Gil Kaan - Page 27

Fresh from the combined creative minds of Jake O'Flaherty and Tom Misuraca, their SUICIDAL BLONDE will world premiere September 19, 2019 at the Whitefire Theatre. Their dark comedy take on suicide will be directed by Candi Milo. I had the opportunity to field a few questions to Pam Trotter, who plays BLONDE's integral Felicia. 

Playwright Susan Eve Haar's new play SAUGERTIES has just opened at the Hudson Guild Theatre. Directed by Abigail Zealey Bess, SAUGERTIES stars Chad L. Coleman as Rog and Beau Garrett as Jen, a pair of couples in relationship crisis. I had the opportunity to ask a few quick questions of Beau Garrett on her personal journey to her theatrical board's debut in SAUGERTIES.

The west coast premiere of Jen Silverman's WITCH will launch the Geffen Playhouse's 2019/2020 season, having begun previews August 20, 2019. Originally commissioned by and premiering at Writers Theatre, WITCH centers on a charming outsider arriving to the quiet village of Edmonton bargaining for souls in exchange for the villagers' darkest wishes. I had the opportunity to delve into the sharp, clever mind of Jen Silverman on her creation of WITCH.

The Fountain Theatre, in association with East West Players, soundly mounts the California premiere of Jiehae Park's HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO with a solid acting ensemble, complemented by vividly effective video visuals. Jennifer Chang ably directs her talented cast of six as they weave through the realistic lives of a Korean family (separated by continents) interspersed with flashes of Korean folklore.

The Groundlings' current Friday/Saturday night show GROUNDLINGS TREASURE HUNTERS continues The Groundlings' tradition of making their audiences laugh - and laugh hard! Tony Cavalero, in ten of the seventeen sketches and improvs, maximized his presence on The Groundlings stage with his sharp comedic timing, his quick improvisational wit, his mischievous accents, and his buff athletic dance and fight moves.

Chris Mann took the Feinstein's at Vitello's stage last Friday night and OWNED it! Within minutes of hitting the Feinstein's at Vitello's stage, Chris dropped the 'f-bomb' with a mischievous twinkle in his eye - and the audience knew we were in for a fun and raucous night! Chris' easy stage demeanor peppered with clever asides, created a relaxed, back-and-forth dialogue with the appreciative audience. No canned patter here!

The world premiere of playwright Vince Melocchi's ANDY WARHOL'S TOMATO receives a solid mounting at the Pacific Resident Theatre. Dana Jackson directs this fictionalized two-hander on the possible beginnings of pop artist icon Andy Warhol, with a deft hand and a meticulous eye for character development via the subtle physical actions of the two wonderfully convincing actors - Derek Chariton as Andy Warhol and Keith Stevenson as Bones Bonino, the owner of the bar's storage room which TOMATO entirely takes place in.

Top-selling recording artist Chris Mann brings his A Night With The Phantom: Chris Mann Sings Broadway to Feinstein's at Vitello's August 9th, 2019. After his game-changing, nationally televised duet with Christina Aguilera in 2012, Chris followed up with sold-out concert tours throughout the U.S., Mexico and Asia; as well as, a stint as the lead in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Opportunity presented itself for me to ask Chris about his path from classical training to Glee, Christina, PHANTOM, and now, Feinstein's at Vitello's.

The California premiere of Nick Dear's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel, FRANKENSTEIN, launches A Noise Within's 2019-2020 season August 11, 2019. Much in-demand director Michael Michetti helms Michael Manuel as The Creature and Kasey Mahaffy as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, presenting Shelley's tale from the atypical perspective of The Creature. Having seen Kasey in ANW's stunning MAN OF LA MANCHA and the hysterical NOISES OFF, I jumped at the chance to interview this talented actor/performer.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning INTO THE WOODS opens this weekend Friday July 26, 2019, as this year's Hollywood Bowl's annual fully-staged Broadway musical. I had the enviable opportunity to interview the Tony Award-winning, über-talented Patina Miller who'll be portraying the Witch.

Powerhouse vocalist/actress Emma Hunton (onstage for many a UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY OF...  show) switches gears, exhibiting her directing prowess in her inaugural directorial UMPO production of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Hunton keeps the punchlines, the pop songs, the sweet moves coming at you in a machine gun-pace with just enough time to react with laughter or applause. As expected of a project from UMPO executive producer/writer Kate Pazakis, UMPO: A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN consists of her very clever selection of pop songs to further the narrative, combined with some of the wittiest lines to parody the already existing funny moments of the Penny Marshall-directed A League of Their Own.

Director Stephanie Shroyer's innovative staging and updating of Bertolt Brecht's 1944 THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE (using the translation of Alistair Beaton) features a solid ensemble using old-time, theatre magic to fascinate the audience with its tales of World War II tragedies.

Tony Award-winner John Lloyd Young will be presenting his gorgeous vocals in his 'Jukebox Hero' set at Feintein's at Vitello's August 2 and 3. A well-rounded, socially-conscious person of the world, one of John's proudest achievements include being appointed to former President Obama's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Catching John at his special guest appearance at The Texas Tenors' one-nighter at Feinstein's at Vitello's in June, I managed to wrangle some interview time with John.

The extremely charismatic Hugh Jackman wowed the sold-out Hollywood Bowl crowd of 17,500 adoring and appreciative fans on the first of his two-night tour stop in Los Angeles! Utilizing his spectacular combo of sturdy vocals, fancy footwork and multi-watt charm, Jackman owned the Bowl stage, giving his all to connect and entertain in THE SHOW.

CHICO'S ANGELS latest episode FLY CHICA FLY will premiere at the Colony Theatre August 1 - 4, 2019. Birthed from the creative minds of Kurt Koehler and Oscar Quintero, CHICO'S ANGELS: FLY CHICA FLY's the eighth episode in their series of hilarious drag parodies of Charlie's Angels, the now classic television series from the late 1970's. After laughing hysterically at a number of their episodes over the years, I finally had the chance to turn the tables on Chita Parol and give her the third degree.

MOVING ARTS presents its Los Angeles premiere of E. M. Lewis' intriguing APPLE SEASON. Directed at a languid pace by Darin Anthony, the sparse explosive scenes really make their mark with the experienced acting chops of Rob Nagle and the vivid, versatile intensity of Liza Fernandez. This three-hander, as a part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, relates the unpleasant situation of siblings Lissie (Fernandez) and Roger Fogerty (Justin Huen ) as they grapple with the death of their abusive Father from Hell.

While the beloved, hit sitcom Friends originally ran for ten seasons ending in 2004, you can still easily find reruns of these enduring episodes in continuous syndication. Right Angle Entertainment will be bringing Bob and Tobly McSmith's Off-Broadway theatrical hit FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY to the Kirk Douglas Theatre for its Los Angeles premiere July 16, 2019. I had the opportune time to query Sami Griffith on her role of perennial fan favorite Rachel Green.

The U.S. tour of the Olivier Award-winning THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG lands at the Ahmanson Theatre for its Los Angeles stop beginning July 9, 2019. This madcap play-within-a-play also won, among other laurels, the Tony for Best Scenic Design in 2017. I 'rightfully' got a chance to ask a few questions of WRONG's Brandon J. Ellis. Brandon's the U.S. tour's original Trevor, the sound and lighting tech handling the play-within-a-play THE MURDER AT HAVERSHAM MANOR, a 1920's murder mystery.

Emmy-winning writer Mark Saltzman will be back on the theatrical boards with the world premiere of his ANOTHER ROLL OF THE DICE, beginning July 10, 2019 at the North Coast Rep Theatre. Mark has based ANOTHER ROLL OF THE DICE, his companion piece to GUYS AND DOLLS, on the short stories of Damon Runyon and the time-tested songs of Frank Loesser. Lady Lucky gave me the chance to pick Mark's prolific brain on his long road to Runyonland, as well as, on a significant Sesame Street event.

THE SPITFIRE GRILL begins its previews July 10, 2019 at the Garry Marshall Theatre under the direction of its artistic director Dimitri Toscas. This musical (by James Valcq and Fred Alley) takes place in the rural town of Gilead, Wisconsin during a simpler era. I had the opportunity to interview a stunning vocalist I have seen on various Los Angeles stages, Ashley Argota, who will be imbuing her powerful vocals to the role of Shelby Thorpe, a pivotal part of the Gilead community.