1,437 stories from San Jose Mercury News
Wizards and Orcs and trolls — oh, my! “The Hobbit” is on its way to movie theaters and “One Man Lord of the Rings” just made its regional premiere at San Jose R…
In playwright Bruce Norris’s “Clybourne Park,” there’s a well-meaning ’50s housewife named Bev — tall, blond, sunny and always nervously gesticulating …
In the age of “Spider-Man” extravagance on Broadway, “Peter and the Star Catcher” Â is very minimal, very smart, very funny, totally charming and ingenious. I saw i…
So many delights this trip from the warmth of the locals to the quaintness and coziness of the town. Indeed, I think I just spotted Paul Vincent O’Connor, an Ashland vet who was also s…
Clouds hang over the town as if to bid this visitor farewell. Opening weekend always goes far too quickly. Yesterday was my best day, a sublime matinee of Seagull, and a lovely, if slight, W…
Shakespeare is in the air, indeed, just ask the gold-lame Bard raising donations to erect a statue of old Will.
Winding down this summer’s theatrical marathon in Ashland. One show remains: Mary Zimmerman’s “White Snake.” Yet I find myself almost reluctant to see anything after …
Spectacular breakfast at Lark’s this morning. Pulled pork & eggs. Who knew? Also had a side of delightful conversation with a drama prof, who does hilarious but loving impersonatio…
Sweater? Check. Jacket? You betcha. Boots? Of course. It may be balmy in the Rogue River Valley right now but I’ve been fooled by Mother Nature far too many times at outdoor Shakespear…
A bikini-clad Helen of Troy parties poolside, Cressida cloaks her face in a head scarf and the troops lob hand grenades in Rob Melrose’s shock and awe “Troilus and Cressida.̶…
All’s well. People watching, coffee sipping and overhearing the impressive dramaturgical insights of a London family on their first visit to Ashland. Right now, I’m feeling quite…
Serendipity. Decided against making the trek to Morning Glory, home of the delish crab omelette, and instead went for a browse at Bloomsbury books. Rewarded by discovery of garden/patio behi…
End of Day One in Ashland. After two plays, six hours of theater-going, one’s legs feel underused as the final curtain falls. How marvelous to stroll the streets of this charming…
Famous thespians who have stayed at this grand old dame of a hotel, now the Ashland Springs, include Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Helen Hunt.
The Ashland Springs Hotel is a quirky 20s gem. One of the cool parts of this historic spot is the odd little curios in every corner. In this case a nautical theme of bottles and shells.
I’ve been coming to Ashland since the days of grunge and Doc Martins, the ’90s, but in these parts that makes me a newbie. Die hard Bard buffs have been coming here for far longe…
If you’re a theater buff on a budget, remember that there are always free Green Shows on the bricks before the curtain goes up at OSF’s three stages.
One of my favorite things about Ashland is how deeply invested people here are in the theatuh! Everywhere you go people are dishing about the plays. So far the buzz is full-on raves for Mary…
Day One Basking in the ’20s vibe in vintage Ashland Springs Hotel. Sort of reminds me of the grand old Biltmore in LA, both are period gems that make you want to drink martinis with 2 …
Espresso will have to wait. First perhaps a spot of shoe shopping and cat watching. See: Athos at Lithia Park shoes.
Unspeakably pretty on the bricks at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Nothing like seeing the Bard under the stars. Alas, sometimes Mother Nature makes a special guest appearance, …
Once more unto the breach! Hitting the road for Ashland tomorrow. My annual OSF marathon begins, officially launching SUMMER vacation, if you are a theater critic and your idea of down time …
New play maven Meredith McDonough is leaving TheatreWorks to become associate artistic director at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. The gifted McDonough ran the troupe's prestigious …
Terrence McNally’s “Corpus Christi,” often dubbed the gay Jesus play, has been sparking controversy since it debuted in New York 14 years ago. Now a new documentary about a…
The explosive Iraq war drama “Black Watch,” staged by the National Theatre of Scotland, and the world premiere of the hip-hop opera “Stuck Elevator” will headline the…
