Eric George Tauber is an actor as well as a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.
By Eric George Tauber CARLSBAD, California — Once upon a time, families huddled around wooden boxes in rapt attention. The radio gave us our news, music, comedy and drama. Sound effects planted pictures in our minds and our imaginations took it from there. This was the world of Walton Jones’ 1940s Radio Hour playing at […]
1940s Radio Hour a delightful holiday break Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Inside Liberty Station (the old Naval Training Center in Point Loma) lies the New Americans Museum. I had passed by it several times feeling that I should check it out “one of these days,” but hadn’t had a reason to until I heard this news: Over Thanksgiving weekend,
Museum vandalism attacked America’s ideals Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego CountyBy Eric George Tauber If the Grinch had stolen Chanukah, Only a handful of whos would’ve noticed. In the midst of the the Whoville mish-mosh Were there Jew-Whos making a minyan For a kosher Beis Midrash? With no candles lit, would they have still said their brochos, Or shlumped in despair sitting down on
If the Grinch stole Chanukah… Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — How far can you run from yourself? Playwright Ayad Akhtar gives us Amir, a man born in America to Pakistani Muslim parents. But he describes his heritage as “Indian” because Americans find it less threatening. Amir calls the Koran “one long hate-mail to humanity.” He felt that he
‘Disgraced’ cooks with fire Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — “Truth’s a game. It’s the lies that are deadly serious.” Imagine that your country is invaded and your king takes refuge in your house. The invading soldiers knock on your door and ask if you know the whereabouts of your king. You must now choose between your duty
Equivocation provokes deep questions Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — “It’s not the roar that makes the lion, it’s the pride.” Singer-songwriter Ben Scheuer has a one-man musical autobiography now playing at the Old Globe. Through story and song, Ben takes us on a deeply personal musical journey chronicling his life. His first ballad is a charming tale
Incline your ear to The Lion Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — After my review of October Sky posted, I received an angry email from Homer Hickam, the main character on whose memoir October Sky is based. After signing over the rights to his story and characters to Universal Studios, he is suing them for the “creative liberties” they have
Controversy over ‘October Sky’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — As kids watching Schoolhouse Rock, we heard the song “Elbow Room” describing America’s great push west ‘from sea to shining sea.’ According to New York editor John L. O’Sullivan, it was “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence …” Nevermind the multitudes of people who
Manifest Destinitis: a campy romp through old California Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastA man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for? — -Robert Browning By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Deep underground in a coal mine, life is precarious. Explosions are not uncommon and black lung disease is ever present. As in the song 16 Tons, the people owe their souls to the
There’s hope in that October sky Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — In a lovely, verdant garden behind a wrought iron gate, the young King of Navarre and three young lord attendants determine to make their kingdom a wonder of the world for academia. To this end, they sign a vow to forego the pleasures of the flesh and devote
Love’s Labor’s Lost: A feast of wit Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastOptimism gives you disappointment. Cynicism gives you the world. By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — I’d heard that Steve Martin was a far more complicated man than the “wild and crazy guy” we’ve come to know on the screen. But I didn’t know how dark and cynical he was until I saw Meteor Shower
‘Meteor Shower’ is dark, cynical and surreal Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, USABy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — One man and a piano. For most, this would be a scene in a hotel lounge with patrons coming and going. But not for virtuoso Hershey Felder who completes this year’s Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival playing at the Lyceum Theatre. Hershey Felder is well known
Maestro: Music, mysticism of Leonard Bernstein Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Another Fringe Festival has come and gone, 11 days of ‘eyeball busting’ shows at fourteen venues around San Diego. If you’re not familiar, “fringe” refers to theater that’s a little too “out there” for a regular theater season. Many are small shows that travel light. Some are autobiographical.
Kisses and tomatoes at the Fringe Festival Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastStars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO–My guest shot me a look when I dared utter the name “Macbeth” as we took our seats at the Old Globe’s Summer Shakespeare Festival. “Oh no,” he intoned, “now somebody’s going to die.” “Don’t we all?”
Strange happenings and strange choices in ‘MacBeth’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast