Treva Tegtmeier

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the nominees for theatrical excellence for 2020 and 2021. This year's awards have been combined due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Spotlight focuses on Nan McNamara, an award-winning actress who I have seen in many productions at the Actors Co-op in Hollywood, perhaps most notably in the 2017 Ovation Award-winning '33 Variations' in which she played a journalist who was able to go back in time to interview Ludwig Von Beethoven (an outstanding performance by Bruce Ladd) about his work. But what happened to the world premiere production of Lee Blessing's 'A Body of Water' which Nan directed when Covid-19 shut down L.A. theaters?

Actors Co-op's production of Lee Blessing's “A Body of Water” with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson, opened to a SOLD OUT house Friday night.   The play runs now through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The Award-winning Actors Co-op Theatre Company will present 'A Body of Water' written by Lee Blessing with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson. The play will run February 7 through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Playwright Robert Harling's sharp, snappy, heart-wrenching, Louisiana-favored dialogue receives its most worthy due in this Actors Co-op production; cast with a spot-on ensemble of six amazing actresses, smoothly and expertly helmed by director Cameron Watson.

The award-winning Actors Co-op proudly presents Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS, directed by Cameron Watson, produced by Lauren Thompson.  Set in a small town beauty salon in Louisiana, STEEL MAGNOLIAS celebrates the bond of friendship between six women in the midst of life's challenges. Based on the playwright's upbringing, and later adapted into the critically acclaimed film, STEEL  MAGNOLIAS  is a humorous, yet devastating journey of friendship, loss, and love.

Director Cameron Watson is about to receive the Milton Katselas Award for distinguished achievement in direction from the LADCC for 2018. He is one busy director in LA theatre and recently sat down to discuss overseeing the new production of Steel Magnolias at Actors Co-op, set to open Friday March 22. Describe your association with Actors Co-op.

If the laws are changed for convenience, who will object to money, favors or a higher position? When you think about it, the issue is timeless. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII (Ian Michaels) divorced his wife Catherine, who could not give him a son, and married Anne Boleyn. He was excomunicated from the Catholic Church by the Pope of Rome. The Anglican Church resulted and Henry's power became supreme in England. Spain, who had conducted the Inquisition, looked upon England with disdain. Anyone under Henry's command, who had signed an oath accepting the changes, stood to benefit in convenient ways. For example, Master Richard Rich (Mitchell Lam Hau) moved up the ladder and betrayed his mentor and friend Sir Thomas More (Bruce Ladd), who had offered him sound advice about becoming a teacher and staying honest. Under oath, Rich lied about More, who was accused of treaso

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the 1962 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, directed by Thom Babbes, produced by Carly Lopez. This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII.  A Man for All Seasons opens tonight, Friday, March 2 at 8:00 pm, and will run through Sunday, April 15 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the 1962 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, directed by Thom Babbes, produced by Carly Lopez. This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce that the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE!, Stage Raw TOP TEN, Ovation Recommended), smash-hit, Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moises Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 26at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Often called the greatest set of variations ever written for keyboard, the 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120, commonly known as the Diabelli Variations, was written by Beethoven between 1819 and 1823, the time frame of his life which is examined in the play, told concurrently with a modern-day fictional story of college professor Dr. Katherine Brandt as she ventures to Bonn to complete her research on why the great composer chose to spend so much time working on such a second-rate piece of music. Along the way, we learn these two will give up nothing in order to reach their goals, even though both were suffering great medical challenges threatening to sidetrack their work. And, even though they're separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that might, even just for a moment, make time stand still.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moisés Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal).  33 VARIATIONS will preview on Thursday, February 9 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 10 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 19 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moises Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal).  33 VARIATIONS will preview on Thursday, February 9 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 10 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 19 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

One of Stephen Schwartz's failures The Baker's Wife, which toured extensively across the US in 1976 but never made it to Broadway, had a cast recording with Patti LuPone, Paul Sorvino and Teri Ralston and has had a few revivals including the UK. Why did it bomb? It's a simple, sweet show with a lovely message about human connection and a few pretty ballads, especially the hit 'Meadowlark', but there's a spark missing, nothing really exciting to get people into the seats; it's most definitely not commercial enough for Broadway. Based on the 1938 French film La Femme du Boulanger, that may be the main reason that the show is rarely performed. Now onstage at Actors co-op, Baker's Wife is mounted scrumptiously with terrific direction from Richard Israel and a superlatively cast ensemble.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE opens tonight, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE will preview on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Though the term is rarely used today, there was an era when ending up an old maid was the worst possible scenario for a woman. Hard times and modest dreams made finding a husband a requirement for happiness, especially during the Depression when people lived off the land, family meant all, and survival depended on the support of one's neighbors in times of need.