Join Theatre Rhinoceros for its 39th Anniversary Season
GLAAD Media Award Winner
A whole new season of LGBT plays all performed at our new home The Eureka Theatre in beautiful Downtown San Francisco!
Join us for a wild ride in 2016-17!
Season Brochure
More Information
24-Hour Ticket Hotline for Individual Performances
(available approximately 4 weeks before each production)
(800) 838-3006
Online:
Upcoming Productions
Check back in late July for information on our 40th Season.
The Brothers Size
The Brothers Size
by Tarell Alvin McCraney
directed by Darryl V. Jones
September 24 – October 15, 2016
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson San Francisco Map It
Two brothers, the Louisiana bayou, and West African mythology swirl together in this treasured theatrical event that will leave you breathless. A hot-blooded, music-filled drama from one of the country’s most exciting queer African-American voices.
In the Louisiana bayou, big brother Ogun Size is hardworking and steady. Younger brother Oshoosi is just out of prison and finding himself. The wily Elegba, Oshoosi’s old prison-mate, is a mysterious and seductive complication. A simple circle defines a world that begins in ritual and evolves into a tough and tender drama of what it means to be a brother by birth and to be a brother out of desire.
Flights of poetry, music, dance and West African mythology combine in a contemporary tale that explores the tenuousness of freedom and the need to belong somewhere, to something, to someone.
“THE BROTHERS SIZE [is] a vivid slice of bayou life! Darryl V. Jones directs the 100-minute piece with humor, nuance and economy, and the actors — attractive, athletic and sometimes shirtless… give vivid, human performances. They nicely interpret McCraney’s often theatrical piece, handling the poetry and spirituality (the characters’ names are based on deities worshiped by the Yoruba people of Africa) with finesse!”
“You’re unlikely to encounter another cast anytime soon with the consuming fearsomeness on view in Theatre Rhino’s production of THE BROTHERS SIZE. The trio of actors now embodying the play at the Eureka Theatre makes the experience feel entirely fresh. The cast is a potent force both as an ensemble and at establishing fully differentiated personalities.”
“With THE BROTHERS SIZE, McCraney does an excellent job of depicting the impact of institutionalized racism on a trio of individuals through impactful dialog, imaginative Yoruba-inspired dance sequences and powerful musical moments, expertly performed by all three actors. Oshoosi actor Gabriel Christian’s masterful rendition of Otis Redding’s soul classic ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ is an excellent example of this.”
“A powerful production! A powerful piece of theatre! The three-man ensemble performing THE BROTHERS SIZE for Theatre Rhinoceros is at once engaging, yet distancing as they seem locked in a world of their own troubles. While Gabriel Christian (Oshoosi) and Julian Green (Elegba) deliver strong performances, the evening’s dramatic weight rests on the shoulders of LaKeidrick S. Wimberly who, as Ogun, often seems to breathe fire.”
“No play in the city right now sounds quite as good as THE BROTHERS SIZE. The easygoing poetry of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s dialog could lull you into closing your eyes and just listening the whole way through. Most of the beauty of THE BROTHERS SIZE falls on the ear, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the play isn’t worth watching. A lot of stories turn on potentially trite aphorisms about chasing your dreams; in this case, you’re invited to wonder whether dreams ever chase you back.”
“Stunning! Tarell Alvin Mccraney’s Remarkable THE BROTHERS SIZE Opens Theatre Rhino’s 39th Season. A Celebration Of Strength Of And Discovery, THE BROHTERS SIZE [is] A New [Type of] American Theatre, And A Must See. McCraney’s script works so well with its rhymed dialogue, poetic underpinnings and mythological symbolism. The believable characters are filled with pathos and complexity. THE BROTHERS SIZE is one of those gems of contemporary theatre that brings a new wing to the craft of the stage. Jones directs with a masterful sensitivity and adds to the rising emotion of McCraney’s drama without overstepping. The three actors Wimberly, Christian, and Green are each unforgettable and equally dynamic in their roles This is a perfect example of what theater can invoke and inspire when everything is so well written and brilliant. Flights of poetry, music, dance and West African mythology explore the need to belong somewhere, to something, or to someone. These brothers are must see, and Tarell Alvin McCraney is truly one of our new powerful millennial playwrights. Theatre Rhinoceros continues to stage the best, thought provoking new plays in the Bay Area.”
“Intense! Moving! Its haunting mixture of music and movement combines with scenes of high emotional exploration of the boundaries to which love can be pushed and still survive. With a cast of three, highly talented actors… Theatre Rhinoceros presents THE BROTHERS SIZE [in] a moving, thought-provoking rendition. Well-worth a visit to the Eureka Theatre!”
“Muscular! Dynamic! A gritty, muscular story of brotherly love amidst present day racism. The honed physical bodies of the actors are perfect for this powerful, well-constructed play that fits together perfectly and has the audience reacting with thunderous applause. An added symbolic circle created by an unbroken length of chain dominates center stage, occasionally delineating or suggesting mythology. All this with rat-a-tat beats interspersed with atmospheric music and lighting create an almost perfect milieu for McCraney’s play.”
“Theatre Rhinoceros offers a compelling rendering of McCraney’s three hander, THE BROTHERS SIZE. Director Darryl V. Jones integrates production elements well. With only three actors… [Jones] does organize significant movement. A well choreographed stomp dance raises the energy level, and both soundtrack and live singing add a dimension. [A] meaningful tale, written and produced with great heart.”
“Theatre Rhinoceros is currently presenting a first-rate production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size with an outstanding cast of three brilliant actors. The Chicago Tribune called the play ‘the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more.’ I am inclined to agree with that… It feels like a biblical and mythical fable… Director Darryl V. Jones has assembled three unequivocally fine actors. New York actor Gabriel Christian is outstanding as the naive Oshoosi. He grounds the drama, draws our sympathy, and skillfully holds much back until the climax of the play. Chicago actor LaKeidrick S. Wimberly gives a pitch perfect performance as Ogun. His performance throughout is excellent, but particularly in his monologue. Both have a penetrating and testy rapport in their confrontations. Julian Green, who trained at A.C.T. for three years, is awesome as the sinister Elegba. His portrayal is downright chilling at times, especially in how he is able to influence the credulous Oshoosi. He captures the sexuality of the character with his fine-looking, scandalously lissome movements. He captivates and interposes his performance every time he swaggers to the stage.”
Interview with Executive Director John Fisher
Interviews with Director Darryl V. Jones
- Hear an interview with Director Darryl V. Jones on the Michelle Meow Show!
- Listen to Darryl on “Let me Touch Your Mind” with Marilynn Fowler (his interview starts at about a minute into the recording)
Press Release
Postcard
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun, Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, and Julian Green as Elegba in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones ; A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun, Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, and Julian Green as Elegba in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones .
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Julian Green as Elegba, Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun, Julian Green as Elegba, and Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and LaKeidrick Wimberly as Ogun in Tarrel Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Darryl V. Jones
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, Lakeidrick S. Wimberly as Ogun, and Julian Green as Elegba in The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theater. Photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, Julian Green as Elegba, and Lakeidrick S. Wimberly as Ogun in The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theater. Photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi, Lakeidrick S. Wimberly as Ogun, and Julian Green as Elegba in The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theater. Photo by Steven Ho.
Pictured left to right: Gabriel Christian as Oshoosi and Lakeidrick S. Wimberly as Ogun in The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theater. Photo by Steven Ho.
Equus
directed by John Fisher
November 25 – December 10
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson San Francisco Map It
The explosive play about suppressed sexuality that took critics and audiences by storm, Equus is a timeless classic and a cornerstone of modern drama that delves into the darkest recesses of human existence.
Press Release
(download PDF)
Critical Acclaim!!
“Morgan Lange does an extradordinary performance creating a young man who is both unique and troubled … John Fisher gives a superlative performance as Martin… Rudy Guerrero plays four roles [and] is pitch perfect…Ann Lawler in three roles, gives a splendid performance; and Iris Haas Biel, especially as the sexually exploratory stable girl, Jill, gives a sensual performance.”
“Hot-Blooded Equus Intrigues.. Fisher stands among giants in the role of Dysart, a character played by Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins, and Leonard Nimoy. Fisher tackles the role, full speed ahead through psychological intrigue, erotic exhibition, and Dysart’s sexual frustration.”
“Young Alan Strang and his three horses are erotic, dramatic and excellent in Theatre Rhinoceros winter production. Morgan Lange.is superb as the troubled 17-year-old Alan.”
Poster
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: Ann Lawler as Trooper, Morgan Lange as Alan, Rudy Guerrero* as Nugget, and John Fisher* as Dr. Dysart in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Martin Dysart and Morgan Lange as Alan Strang in EQUUS by Peter Shaffer
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson. *Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Pictured: John Fisher* as Dr. Dysart in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured: Morgan Lange as Alan in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson
Pictured left to right: Morgan Lange as Alan, Iris Haas-Biel as Jill, and John Fisher* as Dr. Dysart in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured: Morgan Lange as Alan in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson
Pictured left to right: Ann Lawler as Nurse and John Fisher* as Dr. Dysart in Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson
*Member Actors Equity Association
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Martin Dysart and Morgan Lange as Alan Strang in EQUUS by Peter Shaffer
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson. *Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Martin Dysart and Morgan Lange as Alan Strang in EQUUS by Peter Shaffer
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson. *Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Pictured: John Fisher* as Martin Dysart in EQUUS by Peter Shaffer
Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: Morgan Lange as Alan Strang in EQUUS by Peter Shaffer
Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
The Rhino’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2016
Starring: David Goodwin, Kim Larsen, Lisa McHenry, Deborah Russo
Pianist: Ben Keim
215 Jackson St, San Francisco
Running Time – One hour, forty-five minutes with intermission.
Press Release
(download PDF)
Poster
Gertrude Stein and a Companion
By Win Wells
Directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher
December 28-January 8
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson San Francisco
“They were regular in being gay…they were gay the same length of time every day, they were gay, they were quite regularly gay.”
The Love of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas takes the stage in this witty and romantic account of their life together.
GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION won first prize at both the Edinburgh Festival and the Theatre Festival in Sydney, Australia, as well as the Vita Award in South Africa as Best Play. The love of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas takes the stage in this witty and romantic account of their life together.
See the Trailer!
The Bay Area Reporter
on Gertrude Stein and a CompanionRead Richard Dodds' article
Listen to the Radio Interview
with David Latuilippe on KALW's 'Open Air'.Hear actors Kathryn Wood and Elaine Jennings, who play the roles of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas
The discussion with the Rhino stars starts at 29 minutes into the recording.
Critical Acclaim for Gertrude and a Companion!
“Wood’s Gertrude is constantly beaming and self confident… Jennings gives [Alice] a brilliance and a place in the sun that she must have had in order to thrive in the setting she did.”
“Kathryn Wood as Stein and Elaine Jennings as Toklas give well rounded and touching performances.”
“… brings to life a form of intellectual intimacy that is rarely depicted onstage… Jennings offered a complex and layered character study of the devoted friend and lover who quietly ruled Stein’s world.”
“Kathryn Wood as Gertrude Stein dominates the stage with magnetism and warmth, spouting phrases like ‘a rose is a rose is a rose.’ Elaine Jennings looks like Alice B. Toklas. With her short bobbed hair wig and her blunt manner she holds her own on stage. Both actresses give excellent performances… “Haley Bertelsen plays everyone else [and] gives a first rate performance as each of the characters.”
Poster
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude Stein and Elaine Jennings as Alice B. Toklas.
Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Haley Bertelson as the Young Girl, Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude Stein, and Elaine Jennings as Alice B. Toklas.
Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude Stein, Elaine Jennings as Alice B. Toklas, and Haley Bertelson as the Young Girl.
Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude Stein, Elaine Jennings as Alice B. Toklas, and Haley Bertelson as the Young Girl.
Photo by David Wilson.
Elaine Jennings as Alice B. Toklas and Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude Stein.
Photo by David Wilson.
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: Haley Bertelsen as Everybody Else, Elaine Jennings as Alice and Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude in Win Wells’s GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude and Elaine Jennings as Alice in Win Wells’s GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Elaine Jennings as Alice and Haley Bertelsen as Everybody Else in Win Wells’s GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher; A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude in Win Wells’s GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Elaine Jennings as Alice and Kathryn L. Wood as Gertrude in Win Wells’s GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION directed by Kathryn L. Wood and John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Flim-Flam
Written and Directed by John Fisher
February 24 – March 18
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson San Francisco Map It
Three desperate actors take to the road in search of roles. Along the way they encounter highway hooligans, porno shoots, offended politically-correct youths and “all the crazies” of America. “All the world’s a stage” and it’s an actor’s nightmare in this comedy about America “trying to be great again.”
Press Release
(download PDF)
Poster
Watch the Trailer!
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: Daniel Chung as Endin, Donald Currie as Dobbins and John Fisher* as Aaron in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Aaron, Kevin Copps as Harribal, and Daniel Chung as Endin in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theatre.
Pictured left to right: Jesse Vaughn as Abby and Krystle Piamonte as Gaby in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at The Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Jesse Vaughn as Hammer in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Donald Currie as Dobbins, Joe Tally as Bus Driver, John Fisher* as Aaron, Daniel Chung as Endin and Krystle Piamonte as Zika Mom in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Donald Currie as Dobbins and Krystle Piamonte as Zika Mom in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Jesse Vaughn as Hammer and John Fisher* as Aaron in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
* indicates member of Actor’s Equity
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: Daniel Chung as Endin, John Fisher* as Aaron, and Donald Currie as Dobbins Del Rey in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Daniel Chung as Endin, John Fisher* as Aaron, and Donald Currie as Dobbins Del Rey in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Daniel Chung as Endin, John Fisher* as Aaron, and Donald Currie as Dobbins Del Rey in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Aaron, and Donald Currie as Dobbins Del Rey, and Daniel Chung as Endin in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: Daniel Chung as Endin in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: Donald Currie as Dobbins Del Rey in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
John Fisher* as Aaron in FLIM-FLAM by John Fisher
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre; Photo by David Wilson.
* indicates member of Actor’s Equity
Flim-Flam and the Critics!
'Hysterical Actor Disease' makes John Fisher's new comedy of thespians the perfect way to start the Trump years.
Tickets Available Online Now!
Theatre Rhino’s ‘Flim-Flam’ a wild ride
— The San Francisco Examiner
Flim-Flam teaches…
He has fecal alcohol syndrome.
That penis explosion was induced! I slipped him some government grade viagra.
Dreams are expensive! Let me live my fantasy!
Great acting always resides in closest proximity to embarrassment.
Flim-Flam Extras!
What in the hell is this play about, anyway?
“I was on a plane back from New York in September and it suddenly occurred to me that everyone was much too fascinated with Trump,” explains writer/director John Fisher. “I was much too fascinated with Trump. He was too fascinating to watch.”
“And then I realized this might not all play out the way we wanted it to – that he would bury himself. I realized that my fascination with a disaster might be someone else’s fascination with radical change.”
“With a sickening thud I realized he might very well become President. In front of me on the screen was an old movie – The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, about greed and how it effects three men.”
“I started writing this play.”
“Well, I’m not prescient. I was as surprised and sickened by the outcome as anyone. I think art needs to respond to things quickly so I replaced my previously announced play Ding Dong with this one.”
“So here is my play about Trump’s America, not directly about it but very much residing in it. It feels damn weird to live in; I hope the play is as weird.”
Tickets Available Online Now!
Political Uncertainty Inspires Art That Matters
— Theatre Bay Area on Flim-Flam
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The Musical
By Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott
Directed by John Fisher
May 27 – July 1, 2017
Eureka Theatre
215 Jackson San Francisco Map It
Run time: @ 2-1/2 hours
The glorious musical adventure about drag shows, Down Under, and what we will do for love
Raves from the Critics!
Under the direction of John Fisher, almost every cast member gets a glorious moment in the desert sun, a chance to thrust booty or pelvis or both so hard you can almost see aftershocks ripple across flesh.
There is nothing better than a show exceeding on its small stage [despite the] audience’s incoming expectations that it will tough to match the fun, camp, and sheer fabulousness of its much-larger predecessors on other world stages; but far exceed expectations is exactly what Theatre Rhino did at least for this one, very satisfied member.
Theatre Rhinoceros’ “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — The Musical” has achieved something rare… like a phoenix rising from the ashes, or like a broken-down but sequin-bedecked van that still sputters across the Outback, the show keeps bouncing back to life in the Eureka Theatre…
Every so often there are good to great shows at the intimate Eureka Theatre. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT the musical is one of the great ones earning a well-deserved standing ovation.
To portray Adam/Felicia, Charles Peoples III uses a slender body that seems to have no skeleton within it — so rubbery flexible does he move — and a face full of sparkly, black eyebrows that gives way to a thousand, fantastic expressions.
… wonderful is Crystal Lui as Cynthia, who delivers the goods with her performance, especially when she literally puts the ‘pop’ into Pop Muzik!
“How good is the Theatre Rhinoceros production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert? I could say that Darryl V. Jones made me forget Terrence Stamp as Bernadette, that Rudy Guerrero as Tick played my heartstrings like a virtuoso, or that Charles Peoples III as Adam shined as brightly as a disco ball blindsided by a laser, but let me say two words to you. Cupcake people. Dancing and chest-bumping in the aisles. Seriously. A glorious time at the theatre that will make what’s happening in the real world just a little more bearable.”
…John Fisher has left no corn un-shucked to ensure that gaudy glamour, high-stepping hilarity, and pun-packed playfulness rule the stage. Yet at the same time, he has guaranteed that the tongue-in-cheek campiness never takes over to the degree that the heart and soul of the real story of Priscilla is over-shadowed.
“…wonderfully color costumes, a delightful set, and a bravura performance from Darryl V. Jones as the world weary Bernadette, who has seen (and done) it all – and has the sequins to prove it. Jones exudes confidence and calm, and on his broad shoulders rests the success of this production.
… with a face whose cheeks and deep-set eyes broadcast Bernadette’s absolute lust for life, Darryl V. Jones particularly sets the bar high in a performance where Bernadette deadpan delivers some of the night’s best lines (‘I don’t need to pack … All my bags are under my eyes’) and sings with a voice that resonates in a deep, still manner to reveal depth of soul and life-experience.
… an infectious good time
See the Trailer
The Rhino and Priscilla at Pride 2017
John and Rudy on KALW
Hear Us on “Wanda’s Picks”
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: Darryl V. Jones* as Bernadette, Charles Peoples III as Adam, Rudy Guerrero* as Tick and the Company in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre, Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Charles Peoples III as Adam, Rudy Guerrero* as Tick, Darryl V. Jones* as Bernadette and the Company in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre.
Photo by David Wilson
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured: Charles Peoples III as Adam in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Stephen Kanaski as Venus Dancer, Charles Peoples III as Adam and Derek Miller as Venus Dancer in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESER. Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Derek Miller as Peacock, Rudy Guerrero* as Tick, Charles Peoples III as Adam and the Company in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Stephen Kanaski as Miss Understanding in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Rudy Guerrero* as Tick, Charles Peoples III as Adam, and Darryl V. Jones* as Bernadette in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Darryl V. Jones* as Bernadette and Cameron Weston as Bob in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Darryl V. Jones* as Bernadette and Cameron Weston as Bob in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
Directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Critics and Audiences Love this PRISCILLA!
Rhino’s ‘Priscilla’ keeps Bay Area chintz alive
“It’s revivifying to know that lavishly chintzy, gender-bending theater, the sort that celebrates humankind through tawdry puns, through a shared esprit de corps between cast and audience, can still thrive in San Francisco.
“Astonishing hats feature peacocks, birdcages and a whirligig of disco balls resembling a model of the solar system. One dress’ slit climbs so dangerously high that one probably can’t even call the garment a dress. The flap skirts of Greek soldiers (because why not?) flutter to reveal butt cheeks and cracks; as a further entry in the “why not?” category, another dress is made entirely of flip flops. This would amount to a staggering investment for a company of any size, but it dazzles to see a small company like the Rhino detonate sartorial explosion after explosion.
“Under the direction of John Fisher, almost every cast member gets a glorious moment in the desert sun, a chance to thrust booty or pelvis or both so hard you can almost see aftershocks ripple across flesh. (AeJay Mitchell did the exuberant choreography.)
“Especially delightful is Darryl V. Jones as Bernadette, the sort of transgender drag queen who actually is royal, as a former member of Les Girls, the groundbreaking all-male revue in Sydney. Jones relishes his character’s stately, ladylike bearing. Should your wit not be keen enough for Bernadette’s every double entendre, don’t worry; Jones offers a half-cracked grin and swishes away a bit more slowly, to give you time to catch up. Performing ‘A Fine Romance’ in the Les Girls mode, he shows that you don’t need to show skin or sing smutty lyrics to be risque; you can suggest leagues of possibility in the way your adam’s apple quavers, in the way you rustle a boa.”
– Lily Janiak – SF Chronicle
“Theatre Rhino has gotten ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ up on its feet – and its high heels – with such an enthusiastic embrace that affection easily flows back from the audience.
“The musical, based on the 1994 movie, must be one of the theater’s most expensive ventures, from a replica of the tricked-out tour bus nicknamed Priscilla to the large cast that is forever changing into such a bizarre bazaar of costumes that you might wonder if there isn’t a sweatshop operating in the Eureka Theatre’s basement.
“AeJay Mitchell’s choreography is an eclectic and high-energy mix of styles, from hoedown stomping to a melange of disco-esque steps that the cast performs…with a brass and bounce that rattles the floorboards. The scenery is the massive rotating bus that is an impressive feat in Gilbert Johnson’s set design.
“And then there are the costumes. Oh my, the costumes. Robert Horek is listed as costumier, but there are multiple additional credits for design and construction that will give you some idea of the uncategorizable phantasmagoria of apparel: headdresses by Glenn Krumbholz, Gumbys by Cindy Preiado, diva finale by Daisy Neske, and cupcakes by Larry Jean.”
– Richard Dodds – Bay Area Reporter
“Theatre Rhinoceros is presenting a glitzy production of ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.’ I had never so many men in frocks on a local stage, fifteen to be exact. It is a ‘fab-u-lous’ production that features 10 production numbers. What the show is really about is spectacle, thanks to John Fisher’s direction, costumes by Robert Horek, and fantastic choreography by AeJay Mitchell. John Fisher went all out to present this Australian musical.
“This is as good as the London and Broadway productions.
“Priscilla is a wonderful camp jukebox musical. Unpretentious and exuberant with the most scrumptious costumes, it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, especially with Pride Week coming up.”
– Richard Connema – Talkinbroadway.com
Priscilla Queen of The Desert is the fab jukebox musical for everyone, and is the ride of the summer
“Drag queens, heels, wigs, close to a hundred costumes, martini glasses, divas, swans, ABBA, dancing, Christmas garland, frivolity, and hilarity ensue the best bus ride now in San Francisco. ‘A cock in a frock on a rock’ as the girls announced with glee- this will be the ride of the summer!
“Directed by the accomplished John Fisher. Fisher acknowledges the struggle for transgender and queer equality is important. Fisher says, ‘This musical shares many of the tropes of queer stories: the struggle to create families, the desire for companionship. The music is from a bygone era – an era where an explosion of opportunity and chance, characterized by disco and celebratory, pop was omnipresent.” Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical is a jukebox musical full of very familiar songs like, ‘It’s Raining Men,’ ‘True Colors,’ ‘Material Girl,’ and ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.’ The show opens with the very sizzling ‘It’s Raining Men’ with a company of sixteen lively local actors who convincingly strut, sing, and dance on stage as they play close to 30 characters. AeJay Mitchell’s over the top choreography set the tone for the sizzling winning dance numbers that are all a delight.
“The musical road trip offers a twisted plot with electrifying subplots that will make you giggle. The performers all sing well and dance like pros and bring Mitchell’s Vegas choreography some fun drag queen camp feel. Visually this show can’t be topped. The costume team; Robert Horek and Headdress Designer Glenn Krumbholz and costume designs by Larry Jean, Daisy Neske, and Cindy Preiado are a huge part of this romp. The almost 100 costumes become a character in the road show; they are imaginative, full of life and color, including a frock of flip flops that steals center stage.
“Rudy Guerrero is absolutely unforgettable as Tick/Mitzi. His stage presence solidifies him as a strong leading man in a dress and his performance during ‘You Were Always On My Mind’ is moving as the sold out weekend audience cheered generously. Jones is very believable as Bernadette, the aging drag queen who just wants to find love. She gets some of the best zingers: ‘Now listen here, you mullet. Why don’t you just light your tampon, and blow your box apart? Because it’s the only bang you’re ever gonna get, sweetheart!’ Jones’ professional acting and comic timing is superb and his many solos and gowns steal the show – especially ‘True Colors’ that also features Guerrero and Peoples. Jones brings a warm feel to the crazy moments on stage and is clearly a poignant actor, who in the past has directed Rhino plays. Bernadette was the first to pack for his road trip: ‘I don’t need to pack – All my bags are under my eyes.’
“The bus is the show and even on this small Eureka stage it was a must to have the bus be actual size and able to hold the three leads and all their costumes. When I first entered the small venue, my first question is how will Fisher get a bus on this stage? The three leads bring the star to stage in the rousing number ‘Go West’ as the entire ensemble leads Priscilla in all her glamour onstage. A bus designed and crafted by a six man crew headed by designer Gilbert Johnson, and his construction team Larry Jean, Fred Sharkey, Sebastian Atardo, Clay David, and Wayne Roadie. Priscilla has to have an outside and inside for the men to dress and perform, the top has to be solid for Adam to perch on his High Heel couch. Priscilla steals the show as the over the top set is impressive including the busy lighting design of Sean Keehan that glitters and pops all of the many costumes past any sunglasses out on Jackson Street.
“The talented cast sounds excellent in all the 28 musical numbers that fly at you. Fisher has made this huge show fit on the Rhino stage with ease, and his first class cast bring the Australian desert to the Eureka stage in all its color and splendor.
“Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical is a hilarious night of theatre that is sure to have you tapping your feet and clapping along. It is a laugh out loud funny, trek across Australia, and a tongue in cheek lovable dirty celebration. PRISCILLA is a blast! Grab your best pink shirt or skirt and join this 2017 June Pride Bus ride with a wonderful colorful cast and bring your own champagne and be ready to catch some pingpong balls.
– Vince Media – Vmediabackstage.com
“Director John Fisher orchestrates an exemplary production that a small company shouldn’t be capable of. Everything works, from scenic design to lighting, from sound to musical direction. But special recognition goes to the team of five costumers who assemble in the neighborhood of 200 costumes. The outfits are sensational, from glitter-glam to Western, sometimes decorating the whole stage in pink or white or funereal black. Apart from the leads who wear new outfits each time they return to stage, other players typically have 12-14 changes, and they all take place in one backstage room. Amazing. Hopefully, the costumers are paid piecework, because they produce a ton. Same with AeJay Mitchell’s energetic wall-to-wall choreography which includes everything from disco to hoedown.
“Live singing is accompanied by an instrumental soundtrack that offers the advantage of rich sound and tonal accuracy.”
– Victor Cordell – ForAllEvents
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT the musical is a colorful winner at the Eureka by Rhino Theatre
“Every so often there are good to great shows at the intimate Eureka Theatre. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT the musical is one of the great ones earning a well-deserved standing ovation. Theatre Rhino, under the direction of John Fisher, has created an extravaganza with a 15 member cast playing over 30 roles (not counting their turns in the ensemble). They have pulled out all the stops and probably depleted their budget creating a bus that fills the stage and costumed the players in an abundance of ‘got to be seen to be believed dress.’ The hats almost steal the show.
“It is difficult to remember all the energetic dances enhanced by a great song list and one of the best was the lip-sync opera aria ‘Sempre Libera’ by Adam sitting on the purple slipper on top of Priscilla.
“[A] must see.”
– Kedar Adour – ForAll Events
“How good is the Theatre Rhinoceros production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert? I could say that Darryl V. Jones made me forget Terrence Stamp as Bernadette, that Rudy Guerrero as Tick played my heartstrings like a virtuoso, or that Charles Peoples III as Adam shined as brightly as a disco ball blindsided by a laser, but let me say two words to you. Cupcake people. Dancing and chest-bumping in the aisles. Seriously. A glorious time at the theatre that will make what’s happening in the real world just a little more bearable. Pictured director John Fisher and Charles Peoples III at the opening night reception, where the champagne flowed and the toothsome Humphry Slocombe Priscilla’s Tam Tam Slam ice cream was scooped up with suitable panache.”
– Andrea Chase – KillerMovieReviews.com
“There’s an infectious good time waiting to be had at the Eureka Theatre!
“If you’re looking for camp and color and energy and a bus full of fun songs, this Priscilla won’t disappoint.
“Wonderfully colorful costumes, a delightful set, and a bravura performance from Darryl V. Jones as the world-weary, yet wise, Bernadette, who has seen (and done) it all – and has the sequins to prove it.
“Also wonderful is Crystal Liu as Cynthia, who delivers the goods with her performance, especially when she literally puts the “pop” into Pop Muzik!
“Even five people seem barely sufficient to create the stunning array of clothes, hats, headdresses and accessories that kept appearing on stage. It seemed like every scene involved a whole new wardrobe – which is, of course, perfectly in line for a show about drag queens.”
– Patrick Thomas – Twoontheaisel
“The juke-box musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical — originating from Sydney in 2006 before making its way around the world with successful, award-winning stops in London and New York – plops its high heels in grand style onto the tiny stage at the Eureka Theatre sporting reams of glitter, chiffon, and spangles in a production big in heart and galactic in campy fun by the oldest LGBT theatre in San Francisco, Theatre Rhinoceros.
“As director of this Theatre Rhino extravaganza-gone-bonkers, John Fisher has left no corn un-shucked to ensure that gaudy glamour, high-stepping hilarity, and pun-packed playfulness rule the stage. Yet at the same time, he has guaranteed that the tongue-in-cheek campiness never takes over to the degree that the heart and soul of the real story of Priscilla is over-shadowed. Under his orchestration of this script and this cast, these three queens face head-on their nagging, life-long self-doubts as two gays and a transgender, confront unabashedly the homophobia and hate thrust upon them, and find routes to love where no map exists to show them the way. In 2017 America, their justified fear and their needed courage are stories more relevant than ever; and Mr. Fisher does not short-change those messages in order just to get a few more laughs.
“In this Rhino production, the flashing-lights headliner as ‘the stars’ must go to Costumier Robert Horek and Headdress Designer Glenn Krumbholz (with further costume designs by Larry Jean, Daisy Neske, and Cindy Preiado). Words cannot begin to describe the eye-popping, guffaw-producing array of costumes that parade by the scores across the stage, with changes occurring so quickly at times that the mind boggles what the show on the tiny backstage of the Eureka must be as this cast of seventeen goes from Vegas-dressed divas to scantily clad boys in cutoffs (and little else) to elaborate gowns of every hue and dresses made of flip-flops (with cowboys/girls and funeral-attired mourners thrown in for variety). Wigs rise high that are full of swans, Easter eggs, flower bouquets worthy of a benefit dinner table, paint buckets, and who-knows-what-else. Any one who has ever seen a screen or stage version of Priscilla would hope for nothing less, but for The Rhino to pull off this kaleidoscope of kitsch is truly magnificent.
“The cast is particularly strong in voice and harmony under the able musical direction of Daniel Feyer. With clever and well-coordinated choreography by AeJay Mitchell that ranges from disco to Vegas to hoedown and employs every possible hand movement, hip thrust, and body twist possible, this ensemble struts its stuff to wow an adoring audience in numbers like ‘It’s Raining Men,’ ‘Color My World,’ and ‘I Will Survive.’
“Some of the best singing consistently comes from three Divas (Anna L. Joham, Mary Kalita, and Niclole Thordsen) who blend beautifully in their platinum-metallic wigs as they often provide the background music for lip-synching drag queens. Time and again they ferociously sell a number with spunk and spit while also doing what all good back-ups do – look glamorous and move in parallel sway.
“As Tick, Rudy Guerrero sounds so down-under in accent that it is hard to believe he is not Aussie-born. He brings genuine authenticity to Tick and wonderful swish and swagger to Mitzi. To portray Adam/Felicia, Charles Peoples III uses a slender body that seems to have no skeleton within it — so rubbery flexible does he move — and a face full of sparkly, black eyebrows that gives way to a thousand, fantastic expressions. And with a face whose cheeks and deep-set eyes broadcast Bernadette’s absolute lust for life, Darryl V. Jones particularly sets the bar high in a performance where Bernadette deadpan delivers some of the night’s best lines (‘I don’t need to pack … All my bags are under my eyes’) and sings with a voice that resonates in a deep, still manner to reveal depth of soul and life-experience.
“From the exiting smiles on every face and the volume of collective chatter, there is no doubt that virtually every person seeing Theatre Rhino’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is going to be the best marketing tool possible for this month-long run. There is nothing better than a show exceeding on its small stage an audience’s incoming expectations that it will be tough to match the fun, camp, and sheer fabulousness of its much-larger predecessors on other world stages; but far exceed expectations is exactly what Theatre Rhino did at least for this one, very satisfied member.
– Eddie Reynolds – Theatreeddys
“The sincerity, hilarity, and compassion of a production like this isn’t something you can practice; it’s just got to be there from day one.
“The company poured a lot into this one, with a cast of 17 and a costume director (Robert Horek) who must have worked long hours into solitary nights creating surreal visions even in spite of the fact that the show features almost as much bare skin as clothes.
“Darryl V. Jones presents so much natural grace and class onstage that it’s startlingly easy to forget that he’s acting at all. And Peoples (who has never appeared on a Rhino stage before), comes loaded with so much smoldering appeal, casual charisma, and magnetism that you could almost resent how good he is at everything. (The fact that he appears to have a body fat ratio that is somehow a negative number isn’t really material here, but it sure doesn’t hurt.)
– Adam Brinklow – Edgemedianetwork.com
“Director John Fisher and Theatre Rhinoceros are staging ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,’ tapping a rich vein of song, dance, and drag—with colorful costumes galore.
‘While the show does feature lip-synching, it is mostly about the live singing, lavish scenes, and inventive dances. Musical Director Daniel Feyer, Choreographer AeJay Mitchell, and Dance Captain Patrick Brewer have delivered the goods, weaving many tapestries of sound and movement. Fisher’s alchemy makes magic from the music and motion. Right away, with ‘It’s Raining Men,’ we know this is going to be an over-the top extravaganza, with split-second costume changes, and tons of gaiety. This show will NOT play at the White House!
‘The costumes compete with the actors for center stage. Costumier Robert Horek has dreamed up glorious outfits, and thrilling costume changes. The head-dresses by Glenn Krumbholz will make you laugh and nudge your neighbor. Then, there’s the Latina fruit hats, a dancing guy with a bird cage on his head, and a dress made of flip-flops. Everywhere you look, someone is wearing something remarkable.
‘John Fisher drives ‘Priscilla,’ a comic and celebratory work to a happy destination in Oz. Despite scenes of homophobia, this “Priscilla” offers a fabulous fantasy—a pleasure in troubling times. Beneath the wit and frolic, the musical raises issues of equality, fairness, and love. New versions of family emerge, so that we have room to think about gender versus sexuality. The Queen of the Desert is now a musical with big bunches of fun—a great send off for summer ‘Camp.’”
– Jeremiah Wall – Theatrius.com
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: Stephen Kanaski as Miss Understanding and Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – THE MUSICAL, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Stephen Kanaski as Miss Understanding and Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – THE MUSICAL, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Stephen Kanaski as Miss Understanding and Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – THE MUSICAL, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured: Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – THE MUSICAL, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
Pictured: Rudy Guerrero* as Tick in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – THE MUSICAL, directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at the Eureka Theatre. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member Actors Equity Association
