Taylor Stephenson News

Even if you have seen many productions of the totally entertaining Broadway musical-comedy HAIRSPRAY, do not miss the larger?than?life production, with its infectious music, show?stopping dance numbers and uplifting story, now at the Norris Theatre on the Palos Verdes Peninsula through May 12. With a talented cast of 28 local triple-threat performers, directed to perfection by Kari Hayter with some of the most demanding and athletic constant choreography by Christopher M. Albrecht, producer Chris Gilbert is to congratulated for bringing one of the best total packages to the stage!

Menander Productions and Jamie Pierce have gathered a talented cast and crew to populate their world premiere of playwright Gina Torrecilla's ATTACK OF THE SECOND BANANAS, now at the Zephyr Theatre. Ryan Bergmann sharply directs his six-person ensemble in a slick, quick pace of much laughs and hilarity. Taylor Stephenson's underscoring of mock suspense music aptly heightens this involving, who-done-it mystery.

The Actors Co-op Theatre Company's LA TIMES Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended production of the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira, with musical direction by Taylor Stephenson, The show runs through June 17. Fridays and Todays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm. There are no performances June 22, 23 and 24. Two additional shows have been added, Friday - June 29 at 8pm and Today - June 30 at 8:00 pm, extending the run through June 30, at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company's LA TIMES Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended production of the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira, with musical direction by Taylor Stephenson, The show runs through June 17. Fridays and Todays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm. Special added matinee Today - June 16 at 2:30 pm. There are no performances June 22, 23 and 24. Two additional shows have been added, Friday - June 29 at 8:00 pm and Today - June 30 at 8:00 pm, extending the run through June 30, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

The Actors Co-op Theatre Company's LA TIMES Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended production of the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira, with musical direction by Taylor Stephenson, The show runs through June 17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm. There are no performances June 22, 23 and 24. Two additional shows have been added, Friday - June 29 at 8pm and Saturday - June 30 at 8:00 pm, extending the run through June 30, at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company's LA TIMES Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended production of the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira, with musical direction by Taylor Stephenson, The show runs through June 17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm. Special added matinee Saturday - June 16 at 2:30 pm. There are no performances June 22, 23 and 24. Two additional shows have been added, Friday - June 29 at 8:00 pm and Saturday - June 30 at 8:00 pm, extending the run through June 30, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

The Actors Co-op Theatre Company's LA TIMES Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended production of the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira, with musical direction by Taylor Stephenson, adds two additional Saturday 2:30 matinees to its run, June 2 and June 16. The well-received production of Violet runs through Sunday, June 17 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

What made the Hot List? Check out these productions for a look at the vast creativity of theatre makers in action in Los Angeles: FOREVER BOUND at Atwater Village Theatre, PLUNGE: Part 1 of The Ballad of Bimini Baths Trilogy at Son of Semele, SOFT POWER downtown at the Ahmanson, VIOLET at Actors Co-op, THE GIANT VOID IN MY SOUL from Ammunition Theatre Company,  WOOD BOY DOG FISH at Garry Marshall Theatre, and Antaeus Theatre Company's NATIVE SON in Glendale. Reviews by BWW Sr. Editor Ellen Dostal, LADCC.

Sharing scenes and memories with her younger self during the entire musical is 25-year old Violet, portrayed with both great innocence and insightful common sense by Claire Adams, whom we meet as she is setting off on a journey of hope and discovery aboard a Greyhound bus bound for Tulsa, Oklahoma ('On My Way') where she hopes a TV evangelist can create a miracle and cure her disfigurement. And just how disfigured is Violet that people react to her appearance with so much shock? That is left to your imagination since her scar is often described but never seen, almost as if the real scar is unseen on her soul rather than a physical deformity on her face.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira. Violet opens Today, May 11 at 8:00 pm, and will run through Sunday, June 17 at the Actors Co-op Crossley 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 Tony nominated musical VIOLET, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, directed by Richard Israel, produced by Thomas Chavira. Violet opens Friday, May 11 at 8:00 pm, and will run through Sunday, June 17 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Chance Theater is set to present its 14th annual production of the irreverent, raunchy and pitch-black dark holiday satire... The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. Written by Jeff Goode, directed by Resident Artist James McHale. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues will perform December 8 through December 23 on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater is set to present its 14th annual production of the irreverent, raunchy and pitch-black dark holiday satire The Eight: Reindeer Monologues.

Before Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty teamed up for iconic works like Ragtime, Once on this Island, and their current Broadway hit Anastasia,they wrote a crazy little musical called LUCKY STIFF. It was their first collaboration and, though it never made it to Broadway, it won the pair a Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre and launched a 30-year partnership that has helped shape the genre ever since.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fifth and final show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the killer musical from the writers of Ragtime and Once On This Island, LUCKY STIFF, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Stephen Van Dorn.  

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for110 in the Shade) presents the fifth and final show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the killer musical from the writers of Ragtime and Once On This Island, LUCKY STIFF, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Stephen Van Dorn.  LUCKY STIFF will preview on Wednesday, May 10 & Thursday, May 11 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 12 at 8pm and run through Sunday, June 18 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Last Sunday, we ventured into Los Angeles to see two Ventura County theater alumni in a production of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Next to Normal, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that is being staged at the Pico Playhouse. Michelle Lane and Harrison Meloeny were both in Cabrillo Music Theatre's 2015 production of Mary Poppins and have reunited to appear in this highly acclaimed production.

After a 3 month absence, (mostly)musicals made a long-awaited return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, August 15 with ROAD TRIP, the company's 18th entry in a series of themed cabarets. BroadwayWorld takes you inside the event below!

Triage Productions and Standing Room Only Productions present Next To Normal, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, directed by Thomas James O'Leary, features a live five-piece band conducted by music director ­­Taylor Stephenson.

Four Clowns' founder and former artistic director Jeremy Aluma has deftly infused his Four Clowns magic directing his contemporary version of the classic HAMLET just finishing its run at the Lyceum Theater. Eschewing Shakespeare's couplets and metrics, this normal-speak HAMLET could be in any time period where fedora-ed men wear three-piece suits and ties while women can wear baggy pastel-colored pants and a beret.