peter Solmssen exhibits work in "Brazil in the Sixties" By Stephanie Wright Hession Peter Solmssen captured this intriguing black-and-white image of two tuxedoed men eyeing a woman in 1960s Brazil. His works are on view at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. Photos courtesy of the artist. One day in Singapore in

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-15547168049318800082011-11-08T15:43:00.000-08:002011-11-14T13:42:42.106-08:00

“Trevor Allen gives brilliant performance in ‘Working for the Mouse” By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture Writer Performing a one person show presents an array of challenges, the main one being how to keep the attention of audience members for an extended period of time, especially when the production doesn’t include an intermission. And yet that’s exactly what Trevor Allen did

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-3867126828001110032011-09-22T14:02:00.000-07:002011-09-22T14:14:25.811-07:00

Meet Surrealist painter Cynthia Tom and see an exhibit of her new works during the San Francisco Open Studios, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat., Oct. 1 and Sun., Oct. 2 at the 1890 Bryant Street Studios, 1890 Bryant St., S.F. For those not familiar with her work, Cynthia's exquisite paintings possess ethereal, emotive and mysterious qualities. Don't miss this opportunity to meet and support a truly

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-19819661270654574412011-08-14T11:37:00.000-07:002011-08-15T15:37:06.342-07:00

"Land of Magic: Artists Explore Make Believe," a group show at the Bedford Gallery explores desire, escape and reverie. By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture Writer Raised in Montreal, Rosemary Scanlon now makes her home in Canada's Yukon Territory, which influences the ethereal images of owls, raccoons, unicorns and the boreal forest that appear in her paintings. "When I first started

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-45004477461938203462011-08-14T11:35:00.001-07:002011-08-15T15:39:48.208-07:00

"Aurora Theatre produces 'The Eccentricities of a Nightingale,' one of Tennessee Williams' lesser-known plays."  By Stephanie Wright Hession Arts and Culture Writer Tennessee Williams spent decades retooling "The Eccentricities of a Nightingale," including revising the piece for 25 years before it opened on Broadway in 1976."Eccentricities" is one of Williams' lesser-known plays, but he's

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-77940222222175246922011-08-14T11:33:00.001-07:002011-08-15T15:36:17.000-07:00

"'Outside In,' show at the 1:AM Gallery focuses upon graffiti as art" By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture Writer Though graffiti dates to ancient civilizations, it took recent artists such as Keith Haring to nudge this counterculture art form toward the mainstream.While not wholly embraced, an appreciation for the urban art continues to be nurtured with an increasing number of galleries

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-11281145938332082922011-08-14T11:31:00.000-07:002011-08-15T15:42:37.041-07:00

"Eugenie Chan's 'Bone to Pick', re-envisions the Greek myth of Ariadne, at the Cutting Ball Theater." By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterIn 2008, Eugenie Chan debuted "Bone to Pick," her provocative re-envisioning of the Greek myth of Ariadne, at the Cutting Ball Theater. The San Francisco playwright set the tale in a post-apocalyptic world and reinvented Ariadne as a waitress

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-21847642486856710182010-12-02T09:12:00.000-08:002010-12-08T13:30:52.129-08:00

"African-American Shakespeare Company's production of 'Cinderella' enchants and delights" By Stephanie Wright Hession Arts and Culture Writer San Francisco actor Khamara Pettus often plays characters that possess a sinister nature. She recently portrayed Ashley, a member of a chain saw touting, pool of office workers at the Cooney Lumber Mill, who collectively kill a lumberjack once a month, in

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-24109719907344063922010-10-28T10:34:00.000-07:002010-12-08T13:32:34.398-08:00

"San Francisco Trolley Dances offers a mirthful ride" Stephanie Wright Hession Arts and Culture Writer As Sara Shelton Mann choreographed a work in the San Francisco Botanical Garden, she didn't expect a troupe of boisterous squirrels to become her muses. "When I went there to rehearse, there were these squirrels, so I named all of them Fred, and it's about Fred the squirrel," she says. "

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-53582154810201216062010-05-05T11:49:00.000-07:002010-05-05T14:00:41.259-07:00

Aurora Theatre’s “John Gabriel Borkman,” mixes powerful performances with melodramaBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterAlthough Henrik Ibsen wrote “John Gabriel Borkman” in 1896, its story of Borkman (James Carpenter), a greedy, power hungry banker suffering from delusions of grandeur still resonates today given what happened with Bernie Madoff and the recent upheaval in the U.S.

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-85735015692481763052009-12-24T14:45:00.000-08:002010-02-09T12:48:28.586-08:00

Cirque du Soleil’s “Ovo” offers a charming glimpse into the world of insectsBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterInsects surround us every day—in the air, underground and sometimes underfoot. Yet because of the tiny stature of most bugs, the majority of people don’t give them much thought. That’s what makes Cirque du Soleil’s “Ovo” so delightful. It presents these petite creatures in

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-58098563665386012682009-11-09T23:36:00.001-08:002009-11-17T13:53:46.019-08:00

Neil LaBute’s “Fat Pig” challenges societal ideals of beautyBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterNeil LaBute’s provocative and deeply moving play “Fat Pig,” at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre, takes an honest and necessary look at one of the last acceptable forms of prejudice in contemporary society—fat phobia—and the devastating harm it causes. LaBute, whose work includes “In the Company

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-469396774737617072009-07-30T16:17:00.000-07:002009-07-30T17:22:51.170-07:00

Broadway by the Bay enchants with Rodger and Hammerstein’s “The King and I”By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterA colliding of cultures, a test of wills, the challenge of learning to embrace people very different from yourself and the darker issue of human slavery are the enduring themes in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” which continues to resonate strongly with

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-58853467824478973912007-12-26T17:31:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:52:35.451-08:00

"Habitat" engages and thrills with grace, strength and skillBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterAudience members ambled up a creaky set of wooden stairs, its banisters wrapped in vivid blue tulle, to the second floor Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. They appeared eager to attend the December 14 opening of Sweet Can Productions' "Habitat," a mixture of circus arts, dancing and

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-47225465947840119462007-08-31T20:29:00.000-07:002007-09-01T21:19:37.328-07:00

Aurora Theatre’s production of “Hysteria” intrigues and mesmerizesBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterWhat happens when a highly imaginative playwright places Sigmund Freud, Salvador Dali and a deeply distressed female stranger together on a rainy London night? “Hysteria,” an engaging and disturbing tale by British playwright Terry Johnson. Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre’s 16th season

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1100099620678080752007-08-20T19:51:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:52:35.629-08:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterRejection by their men, the longing for dreams unfulfilled and the sweet memories of good times past-and the residual loneliness of it all-give the three women in “Blues in the Night” reason to convey their yearnings through a series of melancholy tunes in this emotionally rich musical. Conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, with musical

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-29571085718208771402007-07-05T14:49:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:52:35.921-08:00

Superb acting, brilliant directing and beautiful staging can’t save "Bosoms and Neglect"By Stephanie Wright Hession Arts and Culture WriterWith superb acting, the brilliant directing of Joy Carlin and playwright John Guare’s supple gift for language and his sensitive insight into the failings of the human ego, one anticipated that the Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre Company’s revival production of

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-24225770364637609682007-02-10T10:56:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:52:36.329-08:00

“How We First Met” offers witty, spontaneous and hilarious productionBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterThe beauty of Jill Bourque's idea for a theatrical production lies in its simplicity and universal appeal. As the creator and director of "How We First Met," an improvisational show which opened Feb. 2 at Theatre 39 in San Francisco, Bourque focuses upon couples and the personal

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1166818750542681152006-12-22T12:14:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:28:17.346-07:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterWelcome the 2007 Chinese New Year by attending the New Tang Dynasty TV’s production of “Myth and Legends.” Performed for a limited engagement Jan. 5 through 7 at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, it celebrates the richness and beauty of ancient Chinese culture. It takes theatergoers on an imaginative journey to an ethereal world,

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1154474809328847282006-08-01T16:24:00.000-07:002008-05-31T16:17:53.210-07:00

Lamplighters create magic with its production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Witch's Curse: Ruddygore"By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterMagnificent voices, delightful music, Victorian humor and exquisite costumes highlight Lamplighters Music Theatre's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Witches Curse: Ruddygore," a comic opera and thriller directed by Jane Erwin Hammett and

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1135296439107156452005-12-22T16:05:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:29:29.054-07:00

"The Hard Nut" offers hilarious twist on standard Christmas fareFor theatergoers wanting to enjoy a holiday production but who feel a bit weary of the traditional versions, there’s one rendition that gives a lively twists on standard Christmas fare.Cal Peformances’ presentation of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s “The Hard Nut” offers a hilarious alternative to the classic tale of “The Nutcracker.”

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1133481688970482792005-12-01T15:57:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:30:38.392-07:00

Playhouse West’s “Here on the Flight Path” offers an evening of laughterBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterAn evening of laughter awaits those who see Playhouse West’s production of Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s “Here on the Flight Path” directed by Lois Grandi.David Hern brings the wit and humor of Foster’s writing wonderfully to life with his charming portrayal of John

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1132121198986467962005-11-15T22:03:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:32:12.199-07:00

Cirque du Soleil’s “Corteo” mesmerizes and enchantsBy Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture Writer Under a grand royal blue and sunflower yellow striped tent, Cirque du Soleil opened its latest production “Corteo” on Friday, Nov. 11 in the parking lot at SBC Park in San Francisco. Staring at a sheer curtain draping the front of the stage, featuring a mural with a clown surrounded by other

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1129523927791731852005-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:002007-08-21T10:33:10.007-07:00

By Stephanie Wright Hession Arts and Culture Writer "The Tempest" whooshed on to the stage of the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater opening night. Directed by Lillian Groag, this visually stunning, magical and engaging production marks the end of California Shakespeare Theater's 2005 season. The opening scene initiates a thrilling pace with a terrifying shipwreck, complete with thunder, lighting

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1125073783089223112005-08-26T09:27:00.000-07:002007-08-21T10:34:59.722-07:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterFittingly, the fog rolled in and a chill descended upon the audience during the opening night of California Shakespeare Theater's "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part Two" at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater in Orinda. The weather set the ideal tone for this ambitious production directed by Jonathan Moscone and Sean Daniels as well

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1107887875834843402005-02-08T10:33:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:38:51.350-07:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterEleven years after the end of their torrid affair, Melinda "Lindy" Metz (Lois Grandi) and Adam Penzius (Marvin Greene) reunite. Claiming he's in town for a meeting with a client, Adam calls Lindy after more than a decade. A teacher attending an educational conference, she invites him to her hotel room for dinner. Why the phone call and the desire

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1107585345747748902005-02-04T22:33:00.000-08:002007-08-21T10:39:50.921-07:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterJust in time for Valentine’s Day Berkeley Rep presents Charles L. Mee’s “Fêtes de la Nuit,” a madcap kaleidoscope of viewpoints on amour-Parisian style. Directed by Les Waters, this production at the Roda Theatre offers naughty glimpses into romantic situations and everyday life inspired by Mee’s travels to Paris. “Fêtes de la Nuit” starts out

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427476.post-1107059724191198062005-01-29T20:32:00.000-08:002005-05-02T12:52:21.996-07:00

By Stephanie Wright HessionArts and Culture WriterFor those looking to indulge in a riotous romp there's “The Gamester,” American Conservatory Theater’s current production at the Geary Theater. Based upon Jean-Francois Regnard’s “Le Joueur” and set in late 17th century Paris, this adaptation by playwright Freyda Thomas centers on Valère (played by Lorenzo Pisoni) a likeable cad who’s obsessed

Stephanie Wright Hessionnoreply@blogger.com