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Best Upcoming Theater Events In The Peninsula

Summer theater is alive on the Peninsula from new drama to Broadway musicals, both dramatic and comedic, for all ages. Music and summer love fill the ocean air. There's something for every music lover, whether you like dark comedy and twisted tales of revenge like "Sweeney Todd," the energy of Elton John's music in the epic romance "Aida" or the tale of four girls dreaming big and singing classic pop of the '50s and '60s in "The Marvelous Wonderettes." If you prefer your musical dramatic, how about "Upright Grand?" Check out any one of these theater events this summer.
Sweeney Todd
(credit: coastalrep.com)

"Sweeney Todd—The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Coastal Rep
1167 Main St
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-0998
coastalrep.com

Dates: July 20 through August 18

"Sweeney Todd" is coming to Half Moon Bay this summer for your viewing enjoyment. This Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim, based off of the book by Hugh Wheeler, is directed and choreographed by Joe Duffy at the Coastal Rep theater. The story illustrates the escape of Benjamin Barker (Sweeney Todd) from jail and his revenge on the city of London. This is a thriller you won't want to miss, as Sweeney unleashes his anger against victims with help from his partner Nellie Lovett. See the live performance that Johnny Depp captured so well in the 2007 film adaptation.

Upright Grand
(credit: theatreworks.org)

"Upright Grand"
Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 463-1950
theatreworks.org

Dates: Now through August 10

This world premiere, directed by Meredith McDonough, features a musical and personal family duet between father and daughter. The father still plays piano in humble circumstances while his daughter lives out dreams in elegant concert halls. It's a parent/child drama with humor. Cast members include Dan Hiatt as Pops, Renata Friedman as Kiddo and Brett Ryback as The Accompanist. TheatreWorks is the brains behind this performance. It serves as a nonprofit company that helps develop and nurture young playwrights with its New Works Initiative.

Related: Best Art Galleries On The Peninsula

Aida
(credit: hillbarntheatre.org)

"Aida"
Hillbarn Theatre
1285 E Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 349-6411
hillbarntheatre.org

Dates: July 19 through July 22

"Aida," the Broadway musical by Elton John and Time Rice, the school edition, plays at the Hillbarn Theatre this summer and is based on the book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. Verdi's tragic opera is still the epic love story of a war hero and prince who falls in love with a kidnapped Nubian princess. The lovers face death and warring cultures together rather than taking the easy way out by parting. Teenagers from the Hillbarn summer conservatory will be acting in this performance.

Marvelous Wondrettes
(credit: broadwaybythebay.org)


"The Marvelous Wonderettes"
Broadway by the Bay
Fox Theatre
2215 Broadway St
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 579-5565
broadwaybythebay.org

Dates: Now through July 29

"The Marvelous Wonderettes," an original musical by Roger Bean and choreographed by Amanda Folena, plays at the Fox Theatre and is about four ambitious girls with big dreams who sing classic pop tunes from the '50s and '60s. Relive the times with this bubbly young production or introduce a new generation to songs like "Secret Love," "It's My Party" and "Respect." The 1,300-seat theater made the list of National Historic Places and offers 1,250 seats for Broadway by the Bay. Broadway by the Bay also stages colorful youth productions in the summer with its summer camp for students including "Legally Blond" and "Seussical the Musical."

Dear Edwina Junior
(credit: hillbarntheatre.org)

"Dear Edwina Junior"
Hillbarn Theatre
1285 E Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 349-6411
hillbarntheatre.org

Dates: July 27 through July 29

"Dear Edwina Junior" is an off-Broadway musical comedy performed by Hillbarn students ages nine to twelve. It's about learning to take your own advice and not relying on others. See what the children of Hillbarn have been working hard to perfect all summer. Hillbarn's fully-staged productions perform only twice each on the main stage. See some of the best talent in the Peninsula with a visit to this performance.

Related: Best Book Clubs On The Peninsula

Cindy Warner is a freelance writer and a San Francisco Bay Area native. Cindy has covered SF theater and opera for Examiner.com via her bicycle since January 2009. Check out her work on Examiner.com.

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