Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
Kimber Lee’s powerful and profound one-act drama, “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” takes an all too familiar headline of a young black man gunned down in his Brownsville, Brooklyn neighborhood and develops it into a relatable personal tragedy that left ...
Toba SingerEtcBerkeley,
On June 23, 2017, Toba Singer had a chance to sit down with actor Lance Gardner at Berkeley Rep. They talked about the three roles he plays in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “An Octoroon,” a modern-day adaptation of Dion Boucicault’s 1859 play ...
Emily S. MendelArt & ArchitectureBerkeley,
An internationally known and respected artist during his lifetime, but somewhat overlooked and underestimated since his death, Charles Houghton Howard (1899-1978) is rightly celebrated in the first museum survey of his artistic work in over 70 years, entitled “Charles Howard: ...
A world premiere musical based on the film by Mira Nair.
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
From Mira Nair’s Golden Globe-nominated 2001 movie comes her world premiere musical version of “Monsoon Wedding,’ a big-hearted earnest extravaganza of a four-day Punjabi Indian wedding, with all the emotion, color and drama that goes with it. Just as “Fiddler ...
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
The aftermath of a horrifying mass shooting is not the cheeriest subject for the theater, although these days, it is unfortunately a necessary one. “The Events,” written by David Grieg in response to the shocking shooting by a ...
Emily S. MendelArt & ArchitectureBerkeley,
Since I wanted to learn more about Dorothea Lange, Berkeley resident Elizabeth Partridge, Lange’s goddaughter and the granddaughter of photographer Imogen Cunningham, graciously agreed to meet with me. Since Partridge’s father, Rondal, had been Lange’s assistant, Partridge grew up as ...
David E. MorenoDanceBerkeley,
“Bach Dances” was a package neatly tied together by several factors. First, by the predictability and vibrancy of J.S. Bach, second, by the classic modern dance style of its choreographer and artistic director, Pascal Rioult. This style of modern dance ...
Recalling the "Occupy" Movement at St. Paul’s Cathedral
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
“Temple,” a U.S. premiere production at the Aurora Theatre, is a powerful exposition on how the religious officials of London’s St. Paul Cathedral reacted to the Occupy movement’s 2011 encampment outside Sir Christopher Wren’s renowned church. Artfully directed by Aurora ...
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
“Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin” is one in a series of one-man musical biographies written and performed by Hershey Felder. Berkeley Rep theater goers and critics, myself included, have already sung the praises of Felder, the gifted concert pianist, composer ...
A "part cross-examination, part psychoanalysis" of the Nazi propagandist cinematographer Leni Riefenstahl
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
“Leni,” a powerful two-person high wire act, examines the controversial Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003), the 1930s extraordinary filmmaker and vilified Hitler propagandist. “Leni” is part exposition, part cross-examination and part psychoanalysis. This intermissionless 80-minute production explores, but of course, cannot ...
