If you’ve always thought Shylock’s punishment in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” was harsh, you’re not alone. At his trial in the play, Shylock is found guilty and told he owes half his property to Antonio and the other half to the state. Antonio declares that he will take no money if Shylock instead wills…
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On Stage
Bay Area
Traveling Jewish Theatre’s Corey Fischer suffers serious brain bleed
Actor, director and playwright Corey Fischer, best known as co-founder of The Jewish Theatre, suffered a brain stem bleed on Dec. 3, according to his…
Celebrity Jews
‘Nanny: The Musical’; Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Goop’; farewell to Buck Henry
Oscar season is afoot and Jews are in the mix, with nominations for best director (Sam Mendes for “1917”) and best actor (Joaquin Phoenix for “Joker”).…
On Stage
‘Pianist of Willesden Lane’ returns to Bay Area
The one-woman show “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” starring Mona Golabek on the piano, is returning to the Bay Area this month. Based on the 2002 book…
On Stage
Beach Blanket Babylon hangs up its hat
On New Year’s Eve, San Francisco will tip its cap for the last time to “Beach Blanket Babylon.” After 45 years of mad-hatted frivolity, the musical revue…
Art & About
Two luminous works of art on love and faith to see this holiday season
In a season of holiday events, I want to suggest two works of art that are timeless: a profoundly playful book about love, and a compelling film about…
On Stage
Q&A: Jewish drag queen Miz Cracker coming to Castro
Miz Cracker is a N.Y.-based performer and comedian who competed on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” a popular reality TV series in which contestants show off their…
Comedy
S.F.'s Jewish Christmas tradition Kung Pao Kosher Comedy returns
The snarky, self-effacing and unabashedly politically incorrect actress and stand-up comic Jackie Hoffman, who headlines this year’s Kung Pao Kosher…
Jew in the Pew
Getting drunk on Jewish texts and arts
My dad sat to my left. Next to him was the charismatic, theatrical Bruce Bierman, whom I last encountered when he was leading a deliciously off-the-wall…