Shannon Lee Clair

Season 2 Begins at New Canon Theatre Co. with Shakespeare's Romantic Comedy Much Ado About Nothing 'Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.'

Henry James' novella a?oeThe Turn of the Screwa?? is considered by some to be a classic of horror literature. A suspenseful story of ghosts and insanity that leaves each reader with a different viewpoint on what just happened. To be perfectly candid, I'd never read it and so my first exposure to it was last night's Book-It adaptation and production. And honestly, the way it was presented, I found it as suspenseful as a fly in a glass of milk, eliciting vaguely interesting questions of a?oewill she drowna?? or a?oewill she fly awaya??, but most of all a?oedo I really care?a?? All I know for certain is that I don't want to drink it anymore.

Book-It Repertory Theatre's landmark 30th season continues with The Turn of the Screw, adapted from the 1898 horror novella by Henry James. Adapted by Rachel Atkins and directed by Carol Roscoe, this production will dive into the darkest corners of James's most famous and haunting story, asking audiences to question who they trust and whose version of events they believe. This will be Book-It's first production under the leadership team of current Artistic Director Jane Jones and Incoming Artistic Director Gus Menary. The Turn of the Screw plays February 12 a?" March 8, 2020 (Opening/Press Night on Saturday, February 15) at The Center Theatre. 

Playwright Cicely Hamilton's first productions of her DIANA OF DOBSON'S in 1908 must have been quite controversial with a, then unheard of, strong, outspoken woman Diana Massingberd as the lead character. Abigail Marks more than fills the shoes of Diana with her relentless command of the stage. Director Casey Stangl deftly guides her talented cast in a fast-talking, fast-paced journey of Diana's adventures.

When poorly paid worker Diana inherits enough money to free her from a lifetime of drudgery, she impulsively decides to spend it all on a madcap, month-long taste of the high-life. But what she learns about love, money and society may surprise us all. Antaeus Theatre Companypresents a rare revival of the 1908 romantic comedyDiana of Dobson's byBritish suffragist (and friend of George Bernard Shaw) Cicely Hamilton.Casey Stangl directs a partner-cast ensemble for an April 18 and April 19opening (one opening night for each cast) at theKiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale, where performances continue through June 3. Low-priced previews begin April 11.

MainStreet Theatre Company begins the New Year with a stage adaptation of The Secret Garden, the beloved 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnet. The award-winning adaptation stays true to the original novel, which has been inspiring and delighting generations of children for more than 100 years. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

MainStreet Theatre Company begins the New Year with a stage adaptation of The Secret Garden, the beloved 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnet. The award-winning adaptation stays true to the original novel, which has been inspiring and delighting generations of children for more than 100 years. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

MainStreet Theatre Company begins the New Year with a stage adaptation of The Secret Garden, the beloved 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnet. The award- winning adaptation stays true to the original novel, whichhas been inspiring and delighting generations of children for over 100 years.

The 16th edition of Malibu International Film Festival presented by Yelp proudly unveils the full lineup of films and special events that kicks off December 3 at Regal Cinemas Malibu with Chip Croft's powerful documentary Lost Compassion followed by the Opening Night Party at Cafe Habana.

Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA bursts with passion and fierce humor in Pulitzer Prize and three-time Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker's colloquial translation, adapted from a literal translation by Margarita Shalina and the original Russian text. The Antaeus Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Baker's fresh new version in a fully partner-cast production. Robin Larsen directs the show, which opens tonight, October 15, at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the casts in action below!

Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya bursts with passion and fierce humor in Pulitzer Prize and three-time Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker's colloquial translation, adapted from a literal translation by Margarita Shalina and the original Russian text. The Antaeus Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Baker's fresh new version, hailed as one of the top 10 shows of 2012 by both The New York Times and New York magazine, in a fully partner-cast production. Robin Larsen directs for an October 15 opening at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo, with low-priced previews beginning October 8.

The Antaeus Company extends its critically acclaimed, double-cast production of Top Girls through May 18.

Top Girls/by Caryl Churchill/directed by Cameron Watson/Antaeus Theatre Company/through May 4

Politics get personal in the go-getting 1980s of Margaret Thatcher's England when Marlene, who has just been made managing director of the Top Girls Employment Agency, discovers that life above the glass ceiling is not all it's cracked up to be. Antaeus, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, opens its 2014 season with a fully partner-cast production of Top Girls, the Obie Award-winning comedy by Caryl Churchill. Previews begin March 6, with two opening nights set for March 13 and March 14 at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. Cameron Watson directs.

L.A. Theatre Works' Radio Theatre Series will air KINDERTRANSPORT written by Diane Samuels, directed by Jeannie Hackett and featuring Jane Kaczmarek, Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn. The broadcast can be heard locally in Southern California on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-9 pm on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles.

Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), reprising the role she created for the U.S premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club and for which she won an Ovation award in the L.A. premiere, and Susan Sullivan (Dharma and Greg, Castle) head the cast when Jeanie Hackett directs Kindertransport by Diane Samuelsfor L.A. Theatre Works. All performances will be recorded live in front of an audience (without sets or costumes) to air on L.A. Theatre Works' syndicated radio theater series, which broadcasts weekly on public radio stations nationwide and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org.

Molly C. Quinn, best known for her role as "Alexis Castle" on ABC's hit show Castle, has been set to join Jane Kaczmarek, Susan Sullivan, Hugo Armstrong, Shannon Lee Clair and Angela Paton when L.A. Theatre Worksrecords Diane Samuels' award-winning play, Kindertransport, for radio broadcast and digital download. In Kindertransport, Quinn will play opposite Susan Sullivan as her daughter - on Castle, she plays Sullivan's granddaughter. Five performances will be recorded in front of a live audience at UCLA's James Bridges Theater June 20 through June 23. Jeanie Hackett directs.

Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), reprising the role she created for the U.S premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club and for which she won an Ovation award in the L.A. premiere, and Susan Sullivan (Dharma and Greg, Castle) head the cast when Jeanie Hackett directs Kindertransport by Diane Samuelsfor L.A. Theatre Works. All performances will be recorded live in front of an audience (without sets or costumes) to air on L.A. Theatre Works' syndicated radio theater series, which broadcasts weekly on public radio stations nationwide and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org.

The Antaeus production highlights the play's universal and timeless themes by staging the play as presentation theater with the actors speaking directly to the audience, rarely to the person onstage to whom they are speaking. It is performed in conservative modern dress on a minimalistic set, making the words ring truer than in any other production of the show I have ever seen.