<![CDATA[Curtain Up!]]>Alan Stern and Greg Smith co-host this podcast featuring reviews of current theater productions -- mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, with occasional forays to New York and London -- and interviews with performers and other theater professionals.

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-upRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Tue, 03 Nov 2026 01:48:31 GMTThu, 08 Oct 2026 23:34:34 GMT60Alan Stern & Greg Smith<p>Alan Stern and Greg Smith co-host this podcast featuring reviews of current theater productions -- mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, with occasional forays to New York and London -- and interviews with performers and other theater professionals.</p>episodicAlan Stern & Greg Smithalannstern@gmail.comno<![CDATA[North by Northwest/Peter Pan Goes Wrong]]>Alan and Greg review ACT's production of "North by Northwest" and the SF Playhouse's production of "Peter Pan Goes Wrong"

Photo credits:

North by Northwest: Steve Tanner, Rich Soublet II

Peter Pen Goes Wrong: Jessica Palopoli

]]>b5384ead-0384-40bd-b0b6-86ddd33dd87dThu, 08 Oct 2026 23:51:52 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review ACT's production of "North by Northwest" and the SF Playhouse's production of "Peter Pan Goes Wrong"</p><p>Photo credits:</p><p>North by Northwest: Steve Tanner, Rich Soublet II</p><p>Peter Pen Goes Wrong: Jessica Palopoli</p>no00:20:0527North by Northwest/Peter Pan Goes Wrongfull<![CDATA[Podcast 6: Hairspray/Dharma Handbook]]>Alan and Greg review the world premier of "The Employee Dharma Handbook" by Geetha Reddy, and a summer production of the musical "Hairspray."

"Hairspray" photos: Jessical Palopoli

"Dharma" photos: Kevin Berne

©️2026 "Curtain Up!" productions

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/30204918797accb-219f-497d-87f5-ae225c1096a8Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:54:17 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review the world premier of "The Employee Dharma Handbook" by Geetha Reddy, and a summer production of the musical "Hairspray."</p><p>"Hairspray" photos: Jessical Palopoli</p><p>"Dharma" photos: Kevin Berne</p><p>©️2026 "Curtain Up!" productions</p>no00:18:0726Podcast 6: Hairspray/Dharma Handbookfull<![CDATA[Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean]]>Alan and Greg review TheatreWorks' new musical adaptation of Ed Graczyk's 1976 play about a group of women in rural Texas who were forever changed when the Hollywood production of "Giant" filmed in their small town.

This episode was originally aired on KMVT in June 2025.

(Thumbnail art courtesy of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/23480725b256d4d-b925-4c60-94d4-45535721cb9dWed, 26 Nov 2025 00:35:53 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review TheatreWorks' new musical adaptation of Ed Graczyk's 1976 play about a group of women in rural Texas who were forever changed when the Hollywood production of "Giant" filmed in their small town.</p><p>This episode was originally aired on KMVT in June 2025.</p><p>(Thumbnail art courtesy of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)</p>no00:17:5512Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Deanfull<![CDATA["M. Butterfly"/"The Lehman Trilogy"]]>Alan and Greg discuss the SF Playhouse's new production of David Henry Hwang's "M. Butterfly". Alan gives a mini-review of San Jose Stage's production of "The Lehman Trilogy" Photo Credits: Jennifer Palopoli ("M. Butterfly"), Dave Lepori ("Lehman Trilogy")

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/2565773e6aa5eee-222b-46fd-9eae-528c8c885762Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:39:22 GMT<p>Alan and Greg discuss the SF Playhouse's new production of David Henry Hwang's "M. Butterfly". Alan gives a mini-review of San Jose Stage's production of "The Lehman Trilogy" Photo Credits: Jennifer Palopoli ("M. Butterfly"), Dave Lepori ("Lehman Trilogy")</p>no00:19:5923"M. Butterfly"/"The Lehman Trilogy"full<![CDATA[Joan Crawford Superstar]]>Alan and Greg review the San Francisco production of "Joan Crawford Superstar," a play about the legendary film star and icon.

This episode was originally aired on KMVT in May 2025.

(Thumbnail art courtesy of Intentional Theatrics. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/23480577cb07fb3-3c5d-4c8c-ae18-70298c5c3ff4Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:31:17 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review the San Francisco production of "Joan Crawford Superstar," a play about the legendary film star and icon.</p><p>This episode was originally aired on KMVT in May 2025.</p><p>(Thumbnail art courtesy of Intentional Theatrics. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)</p>no00:23:4811Joan Crawford Superstarfull<![CDATA[The Reservoir/Little Women]]>Alan and Greg review the Berkeley Rep's production of Jake Brasch's comedy "The Reservoir" and interview director Giovanna Sardelli about her new production of "Little Women" at TheaterWorks. They also discuss their recent theater trip to London.

This episode was originally aired on KMVT in September 2025.

(Thumbnail photo by Kevin Berne. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/234808952b5afaf-4cbe-401a-9767-f61d9dae6bf1Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:35:59 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review the Berkeley Rep's production of Jake Brasch's comedy "The Reservoir" and interview director Giovanna Sardelli about her new production of "Little Women" at TheaterWorks. They also discuss their recent theater trip to London.</p><p>This episode was originally aired on KMVT in September 2025.</p><p>(Thumbnail photo by Kevin Berne. "Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)</p>no00:30:1014The Reservoir/Little Womenfull<![CDATA[Liberace & Liza/My Fair Lady]]>Alan and Greg interview David Saffert and Gillian Snow, the hilarious duo who play Liberace and Liza Minelli in their cabaret act. They also review the San Francisco Playhouse's new production of "My Fair Lady."

This episode was originally aired on KMVT in July 2025.

("Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/2348079f18511d5-3a77-4d35-9e7f-91eb00bd1d11Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:35:57 GMT<p>Alan and Greg interview David Saffert and Gillian Snow, the hilarious duo who play Liberace and Liza Minelli in their cabaret act. They also review the San Francisco Playhouse's new production of "My Fair Lady."</p><p>This episode was originally aired on KMVT in July 2025.</p><p></p><p>("Curtain Up!" theme created with Suno AI.)</p>no00:31:5313Liberace & Liza/My Fair Ladyfull<![CDATA[Jane Fonda/"Come from Away"/NY Musicals]]>Greg and Alan discuss a surprising encounter with the Academy Award winning actress, and review TheatreWorks' production of "Come from Away". Then NY critic Thom Wise joins the team to discuss several shows that have opened on Broadway this season.

Theme music created with Suno AI

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/2761042ebef14a1-e089-486e-bf9b-b27daceee20fThu, 23 Apr 2026 12:54:16 GMT<p>Greg and Alan discuss a surprising encounter with the Academy Award winning actress, and review TheatreWorks' production of "Come from Away". Then NY critic Thom Wise joins the team to discuss several shows that have opened on Broadway this season.</p><p>Theme music created with Suno AI</p>no00:23:0024Jane Fonda/"Come from Away"/NY Musicalsfull<![CDATA[Dracula/The Lunchbox/Tony Nominations]]>Alan and Greg review the San Francisco Playhouse's production of "Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" and the Berkeley Rep's new musical version of "The Lunchbox." They also talk about the upcoming seasons for the Berkeley Rep and ACT in San Francisco. Then New York correspondent Thom Wise drops by to discuss the Tony Award nominations.

"Dracula" photo by Jessica Palipoli

Theme music by Suno AI

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/2863691aed1a134-b784-42f6-a096-8f94da80a2fbWed, 27 May 2026 19:10:06 GMT<p>Alan and Greg review the San Francisco Playhouse's production of "Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" and the Berkeley Rep's new musical version of "The Lunchbox." They also talk about the upcoming seasons for the Berkeley Rep and ACT in San Francisco. Then New York correspondent Thom Wise drops by to discuss the Tony Award nominations.</p><p>"Dracula" photo by Jessica Palipoli</p><p>Theme music by Suno AI</p><p></p><p></p>no00:29:1325Dracula/The Lunchbox/Tony Nominationsfull<![CDATA[Spencer Day/"Into the Woods"]]>Alan and Greg interview jazz singer/songwriter Spencer Day and review the San Francisco Playhouse's new production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods".

"Into the Woods" thumbnail by Jessica Polopoli

(c) 2025 Alan Stern and Greg Smith

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/23606502653c0dc-380b-4523-be68-8935574dcadcMon, 01 Dec 2025 17:36:14 GMT<p>Alan and Greg interview jazz singer/songwriter Spencer Day and review the San Francisco Playhouse's new production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods".</p><p>"Into the Woods" thumbnail by Jessica Polopoli</p><p>(c) 2025 Alan Stern and Greg Smith</p>no00:27:1521Spencer Day/"Into the Woods"full<![CDATA[Hershey Felder/Joe Iconis]]>Alan and Greg interview pianist/actor/writer Hershey Felder, currently appearing in "The Piano and Me," a new show about his unusual and prolific career. They also interview New York composer/lyricist/performer Joe Iconis, who will be performing at Feinstein's at the Nikko at a future date.

Photos: David Lipori

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/curtain-up/24812094f858095-607a-4f9f-8902-38c3e706adfbFri, 23 Jan 2026 20:18:53 GMT<p>Alan and Greg interview pianist/actor/writer Hershey Felder, currently appearing in "The Piano and Me," a new show about his unusual and prolific career. They also interview New York composer/lyricist/performer Joe Iconis, who will be performing at Feinstein's at the Nikko at a future date.</p><p>Photos: David Lipori</p>no00:29:1022Hershey Felder/Joe Iconisfull