Life is Like That Photos - Broadway

What did our critic think of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Desert Theatreworks?

Shaun Rennie (Director) allows Tennessee Williams’ words to be the hero of the night as he presents a captivatingly simple expression of SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at Ensemble Theatre.

The eagerly awaited pairing of Conor McPherson’s writing and directing with the music of Bob Dylan’s career, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY arrives at the Theatre Royal, Sydney.

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Julia Buis, an L.A. actor who traveled the world entertaining before settling in Hamburg, Germany.

Frank Galati's adaptation of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and National Book Award winning THE GRAPES OF WRATH is presented with clarity and creativity by director Louise Fischer for New Theatre. 

For the past several summers, I have attended the Festival of Arts and The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. But this year, I also decided to also visit two other art festivals along Laguna Canyon Road rather than spend any time cruising the town as I had done before. The full-day of exploring all the artistic delights on display this year at all three locations left me dazzled by all the talent on display, while wishing I had lot of extra income to purchase and bring home many of the awe-inspiring items that caught my fancy. But the real highlight of the day was viewing the abundance of 'local color' on display in this summer's 'Under the Sun' themed Pageant of the Masters.

Of all the composers in the world Giuseppe Verdi is by far the most popular. Of all the operas in the world his 'La traviata' is by far the most frequently performed. Have you missed out on this mega hit? You can fill in that cultural gap with the splendid production now offered by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to continue its 2016-17 season with the Chicago premiere of Meg Miroshnik's drama THE TALL GIRLS, an ensemble piece about five young women in the 1930s rural Midwest who discover a way to escape their crumbling town - by playing basketball. Directed by Ensemble Member Louis Contey, THE TALL GIRLS will play January 12 - February 25, 2017 at Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. 

Hollywood Boulevard's newest theatre troupe is one to keep an eye on.

Lane Cove Theatre Company brings Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK to life in a family friendly Community Theatre stage adaptation.

New musical DREAM LOVER: THE BOBBY DARIN MUSICAL is an amazing, honest tribute to the life of the American singer, songwriter, actor and political activist.

Andrea Goss, who plays Sally Bowles, a young British singer at the Kit Kat Club in CABARET, spoke with me from her Denver appearance last week. Andrea has also appeared in RENT and ONCE. CABARET opens at Omaha's Orpheum on October 11 and runs through the 16th.

SIDE SHOW, the musical about the sisters that were quite literally joined at the hip makes it's Australian Premiere at Hayes Theatre

Director Kip Williams brings Louis Nowra's THE GOLDEN AGE to life with sensitivity and simplicity.

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre (CAMT) has created 'The New World Symphony: Dvorak in America,' a play chronicling the American years (1892-1895) of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, during which he produced a flurry of 'American' works. GOH Productions and Dvorak-American Heritage Association (DAHA) will present the piece as a work in progress January 30 and 31, 2016 at Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street (Upper East Side). This production is preparatory to the play's upcoming world premiere run, which will be presented by La Mama Experimental Theatre, 66 East 4th Street (East Village), six weeks later: from March 10 to 27, 2016 (see more info below). The play is conceived and directed by Vit Horejs. Composer and Musical Director is saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the puppets!

Like many from my generation, our love of screen icon Marilyn Monroe made her a star and continues to keep the flame of her incredibly hot sexual appeal alive. And while I have seen several performers take on the role. The amazing Sunny Thompson fully embodies the heart and soul, not just the heat and breathy voice we associate with the woman who encapsulated what a woman was supposed to look like long before the Kardasians were even born. Sunny Thompson truly embodies her look and voice, and seemingly channels the tortured, playful soul of Hollywood's greatest star.

Years ago, when I lived in Los Angeles, I knew a character actor who was a little paunchy, had an off-kilter face and thinning hair. Though his looks were unremarkable, he exuded a certain je ne sais quoi. When I teased him about his popularity with women, he gave me a conspiratorial wink and said, 'My voice is the sexiest part of my body.' I laughed because this was absolutely true!

Delaware Theatre Company's production of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz, opened this past weekend. The production is directed by original Broadway director and co-creator Richard Maltby, Jr. and features his own handpicked cast alongside the original designs from the 1978 Tony Award-winning production. Scroll down for some pictures from the show!

Puppets and live performers enact an enigmatic tale of early World War II in 'King Executioner,' the newest creation of Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre written and directed by Vit Horejš. The play is loosely based on 'When you are a King, You will be an Executioner' ('A Jak Krolem a Jak Katem Bedzies,' 1968) by the Polish magical realist novelist Tadeusz Nowak (1930-1991). Theater for the New City will present the world premiere of the work March 21 to April 7. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Another favorite Lord Peter Wimsey novel comes to the stage this fall as Taproot Theatre presents Dorothy L. Sayers' classic mystery, Gaudy Night. Harriet Vane's Oxford reunion is terrorized by murderous threats from the "Poison Pen," a vicious vandal determined to destroy our heroine and everything she holds dear. Is her sleuthing enough to apprehend the villain? And where is Lord Peter when she really needs him? Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte directs Frances Limoncelli's adaptation of Gaudy Night, which opened last night, September 21 and runs through October 20. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

Performed at the glorious Hawaii Theatre in historic, downtown Honolulu, Bridges explores the connections of past, present and future through interpretive Chinese folk dance. The Phoenix Dance Chamber featured this evening was founded by Diane Letoto, and inspired by folk dance specialist of the Beijing Dance Academy, the late Professor Liu Youlan. Youlan's vision, that dance would build a bridge between eastern and western cultures, comes to fruition in this luminous production.

The Mint Theater's rare revival of IS LIFE WORTH LIVING? is directed by Jonathan Bank. Performances began August 19th and opening night is set for September 14th.

Rupert Goold directs Michael Gambon, David Bradley, David Walliams and Nick Dunning in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, at the Duke of York's Theatre. The production is currently booking until 3 January 2009. A Gate Theatre, Dublin production, No Man's Land is presented by Sonia Friedman Productions and Michael Colgan, with design by Giles Cadle, lighting by Neil Austin and sound and music by Adam Cork. Goold's production transfers to London following its opening at the Gate Theatre, Dublin in August.