By David John Chávez

Looking forward to engaging here. Linktr.ee/davidjchavez

Sunday matinee at ZSpace. #wordforword #hellatheatre

For @kqedarts.bsky.social, I reviewed "Oh, Mary!" running at the Curran in San Francisco. Alaska Thunderfuck kicks some ass in this role. Through Nov. 1 #hellatheatre

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has a pretty snazzy production of "Dracula" running in Mountain view through Nov. 1. My review for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre (gift article) www.mercurynews.com/2026/10/19/r...

Filipino American International Book Festival, checking out the playwright's panel.

Back in the City for the SFBATCO world premiere, on the job for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre

Ready. On the job for @kqedarts.bsky.social #hellatheatre

As "Phantom" makes its 2nd Bay Area stop on the current tour, a familiar face is returning to SJ. Krista Wigle, who was on the entire 1990s SF run, returns to the South Bay, where she did lots of shows at 3Below in Downtown SJ. I spoke with Wigle for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre (gift link)

Eureka Day at City Lights, on the job for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre

Seasons continue to kick off. Seated for Barcelona at SJ Stage by Bess Wohl, on the job for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre

Closing night with some of my favorite theater folk. Manning at Potrero Stage from Crowded Fire. Hanging with @juanmichaelii.bsky.social #hellatheatre

Wonderful to be back at La Peña for a dear family member's tribute concert to Juan Gabriel. Haven't been here in years. #Berkeley

Fun one on tap tonight. Seated at Palo Alto Players for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. #hellatheatre

The staccato dialogue can sometimes feel inorganic, but when this play cooks, it really cooks (pun fully intended!) My review of "The Cook" by Eduardo Machado at Berkeley Rep for @kqedarts.bsky.social #hellatheatre www.kqed.org/arts/1399379...

As a theater reporter, I get hyped for season announcements. Similarly, back in my drama teaching days, nothing funner than announcing the shows for the school year. Great vibes are off the charts in the fall, and knowing what shows you and the kids will be doing puts the energy at a new level.

Opening night at Berkeley Rep, on the job for @kqedarts.bsky.social #hellatheatre

Hairspray at SF Playhouse! #hellatheatre

Rrady to go live. @kqedforum.bsky.social @kqedarts.bsky.social

I'll be an in-studio guest on @kqedforum.bsky.social at 9 am on Friday, 9/4 to chat about these shows. 88.5 on your FM dial, come through and give us a listen! #hellatheatre

ROI at SF Playhouse. New space I have not been to, Creativity Theater. #hellatheatre #SanFrancisco

Great time at the Oasis tonight, some big laughs at #Disastrous from D'Arcy Drollinger. 11 more performances.

Attended the Luis Valdez documentary screening last night at San Jose Stage. What a beautiful piece of filmmaking. So nice to see maestro Luis receive all the flowers he deserves.

It's clear he is a legend but I've only truly appreciated his greatness in the past few years as an exiled Oakland A's fan. Remember his very specific windup as a pitcher. Sorry to see him go but what a career.

Stopped at @southcoastrep.bsky.social on the way home so the teen Percy Jackson lover can catch a show. Always nice to be back.

First time at a Bay FC game, great vibes, great soccer, need some more grade A chances on goal.

Fell very hard for this charmer of a show, with a great local production in Downtown #SanJose. My review of City Lights production of #RidetheCyclone for the @mercurynews.com, show runs through 8/23, do not miss it! (gift link) #hellatheatre www.mercurynews.com/2026/07/28/r...

I put this album in the same category as Aretha Franklin's "Amazing Grace" — a fantastic collection of deeply personal songs by a singer at the top of her powers, not thinking about chart success and doing exactly the music she wants to do.

Thank goodness I stick to unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks. If I forget my ID, it's not required for that.

Opening night in #SanJose, seated for #RidetheCyclone at City Lights.

I cannot begin to express what this album did for Mexicans at the time. To her her sing these songs still brings me goosebumps. Every relative I had, including my parents, had multiple copies in LP and cassette form, including blank cassettes to record the album for others.

World premiere at TheatreWorks! On the job for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre

"A walking skunk cabbage." 💯 All of this.

Chicago. Is this even a question? But, in all fairness, folks might never had a Kasper's (Casper's) at its Bay Area peak. The stuff in which legends are made.

🤣🤣🤣

For the @mercurynews.com, I spoke w/ playwright Geetha Reddy and actor/Cupertino native Kapil Talwalkar about the world premiere "The Employee Dharma Handbook" at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Inspired by the Cisco caste case of 2020, the comedy begins on 7/8 in Palo Alto #hellatheatre (gift article)

The most bummer part of the evening - being reminded of the arts companies we've lost in San Jose, including Tabard Theatre, 3Below, Northside Theatre Company and Ballet San Jose. Ouch. The Tabard space has long been one of my favorites in the area.

As promised, every joke I laughed at means full credit goes to fellow Merc scribe @salpizarro.bsky.social

Futbol. 🥰😍🤩

Fun night in #SanJose, 30th anniversary of Monday Night Live for #SanJoseStage.

While the dialogue is snappy and smart, some situations and feel of the show still can use some development. So much to like about this world premiere, a co-production between Golden Thread and SFBATCO. My review of #ArabSpring for @kqedarts.bsky.social, thru July 12 in #SanFrancisco #hellatheatre

Ritesh Batra's 2013 film #TheLunchbox is fantastic. The world premiere musical, now in its second extension at Berkeley Rep, is also wonderful. Kuhoo Verma is a star. The show runs through July 12. My review for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre (gift link) www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/03/r...

Closing weekend for "We Will Rock You" @ San Jose Stage. The script is very odd and not great, but this show is all about listening to kickass live Queen tunes and terrific performances, namely Nicholas Tabora as Killer Queen. My review for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre - thru 6/28 (gift link)

If Peaches Christ isn't at Pride Night, does it even count? I say no.

Sunday matinee, on the job for the @mercurynews.com. #hellatheatre

One of my all-time favorites. Lorca FTW. #hellatheatre #Oakland

Always love a brand new world premiere musical that hardly anyone has seen. On the job for the @mercurynews.com #hellatheatre

Now that is a set. On the job for the @mercurynews.com, world premiere in Berkeley. #hellatheatre

I don't watch a lot of movies, but I am kicking off the summer with 15 classic films I haven't seen. Number one, pretty amazing, just kind of, ends.

On the job for the @mercurynews.com ##hellatheatre

It's Alicia Keys Friday. #hellatheatre #SanFrancisco