Mark Jacobson News

Nick Payne's acclaimed Off-Broadway smash 'Incognito' makes its West Coast debut with this thought-provoking production, staged at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura.

Upon entering the Rubicon opening night, I first remarked the bare stage with four chairs against a solid color background that would serve as a sort of screen for projections (Mike Billings-set, lighting, projection designer). This kind of setup usually indicates that there is no set for the play and that the actors will sit and move about to create the scenarios. This can be a good thing or bad depending on the content and framework of the play. In this case Incognito, a west coast premiere by British playwright Nick Payne presents on the surface quite a bit to swallow. The message beneath, however, is much more simplistic and the ensemble of actors under the supremely intelligent direction of Katharine Farmer make the play worth a trip to Ventura to the Rubicon Theatre now through October 1.

Following (mostly)musicals' sold-out July show, independent Means, the series will return to Upstairs at Vitello's on Monday, September 25th at 7:30pm for their 25th edition, SING OUT!

Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC) is pleased to announce the cast for the West Coast premiere of NICK PAYNE'S profoundly moving play INCOGNITO, directed by Ovation nominee and Indy Award-winner KATHARINE FARMER. This dazzling new drama explores what it means to be human and how memory and imagination shape our identities. Four actors play 21 characters in interwoven stories (some based on true events) about our desire to know ourselves and our yearning to be known and understood by others.

Following their sold out July show, independent MEANS, (mostly)musicals is delighted to return to Upstairs at Vitello's for their 25th edition, SING OUT! on Monday, September 25th, 2017.

Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC) is pleased to announce the cast for the West Coast premiere of NICK PAYNE'S profoundly moving play INCOGNITO, directed by Ovation nominee and Indy Award-winner KATHARINE FARMER. This dazzling new drama explores what it means to be human and how memory and imagination shape our identities.

(mostly)musicals returns to Upstairs at Vitello's (formerly the E Spot Lounge) tonight, July 3 for their 24th edition, Independent MEANS. Look below at the explosively talented cast in rehearsal!

(mostly)musicals will return to Upstairs at Vitello's (formerly the E Spot Lounge)  for their 24th edition, Independent MEANS, on Monday, July 3rd at 7:30pm. 

Coeurage Theatre Company, LA's Pay What You Want theatre company, has announced the first production of its eighth season, the world premiere of Nicky, by acclaimed Los Angeles playwright Boni B. Alvarez. Directed by Beth Lopes, there will be two preview performances on June 1 and 2 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, June 3 at 8pm. Nicky will play through July 1 at the Greenway Court Theatre. 

The last time I laughed, really laughed at something funny, I didn't stop to ask myself what made it funny. The various classifications of comedy through the ages have never seemed that significant to learn unless I were a professor of comedy or were looking for a few items of fun trivia to share at a cocktail party. Reed Martin and Justin Tichenor love to abridge as in their Reduced Shakespeare and the History of America, both of which seem to work just fine with audiences, but if you reduce comedy, doesn't it take the fun out of funny? For the first half of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged), currently onstage at the Falcon Theatre, I felt like I was in a classroom instead of the theatre. Lists and lists of the funniest people, funniest double acts, etc were thrown at us as if we were students preparing for a major exam on the subject. But by the time the first act came to an end, in a scene filled with strobe lights, a Mack Sennett chase replete with cream pies flying and cops falling down took center stage, and what he had been hearing about started to make sense. Comedy is the slap, the pratfall, the schtik, the slapstick produce the laugh-filled relief that we get from the pressures of everyday living. Under the fast paced direction of Jerry Kernion, three geniuses of physical comedy Marc Ginsburg, Mark Jacobson and last. but hardly least Zehra Fazal prove that they can put on a show and make us laugh.

On March 13, (mostly)musicals returned to the E Spot Lounge in Studio City with CRIME SCENE: a uniquely entertaining evening of songs so good, it might be illegal!

BE ON THE LOOKOUT! A high caliber lineup of criminally talented performers is headed toward the E Spot Lounge.

Michael-Leon Wooley (B'way: LITTLE SHOP, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, Film: Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, DREAMGIRLS) and Deborah S. Craig (B'way: SPELLING BEE, TV: TRANSPARENT) will sing at the E Spot Lounge in (mostly)musicals: CRIME SCENE - the 22nd entry in this popular series of themed cabarets - on Monday, March 13th at 7:30pm.

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month of March.

???????Following their success of January's songsforaHAPPYnewyear, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge for CRIME SCENE - the 22nd entry in their series of themed cabarets - on Monday, March 13th at 7:30pm.

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month of March.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces Israeli multi-reed bandleader Anat Conat and her critically acclaimed international Trio Brasileiro, English musician John Waite (1984's 'Missing You'), recent Grammy nominee and Chicagoan Robbie Fulks and more.

(mostly)musicals kicked off their 4th season in style with songsforaHAPPYnewyear at the E Spot Lounge on Monday, January 16. This was the company's 21st entry in a series of themed cabarets, and set a new attendance record. 'We were thrilled that so many people came out to Studio City to get HAPPY with us!' explains producer amy francis schott. Scroll down for pictures of the memorable night!

Kicking off their 4th season in style, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, January 16 (at the new time of 7:30pm) with songsforaHAPPYnewYEAR -- the company's 21st entry in a series of themed cabarets. 'We are excited to move into a new year and a new season of (mostly)musicals -- and we want to get it off to a HAPPY start! There are no sad songs allowed at *this* show,' explains producer amy francis schott.

Kicking off their 4th season in style, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, January 16 (at the new time of 7:30pm) with songsforaHAPPYnewYEAR -- the company's 21st entry in a series of themed cabarets.