Shari Barrett

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.

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.

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.

​​​​​​​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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.