Bakersfield.com Theater

CAMILLE GAVIN: Be lured by 'The Nerd,' a zany, quirky comedy

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:13:15 PDT

Quirky characters are a key element in a successful comedy and that seems to be central to Kevin Ganger's motivation for directing "The Nerd."

Ganger describes the play that opens Friday at The Empty Space as "a straight-up laugh-out-loud comedy."

Young theater actress is one to watch

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:54:07 PDT

They both learn their lines, hit their marks, rehearse with the cast and hope for the best. But there's one key difference between a star and an understudy:

Applause.

Ballet company's shows worth the long wait

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:50:25 PDT

It takes about a half-dozen driven, talented people to put on the show-stopping productions mounted every other year by the Bakersfield Ballet Theater.

And they're all named Martha Knight.

REVIEW: 'Crimes' is part heart, part humor - and entirely winning

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:36:42 PDT

Do yourself a huge favor this weekend and see "Crimes of the Heart" at The Empty Space.

I confess I have a certain bias because this Pulitzer Prize winner by Beth Henley is one of my favorite plays. Even so, at the opening night performance last Friday, director Bob Kempf's first-rate cast did a superb job of bringing to life Henley's well-written lines.

South High aims high with 'Boeing'

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:38:33 PDT

Ready for take off! Starting Friday, South High School's Rebel Acting Troupe -- aka the RAT Pack -- presents "Boeing Boeing" by Marc Camoietti and directed by Julie Ingram.

The high-flying comedy takes place in an apartment in Paris in the 1960s.

Investigate this 'Crimes' scene at Empty Space

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:57:47 PDT

Adultery, suicide, attempted murder, heartbreak, sisters, birthday desserts -- all the makings of a great story. Those themes come together this weekend as The Empty Space opens its production of "Crimes of the Heart."

Director Bob Kempf describes the play as "a very funny and very touching look at three sisters who are each dealing with their own versions of heartbreak. When one of the sisters shoots her husband, the sisters have a hilarious (if uneasy) reunion."

CAMILLE GAVIN: How farce can they go at Stars?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:57:53 PDT

Director Mark Price says he's had exceptional luck in casting "The Fox on the Fairway," which opens Friday at Stars.

"It's more of a farce than a comedy," he said. "Once you have actors who know (the acting) has to be overdone -- and know how to do it -- you're set."

'Dreamcoat' a dream production for school

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:01:43 PDT

The cast and crew of Bakersfield Christian High School will present "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, starting Friday. The musical tells the biblical story of Joseph in a fun and colorful way.

The story, set in ancient-day Canaan, centers around Joseph, the favorite of 12 brothers, who received a coat of many colors as a sign of his father's love. Joseph's life is forever changed because of one act of jealously by his brothers, and he is taken on an adventure with many twists and turns.

'Beauty' in the eye of beholders of this musical

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:59:43 PDT

The Ridgeview High theater department is gearing up to present "Beauty and the Beast," not just one of the most timeless stories ever told but also an amazing Broadway-style musical.

The production includes 45 student cast members, nine backstage techs, and an orchestra of 30 students who have been rehearsing for eight weeks.

Go 'West' Thursday for musical theater classic

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:49:15 PDT

While some Broadway musicals become dated, others never lose their appeal. This is especially true of "West Side Story," which comes to Bakersfield for a one-night performance at Rabobank Theater Thursday.

"West Side Story" is a retelling of "Romeo and Juliet," the Montagues and Capulets replaced by rival gangs the Jets and Sharks -- native New Yorkers vs. Puerto Rican immigrants. Tragic lovers Tony and Maria try to create their own world in an environment of violence, juvenile delinquency and bigotry.

CAMILLE GAVIN: Writin' -- and ropin' -- for him

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:28:28 PDT

Branding calves may seem like an odd side job for a Hollywood screenwriter, but that's what Jim Beard was doing in Glennville recently.

Even so, wrestling with livestock is almost second nature for the Bakersfield native.

CAMILLE GAVIN: Gaslight goes Hollywood

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:09:02 PDT

Artistic director and playwright Michael Prince's "Hooray for Hollywood" is actually a show within a show.

Or to be more specific, it's a movie within a melodrama; it opens Friday at the Gaslight Melodrama.

Little bit of Broadway to benefit Bakersfield

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:04:37 PDT

Although theater fans may have stifled their sobs as Anne Hathaway belted "I Dreamed a Dream" in "Les Miserables" on the big screen, they may not be immune to a live performance. Test your mettle Friday at the first-ever "Broadway in Bakersfield" benefit.

Bakersfield might be more than a little bit "off Broadway," but Lisa Watson, CEO and founder of the nonprofit Lightwave Education, is bringing two world-class performers -- Darnell Abraham and Nadine Risha -- to Stockdale Country Club to tap the power of live musical performances to raise funds for education.

Stars Theatre suffers loss after tools were stolen from workshop

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:49:15 PDT

Thieves broke into a building Stars Theatre rents in Oildale last weekend and stole tools valued at about $3,000, said Greg Mansi, the theater's set designer.

"They hit me twice," he said. "The first time was Friday night, then they came back last night (Sunday) and took the rest."

CAMILLE GAVIN: Four-leaf luck of Irish at Imbibe

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:52:50 PDT

Some say everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day and the Brothers Barton, a local bluegrass group, will celebrate the day on Sunday at Imbibe.

Although the Bartons usually play as a duo, for this occasion they've formed a four-member Celtic band that's called The World's Tallest Leprechaun.