Santa Cruz Shakespeare turns to the letters between Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo in “Vincent,” exploring the legendary artist’s life marked by passion, struggle and vision. It is an intimate, solo-actor production anchored by a commanding performance from Charles Pasternak, Jana Marcus writes in her latest theater review, asking us to reconsider not just the artist, but how we choose to see artists at all.
Jana Marcus
A native Santa Cruzan, Jana Marcus has deep roots in the local theatre and arts scene. Daughter of renowned theatre director Wilma Marcus Chandler and famed poet and film critic Morton Marcus, Jana has carved her own creative path as a multi award-winning photographer. She was the premiere South Bay area theatre photographer for over 20 years as well as an award-winning documentary and portrait photographer. Jana has also had a stellar career as an arts marketer, creating acclaimed campaigns and content for Cabrillo College, Cabrillo Stage, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Tandy Beal and Company, Actors’ Theatre, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre and more. Jana is the author of three books and the host of the true crime podcast, Line of Blood.
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‘Reefer Madness’ is a blast – if you can hear it
A spirited and entertaining “Reefer Madness” from Renegade Theater Company at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Santa Cruz features a talented cast and sharp visual design, but overpowering sound mutes the lyrics and blurs the show’s comic bite.
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A world premiere ‘Amadeus’: Daniel Stewart unites Santa Cruz arts in bold new concert adaptation
The Santa Cruz Symphony presents the world premiere of conductor Daniel Stewart’s original concert adaptation of “Amadeus” on March 28 and 29, bringing together actors from Santa Cruz Shakespeare and more than 90 singers from the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus.
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Good Egg scores a hit with the comedy ‘Matt & Ben’
Good Egg Productions makes a strong debut with “Matt & Ben,” the comedy by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers imagining how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck came to write “Good Will Hunting.” Packed with fast-paced humor and terrific performances from Sarah K. Michael and Sarah Mitchler, the show delivers a night of genuine laugh-out-loud comedy. It runs at Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre through Sunday.
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Mountain Community Theater’s ‘The Spitfire Grill’ struggles to ignite
Mountain Community Theater’s production of “The Spitfire Grill” features a committed cast and a striking woodland set, but the gentle musical struggles to generate dramatic momentum. Standout performances from Kathryn Adkins and Mindy Pedlar provide bright moments in a production that never quite ignites.
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Good Egg Productions hatches a new theater model with ‘Matt & Ben’
Good Egg Productions, a new Santa Cruz theater company, opens with “Matt & Ben,” the satirical two-person comedy by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers that imagines how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote “Good Will Hunting.” Performances run March 13-22 at Actors’ Theatre.
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When legends collaborate with locals
A new concert series pairs Santa Cruz County musicians with iconic artists such as Lol Tolhurst of The Cure and David J of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets for collaboration, mentorship and a shared stage.
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‘8 Tens’ festival, Night ‘B’: Tight, terrific and firing on all cylinders
Actors’ Theatre delivers a particularly tight and engaging Night “B” in its 30th anniversary “8 Tens @ 8” Short Play Festival. Eight short plays move briskly across styles and settings, unified by strong performances and assured direction. A confident, crowd-pleasing evening that showcases the festival at its best.
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‘8 Tens @ 8’ Short Play Festival turns 30 and still moves fast
Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre launches its 30th edition of the “8 Tens @ 8” festival with a lively Night “A” that offers a brisk, entertaining sampler of short plays that range from laugh-out-loud funny to quietly touching. It’s a crowd-pleasing reminder of why this beloved festival has thrived for three decades.
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Minimalism undermines the heart of SC Shakespeare’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s holiday “A Christmas Carol” arrives with a talented cast and good intentions, but its minimalist staging and narration-heavy adaptation never find the emotional spark that makes Scrooge’s journey so enduring, leaving this production feeling surprisingly hollow.