iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

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...

kqed.org

In ‘The Cook’ at Berkeley Rep, Revolution Is in the Air — and the Kitchen | KQED

Eduardo Machado’s spellbinding play of political drama and family scandal spans four decades in Cuba.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

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...

mercurynews.com

Review: Take a spin on City Lights’ wonderfully weird ‘Ride the Cyclone’

Dark musical comedy centers on youthful victims of a carnival ride gone tragically wrong.

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IbuMichele @ibumichele.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

My boyfriend was over the moon about the album and her

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Reposted by By David John Chávez

Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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)

mercurynews.com

Cupertino native cast in world premiere of play about caste system

Kapil Talwalkar is featured in ‘The Employee Dharma Handbook’ at TheatreWorks.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

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

kqed.org

Sorting Through the Wreckage of an Immigrant Father’s Death

In San Francisco, the new play ‘Arab Spring’ explores family tension and Muslim tradition.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

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...

mercurynews.com

Review: ‘The Lunchbox’ world premiere is a poignant pleasure at Berkeley Rep

World premiere musical at Berkeley Rep captures the power of friendship

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

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)

mercurynews.com

Queen songs reign supreme in flawed ‘We Will Rock You’

The musical built off Queen’s mighty song catalogue suffers from a ridiculous story line.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

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

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

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.

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Curious about which theater productions you should try and catch this summer? We've got you covered! For @kqedarts.bsky.social, I recommended 11 shows throughout the #BayArea to catch, a mix of festivals, musicals, comedies and tragedies. The Bay has got it all. #hellatheatre

kqed.org

The 11 Best Plays and Musicals to See This Summer in the Bay Area | KQED

From world premiere dramas to classic musicals, your guide to summertime theater in the Bay Area is here.

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Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Jason starred at Harvard-Westlake High School and then Stanford with his twin, Jarron, before going on to have a long career in the NBA. So many people I know are reeling right now from this loss. May his memory be a blessing. He was a lovely guy.😞

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Reposted by By David John Chávez

Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Here is Jason’s essay about being the first active player in one of the four major men’s U.S. sports to come out as gay. What an absolute hero who will never be forgotten: www.si.com/more-sports/...

si.com

Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now

This story appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated. I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first

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By David John Chávez @davidjchavez.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

This former diehard Oakland A's fan is now a Padres fan, but dang, if the Dodgers aren't make a crazy push for my loyalties! Take me to this queer mariachi band!!! Blake Treinen might just retire out of spite.

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Rebecca J. Ritzel @rjritzel.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Hive mind: For a grant application: Anyone know of any dances, ballets, plays or musicals in the pipeline that center visual artists? (And those artists must have been active post-WWII.) Thanks!

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