Media Reviews

Artist Lori Krein, known for her collage creations, her public access television show and for facilitating workshops, is opening a studio in Campbell on March 9.
"I wanted to reach out to the community where I live, and it felt like the right thing," says Krein, who recently vacated her studio at The Alameda Artworks in the Rose Garden area.
The new 725-square-foot studio is almost double the size of the one she just left.
Like its predecessor, it is filled with found objects, string, paints, handmade art papers, old canvases, magazines, fabrics and all manner of items such as broken jewelry, bits of chain, metal washers and old nails--all ready to be repurposed into new pieces of art.
Krein has long proved the adage that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Prior to devoting full time to her art, Krein worked as an instructional designer for corporations, teaching leadership skills and team building.
Even as she started creating and opened a studio, Krein says she realized that "making and selling art is not my primary focus. My primary focus is teaching other people to be creative and express themselves.
"I give them space and materials to explore those things."
Krein also produced Lori Krein's Art Studio, originally shown locally on Comcast channel 15. CreaTV recognized her as producer of the year in 2010, and the show is now being broadcast on 50 different public access stations across the United States.

In her new studio Krein will be offering expressive arts workshops for kids, teens and adults; summer art camps; art birthday parties; couples' workshops; ladies' night out workshops; singles mixers and her popular, ongoing open studio sessions.
The sessions are gatherings where people can create their own collages, decoupages and assemblages in a relaxed atmosphere.
Participants can bring their own materials or use those on hand, and Krein is there to lend encouragement and guidance.
"My goal is to encourage everyone to explore their creativity, while making friends and sharing creative ideas in a social setting," she says.

For additional information and a calendar of events, visit lorikrein.com, email lorikrein@gmail.com or call 408.335.9101.
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Dragon Productions Theatre Company’s current play, Richard Dresser’s Wonderful World, tests family bonds, or at least stretches them a little in this dark comedy revolving around the strained relationship between two brothers. The story shows what can happen when the social contract is violated, and truth is used as a weapon. Collapse

...In the case of Ballet San Jose's version [of Ben Stevenson's 'Cinderella'], which opened Friday, the credit has to go to Alexsandra Meijer, about as perfect a Cinderella as you are likely to see. This longtime company member gave a glorious, fully integrated and nuanced performance. Collapse

The performance on Saturday evening at Holy Cross Church by the San Jose Choral Project can only be described in superlatives – transporting, sublime, transcendental. This was the power of great choral music impeccably performed. Many, even trained musicians, don’t realize that we are living in one of the golden ages of choral music in which a number of first-rate choral composers around the world are enriching the huge reservoir of choral masterpieces with works that greatly utilize challenging and expanded compositional techniques. Collapse

'Sweet Stuff' - 3.5/5 stars


"There’s nothing meek about the Dragon Theatre’s production of this work."
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Friday's big audience included lots of children, a welcome sight as they careened around the lobby during the intermissions. Few of them could have known or cared about the company's recent turmoil. All that mattered was the joy and surprise of dancers back in motion. Collapse

Ballet San Jose opened their season this weekend with a three-part program featuring two classic Ballet works Paquita and Graduation Ball-- replete with tutus, countless en-pointe twirls, and an aristocratic setting-- sandwiching the jazzy Interplay in between. Though the contrast in styles was stark-- the tone of all three pieces was flirtatious. Collapse

After a fall and early winter of discontent, Ballet San Jose tackles a difficult opening program and performs admirably. Collapse

CMT was featured in a recent "Bay Area Proud" segment on NBC Bay Area.
See the video here!
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/news/local/The-Broadway-Express/138613459 Collapse

The San Jose Chamber Orchestra and The Choral Project have made a happy tradition of teaming up at the holidays for "Winter's Gifts," an annual concert. But seasonally themed as it may be, this performance won't necessarily be jingling all the way or decking the halls--both music groups are known for repertoire that's a bit more off the beaten path, often bringing together world music traditions and classical music traditions. Collapse

...just might be the best in the Bay Area's bevy of "Nutcrackers." Collapse

[Ballet San Jose's 'The Nutcracker' is] being performed by a family, the blended family of a dance company. The tiny mice from the Ballet School share the stage with longtime veterans like Roni Mahler and Danel Gwatkin. Numerous community dancers and supernumeraries join the professionals. Collapse

[It's] not a surprise that an area filled with innovative and visionary people would have a creative ballet company as well. Ballet San Jose presents one of the most creative and entertaining Nutcrackers in the nation. It's a Broadway-worthy ballet spectacular! Collapse

The play follows a young soldier, on a private army trial for supposedly committing killing against Iraqi citizens while on the war front. The play raises fascinating and disturbing questions surrounding several issues—including the moral confusion of war, callous political motives behind international combat, and universal matters of spirituality and redemption. The play is structured in nine segments which was interesting and different to watch. I enjoyed watching the actors/actresses facial expression in this play they seemed so realistic and heart touching. The lighting was good and the scenic was ok, I felt that a few variations would have been better. The actors did an wonderful job with expiring there voice as well.

By: Resh Collapse

Joyful sounds poured forth from the Center for Spiritual Living in Willow Glen on a recent Sunday morning. Performing a variety of songs for those assembled was a local choral group with international experience. Collapse

...One of the great things about community theater is the up close and personal feel of the venues. Not only do you feel like you’re actually inside the play, but the closer you are to the actors, the easier it is to see little facial nuances among the cast members. In a play like Squabbles, those little changes in facial expression really help sell the extremely uncomplicated script.... Collapse

An annual tradition since its second season, Slices presents an entertaining evening of eight original one-act plays chosen from submissions (over 20 this year) by members of the Pear Playwrights Guild. Pear Slices 2011 adds a new dimension with each play depicting the “American experience” in some fashion and marks the 60th... Collapse

The Guggenheim family is now presenting the first West Coast production of Xanadu since its U.S. tour. San Jose’s Retro Dome makes the perfect home for this gloriously campy show, which is a joy to behold from its hilarious start to a finale that lights up the Dome with more disco balls than should be legally permitted.... (Click link for rest of review) Collapse

...on stage, thanks to crafty creative shenanigans of the show’s creators—Douglas Carter Beans (book) and Jeff Lynne and John Farrar (music and lyrics)—camp is taken to a new level. And on roller skates to boot! Fun.

Fortunately, the music of ELO, whose songs were infused in the original film, come along for the ride, too, so now, after a successful Broadway tour, the stunning winner of an Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award, has rolled right into the Bay Area in, perhaps, the most fitting portal of all: The Retro Dome in San Jose.

And the result? Delicious....(Click link to read full review) Collapse

You may not know that Steven Dietz is one of the most produced playwrights in the U.S., only slightly behind Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams. That might be a good enough reason to go see the current Dragon Theatre production of his play "Private Eyes" — to see what all the fuss is about.

But an even better reason is the quality of Dragon's production. It's an excellent evening's entertainment, sure to generate laughter and post-show discussion.... (Click link for rest of review) Collapse