Just Be Yourself Anna Deveare Smith’s monologuesĪnna Deveare Smith‘s one-woman shows feature monologues taken from her own interviews with real people (some famous, some not). Kate’s final speech, addressed to her sister, is traditionally meant to show her newfound understanding of submissiveness however, Sullivan executed the speech as a loving affirmation, speaking of loyalty as a way to lift her up instead of hold her back. However, Shana Cooper’s careful direction of the onstage chemistry between Kate (Erica Sullivan) and Petruchio (Slate Holmgren) allowed their relationship to bloom. The story of a woman fighting for autonomy, being humiliated and starved, wagered as a bet to an insufferable man and slowly brought to submission might be enough for many to want to put this particular Shakespeare play to rest. Last Word Taming of the Shrew by Shana Cooper The simplicity of quickly changing a space in front of the audience’s eyes made this moment breathtaking. When the lights come down and the real show begins, however, the space is transformed by a sudden influx of singing actors and carefully orchestrated stage magic, revealing Oriental rugs, hanging lanterns and bright silks. In Zimmerman’s production, the curtain rises with nothing onstage but shapes covered in white dropcloths. A cast of dozens work together to weave the tales together using song, dance, comedy and movement. The well-known story of a murderous king who falls in love with his wife’s tales is a rich mine-field of beautiful images. Curtain Raiser Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman Stokes’ soulful voice transformed the song from a harsh retelling of fishermen and prostitutes living in Amsterdam into deep, touching and bitter emotion. During a production by the Marin Theatre Company, the lead singer fell ill and Kristin Stokes took his place. This particular production by the Marin Theatre Company was no different the song was dark but intriguing, well-executed by a great male singer. In Jacques Brel’s famous musical revue, the song, “Amsterdam”, can be powerful but blustery and is usually sung by a male actor. Gender Bender Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Watching shy, naive housewives discover a vibrator while discussing its merits in front of a jaded modern audience - all without becoming pornographic - was a charged moment indeed. There is a touchingly hilarious scene in the middle of this sumptuous play in which the doctor’s wife (Hannah Cabel) and patient (Maria Dizzia) sneak into his office to fire up his newest machine and test it on themselves. Set in Victorian England, In the Next Room is about a doctor who cures “hysteria” by inducing orgasm with a vibrator.

Good Vibrations In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play by Sarah Ruhl

To me, these moments truly make theater the unique artform it is.

What makes these moments so special are the balance of surprising elements and technical expertise moments that turn out differently than I expect, while showcasing a very talented person doing something extraordinary. This is why I could never come up with a top ten list of productions instead, I’ve chosen to hone in on a top ten list of onstage moments that made some of my favorite productions awesome. Therefore, it is almost impossible for me to tell people which shows they should see since any given production could be vastly different from what made it enjoyable to me as an individual viewer. Picking favorites is tough since I base my opinion on a number of considerations: the experience as a whole, technical elements, various aesthetic choices…The list goes on. Top Ten Theatrical Moments February 19th, 2013Īs a theater professional, I’ve seen more plays than I can count. She has worked in many aspects of the theatre with several other Bay Area companies including Crowded Fire Theater, Marin Theatre Company, Z Space/Word for Word, Golden Thread, Woman’s Will, and CalShakes and is currently the Company Manager for San Francisco’s foolsFURY Theater. She was Aurora Theatre Company’s Literary Manager and Artistic Assistant for four seasons and served as resident dramaturg for the 2011-2012 Season. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Theatre with an emphasis in Dramaturgy. She still has a particular soft spot for the dramatic (and clowns, perhaps from the rodeo days). Luckily as a teenager her family returned to the Bay Area and she quickly immersed herself in more arts and culture than she had imagined was possible. Growing up in rural Oklahoma as an outsider with a flair for the dramatic, she wasn’t exposed to very much art or theatre outside of rodeos and Halloween Hell Houses. Bio: Alicia Coombes is a dramaturg, director and writer.

Histera johnny shiloh