Lauren Gunderson's "The Revoluntionists" at the Town Hall Theatre through October 20

The Town Hall Theatre Company's empowering and deeply moving production of Lauren Gunderson's magnificent, comedic play, "The Revoluntionists," plays through October 20. Directed by Susan E. Evans.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

(L-R background) Heather Kellogg (Charlotte Corday), Kimberly Ridgeway (Marianne Angelle), Suzie Shepard (Marie-Antoinette) and (foreground) Sarah Mitchell (Olympe de Gouges) in "The Revolutionists." 

Photo: Stu Selland/Courtesy of the Town Hall Theatre Company

"The Revoluntionists." Through October 20. $25-$30. Town Hall Theatre Company, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Tickets: 925.283.1557, www.townhalltheatre.com/the-revolutionists

Christopher Chen’s “You Mean To Do Me Harm,” at San Francisco Playhouse through November 3

Christopher Chen’s provocative, jarring and compelling play, “You Mean To Do Me Harm,” centers upon a dinner party attended by two interracial couples. Despite all being witty, sophisticated urbanites, their casual conversation takes a disturbing turn and escalates into the real and the surreal, the actual and the imagined.

Directed by Bill English, the San Francisco Playhouse production stars Jomar Tagatac as Daniel, Katie Rubin as Lindsey, Charisse Loriaux as Samantha and Cassidy Brown as Ben.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

Left to right: Samantha (Charisse Loriaux), Ben (Cassidy Brown), Daniel (Jomar Tagatac) and Lindsey (Katie Rubin) in “You Mean to Do Me Harm” at the San Francisco Playhouse. 

Photos: Ken Levin

Samantha (Charisse Loriaux) and Ben (Cassidy Brown) in “You Mean to Do Me Harm” at the San Francisco Playhouse.

Left to right: Lindsey (Katie Rubin), Ben (Cassidy Brown) and Daniel (Jomar Tagatac)  in “You Mean to Do Me Harm” at the San Francisco Playhouse.

Daniel (Jomar Tagatac)  in “You Mean to Do Me Harm” at the San Francisco Playhouse.

Ben (Cassidy Brown) Daniel (Jomar Tagatac)  in “You Mean to Do Me Harm” at the San Francisco Playhouse

“You Mean To Do Me Harm. Through November 3. $25-$100. San Francisco Playhouse, Second floor of the Kensington Park Hotel, 450 Post St., S.F. Tickets: 415-677-9596 or www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/get-tickets/

Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” at San Francisco Playhouse through September 8

The cast helps recreate Georges Seurat's painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," (1884) on stage at the San Francisco Playhouse. Photos: Ken Levin

Stephen Sondheim's endearing musical, "Sunday in the Park with George," follows the days leading up to the completion of one of French painter Georges Seurat's greatest works, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." (1884)

The San Francisco Playhouse production features John Bambery as Seurat, a Parisian artist who founded Neo-Impression—a technique using minute brushstrokes of divergent colors to convey light—eventually known as Pointillism. It also stars Nanci Zoppi as Dot, the artist's lover and model.

With "Sunday in the Park with George," director Bill English, musical director Dave Dobrusky, choreographer Kimberly Richards and the cast create a visual feast on stage.
-Stephanie Wright Hession

Seurat (John Bambery) sketching Dot (Nanci Zoppi) in the park.

Best friends Celeste 1 (Emily Radosevich) and Celeste 2 (Corrie Farbstein) on the Ile de la Grande Jatte watching George (Bambery) and Dot (Zoppi).

Xander Ritchey portrays the Boatman depicted in Seurat's work.

(L-R) Louise (Gwen Herndon) and Yvonne (Abby Haug) posing for George's painting.

"Sunday in the Park with George." Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim with book by James Lapine. Through September 8. $20-$125. San Francisco Playhouse, Second floor of the Kensington Park Hotel, 450 Post St., S.F. For tickets: 415-677-9596 or https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/2017-2018-season/sunday-park-george/