Jack Laufer News

The nominees for the 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were announced this week.

Despite my well-earned affection for the Tony-winning 1998 Roundabout Theatre Company production of the classic Kander and Ebb Broadway classic CABARET, I still found myself vigorously entertained by McCoy Rigby Entertainment's flashy and buoyant new 2018 regional production of this theatrical staple, under the solid direction of Larry Carpenter and featuring spectacular musical performances from its lead cast. This deliciously bawdy but at times sneakily ominous musical continues performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 11, 2018.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

GUNS is a ground-breaking concept album aimed at the most controversial and widely debated issue in America. Recorded in Los Angeles with an eclectic group of artists from all across the nation, these songs chronicle the vast and ever-evolving points of view encompassing the American gun discussion.

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

Impassioned members of Actors' Equity Association in Los Angeles have raised funds from within their own ranks to follow up yesterday's North Hollywood rally with a full-page ad in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times to urge a 'No' vote on the upcoming AEA advisory referendum to eliminate L.A.'s 99-Seat Theater Plan. Scroll down for photos from the Pro-99 Rally, held yesterday, March 23!

Frances Fisher, French Stewart and Kirsten Vangsness will join a protest march by members of Actors' Equity Association against a proposal recently announced by their union to end the 99-Seat Theater Plan in Los Angeles on Monday, March 23.

Now celebrating its 22nd Anniversary, The Blank Theatre's Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival has chosen 12 plays by young playwrights aged 16 - 19, from seven different states. These plays will be presented by professional actors and directors in this year's festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, June 5 - 29.

More than 50 actors are set to participate in The Blank Theatre's 20th Anniversary Young Playwrights Festival, including Catherine Hicks (7th Heaven), Laura Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Mackenzie Phillips (American Graffiti, One Day At A Time), Peri Gilpin (Frasier), Josh Randall (Greek, Scrubs, Dusk Rings A Bell at The Blank), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie, Sukie & Sue: Their Story at The Blank), Zach Roerig (The Vampire Diaries), and Matthew Moy (2 Broke Girls). Twelve winning plays by young playwrights aged 9 -19, from nine different states, will be presented during this year's festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from May 31- June 24.

The Blank Theatre Company's third production of its 20th anniversary season, Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, will close on March 20. The production is Directed by The Blank's Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning, and features musical direction by David O.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company's third production of its 20th anniversary season, Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company's third production of its 20th anniversary season, Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company's third production of its 20th anniversary season, Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock.