THEATER
Amélie, A New Musical A dreamy movie is transformed into a dream of a stage musical by playwright Craig Lucas, songwriters Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen, director Pam MacKinnon, the designers and a terrific ensemble headed by a luminous Samantha Barks as the radiant, smart, outgoing but emotionally withdrawn young woman who finally finds herself, touchingly and comically, in love. Through Oct. 11. $29-$97, subject to change. Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org. — R .
Hurwitt Beach Blanket Babylon Steve Silver’s effervescent revue of send-ups and showstoppers in which Snow White looks for love in an onslaught of pop-culture lampoons and fantastic hats. Ongoing. $25-$130. Club Fugazi, 678 Green St., S.F. (415) 421-4222. www.beach blanketbabylon.com. — R . Hurwitt
Between Riverside and Crazy Carl Lumbly heads an excellent cast, as a crusty curmudgeon ex-cop, wounded by a fellow officer, battling eviction and struggling to connect with his son, in this skillfully orchestrated West Coast premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ bracing, smart and darkly funny play. Ends today. $20-$100. American Conservatory Theater, Geary Theater, 415 Geary St., S.F. (415) 749-2228. www.act-sf.org. — R . Hurwitt
Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters A charming, capable and very funny Echo Brown uses sex and comedy about preparing to lose her virginity to entice us into thought-provoking material about race, class and sex in America in an artful solo show debut. Through Oct. 29. $20-$100. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. (415) 282-3055. www. themarsh.org. — R . Hurwitt
Dogfight San Francisco Playhouse opens its season with Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Peter Duchan’s musical, adapted from the 1991 film. Through Nov. 7. $20-$120. San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., S.F. (415) 677-9596. Through Nov. 7. $20-$120. 450 Post St., S.F. (415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org.
Eurydice Riveting, beautifully articulated performances by Megan Trout in the title role and James Carpenter as her Father anchor Erika Chong Shuch’s visceral, physically explosive, lyrical and poignant production of Sarah Ruhl’s delightfully imaginative, original and tender retelling of the ancient Orpheus and Eurydice myth, as seen from her point of view. Ends next Sun. $30-$50. Shotgun Players, Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgun players.org. — R . Hurwitt
Fred’s Diner Loretta Greco directs the American premiere of Penelope Skinner’s drama of the secrets in an Americanstyle diner off a British motorway. Through Oct. 11. $20-$60. Magic Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center, S.F. (415) 441-8822. www.magictheatre.org.
King Lear Cal Shakes closes its season with director Amanda Dehnert’s good but not great version of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, featuring smartly articulated work by Anthony Heald in the title role, a number of beautifully staged scenes and some terrific performances in key roles. Through Oct. 11. $20-$72. California Shakespeare Theater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. (510) 548-9666. www.calshakes.org. — R .
Hurwitt Loveland Quirky characters and outrageous comedy blend with coping with the death of a parent to generate waves of hilarity and considerable compassion in the latest long-running solo show by Ann Randolph. Tightly written and performed with mercurial skill, Randolph’s 75-minute multicharacter gem follows the misadventures and wildly outspoken judgments and inappropriate musings of her narrator on a long flight home. Through Oct. 17. $20-$100. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. (415) 282-3055. www.themarsh.org. — R . Hurwitt
The Magic Bus Antenna Theater presents Chris Hardman’s magical mystery tour through the hippie ’60s and the Beat and Cold War past, on a bus ride through the city. Veterans of the era might nitpick, but it’s hard to resist the old clips and ’60s music. Ongoing. $40-$59. Meet at Union Square, Geary Street, S.F. (855) 969-6244. www.magicbussf.com. — R . Hurwitt
Mud Blue Sky Jamie Jones’ weary, sardonic middle-aged Beth sets the tone for director Tom Ross’ finely balanced regional premiere of Maris Wegrzyn’s funny and genuinely empathetic look at contemporary life as a high school senior spends his prom night in a hotel room with three female flight attendants. Ends Sat. $32-$50. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org. — R . Hurwitt
The Oldest Boy Christine Albright’s translucent performance conveys the heart of Sarah Ruhl’s strange, curiously compelling tale of a an American mother and her Tibetan husband who are told their son is a reincarnated lama, in director Jessica Thebus’ expertly sculpted, trans-cultural West Coast premiere. Through Oct. 11. $25-$55. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. (415) 388-5208. www.marintheatre.org. — R . Hurwitt
The Phantom of the Opera Cameron Mackintosh’s new touring production, reconceived by director Laurence Connor, is the same rich and cloying operapastiche Andrew Lloyd Webber score, thin book and banal lyrics with much less spectacle and more focus on the emotional conflict, performed with more musical than acting skill by the leads. Ends next Sun. $45-$210, subject to change. Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., S.F. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf,com. — R. Hurwitt
Romeo and Juliet Rebecca J. Ennals’ Free Shakespeare in the Park production is rushed and a bit uneven, but the sword fights are thrilling, the youthful impetuosity compelling and Lauren Spencer and Carl Holvick fill the title roles so well you’re willing to follow them through the unlikeliest twists of Shakespeare’s classic. Free. Ends today. McLaren Park, S.F. (415) 558-0888. www. sfshakes.org. — R . Hurwitt
The Waiting Period The subject is suicidal depression, but there’s nothing depressing about this brilliant solo from Brian Copeland. The 70-minute tale of waiting to get the gun he bought to kill himself is brutally honest, astonishingly funny, urgent, courageous and charmingly told. Through Oct. 25. $30-$100. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., S.F., (415) 282- 3055, www.themarsh.org.
— R . Hurwitt
Wrestling Jerusalem Aaron Davidman is riveting in dance, song and incisively textured portraits of a wide variety of passionate Israelis and Palestinians as he seeks to understand the intractable, endless conflict and comes up with sharply depicted complications but, alas, few new insights. 7 p.m. Sat. $50-$125. Marines Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St., S.F. www.aarondavidman.com. — R. Hurwitt
SHOWS NOT REVIEWED
Avenue Q Berkeley Playhouse presents Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s musical comedy that is something of a “Sesame Street” for adults. Through Oct. 11. $17-$60. 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8458542 Ext. 351. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org.
Bell, Book and Candle Piedmont Oakand Rep presents John Druten’s romantic comedy about a Greenwich Village witch who can’t keep her eyes off her handsome neighbor. Fri.-Nov. 8, $20-$29. 215 Ridgeway Ave., Oakland. www.piedmontoaklandrep.org.
Beyond Words Stage Werx’s solo series presents Julia Jackson in “Worst. Boyfriend. Ever,” a meditation on bad boyfriends. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. and Oct. 15. $15. Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia St., S.F. www.stagewerx.org.
Big City Improv Comedy. $15. Ongoing. Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter St., S.F. (510) 595-5597. www.bigcity improv.com.
Blockbuster Season Mugwumpin presents a furious, humorous plunge into mass media’s influence on our perceptions of disasters and how people respond to them. Through Oct. 18. $15-$35. Intersection for the Arts, 925 Mission St., S.F. www.mugwumpin.org/ blockbuster-season.
Chicago Palo Alto Players present