Long before “The Breakfast Club”, there was “Bus Stop”. It’s winter on the Great Plains, and a snowstorm near Kansas City has stranded a group of bus passengers at a local diner. During their weather-enforced overnight layover, the diverse group of strangers develop short-lived but revealing relationships as they learn about each other—and about themselves.

Featuring: Xanadu Bruggers • Charles Evans • Hannah Knapp • Charles Lewis • Adam Reeser • Cynthia Roberts • David Roberts • Stephen Steiner

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Altarena Playhouse and CaroLena Productions present Brian Copeland in the exclusive Alameda performances of hisNot A Genuine Black Man, the longest-running solo show in San Francisco history! Two performances only, December 4 and 5 at 8:00 PM. Sure to sell out, so buy your tickets now!


Subscribers: Purchase in advance and get $5 off per ticket!

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A Play by Larry Shue
Directed by Richard Robert Bunker

September 18 – October 25

A young architect is visited by the man who saved his life in Vietnam, but the visitor turns out to be completely inept, hopelessly stupid, and seemingly impossible to get rid of. Widely considered one of the funniest plays ever written, The Nerd is directed by Richard Robert Bunker, who directed our sold-out production of Shue’s The Foreigner in 2006. Featuring Timothy Beagley, Judy Beall, Matthew Beall, Noah Han, Misha Madison, Jillian Seagrave, Christopher Ciabattoni.

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Music and Book by James Valcq
Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley
Directed by Frederick L. Chacon

July 10 – August 16, 2009

The Spitfire Grill is one of the most heartfelt and uplifting musicals to come along in recent years. When a young woman is released from prison and decides to start a new life in a small midwestern town, she finds a place for herself working at the Spitfire Grill. But she – and the town – have old wounds that need healing, and it takes an unusual contest to begin pulling everyone together. A tuneful and stirring tribute to small town life, The Spitfire Grill is homespun, honest, and hard to resist.

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A Play by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Sue Trigg

May 8 – June 7, 2009

Tennessee Williams’ steamy and sensual A Streetcar named Desire is best known as the landmark American drama that introduced Marlon Brando to the world. But there’s so much more to this vivid story of Blanche DuBois and her tragic struggle with fantasy and reality. Rediscover Streetcar’s smoldering poetry and shocking intensity in our intimate, ‘in-the-round’ production. Notably, this is the very first production of a full-length Tennessee Williams play in the Altarena’s history. [May not be suitable for children under 13.]

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Directed & Choreographed by Christina Lazo
Music Direction by Armando Fox

February 27 – April 5, 2009

Gypsy is one of Broadway’s most popular and enduring musicals, often cited by critics as one of the all-time greatest. Inspired by the life of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee, it’s the story of the ultimate showbiz stage mother trying to raise two young daughters on the Vaudeville circuit while struggling to make it to the ‘big time.’ Gypsy is brimming with memorable characters, great songs, and plenty of heart. Directed and choreographed by Chicago director Christina Lazo, Gypsy at the Altarena is sure to be the hottest ticket in town.

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Bat Boy, The Musical opened at the Altarena last weekend to sold-out crowds and standing ovations. So we had a pretty good idea that there’s a lot of love for for our pointy-eared hero, but it’s always nice to see that the local critics [...]

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The reviews are in for our production of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever,” and everyone seems to agree… it’s a hit!

Alice Chalip, writing for the Alameda Journal, opens this way:

“Politely sexy, magnificently costumed and produced, and downright hilarious are apt descriptions of “Hay Fever,” the [...]

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Tickets are selling briskly for our production of Noel Coward’s delightful comedy Hay Fever; in fact, the opening night performance weekend is completely sold out. Frederick L. Chacon directs this very British “comedy of deliciously bad manners,” and the cast features a [...]

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Ron Lytle’s Cinderella-with-a-twist musical “Oh My Godmother” – which began its life at the Altarena – has opened in a new production at San Francisco’s Zeum Theatre. Lytle is once again at the helm as director, and brings back several original cast members [...]

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