tracking pixel
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Shari Barrett

Shari Barrett

Shari Barrett, a Los Angeles native, has been active in the theater world since the age of six - acting, singing, and dancing her way across the boards all over town. After teaching in secondary schools, working in marketing for several studios, writing, directing, producing, and performing in productions for several non-profit theaters, Shari now dedicates her time and focuses her skills as a theater reviewer, entertainment columnist, and publicist to "get the word out" about theaters of all sizes throughout the Los Angeles area.

As a 20-year member of the Board of Directors for Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse, one of the thriving community theater groups in Los Angeles, as well as writing for Broadway World LA, Stage and Cineme, and as the Stage Page columnist with Lan Newspapers, Shari is dedicated to promoting theaters of all sizes in the city. Shari has received recognition from the City of Los Angeles for her dedication of heart and hand to the needs of friends, neighbors and fellow members of society for her devotion of service to the people of Los Angeles, and is honored to serve the theater world in her hometown.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Shari Barrett

First Show:

South Pacific

Favorite Show:

Man of La Mancha

Favorite Stories:



MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Interview: Cate Caplin on Directing THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR
Interview: Cate Caplin on Directing THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR
June 10, 2025

Inspired by a 1924 drawing room comedy by Ferenc Molnar, The Angel Next Door was  originally commissioned by David Ellenstein for North Coast Rep and the Laguna Playhouse. Following its September 2023 premiere, the romp has gone on to delight theatergoers all over the country.

Interview: Jenna Lea Rosen & Cailen Fu of DISNEY’S FROZEN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
Interview: Jenna Lea Rosen & Cailen Fu of DISNEY’S FROZEN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
June 4, 2025

The Los Angeles regional theatre premiere of Disney’s FROZEN The Broadway Musical presented by La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment opens June 6 through June 29 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The much-loved family musical stars Jenna Lea Rosen as Princess Elsa and Cailen Fu as Princess Anna, two of the most popular Disney princesses among fans of all ages. I decided to speak with them about their history performing the roles and their path to appearing in the current touring production.

Interview: Jack Stehlin on LEAR REDUX: A QUANTUM FANTASIA
Interview: Jack Stehlin on LEAR REDUX: A QUANTUM FANTASIA
May 24, 2025

In the World Premiere of Lear Redux: A Quantum Fantasia, Jack Stehlin, who previously starred in both Titus Redux at the Kirk Douglas and Tempest Redux at the Odyssey, inhabits the role of an aging actor whose last days strangely parallel those of Shakespeare’s tragic king. I decided to speak with Jack about his history portraying Shakespeare’s tragic kings, his personal connection to Lear, and how this tragic king differs or is similar to the others.

Interview: Rain Perry on THIS IS WATER at Broadwater Second Stage
Interview: Rain Perry on THIS IS WATER at Broadwater Second Stage
May 21, 2025

​​​​​​​Those drawn to intimate, music-driven storytelling and powerful, personal theater take note of This Is Water, written and performed by a singer-songwriter Rain Perry, which makes its debut at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. I decided to speak with Rain about the genesis of her show, her six-disc recording career, and how her own experience lends to taking an insightful look into her own history in the United States.

Interview: French Director Maurice Attias of LOVE’S END (CLÔTURE DE L’AMOUR)
Interview: French Director Maurice Attias of LOVE’S END (CLÔTURE DE L’AMOUR)
May 17, 2025

French director Maurice Attias, in residence at the Odyssey Theatre, brings a slice of French culture to L.A. with the West Coast premiere of Clôture de l’amour (Love’s End) by celebrated French playwright Pascal Rambert.

Interview: Stars T.J. Wilkins, Shanice, & Chad Doreck of 44: THE OBAMA MUSICAL
Interview: Stars T.J. Wilkins, Shanice, & Chad Doreck of 44: THE OBAMA MUSICAL
May 11, 2025

44: The Obama Musical is returning for second terms at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City from May 2 – June 22, 2025, and then at The Studebaker Theater in the historic Fine Arts Building in Chicago from August 23 – September 21, 2025.

Interview: Christopher William Johnson of HELLAS at Broadwater Main Stage
Interview: Christopher William Johnson of HELLAS at Broadwater Main Stage
April 29, 2025

The birth of western civilization and democracy takes form in the Greek epic Hellas, told in verse, mask, rhythm, dance, and stage combat. I decided to speak with writer/director Christopher William Johnson about his epic creation process and challenges of presenting the complete saga at the Broadwater Main Stage theater through May 11.

Interview: Playwrights Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum & Ronda Spinak of THE VIOLIN MAKER
Interview: Playwrights Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum & Ronda Spinak of THE VIOLIN MAKER
April 18, 2025

Inspired by conversations Rosenbaum had with Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, the International City Theatre in Long Beach is presenting the American premiere of The Violin Maker, a new play based on the true story of how he gathered and restored ruined violins that survived the Holocaust to create the remarkable collection known throughout the world as the “Violins of Hope.” I decided to speak with playwrights Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum and Ronda Spinak (artistic director of The Braid) about the play’s creation and history, especially why it is so important to tell the Violins of Hope maker’s story.

Interview: Josefina López on REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES THE MUSICAL from Boyle Heights to Broadway
Interview: Josefina López on REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES THE MUSICAL from Boyle Heights to Broadway
April 17, 2025

Josefina López, the celebrated Mexican-American award-winning playwright and screenwriter best known for creating and authoring the play and co-authoring the film Real Women Have Curves, was an undocumented five-year-old immigrant when she migrated with her family from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to the United States in 1974 to settle in Boyle Heights. And on April 27, she will be making her Broadway debut when Real Women Have Curves: The Musical opens on Broadway!

Interview: Nicolas Dromard & Desiree Davar on NIC & DESI: FROM BROADWAY TO HOLLYWOOD
Interview: Nicolas Dromard & Desiree Davar on NIC & DESI: FROM BROADWAY TO HOLLYWOOD
April 8, 2025

Broadway stars and real-life couple and triple-threat performers Nicolas Dromard and Desiree Davar are making their debut at the Catalina Jazz Club with Nic & Desi: From Broadway to Hollywood on Thursday May 10. I decided to speak with them about their illustrious careers, how they met, and what led to bringing their new show to Los Angeles prior to taking the show on the road.

Interview: Geoff Elliott on Directing JANE EYRE at A Noise Within
Interview: Geoff Elliott on Directing JANE EYRE at A Noise Within
April 3, 2025

Mystery and romance abound in one of the most thrilling Gothic romance novels ever written – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The heart wrenching tale of an orphaned girl’s self-determination, adapted by Elizabeth Williamson, continues at A Noise Within in Pasadena, helmed by the theater’s artistic director Geoff Elliott. I spoke with him about his vision for the show.

Interview: ONE JEWISH BOY Playwright Stephen Laughton
Interview: ONE JEWISH BOY Playwright Stephen Laughton
March 25, 2025

Navigating any relationship is difficult enough. But what happens when you factor in politics and rising prejudice? Such is the storyline in One Jewish Boy by British playwright Stephen Laughton who I decided to speak with about his biting, bittersweet story of two young people in love confronted with the world's unpredictable cruelty.

Interview: David Melville His New Solo Show HAMLET (SOLUS)
Interview: David Melville His New Solo Show HAMLET (SOLUS)
March 13, 2025

The title role in Shakespeare’s enduring tragedy Hamlet is on the bucket list for many actors wishing to challenge their range of emotions while offering their own interpretation of the iconic role. And in his new solo play, Hamlet (Solus), creator and performer David Melville (pictured), co-founder of Independent Shakespeare Co., plays all the roles while intertwining the text with original songs. I decided to speak with David about his interpretation of the role he has played many times, including why he decided to stress the grief in the story as well as making (the skull of) Yorick an important character, and how the production evolved.

Interview: Scott Barrow of HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES at The Wallis
Interview: Scott Barrow of HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES at The Wallis
March 5, 2025

Based on real events, Pulitzer Prize Nominee Here There Are Blueberries from Tectonic Theater Project (creators of The Laramie Project) is conceived and directed by Tony and Emmy nominee Moisés Kaufman and co-written by Emmy nominee Amanda Gronich. I decided to speak with cast member Scott Barrow (pictured) who has been working with Tectonic Theatre Project since 2005 about his career with the group as well as more about the creation and production of Here There Are Blueberries.

Interview: ONE FOR MY BABY Creators Fred Barton And Scott Thompson
Interview: ONE FOR MY BABY Creators Fred Barton And Scott Thompson
March 4, 2025

All Roads Theatre Company’s (ARTCO’s) 2025 Season kicks off with the World Premiere musical One For My Baby, which features Broadway stars Lana Gordon and Luba Mason leading a cast of 28 performers, supported by a 12-piece Big Band. I decided to speak with ARTCO’s Fred Barton and Scott Thompson who wrote the musical’s book, with conductor Barton also creating the music arrangements and Thompson directing and choreographing the production.

Interview: Caryn Desai on ICT's 40th Anniversary Season of Premieres
Interview: Caryn Desai on ICT's 40th Anniversary Season of Premieres
February 21, 2025

International City Theatre (ICT) is opening its 40th Anniversary Season on February 21 with the Los Angeles premiere of the musical comedy Desperate Measures (inspired by Shakespeare's Measure for Measure). The rest of the season features all premieres, something ICT is not usually known to do. I decided to speak with the theater’s Artistic Director caryn desai (sic) (pictured) about that decision and the challenges faced over the years.

Interview: Directors Diana Wyenn and John Miyasaki on THE CAMP
Interview: Directors Diana Wyenn and John Miyasaki on THE CAMP
February 17, 2025

In 1942 during World War II, 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry - two-thirds of whom were American citizens - were unjustly incarcerated in concentration camps within the United States. Inspired by these events, and given how the rise of bigotry is rearing its ugly head in the world today, it’s most appropriate that a new American opera titled The Camp is making its world premiere in Los Angeles. I decided to speak with director Diana and The Camp’s associate director John Miyasaki about this world premiere opera and what inspired her to direct it, how she envisions staging it, and what messages they hope reach audiences.



 1       …    




Videos