Gil Kaan - Page 34

A man who surely knows a thing or two about comedy, Mark Lonow, the co-owner of the legendary Improv chain, will world premiere his latest play (co-written with his wife Jo Anne Astrow) JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND SCREWING STALIN at the Matrix Theatre beginning August 16, 2018. Taking his childhood dramas and traumas, Mark repurposes his familial distress to make you cry, not from its heavy seriousness, but from all the laughing so hard.

World Premiere of playwright Aruna Harjani's WEST BOLLYWOOD received an earnest mounting at The Matrix Theatre. The outstanding, high-energy choreography by Danish Bhandara greatly complemented this mash-up (or clash) of West Hollywood gay life and the more traditional Indian culture. All involved executed the intricate Bollywood and contemporary dance steps with enthusiasm and nimble footwork.

The world premiere of Michael Leoni's FAMOUS receives a phenomenal, all-encompassing mounting from An 11:11 Experience in their new venue, The 11:11, in the heart of West Hollywood. Director Leoni drives his all-around talented cast at a neck-breaking speed like an expert racecar driver lapping his racetrack.

ANNIE, this year's Hollywood Bowl Summer Musical, will be performed by an all-star cast July 27, 28 and 29. Each year, a condensed version of a full-length Broadway musical corrals name performers from theatre, television and music with crazy, busy schedules that normally wouldn't be available for a full musical schedule commitment. We have the opportunity to chat with Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, who will be playing Grace Farrell in this production.

Director Dan Fishbach returns to the Odyssey Theatre, following up his smartly-directed JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS from last season, with his equally smartly-directed SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM. Strong vocals notwithstanding, Fishbach has managed to also feature the comedic underlyings of this Sondheim revue, resulting in laughs at the most delicious of moments.

Uber busy, much in-demand choreographer Janet Roston will have three separate theatre productions running this month of July. Already opened - CABARET at Celebration Theatre and MUTT HOUSE at Kirk Douglas - Janet's latest choreographic piece GATSBY REDUX will be world premiering July 24, 2018 as part of THE MUSIC CENTER'S MOVES AFTER DARK. We had the opportunity to catch Janet in a rare, spare moment between her shows to see how her choreographic mind works.

The west coast premiere of Patrick Marber's THREE DAYS IN THE COUNTRY receives a sturdy mounting by the always dependable Antaeus Theatre Company. Marber's adaptation of Ivan Turgenev's classic A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY has been smartly condensed and updated from its original five-act length to a much more manageable (and most witty and enjoyable) two-and-a-half-hour running time.

Jennifer Hudson made her self-proclaimed, long-awaited debut at the Hollywood Bowl July 6 and 7, where she sang her silvery-fringed, mini-skirted butt off, totally charming her appreciative audience. Jennifer's vocal prowess was certainly in superlative, peak form as her hellllld notes and high, hiiiiiiiiiiigh notes blended well, both with the full intricate orchestrations of the Bowl Orchestra and the simple piano tinkering of her nimble-fingered pianist Dave Jackson.

Attending The Groundlings shows on a Friday or Saturday night, you will sure to hear one of the most rocking bands in Los Angeles or anywhere smoking music is appreciated. The Groundlings Band consists of Larry Treadwell on guitar, Greg Kanaga on drums and musical director Matthew Loren Cohen on keyboards. I managed to lightly twist the arm of Larry to chat with me before rehearsing the next Friday/Saturday show GROUNDLINGS ROAD TRIP PARTY.

The U.S. tour of the multi-Tony Award-winning THE HUMANS completes its coast-to-coast trek landing at the Ahmanson Theatre, with the reunion of five of its original Broadway actors, including Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell reprising their Tony Award-winning roles of the patriarch and matriarch of the Blake clan. We had the opportune chance to chat with Cassie Beck, who originated the role of Aimee, the older sister in this loving, but dysfunctional Blake family, as they gather for a Thanksgiving meal at the new apartment of younger sis Brigid and her boyfriend Richard.

Amanda Peet's sophomore playwrighting effort OUR VERY OWN CARLIN McCULLOUGH has already been garnering rave reviews in its current world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Focusing on a ten-year-old tennis phenom and her close relationships with her tennis coach and single mom, kudos has been generously spread around the cast and the creatives. We had the opportunity to verbally volley with Joe Tippett, who completely embodies the role of Carlin's coach Jay.

As one of the human characters in the world premiere of playwright Tony Cookson's MUTT HOUSE; Ryan McCartan sings, leads and reacts with a zany pack of canine creatures. Featuring original songs from Cookson, John Daniel, Robb Curtis Brown and David O, MUTT HOUSE begins previews July 10, 2018 at the Kirk Dougas Theatre. We managed to sniff out some answers from Ryan in between his rehearsals.

A member of television comedy royalty, Gregg Oppenheimer grew up visiting the live set of his father Jess Oppenheimer's creation I Love Lucy. Today, an expert historian on all matters Lucy, Gregg's latest theatrical venture I LOVE LUCY: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE SITCOM will be having its world premiere July 12, 2018 at L.A. Theatre Works venue on the UCLA campus, the James Bridges Theater.

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) currently presents their new distinct take on Shakespeare's classic HENRY IV. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan, SCLA has combined PART I and PART II into a single sitting of theatre, featuring the Los Angeles stage debut of Tom Hanks as Falstaff. We had the opportunity to chat with one of HENRY IV's most talented co-conspirators, actor Harry Groener who plays Northumberland and Justice Shallow.

Motown legend Diana Ross kiiiiiicked off the Hollywood Bowl's 2018 summer season with polish, pizzazz, and professionalism. Performing for approximately an hour post-intermission, Ms. Ross had the Hollywood Bowl audience in her very capable hands; and, more frequently than not, dancing in their seats. With 50+ years performing in the public eye, Ms. Ross effortlessly commands the stage with her wit, her charm, her flowing costumes, and very vibrant vocal pipes.

Los Angeles theatre lovers will see the welcomed return of the singularly entertaining Reprise productions, rebooted appropriately as REPRISE 2.0. Headed, as before, by producing artistic director Marcia Seligson, REPRISE 2.0 has already announced their first season, beginning June 20, 2018 with SWEET CHARITY, VICTOR, VICTORIA and GRAND HOTEL. Marcia availed herself from her multi-tasking REPRISE 2.0 duties to chat with me.

East West Players, in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, has another entertaining hit on their hands with the world premiere of playwright Nathan Ramos' AS WE BABBLE ON. Ramos' very clever, contemporary script (lots of screen grabs of texting and emojis) weaves a sometimes funny, sometimes heart-warming, always real tale of Benji, a gay Asian-American comic book artist and his close family of friends.

Erin Sullivan has created (with help from co-writer Stephanie Rosenberg and co-conceiver Robin Milling) WITH LOVE, MARILYN, her one-woman homage to Marilyn Monroe. Sullivan nails Monroe's breathy line deliveries and body language, especially in recreating Monroe songs 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' and her signature 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.'

LYSISTRATA UNBOUND, a new take on Aristophanes' LYSISTRATA by Eduardo Machado will world premiere June 9, 2018 in an Odyssey Theatre/Not Man Apart collaboration, with John Farmanesh-Bocca directing his wife Brenda Strong in the title role.  We had the chance to ask a few questions of the always working Brenda.

Already in previews, the latest Culture Clash project BORDERTOWN NOW runs through June 24, 2018 at the Pasadena Playhouse. We had the chance to query director Diane Rodriguez on her history with the nation's premier Chicano/Latino performance trio, as well as, on some of the projects she's currently involved with - Center Theatre Group, the NEA and BORDERTOWN NOW.