My favorite 6-foot-plus rabbit returns to the stage with Pittsburg Theatre Company’s production of “Harvey.” I did this show many years ago at Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre, and I had many informative conversations with the mischievous bunny.
Running Feb. 28 through March 9 at the California Theatre on 351 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg, “Harvey” features Kirk Waller (Elwood P. Dowd), who insists on including his friend Harvey in all his sister Veta’s (Suzanne Ochs) social gatherings much to Veta’s dismay. It’s not that Harvey is rude or uncouth that bothers Veta, but rather that he is a very large invisible rabbit. To avoid further embarrassment for the family, especially her daughter Myrtle (Skylar Clouse), Veta tries to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium.
Rather narrow-minded to my way of thinking, but then my family has wondered about my sanity for years!
“‘Harvey’ is my sentimental favorite classic play,” says director Dianna Schepers. “This magical, hilarious, heartfelt and thought-provoking comedy has moved, delighted and inspired so many people to rediscover the kindness inherent in all human beings.”
The cast also includes Brad Verla, Phillip Leyva, Mary Katherine Patterson, Alex Schepers, Sandy Wright, Nathalie Archangel and Issac Arriaga.
For tickets, call 925-427-1611 or go to tickets831.com.
Berkeley: You may find yourself questioning the nature of faith, morality and power as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” brings its heartfelt music, biblical characters and thought-provoking storyline to Berkeley Playhouse this Friday through March 30.
Directed by Kimberly Dooley, with Michael Patrick Wiles as musical director and choreographed by Kevin Gruwell, the production explores the relationships between Judas, Mary Magdalene, Jesus Christ and his followers during the final days of Jesus’ life.
“‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ tells the deeply passionate, personal stories of humans trying to love each other, battle their own demons and falter in the face of their own grappling questions of what is true and right,” said Dooley. “As we look into the kaleidoscope of the last seven days of Jesus’ life, we witness the hierarchies of power and politics juxtaposed against the radical love and compassion Christ represents.”
According to Dooley, she and her creative team see the show as a movement opera told through gesture and music.
“We want to sweep the audience up with us and take them on this powerful, visceral journey that explores radical love, the dangers of power and the power of perspective,” Dooley said.
The cast features Deanalís Arocho Resto (Jesus), Sydney Jacobs Allen (Judas), Lucca Troutman (Mary), Andrea Rae (Simon), Sean Hoffman (Peter) and Joshua Beld (Caiaphas).
For tickets, call 510-845-8542 ext. 351 or go to tickets.berkeleyplayhouse.org. Berkeley Playhouse is located at 2640 College Ave.
Castro Valley: Brazilian folklore and lyric storytelling blend into a tale of love, regret, transformation and struggle in Chanticleers’ current production “The River Bride.”
Running through Sunday on 3683 Quail Ave., the play by Marisela Trevino Orta tells of two sisters, one about to be married and the other wishing she was the bride. Both their lives take a sharp twist when a mysterious and alluring stranger is pulled from the river.
“It’s a magical piece,” said set designer Venee Call-Ferrer. “I’m very excited to share the set with audiences and hope I’ve captured a bit of the enchanted quality of Orta’s work.”
Full of shimmering greens and blues on a multi-level set, the show certainly has an other-worldly quality to it. Creating the environment for “The River Bride” isn’t all that keeps Call-Ferrer busy these days. She also just costumed the Masquers Playhouse production of “Calendar Girls,” which runs through March 2 in Pt. Richmond.
Chanticleers has also opened registration for its June summer camps. For more information on the camps and “The River Bride,” go to chanticleers.org. For tickets to Masquers’ “Calendar Girls,” go to masquers.org.
On screen: Special congratulations to Walnut Creek’s Keenan Moran, whose film “no address” appears in theaters Feb. 28.
A seventh grader at St. Perpetua School in Lafayette, Moran already had a very impressive resume as an actor with local theater companies prior to being cast as Friedrich von Trapp in the Broadway Global Tour of “Sound of Music.” He performed eight shows a week for six months in China before returning to Walnut Creek.
In “no address,” Moran plays Sam alongside film stars Billy Baldwin and Kristanna Lokin as his parents. The film chronicles a group of people who unexpectedly fall into homelessness as it explores hope, humanity and resilience. It’s inspired by a true story.
I’ve known Keenan’s family for many years. His mom Renee DeWeese Moran is a respected performing arts teacher and performer herself. Watching Keenan develop as a performer has been a joy. He is still the respectful, engaging and very likable youngster I have always known. I can’t wait to see where his many talents take him.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.