Larry Bates News

Experience the fireworks of love-first love, unrequited love and mature love-on stage this summer, as Goodman Theatre concludes its 2016/2017 Season with a major revival of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness!

This summer, experience the agony and ecstasy of first love all over again in Goodman Theatre's major revival of Ah, Wilderness! - the sole comedic work of playwright Eugene O'Neill, the father of American drama. Steve Scott, the Goodman's longtime Producer, directs O'Neill's portrait of family life at the turn of the century - and the bliss, excitement and adventure of first love. 

Stage Raw announces the nominations for its third annual awards show 'A Wake and Sing!,' coming Monday, May 15 to Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, Downtown.

Nothing says the holidays like South Coast Repertory's production of A Christmas Carol, an Orange County family favorite since 1980. John-David Keller directs the Charles Dickens' classic, adapted by Jerry Patch, with performances on the Segerstrom Stage Nov. 25-Dec. 24. Hal Landon Jr. is Ebenezer Scrooge, the "Bah! Humbug!" miser who has a yuletide change of heart. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Nothing says the holidays like South Coast Repertory's production of A Christmas Carol, an Orange County family favorite since 1980. John-David Keller directs the Charles Dickens' classic, adapted by Jerry Patch, with performances on the Segerstrom Stage Nov. 25-Dec. 24. Hal Landon Jr. is Ebenezer Scrooge, the "Bah! Humbug!" miser who has a yuletide change of heart. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Right at the start of Robert Schenkkan's mesmerizing Tony Award-winning play ALL THE WAY---now playing in an outstanding new production at Orange County's South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through October 2---actor Hugo Armstrong is introduced in what would become one of the most powerful, fiery acting performances I have witnessed on this very stage. Commanding, and yet remarkably relatable without ever traversing caricature, Armstrong deftly portrays one of American History's most complex leaders, our 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson. Armstrong's powerhouse portrayal is the explosive epicenter of a richly dense, dialogue-heavy drama that recounts the rocky 11-month period leading up to Johnson's re-election as the leader of the world's most powerful nation. The play spends its entirety focusing on this contentious time which finds Johnson pushing for the passage of the Civl Rights Act---which itself incites a tug-of-war between his longtime pro-segregation Dixiecrat friends and the African-American community lobbying for rights that have been long overdue.

How often have you wondered what it would be like to go back in time and talk to an historical icon? Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP is a gripping and often humorous re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that won London's 2010 Olivier Award for best new play. It's one of the best ways imaginable to honor Dr. King, Black History Month and the Black Lives Matter movement by experiencing its Los Angeles premiere at the Matrix Theatre, directed by Obie Award-winner Roger Guenveur Smith and starring Larry Bates and Danielle Truitt. I cannot imagine any two actors more suited to step into the shoes of these two characters, having worked together in a previous production of the play at San Diego Rep, also directed by Smith.

The Matrix Theatre Company honors Black History Month with the Los Angeles premiere of The Mountaintop, directed by Obie Award-winner Roger Guenveur Smith and starring Larry Bates and Danielle Mone Truitt. Recipient of London's 2010 Olivier Award, Katori Hall's gripping and often humorous re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. takes on new meaning with the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Mountaintop opens at the Matrix Theatre on February 6, with previews beginning January 28. (Scroll all the way down to view links to high resolution photos.)

It was 25 years ago when South Coast Repertory first staged the World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley's dark comedy ABUNDANCE. Fast forward to 2015, and Orange County's Tony Award-winning regional theater saw it fitting to once again revisit the property in a brand new production now viewed through 21st Century eyes, that has been beautifully directed by SCR Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson. The play continues performances in Costa Mesa through November 15.

L. Frank Baum's beloved classic story of Dorothy and her friends in the land of Oz gets a reboot-literally-in a video game setting. OZ 2.5, a world premiere by Catherine Trieschmann, wraps up the Theatre for Young Audiences season at South Coast Repertory, May 22-June 7, on the Julianne Argyros stage. The production is directed by Shelley Butler. Tickets are on sale now: www.scr.org.

L. Frank Baum's beloved classic story of Dorothy and her friends in the land of Oz gets a reboot-literally-in a video game setting. OZ 2.5, a world premiere by Catherine Trieschmann, wraps up the Theatre for Young Audiences season at South Coast Repertory, today, May 22-June 7, on the Julianne Argyros stage. The production is directed by Shelley Butler.

L. Frank Baum's beloved classic story of Dorothy and her friends in the land of Oz gets a reboot-literally-in a video game setting. OZ 2.5, a world premiere by Catherine Trieschmann, wraps up the Theatre for Young Audiences season at South Coast Repertory, May 22-June 7, on the Julianne Argyros stage. The production is directed by Shelley Butler. Tickets are on sale now: www.scr.org.

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad will serve as the Master Teacher for the 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a national program to serve the future of American theatre.

South Coast Repertory begins its 2014-15 Theatre for Young Audiences series with the literary classic, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, adapted by Joseph Robinette. The heartwarming children's fable about friendship and love, directed by Laurie Woolery, runs Nov. 7-23 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org.

South Coast Repertory begins its 2014-15 Theatre for Young Audiences series with the literary classic, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, adapted by Joseph Robinette. The heartwarming children's fable about friendship and love, directed by Laurie Woolery, runs Nov. 7-23 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org.

South Coast Repertory turns classic fairy tales inside out for the season's final Theatre for Young Audiences production: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. John Glore adapted the play from the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. The show, with a host of wacky characters and silly songs, is directed by Jessica Kubzansky and runs today, May 23-June 8 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

South Coast Repertory turns classic fairy tales inside out for the season's final Theatre for Young Audiences production: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. John Glore adapted the play from the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. The show, with a host of wacky characters and silly songs, is directed by Jessica Kubzansky and runs May 23-June 8 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org.

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.

Miller's classic drama opens South Coast Repertory's milestone 50th season, with actor Charlie Robinson as Willy Loman and a dramatically diverse cast. The show runs on the Segerstrom Stage Aug. 30-Sept. 29. Tickets are available online:www.scr.org. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

To kickstart its 50th Season, Orange County's Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory is presenting a newly-envisioned local revival of the classic 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winning play DEATH OF A SALESMAN, featuring an outstanding performance by veteran stage and screen actor Charlie Robinson in the title role. Performances continue on the Segerstrom Stage through September 29.