Gil Kaan - Page 19

Theatre 40 will be presenting a staged reading of Gary Kaskel’s ANOTHER GIN GAME starring Ed Asner and Ruta Lee with Donté Ashon Green July 18, 2021. I have the delightful pleasure of talking to Ed, not only on ANOTHER GIN GAME, but on highlights of his incredibly long-lasting acting career. When I tried to thank him for all the previous times he’s graciously posed for my camera and chatted with me at various charity events, he playfully deflected with, “But I’m a son of a bitch now!”

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents for one performance only ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY THE LINDA RONSTADT SONGBOOK July 25, 2021. The platinum singer/songwriter will demonstrate her take on some of Linda’s classic songs with her melodious vocals. Ann will be backed by Trey Henry on bass, MB Gordy on drums, and Linda's longtime guitarist and arranger, Bob Mann; with Billy Stritch musical directing. Ann found some time between fielding her many DIAL-A-DIVA requests to answer a few of my queries.

Loft Ensemble’s first live mainstage production since the lockdown of theatre CODE PINK will world premiere July 10, 2021. Co-written and co-directed by Adam Chambers and Jana Lee Hamblin, CODE PINK’s cast features:  Bahasi Chapman, Nicole Craig, Britt Crisp, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, Sydney Jenkins, Matt Monaco, Ignacio Navarro, Bree Pavey, Leesie Pinto, Natasha Ranae Potts, Sarah Siverson, Sarah Sommers and Vel Stacy. Adam, who is also Loft Ensemble’s co-artistic director, managed to find some time to answer a few of my queries amidst juggling Loft Ensemble responsibilities, daddy duties and band rehearsals.

Theatre 40 resumes their pandemic-interrupted production of Jack Rushen’s lauded TAMING THE LION, re-opening live, back onstage July 9, 2021. Melanie MacQueen directs the cast which includes Landon Beatty, Marie Broderick, Kevin Dulude, Jean Mackie, Sean Rose and Jeffrey Winner. Through the electromagnetic waves of the internet, Jack was most gracious to answer a few of my queries from the comfort of his home in Connecticut.

The prolific playwright and regular denizen of the Los Angeles theatre community Justin Tanner will world premiere his latest piece MINNESOTA for Rogue Machine online June 26, 2021, with a virtual reception to follow. Justin was most quick to respond to my questions on MINNESOTA and the L.A. theatre community.  

A highly-familiar actor on both screens, big and small; Wallace Shawn will be premiering two podcasts of his playwrighting prowess - THE DESIGNATED MOURNER beginning June 25, 2021; and GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS on July 9, 2021. André Gregory directs both audio six-parters with Larry Pine and Deborah Eisenberg joining Wallace in THE DESIGNATED MOURNER; and Jennifer Tilly, Julie Hagerty, and Emily Cass McDonnell joining Wallace in GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS.

The Wallis inaugurates their new pop-up performance space on the Promenade Terrace for live audiences with the world premiere of Tom Dugan’s TEVYE IN NEW YORK! June 23, 2021. Tom co-directs (with Michael Vale) his one-man show on the well-known musical theatre lead character of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Tom managed to find time amongst his many, many writing projects to answer a few of my enquiries.

Sandra Tsing Loh streams her 2015 comedic hit THE BITCH IS BACK for The Broad Stage, beginning June 23, 2021. This streaming performance of THE BITCH IS BACK recorded live will be complemented with added live talkbacks featuring special guests Marlo Thomas, Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, Melanie Mayron and JoBeth Williams. The ever-industrious Sandra made some time between frequent COVID-safe book-signing/lawn parties to answer a few of my queries.

Chalk Repertory Theatre launches their new audio play series CHALK LINES June 19, 2021. The series of five short plays can be accessed for free either to be experienced online or on location at each site with a mobile device. Chalk Rep’s artistic producing director Jennifer Chang directs the cast of Xan Churchwell, Gregg Daniel, Tonatiuh Elizarraraz, Veralyn Jones, Emily Kuroda and Emily Stout.

The Wallis commemorates Juneteenth with UNMASKED: A THEATRICAL CELEBRATION OF THE BLACK WOMEN’S LIBERATION premiering online June 19, 2021. This collection of short plays by Black female playwrights Dominique Morisseau, Jocelyn Bioh, Ngozi Anyanwu and Stacy Osei-Kuffour will be co-directed by Camille Jenkins and Kimberly Hébert. Camille took some time between her UNMASKED co-directing duties and her programming manager’s responsibilities for The Wallis to answer a few of my enquiries.

The Fountain Theatre will inaugurate their new outdoor stage with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ 2014 Obie Award-winning AN OCTOROON, with previews beginning June 11, 2021. Judith Moreland directs the cast of Leea Ayers, Matthew Hancock, Mara Klein, Hazel Lozano, Rob Nagle, Kacie Rogers, Vanessa Claire Stewart and Pam Trotter. Between final rehearsals, Matthew, who plays the playwright’s alter-ego among other characters, made some time to answer a few of my inquiries.

As part of their Virtual 55th Anniversary Season, East West Players will be streaming Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct)’s 1 HOUR PHOTO beginning June 12, 2021. Written and performed by writer/performer/storyteller Tetsuro Shigematsu, 1 HOUR PHOTO is directed by Richard Wolfe and will available online through June 20,2021.

Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC) will be presenting their virtual celebration CONNECTIONS benefiting their 2021 season June 12, 2021. CONNECTIONS will feature new or adapted works by playwrights: Luis Alfaro, Jon Robin Baitz, Father Greg Boyle, Bill Cain, Culture Clash, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Danai Gurira, Samuel D. Hunter, David Henry Hwang, Julia Izumi, James Morrison and his son Seamus Morrison, Jeanine Tesori and Charlayne Woodard. Performers include Brian Cox, Eileen Galindo, Tzi Ma, Rose Portillo, Samantha Quan, John C. Reilly, Israel López Reyes, Nikkole Salter, Jimmy Smits, and Phillipa Soo; as well as some of the playwrights performing their own pieces.

L.A. Theatre Works will release their state-of-the-art audio recording of Stephen Tobolowsky’s A GOOD DAY AT AUSCHWITZ June 2, 2021. Based on a true story, Stephen has adapted GOOD DAY from his previous book My Adventures with God. Stephen managed to find some time between his podcast The Tobolowsky Files, his many film and TV commitments, and being half of a beloved Los Angeles theatre acting/directing couple, to answer a few of my enquiries.

A Noise Within (ANW) will premiere their filmed staging of ALICE IN WONDERLAND streaming May 27, 2021. This Lewis Carroll classic, adapted by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus, was actually the last live production mounted on the ANW stage when theatres shut down last March. Stephanie Shroyer, who directed and conceived this Spring 2020 production, graciously agreed to answer a few of my queries.

The seventh installment of Geffen’s Stayhouse series Is THE DOOR YOU NEVER SAW BEFORE: A CHOOSICAL MUSICAL has been in previews, with opening May 22, 2021. This world premiere, written by Matt Schatz, is geared for children and the young at heart. An ‘Adventure Suitcase,’ full of puzzles and special items will be pre-mailed for the youngsters’ interaction during the Zoom of the show. Katie Lindsay directs the cast of Michael Faulkner, Shyla Lefner and Gabrielle Maiden.

The Road Theatre Company has begun streaming playwright Steve Yockey’s REYKJAVÍK, their second show of their 2021 virtual season. Set in Reykjavík, Iceland, Ann Hearn Tobolowsky directs the REYKJAVÍK cast of Stephen Tyler Howell, Alaska Jackson, Carlos Lacamara, Brian Ibsen, Danny Lee Gomez and Jacqueline Misaye. Ann managed to find some time between REYKJAVÍK rehearsals, and being half of a beloved Los Angeles theatre acting/directing couple, to answer a few of my enquiries.

Antaeus Theatre Company launches their second season of their popular podcasts THE ZIP CODE PLAYS: LOS ANGELES May 20, 2021. Each play, set in six different L.A. zip codes, features acclaimed Antaeus actors enacting scripts written by members of the Antaeus Playwright Lab. Two-time Audiofile Award-winner Ramón de Ocampo reprises his role of series host, with Jeff Gardner and Ellen Mandel returning in their respective roles as audio producer/sound designer/foley artist and music composer.

Morgan-Wixson Theatre presents the perfect show to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Nancy Ma’s solo piece HOME. Streaming on May 15, 2021; HOME is directed by Geoffrey Rivas. Nancy squeezed some time in to answer a few of my queries before her opening.

Asian comedy troupe CRAZY WOKE ASIANS created by Kiki Yeung will be celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a schedule full of shows at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Kiki managed to find some time to answer a few of my inquiries between producing the various May shows, rehearsing her own stand-up and taking care of her toddler son.