Tom Stoppard's 1960s play Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead finishes its run at the UC Davis Department of Theatre & Dance tonight through Saturday at the Main Theatre in Wright Hall. Michael Barakiva, Granada Artist-in-Residence at UC Davis, directs the absurdist comedy that elevates two minor characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet to central roles. The play features witty fast-paced dialogue and philosophical ponderings that involve meaning, being, and knowing. “There are times when things make sense and there are times when you’re transported from one space to another and reality bends to accommodate desire or fear,” Barakiva notes. “We're using Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Lorca

Big Idea Theatre’s production of “The Pillowman” opened Thursday night and led its viewers through a dark and sometimes painful statement about the importance of storytelling and art. The play, directed by Kirk Blackinton, is an adaptation of the 2005 Broadway hit by the same name. Set in a totalitarian police state, the dark play chronicles the interrogation of Katurian Katurian, a brilliant writer with a tortured past. He and his older brother, Michal, who suffers from a form of mental retardation, are being held on charge of the murder of several young children. The two cops, Tupolski and Ariel, are attempting to tie Katurian’s stories to the killings. Many of his stories portray grue

After seven years of planning and development, the Sacramento Children’s Museum opened its doors Thursday morning after 24 little hands, holding red scissors, cut the green ribbon in front of more than 300 people waiting to explore the new museum. The Sacramento Children’s Museum is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2004, that focuses the interactive exhibits on math, science, art and social learning skills for children ages 8 and under. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2701 Prospect Park in Rancho Cordova, children could get their faces painted with bright swirls of pinks, blues and greens, or watch a colorful balloon be shaped into a sword or a giraffe while they waited for the ribbo

Though many find comfort in the familiar, there’s also an enjoyable thrill that only a bit of change can provide. Big Idea Theatre’s “King of Shadows,” which opened Thursday, finds a great balance using a familiar plot in a modern-day setting for an interesting theatrical experience. I parked at the front of the building which faced closed business doors and a large locked gate. I was convinced that somehow this was the wrong location. As I frantically called around for someone to give me directions, I saw just behind me a small sign designating the location as Big Idea Theatre. As I turned into the alley and parking lot area of the business, I was pleasantly surprised by the small art-f

Looking through the eyes of Anne Frank was truly an extraordinary experience at B Street Theatre. “Extraordinary Things: Through the Eyes of Anne Frank” captivates its audience with diverse characters and realistic props. Playwright Dana Friedman brings to life on stage the extreme conditions that millions of Jews had to face in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Directed by Buck Busfield, the play is set in Amsterdam-present-day-Netherlands-where Anne Frank, her family and four others lived in her father’s office building for two years to ensure the safety of Anne’s older sister Margot from the German authorities, who would have taken her to the a Nazi concentration camp. The

As we ease on down the road of life, the little things are what keep us going. Spending time with family, enjoying great entertainment and having a few laughs are great ways to have such an experience. From April 8 through April 24, California State University, Sacramento’s Department of Theatre and Dance presented William F. Brown’s “The Wiz” for the entire Sacramento community to enjoy. The play was directed by Melinda Wilson Ramey and choreographed by Linda S. Goodrich and featured the original songs by Charlie Smalls. “The Wiz” is of course the 1978 movie rendition of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and Sac State’s students pulled off the show in a very impressive way. P

WHAT is it? V-Day Sacramento 2011 refers to the 2011 Sacramento community production of The Vagina Monologues that will be held in April 2011. It is a project of Northern California Association for Women Take Back the Night based in Sacramento (Sacramento WTBN). In addition to bringing the local and international plight of women and girls to the forefront, the goals of V-Day Sacramento 2011 are to raise money to benefit local anti-violence organizations and to channel awareness into action. In 2011, the proceeds from the V-Day Sacramento 2011 production of “The Vagina Monologues” will benefit WEAVE, Sacramento Women Take Back the Night, and My Sister’s House. Learn more about V-Day, V-

Currently in its second weekend (of four), New Helvetia Theatre’s production of “They’re Playing Our Song” is another winner from the young company. Founded two years ago, NHT has received high praise for productions that have included “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “tick…tick…BOOM!” and “[title of show].” “They’re Playing Our Song” should appeal to fans of both musicals and plays, as a musical that probably has more distinctive dialog than production numbers. It’s not that the songs are weak, it’s just that the rest of the material comes from the pen of Neil Simon, and so it has that tone that makes it somewhat like watching a Woody Allen movie with musical interludes. The songs themselve

California Stage’s premiere of playwright Steve Lyons’ “Mystery Spot” production was full of optical illusions, science and wonder Saturday night. Directed and produced by Ray Tatar, the comedic play is set in Santa Cruz and revolves around young UC Santa Cruz student Dingo and his wacky experiences working as a Mystery Spot tour guide. Dingo, a women’s studies major, is all for “feminisms” as long as it gets him a college woman. When he meets Liz, a fellow Intro to Feminisms classmate, he goes on a quest to become worthy of her affections. Dingo gets a job at Mystery Spot, where he meets Liz’s mother, the owner of the tourist attraction. Actor Nick Koehler, who plays Dingo, brings out

Three Oscar statutes march on the red carpet offering vials of liquid pleasure. Chiseled bodies, photographer’s lenses can’t resist. Camera flashes bounce off their shells like bullets aimed at Superman.Stylish partygoers can’t help but to be intrigued. They all want a sip. Come closer, the golden boys six-pack abs invite. Emblazoned in black letters is the campaign slogan for AIDS and HIV prevention: “Play, but Play it Safe.” Yes, it is the Oscars, but we can’t help to be reminded of the impact of the deadly disease. Christian, one of the golden boys agrees, “We wanted to raise awareness for AIDS and HIV,” said Christian, who asked that his last name remain unpublished. “We’re raising mo

“Cinderella” is a classic story for little girls, but the production put on by Runaway Stage Productions’ Storybook Theatre at the 24th Street Theater is a family show. It will keep the kids happy and the adults laughing. The production follows the general story of “Cinderella” but strays so that the actors can interact with the children. There was pretty even mix in the audience, so adults won’t feel out of place if they bring kids or if they decided to sneak off and enjoy it on their own. Keep your ears open for witty lines from the Prime Minister and the Duke. The Duke, played by Christopher Saechao, and the Prime Minister, played by Kevin Sowles, provide most of the comedy for adults.

When Brian Hillebert was 7 years old, he was hit by a car and left in a coma. His awakening was considered a miracle, but doctors said he would never walk again. Today, the 40-year-old not only walks, but is a lead actor for a local theater company. The Sacramento-based Short Center Repertory is a theater company working mostly with disabled actors, and Hillebert – whose mobility on his right side remains impaired – is one of the stars in “Extensions,” which runs through Jan. 30. “I originally wanted to be a professional wrestler, but that was too much,” Hillebert said. “I got started in stand-up comedy, but I got tired of the rotten tomatoes, so I started acting.” He attributes acting

“The Owl and the Pussycat” will open Wednesday as a two-person production in Sacramento Theatre Company’s intimate Pollock stage. The script is the only live-theater piece that TV writer Bill Manhoff has done and offers a timeless and comedic look at love – and how difficult it can be. “Love isn’t easy, it’s always hard,” said Matt Miller, the theater’s artistic director and the director of the play. “But it can be funny when it’s somebody else.” Miller said the play, which was originally written in the early 1960s, takes two very different people who seem to have nothing in common and throws them together, where they develop an unmistakable mutual attraction. “The whole thing keeps you

Lisa Kron’s “Well” will debut this Sunday at B Street Theatre. The play has been well-received across the country, and now director Jerry Montoya will present his rendition of Kron’s autobiographical production for Sacramento. “When I read it for the first time I was constantly surprised,” Elisabeth Nunziato said. She will be playing the role of Lisa Kron. “The way it’s written, you will have to ask yourself: Okay, in what universe are we now? And as the story seems to unravel, it all ends up coming together in the end.” The play, which is about Kron’s relationship with her mother, illness and the community, is designed to break the fourth wall, which means it acknowledges the audience r

“He doesn't care what you think,” Jack Gallagher said about his son Liam. “Liam is a different kind of cool.” Liam, 14, has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He is Gallagher’s son. And he is the subject of the Sacramento writer/comedian/actor’s new one-man show, which opened last week at the B Street Theatre. Gallagher performed “A Different Kind of Cool,” his fourth one-man show, on Thursday night. He still performs his previous one-man shows - ”Letters to Declan,” “Just the Guy and “What He Left” - in various venues. All of Gallagher’s one-man shows are based on his life. Gallagher tells very personal stories during his plays, but he tells his “stuff,” as he puts it - not

More than $30,000 was recently awarded to six local arts organizations for their innovative ways of staying afloat in the wake of reduced funding and and audiences as the economy took its toll. The grants were awarded as part of a public/private partnership through the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. “When the economic crisis hit, we had these organizations calling us and saying their doors were going to shut, but they survived,” said Priscilla Enriquez, chief giving officer for the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. “We wanted to acknowledge that fact and learn how they survived.” The six organizations receiving the grants we

Trust and betrayal took the stage Friday with the opening of "Fiction" at the Capital Stage. The play by Steven Dietz, follows a dramatic love triangle that took the audience on a trip through the characters pasts. "Fiction" is about married writers Linda and Michael and how their lives were not what they seemed. Linda finds out she is dying and at her request, is allowed to read her husband's journals since he will read hers once she is gone. From there, the plot twists and turns, and as it moves between the past and the present their diaries reveal bits and pieces of their lives. The play keeps the audience guessing, unfolding the truth with each scene. I was expecting a more serious

FOR ALL WHO MISSED OR REQUESTED THE SHOW AGAIN, THIS IS FOR YOU! Fascinating and Dramatically Compelling, this Eloquent Play depicts the supposed Meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their Philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave Social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins’ bullets would await them. The story takes place in a suite high up in a Harlem Hotel room where Malcolm X and his bodyguard Rashad are resting before Malcolm X’s fateful speech at the Audubon Ballroom. Malcolm X has r

Arco Arena was turned into a musical theatre Wednesday night for Tyler Perry's "Madea's Big Happy Family." The play featured a high-tech set that revolved around the stage to create different scenes for a 15-part cast backed by a 12-part band in the orchestra pit. Beginning around 8 p.m., thousands, including former Kings players Bobby Jackson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and current Kings player Francisco Garcia, laughed, cried and sang along to the play. Perry, who is best known for his recent work as writer, producer, director and actor in a number of Hollywood films (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Why Did I Get Married, Madea Goes To Jail), wrote this play to honor his mother who passed away

The Green Room - the College Musical is set to open this Friday at the California Stage in Sacramento.  Starring Courtney Parks, Jacob Montoya, Jessica Goldman & Lafras le Roux, this edgy and funny musical is sure to entertain Sacramento audiences.  The Green Room was presented for a short run in Hermosa Beach in May to audience acclaim and great reviews.  Director Kevin Caravalho has brought some interesting elements to the production that incorporate video and photography to assist in telling the story of Divonne, Cliff, Anna & John as they live through their years in college and try to fulfill their apirations of going to Broadway.  The music & lyrics by Chuck Pelletier span a wide r