December 2021

“Cassandra Sessions”: Malvina Reynolds Is Still Singing—at Shotgun Players

“A Christmas Carol”: A Charming, Timely Classic Shines—at Center REP

“Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black” Fuses Fear & Fun—at ACT

“Gently Down the Stream”: Delightful Donald Currie Evokes Gay History—at NCTC

“Dear San Francisco: A High-Flying Love Story” Triumphs!—at Club Fugazi

“A Christmas Carol” Reaches for the Stars—at BroadwaySF

“Così fan tutte” Has It All! —at S.F. Opera

“Twelfth Night” Delights with Musical Magic—at S.F. Playhouse

November 2021

“Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” Pioneers Women’s Rights—at MTC

“Plot Points in Our Sexual Development” Captures Desire & Hope—at NCTC

“Into the Woods”: Enchanting Celebration of Fairy Tales—Berkeley Playhouse

“Native Gardens” Pits Old vs. Young, Privilege vs. Passion—at City Lights

“Wintertime” Transforms Infidelity into Trust—at Berkeley Rep

“Father/Daughter” Showcases Superb Performances—at Aurora

“sAiNt jOaN (burn/burn/burn)” Roars with Girl Power—at Oakland

“The Importance of Being Earnest” Delights in Double Standards—at Novato

“My Fair Lady”: Magnificent Musical Celebrates Shaw’s Ideals—at BroadwaySF

“At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” Revives Gay Rebellion—at The Rhino

October 2021

“The Great Khan” Unearths Hidden History of Africa & Asia, at S.F. Playhouse

“The Central Park Jogger”: Truth or Rape? —Streaming Sassymouth

“Vincent” Spotlights the Unbroken Bond between Brothers, at 6th Street Playhouse

“The Claim” Highlights Absurdity of Asylum Process, at Shotgun Players

“Jesus Christ Superstar” Rocks!—at BroadwaySF

“Every Brilliant Thing” Shows We Are Not Alone—at OTP

“Interlude”: Confessions of a Gay Black Writer in Crisis—at NCTC   

“Topdog/Underdog” Explodes American Myths–at Main Stage West

“Fidelio” Delivers Inexpressible Joy—at S.F. Opera

“Lizard Boy”: Harmonious Trio Delights, Concert-Style—at TheatreWorks

“Every Brilliant Thing”: William Hodgson Steals Our Hearts—at OTP

“The Great Leap” Places a Price on a Free Throw—at The Stage

“Our Town” Amazes with Terrific Third Act—at CCCT

“Spanking Machine”: A Brilliant Comedy of Queer Girlhood—at The Marsh

September 2021

“The Displaced”: A Latinx Family Returns & Shakes Us Up–at Crowded Fire

“Going Out”—A Brilliant Comic Trip to Pan-Pan Liberation—at The Marsh

“Stoop Stories”: Jeunée Simon Energizes N.Y. Tales —Streaming Aurora

“Starting Here, Starting Now” Sings of Romantic Interludes—at SF Playhouse

“Cry It Out” Examines Two New Moms’ Loving Kinship—at Cinnabar 

“Winter’s Tale” Masterfully Fuses Tragedy & Comedy—at Cal Shakes

“I & You” & “Beautiful Monsters” Take a Leap for Life & Love—at Left Edge

“National Trust”—Gay Comedy Exposes Heartless Homes—Streaming Sassymouth

August 2021

“Aren’t You …?” Unveils the Secrets of California Missions—Streaming Palo Alto

“Hamilton” Brings Out the Best in US—at BroadwaySF

“What’s in a Name”: Music & Storytelling Transform a Life—Streaming TheatreFirst

“Eliogabalo”: A Righteous Romp in the Redwoods—at West Edge Opera

July 2021

“The Song of Summer” Sings Small Town Despair—at S.F. Playhouse

John Fisher’s E.S.P. Keeps S.F. Theater Thriving

“Katya Kabanova”—Austere & All About the Music—at West Edge Opera

“You Really Should Sit Like a Lady” Uncovers Gender Struggle—Streaming TheatreFirst

June 2021

“A Marriage”: Gay Comedy Celebrates Radical Honesty—Streaming TheatreFirst

“Tales of the City” Weaves Sexual, Emotional Freedom into Song—Streaming ACT

“Mercy Seat” Questions Sex & Morality—Streaming Los Altos  

“Hold These Truths” Touches Our Hearts—at SF Playhouse

“The Last Five Years”: Bittersweet Songs of Love’s Labor’s Lost—Streaming Novato

“Begin the Beguine”: Drive-in at Oakland Theater Project

“Esperanza Rising”: An Inspiring Immigration Tale—Streaming Teatro Visión

“The Farm”: Stanford Rape Unveils Illusions —Streaming Rhino

May 2021

“Brilliant Mind” Spotlights Tech, Cultures, Family Discord–Streaming Marin

“Psychopomp”—Top Actors Guide Us to Celestial Heights—Streaming We Players

“Becoming Dr. Ruth” Embodies Orphan’s Search for Family—Streaming Cinnabar

“God of Vengeance” Powerfully Updated–Streaming Yiddish Theatre

“Phantasmagoria” Explores Pandemic Struggles—Streaming Cutting Ball

“The Waves in Quarantine” Channels Virginia Woolf—Streaming Berkeley Rep

“The Royale” Turns Boxing into Revelation—Streaming Lincoln Center

April 2021

“The Line” Recalls First Responders’ Dedication—Streaming NY Public

“More Than Grapes” Relives Birth of Farm Workers Union—Streaming TheatreFirst

“Shadow/Land”—Black Women Stranded by Race/Storm–Streaming Public, NY

“The Waste Land” Refreshed at Oakland’s Drive-in Stage—Streaming OTP

“Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye” Exposes a Black Girl’s Abuse—Streaming Aurora

“Trouble in Mind” Liberates Black Lives on Broadway—Streaming ACT

March 2021

“My Name is … Johnny Cash” Rocks & Rolls—Streaming 6th Street

“Bird on a Tree Branch” Explores Secrets of the Patriarchy—Streaming Phoenix

“[hieroglyph]” Exposes U.S. Racism & Sexual Violence—Streaming SF Playhouse

“The Art of Sacrifice”: A Venomous Mother-Daughter Match—Streaming Remote

“Interlude” Rewinds a Gay Black Artist’s Life During Covid—Streaming NCTC 

“Thom Pain” Explores Angst & Self-Doubt—Streaming Los Altos Stage 

February 2021

“Strange Courtesies” Climaxes Black History Month—Streaming The Stage

“Lone Mountain” Tour Reveals Gay Side—Streaming Rhino

“Binding Ties” Shines Migrant Stories on Rail Station—Streaming Oakland

“Smithtown” Awakes Us to Tech Tragedy—Streaming Key West

“Fairfield” Elementary Unhinged over Black History—Streaming The Pear

“warplay”—On the Edge of Fear and Love—Streaming NCTC

January 2021

“The Catastrophist” Puts Prophecy under Microscope—Streaming Marin

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Casts Jazz Age Spell—Streaming Netflix

“The Human Ounce” Assesses Art and the Artist—Streaming Central Works

“Curly Fries” Softens Torments of Pandemic Life—Streaming CAL

“I Am Sending You the Sacred Face”: A Tour de Force from East Village Closet—Streaming TiQ