Linda Hodges

Contributor at BroadwayWorld

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Articles

Review: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL at Golden Gate Theatre

2 weeks ago | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

It’s a good guess that ticket buyers walking into the Golden Gate Theatre will anticipate a rip-roaring concert of Neil Diamond's greatest hits – and the show absolutely delivers on that front. But the surprising twist that immediately confronts the audience is witnessing this beloved icon confront the lifelong depression he'd quietly battled. It is both striking and deeply moving, adding a depth that most jukebox musicals often lack.
Review: THE CHER SHOW At Broadway San Jose

Mar 19, 2025 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Enter Your Email to Unlock This ArticlePlus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe. Email:Existing user? Just click login. Who doesn't love Cher in all of her many facets? For over six decades, she's entertained the world, her fame and fortune rising and falling dramatically, but she always found her way back on top.
Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at BroadwaySF

Feb 15, 2025 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Great Scott, what a fun night at the theatre! BroadwaySF delivered a blast from the past with Back to the Future: The Musical, and for two hours, the audience blissfully set aside worries about a troubled nation—and whether Canada was really going to become the 51st state! This high-voltage, time-traveling spectacle, with a book by Bob Gale—who co-wrote the original film with Robert Zemeckis—combines nostalgia, humor, and heart, electrifying the audience under the expert direction of John Rando.
Review: SOME LIKE IT HOT at Oprheum Theater

Jan 12, 2025 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of experiencing a dazzling show fresh from the heart of Broadway, now on tour! Don’t get me wrong—I’ll happily queue up for another round of “Jersey Boys” or “Mamma Mia!”—but there’s something magical about the sparkle and pizzazz of a fresh production that reaffirms and reignites our love for musical theater. Enter “Some Like It Hot”—a show brimming with charm, wit, and energy that will leave you buzzing long after the final curtain.
Review: HAMILTON at Orpheum Theatre

Dec 1, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

The cast of HAMILTON stormed the stage at BroadwaySF’s Orpheum Theatre, delivering a thunderous performance that electrified the audience. Every moment, from Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking score to Andy Blankenbuehler's intricate choreography, was infused with passion, energy, and artistry. This latest staging of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical reminds us why it continues to captivate audiences nearly a decade after its debut. But experiencing HAMILTON in 2024 resonates differently.
Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Curran Theatre

Nov 10, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Set in the 1990s, KIMBERLY AKIMBO follows 15-year-old Kimberly, a newcomer to New Jersey and the new girl at her high school. What’s not new, however, is her reality of living with a rare condition that causes her to age rapidly, giving her the body of someone in their 70s. Navigating the typical struggles of adolescence and a highly dysfunctional family is tough enough, but Kimberly also faces the harsh truth that most people with her disorder don’t live past 16. It’s heavy stuff.
Review: CLUE Turns Enemies List Paranoia into Pure Madcap Fun!

Oct 30, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Broadway San Jose has another laugh-out-loud hit on their hands with CLUE, the high-energy farce based on the classic board game and the 1985 movie of the same name. Though the movie became a cult classic, nothing compares to the raw energy of Sandy Rustin’s stage adaptation of Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay. In the hands of this top-notch ensemble cast, CLUE serves up a delightful 1950s-esque cocktail of zany antics, whodunit twists, and uproarious physical comedy.
Review: WICKED at Orpheum Theatre

Aug 31, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Carol de Giere, the biographer of Stephen Schwartz, for BroadwayWorld. It was an exhilarating experience, and seeing WICKED at the majestic Orpheum Theater in BroadwaySF made it even more special. The anticipation was palpable as we took our seats next to Nicole Lopez, who was celebrating her birthday with her first experience of WICKED.
Review: FROZEN Brings Chills and Thrills to Broadway San Jose

Aug 25, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

Disney’s Tony-nominated Frozen has taken center stage at Broadway San Jose, captivating audiences now through September 15. On opening night, the theater was filled with excitement—and a sea of little Elsa-costumed fans, each one shining like the Snow Queen herself. As the young audience members, accompanied by their parents, settled into their seats (or tried to, amidst the palpable excitement we all got ready for a night of Disney magic, and we were not disappointed.
Interview: A WICKED CONNECTION: Carol de Giere on Documenting the Legacy of Stephen Schwartz

Aug 25, 2024 | broadwayworld.com | Linda Hodges

With the national Wicked tour scheduled to play at San Francisco's Orpheum Theater from August 28 thru October 13, it seemed like a good time to speak to Carol de Giere. She is the longtime biographer of Stephen Schwartz and has spent years uncovering the stories behind some of his beloved musicals, including Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked. With his latest show, The Queen of Versailles, making its Broadway debut in the 2025–2026 season, Schwartz continues to captivate audiences.