Interview: LOVE & Life Not AMONG THE RUINS for Peter StraussOctober 19, 2022Next up at Laguna Playhouse, Love Among the Ruins world premieres October 30, 2022 (with previews starting October 26th). Michael Arabian directs the stellar cast of JoBeth Williams and Peter Strauss in this adaptation of the 1975 ABC Theatre Presentation that starred Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier. Peter graciously found some time between rehearsals and his orange farm to answer a few of my queries.
Interview: Composer Ethan Iverson Connecting With Mark Morris For THE LOOK OF LOVEOctober 13, 2022Mark Morris and Ethan Iverson join creative forces for the world premiere of The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach October 20, 2022 at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. The Mark Morris Dance Group (costumed in Isaac Mizrahi) will be accompanied by their MMDG Music Ensemble (led by Ethan) with lead vocals by Broadway star Marcy Harriell. Ethan found some time between rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.
Interview: With One Life to Live Tuc Watkins Makes the Most of His INHERITANCEOctober 12, 2022The Geffen Playhouse west coast premieres the Stephen Daldry production of four-time Tony Award winner The Heritance October 16, 2022 (already in previews). Mike Donahue directs the all-out cast of Bill Brochtrup, Tantoo Cardinal, Juan Castano, Jay Donnell, Israel Erron Ford, August Gray Gall, Adam Kantor, Eddie Lopez, Kasey Mahaffy, Miguel Pinzon, Avi Roque, Bradley James Tejeda and Tuc Watkins. Tuc carved out some time from his rehearsals to chat about this Matthew López production, as well as, some of his career highlights.
Interview: Chatting With Nikk Alcaraz About RENT, Cupcake & Food Art, and MoreOctober 11, 2022Jonathan Larson’s RENT is currently in residence at The Hollywood Majestic. Cupcake Theatre Company’s Brayden Hade directs this Pulitzer and Tony Award winner with a double cast. I had the chance to chat up ‘Benny’ cast member Nikk Alcaraz on his Angel Dumott Schunard and his Practical Peculiarities.
Interview: Nathan Frizzell's QUEER RADIO HOUR Broadcasting LIVE From Dynasty TypewriterOctober 4, 2022Nathan Frizzell's Queer Radio Hour, the Halloween Edition plays for one-night-only October 12th at Dynasty Typewriter. Tom DeTrinis directs this old radio show spoof with a cast of Joe Conti, Drew Droege, Nathan Frizzell, Tommy Hobson, Mitch Silpa, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, David Tran, and drag legend Sherry Vine. I got the chance to toss out a few questions to Nathan in between his Zoom rehearsals.
Interview: Playwright David Goldyn's Having DADDY ISSUESOctober 4, 2022The west coast premiere of David Goldyn’s Daddy Issues opens on October 14, 2022, at the Complex in Hollywood. David directs the cast of Hannah Battersby, Jonathan Fishman, Noa Lev–Ari, Sherry Michaels, Josh Nadler, James Seifert, Pamela Shaw and Solly Werner.
Interview: Karla Gordy Bristol's Labor of Love: MOTOWN: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC, THE MAGIC, THE LOVESeptember 27, 2022A descendant of Motown royalty, Karla Gordy Bristol will present Motown: Celebrating The Music, The Magic, The Love October 1, 2022. This world premiere, created, produced and directed by Karla, will feature a panel and show that includes: Shelly Berger, Janie Bradford, Duke Fakir, William Goldstein, Iris Gordy, Brian Holland, Brenda Holloway, Thelma Houston, Miller London, Scherrie, Lynda & Susaye (Former Ladies of The Supremes), Martha Reeves, Paul Riser, Claudette Robinson, Smokey Robinson and Otis Williams. Pat Harvey acts as master of ceremonies, with Shadoe Stevens announcing and Patrice Rushen as panel moderator. Karla managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.
Interview: Lyric Lewis Attending to LARRY GROUNDLINGS DDS, Her New Projects & Mom-ingSeptember 24, 2022The Groundlings latest Friday/Saturday night show LARRY GROUNDLINGS DDS opens September 30, 2022 (with previews already started). Deanna Oliver directs Lyric Lewis the hilarious cast of Alex Bonifer, Lauren Burns, Sam DeSurra, Julian Gant, Lyric Lewis, Emily Pendergast, Jay Renshaw and Leonard Robinson. I managed to catch a few moments with Lyric between her writing, clowning and mom-ing.
Interview: Emma Hunton – GIRL's In EUPHORIA With Her Booked ScheduleSeptember 22, 2022Cherry Poppins presents their one-nighter XOXO Euphoria Girl – A Burlesque Musical Parody September 26, 2022, at The Bourbon Room. The team of Alli Miller-Fisher, Chadd McMillan and Sarah Haworth-Hodges direct this Burlesque musical parody mashup set to chart-topping music with the cast of: Ty Deran, Kristyn Evelyn, Everjohn Feliciano, Bianca Gisselle, Emma Hunton, Carly Jibson, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Meredith Lim, Alli Miller-Fisher, Matthew Scott Montgomery, Shelly Regner, Sarah Wines, Lauren Avon and Brin Hamblin. Emma managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.
Interview: It's ALL IN THE TIMING For Talon WarburtonSeptember 16, 2022David Ives’ All In The Timing opens October 14, 2022, at The Zephyr Theatre. This production, a true family affair, pairs a director and his spouse Michael Yavnieli and Tania Gonzalez, as well as, for the first time, father and son acting on stage together – Patrick Warburton and Talon Warburton. Other cast members include Taylor Behrens, Meadow Clare, Mark Haan, Bill Butts, Maram Kamal and Melodie Shih. Talon managed to carve out some of his multi-tasking time to answer a few of my queries.
Interview: Julanne Chidi Hill On Her Career & Her GREAT JHERI CURL DEBATEsSeptember 15, 2022Next up at East West Players, playwright Inda Craig-Galván’s The Great Jheri Curl Debate opening September 17 (with previews beginning September 15). Scarlett Kim directs the cast of Julanne Chidi Hill, Ryun Yu, Ray Baker, Mildred Marie Langford and Bruce A. Lemon Jr. I got the chance to pepper Julanne, a frequent player in the Los Angeles theatre scene, with a few queries on Jheri Curl and her productive career.