The world's longest-running musical, aggressive puppets, and a ballet-horror comedy are on tap this week in San Francisco theater.
Who doesn’t remember singing Castle on a Cloud in grade school music class? Ok perhaps many but, “I listened to Les Miz all day at work” was overheard more than a few times at opening night. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables is now the world’s longest-running musical and it’s taking over the SHN Orpheum Theater for a 6-week run. A colorful cast of characters really shines during the bawdy number Lovely Ladies (set in the town’s brothel) as well as Master of the House, a raucous and funny bar scene. The amount of choreographed activity on stage is mind-boggling and the set dazzled the crowd to the point of recurrent ohs, ahs, and wows. Tickets $30 - $150 available here or at (888) 746-1799. Thru Aug 26, Tues – Sat at 8 p.m., Weds, Sat, Sun @ 2 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St. @ 8th.
Add one part "Smartest Guys in the Room" plus one part "Avenue Q" and you get Enron 2012, a dark and absurdist look at the company who defined "corporate greed."Intelligently written and utterly hilarious, ENRON 2012 follows Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling and other real characters as they plan the biggest heist in American history. Throw in some vaudevillian dance routines, puppets, and outrageous staging and, well, see for yourself. The show opens tonight. Tickets $25 and can be purchased here. 8 p.m. Thurs-Sat thru Aug 17, Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy St @ Taylor.
In this rendition of Swan Lake, the cast goes on a retreat to Duck Lake in Ontario, Canada so they may be inspired by the regal water fowl—only there are no swans anywhere, only ducks. And then stuff gets weird. Written and produced by PianoFight's sketch comedy troupe Mission CTRL, Duck Lake has it all -- crazy choreography, 3D shadow puppets, butchered Broadway numbers, and lots and lots and lots of ducks — who may or may not be murderous. Tickets $17-$35, thru July 28, every Fri & Sat @8 p.m. Traveling Jewish Theater, 470 Florida St @ Mariposa.
