CATHERINE SHEN

Moments of romantic foolishness, the idea of eloping with a secret lover, and defying the wishes of conventional society seem never to go out of style. A lively production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 comic masterpiece The Rivals is a refreshing treat for theater-goers looking to indulge in scenes of familiar romantic ridiculousness that can […]

Everyone sees the inevitable changes in their lives differently. Some people think change isn’t a bad thing, while some think it’s the end of the world. For the Gianelli family in Over the River and Through the Woods, change can be embarrassingly funny, surprisingly heart wrenching, and emotionally raw. Presented by Lompoc Civic Theatre, the […]

A mischievous group of Lost Boys and a band of wretched pirates helped PCPA Theaterfest kick off the 2010-11 season on a Saturday night, taking audiences on a high-soaring journey through Edwardian London to the imperishable Neverland, second star to the right and straight on till morning, at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria. Directed […]

A family-owned pet shop, a mute parrot, and games of dominoes may seem unassuming, but prepare to become entangled with them in the murderous vines of The Artificial Jungle, presented by Lompoc Civic Theatre. An ironic scene is set in the dimly lit Lompoc Civic Auditorium, where ominous music fills a constructed pet shop, which […]

Lyrics immortalized by a modest movie called The Wizard of Oz and written by Yip Harburg, also known as E.Y. Harburg, are ingrained into the public consciousness: “Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby … .” But Harburg’s name doesn’t have the same familiar […]

I’ve never been a fan of reality-based television shows, so I thought seeing a play based on the premise of a “reality cooking show” would be a tricky assignment. But the tricks were ultimately played on me. Directed by Marian C. Stave, the award-winning French Canadian comedic play, The Kitchen Witches, proved to be a […]