As summer enters its final official weeks, theaters across the bay are gearing up for their fall seasons — with lots and lots of shows to see!
Danville/Walnut Creek: Role Players Ensemble begins the fall with its annual Eugene O’Neill Festival, a partnership with the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. This year’s plays are O’Neill’s “Hughie” and Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.” Foundation board member Charlie Jarrett says festival organizers will explore how O’Neill prepared the way for the type of play Miller wanted to write.
“All My Sons,” runs Aug. 31 through Sept. 16 at The Village Theatre, 233 Front St. in Danville. Based on the true story of an American company selling defective military aircraft engines during World War II, two partners have been tried before the play opens for selling the defective engines that resulted in pilots’ deaths. One partner was exonerated and the other sent to prison. Blame, guilt and denial torment the exonerated partner’s family.
“Hughie,” which will show in October at Ireland’s first annual Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre in New Ross, Ireland, will be performed in Danville Sept. 21-30 in the Old Barn at Tao House. In a fresh take on the play, director Eric Fraisher Hayes has three actors (Aaron Murphy, Clive Worsley and Dorian Lockett) perform in what is usually a two-person play.
“There is dramatic magic written into the stage directions, and the addition of a third actor is key to unlocking it,” says Hayes. A sneak peek is available at the Danville Library, 400 Front St. in Danville, at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 and at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, at 7 p.m. Aug. 23. For tickets to both shows, go to www.villagetheatreshows.com.
Also opening Aug. 31 is Center Repertory’s “Mamma Mia.” The megapopular musical runs through Oct. 7 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts and features a plethora of local talent singing the infectious ABBA tunes. Taking place on a fictional Greek island, a young girl is about to be married but wants her father to walk her down the aisle.
There’s only one problem: she doesn’t know who her father is. Her scheme to find out creates havoc for all but great fun for the audience as one energetic musical number after another fills the stage. Marc Jacobs directs a cast that includes Noel Anthony, Leanne Borghesi, Josh Ditto, Lynda DiVito, Mark Farrell, Keith Pinto and many more. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.
Lafayette/Orinda: Town Hall Theatre and Local Food Adventures join forces as they introduce the theater’s new season and the professionals who make it happen as well as a culinary adventure thanks to Lauren McCabe Herpick. Herpick will discuss Town Hall’s rich history while attendees munch on some seriously delicious local flavors. “Let Them Eat Brioche” takes place Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. For tickets, priced at $65, call 925-283-1557 or go to www.townhalltheatre.com.
On Aug. 23, Cal Shakes presents its ambitious production of “The War of the Roses.” Based on Shakespeare’s “Henry VI” trilogy and “Richard III,” the show features Danny Scheie as Richard, Aysan Celik as Queen Margaret and Aldo Billingslea as Warwick. Eric Ting directs. The political unrest, power grabs, weak leadership and civil strife should make this one powerful drama as the Houses of Lancaster and York battle for the English throne. For tickets, call 510-548-9666 or go to www.calshakes.org.
Alameda/Berkeley: There’s still time to catch Altarena’s hilarious farce, “One Man, Two Guvnors,” which runs through Sept. 9 at the Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St. in Alameda. Directed by Timothy Beagley and featuring Charles Woodson Parker, Peter Marietta and Kim Schroeder Long, the show is a whirlwind ride of fun as one man (Parker) tries to keep his two bosses from finding out about each other.
The highlight of the show is that all cast members also perform in a “skiffle” band, which Beagley has interwoven into all aspects of the show. “Seeing this show is like going to a fun party,” he says. For tickets, call 510-523-1553 or go to www.altarena.org.
Those Women Productions will present the timely drama “Woman on Fire” from Aug. 24 through Sept. 9 at the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. Written by Marisela Trevino Orta and directed by Elizabeth Vega, the play tells of a woman who has lived her life on the border, but when her husband joins the Border Patrol, she finds herself caught between her desire to help the migrants and to save her marriage. For tickets, go to www.thosewomenproductions.com.
Brentwood: The Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble will hold auditions Aug. 26 and 28 for Ken Ludwig’s “The Fox on the Fairway” with callbacks on Aug. 29. Prepare a one- to two-minute monologue. Auditions take place at 400 Guthrie Lane in Brentwood. Performances take place Oct. 12-14 at Shadow Lakes Event Center, 401 Lakeview Drive in Brentwood. For more information, go to www.ghostlightte.org.
Remembrance: A teacher to generations of performers, professional actor/director and friend Dan Cawthon passed away Aug. 8. Working with him at St. Mary’s College for more than 20 years, I truly appreciate what a consummate professional he was and how much he taught me over the years as we produced a professional performing arts series together.
One of my fondest memories is performing with him as my dad in an original production written by one of the college’s MFA students. Speaking with him as he went on hospice and approached his final act, I was struck by his grace, readiness and an emotion that can only be expressed as joy as he anticipated his next life. A celebration of his life is planned for early September. If anyone would like the particulars when they become available, please contact me.
Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Search for “Curtain Calls” by Sally Hogarty at eastbaytimes.com to read more of her reviews online.