Take a trip up a giant beanstalk and into a world of music, comedy and magic with East Bay Children’s Theatre’s “Jackie and the Beanstalk.”
No, that’s not a typo. This new musical tale features a young girl as the title character. The cast also includes Rita, a narcissistic cow, Lucy, an overworked and underpaid golden goose and a diminutive giant with an enormous Napoleon complex.
This updated story by Ron Lytle will delight children and adults alike with its upbeat attitude, clever comedy and Broadway-style songs.
The traveling show will be at the Firehouse Arts Center on 4444 Railroad Ave. in Pleasanton (Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.), Marin Shakespeare Company on 514 Fourth St. in San Rafael (Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.) and at the Elks Lodge Theater on 2255 Santa Clara Ave. in Alameda (Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.).
For tickets, go to ebctonline.org.
Castro Valley: Witches and spells begin October for Chanticleers Theatre as the company presents John Van Druten’s “Bell, Book and Candle” Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 at 3683 Quail Ave.
You might remember the 1958 film starring Kim Novak and James Stewart that featured a very special Siamese cat named Pyewacket. Hopefully, the Chanticleers will have its own Pyewacket, who figures prominently in this tale of a modern witch putting a spell on a handsome young man so he will fall in love with her. Even witches, however, don’t have smooth sailing when it comes to matters of the heart.
For tickets to this perfect Halloween entertainment, call 510-SEE-LIVE or go to chanticleers.org.
S.F.: If you’d like more Halloween-themed entertainment, BATS Improv offers “Trick or Treat: Fun-Size Spooky Scenes” through Oct. 26. BATS, located at Fort Mason on 2 Marina Blvd. in San Francisco, promises a cauldron of spooky, silly and, surprisingly, sweet scenes from sci-fi to monster mashes.
For tickets, go to improv.org.
Belinda (Liz Sklar center) loses her cool as the cast (from left, Louis Parnell, Nima Rakhshanifar, Julie Eccles, Joe Ayers and Jamiel St. Rose) watch in horror in a scene from SF Playhouse’s comedy “Noises Off.” (Photo by Jessica Palopoli)
Also in S.F.: San Francisco Playhouse started its 26th season with the side-splitting comedy of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off.” Running through Nov. 8, the slapstick silliness will have your stomach muscles sore from laughing.
The company’s artistic director Bill English directs the choreographed chaos with much slamming of doors, flying sardines and dropping of pants as a fictitious theater company rehearses “Nothing On.”
Act I follows the chaotic final rehearsal played out on set designer Heather Kenyon’s gorgeous wood-paneled “home.” Act II begins with this “home” revolving to show the backstage action. The actors and crew have been doing the play for some time now, but their crazy behavior has only escalated. Now, the audience sees the backstage pandemonium as performers miss entrances, fight with each other, engage in romantic liaisons and more.
This show demands good comedic timing, physical prowess and lots of energy, and English’s stellar cast doesn’t disappoint as they execute fight/stunt director Chelsea Pace’s hilarious moves. They also go beyond the physical comedy to make each character a unique individual.
Kudos to Julie Eccles (the confused housekeeper), Patrick Russell (the frustrated director), Joe Ayers (the amorous real estate agent), Sophia Alawi (his sexy young paramour), Nima Rakhshanifar and Liz Sklar (owners of the house who unexpectedly return from Spain), Louis Parnell (a window-smashing burglar) and Jamiel St. Rose and Vivienne Truong (the exhausted backstage crew).
The farce runs Tuesdays-Sundays at the company’s theater on 450 Post St. in San Francisco. For tickets, call 415-677-9596 or go to sfplayhouse.org.
Point Richmond: Craig Lucas’ romantic fantasy “Prelude to a Kiss” runs at Masquers Playhouse on 105 Park Place starting Friday through Oct. 19.
Directed by Bruce Kaplan, the show explores love, identity and what it means to know and be known by another person. If you’re ready for a romantic comedy that also asks deeper questions about the soul, mortality and the enduring nature of connection, this is the show for you.
Go to masquers.org for tickets.
Walnut Creek: Festival Opera and Diablo Symphony Orchestra join to present a semi-staged concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s lavish “La Traviata.”
Something of a 19th Century cult and pop opera, “La Traviata” performs Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts on 1601 Civic Drive.
Performers include husband and wife, soprano Jamie Chamberlin and tenor Nathan Granner, and baritone Zachary Gordin. Richard Harrell directs with Matilda Hofman conducting.
For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Danville: There is still time to get tickets to Tri-Valley Theatre Company’s “Puffs” at the Village Theatre on 233 Front St. The fast-paced comedy runs through Sunday.
The clever story follows a group of well-meaning underdogs who just happen to attend a certain Wizard School where a certain famous boy wizard is also a student. But this isn’t his story. It’s the story of the underdogs.
For those 13 and up, the story includes silly battle scenes, moments of teen sexual awakening and humorous wizard “sex-ed” class.
For tickets, call 925-314-3467 or go to danville.ca.gov/226/Village-Theatre.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.
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