Shari Barrett - Page 55

In 86 minutes, SUNNY AFTERNOON presents thought-provoking storytelling at its best with a cast that could not be any more perfect in their characterizations of every person to be in Oswald's presence from the moment he was arrested until he was murdered. The play is bold, meticulous in detail, flooded with character, and challenging in every respect.

HOT CAT takes a very modern approach CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, telling it with imaginative and highly intricate movement with the talented cast often saying more with a choreographed group turn of their heads than could ever be portrayed with words alone. Kudos to Tina Kronis for her vision in direction and choreography, and for sharing her deep understanding of the characters with us.

The summer theater season wouldn't be complete without multiple interpretations of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream to quench our appetite for the Bard's most beloved comedy. I have never seen a production more understandable or better staged than the current one at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presented by the New American Theatre, directed by Jack Stehlin.

Kentwood Players presents the 1989 Tony Award-winning comedy/farce 'LEND ME A TENOR' by Ken Ludwig from Friday, July 12 to Saturday, August 17, 2013 for a six-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Gail Bernardi and produced by Susan Goldman Weisbarth.

Ruby is portrayed by the star and principal writer of this show, Anastasia Barnes, who originally created the character of Ruby Besler in a popular web series in which Ruby gives advice to women (and occasionally to men) on sex and romance, always followed by an original novelty song with a sound appropriate to the 40s period.

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a high-spirited musical romp taking place in New York City in 1922, telling the story of young Millie Dillmount who has just moved to the city in search of a new life for herself. It's a New York full of intrigue and jazz - a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever.

Chalk Repertory Theatre continues their Fifth Anniversary Season by heading to the grounds of UCLA's historic William Andrews Clark Memorial Library to present LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN by Oscar Wilde from July 27-August 18, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00pm

I am a huge fan of theatre that gets you thinking and questioning the experience, characters and subject matter presented. And I find myself, even after so many hours, still thinking about this fine production and just what reality was really being presented. I challenge you to do the same after seeing this brilliant production.

#HASHTAG explores the other kind of LA gridlock: the daily struggle to remain engaged in the present moment in a culture built on social media and status anxiety. Audience members are encouraged to leave their phones on and tweet, take videos or photos and post them during the show to document the exact moment being created during this collaborative piece of theatre.

The Spolin Players Improvisational troupe is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Viola Spolin (known as 'The High Priestess of Improv') by performing her theatre games at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. Each hour-long completely improvised show will be completely different and original. Bring your imagination and suggestions, and get ready to laugh a lot!

You can experience ALL the comedies, ALL the tragedies, ALL the histories, and even a nod to the sonnets, neatly compressed into a 97-minute package performed by three exceptionally talented actors: Eric Bloom (the company's Artistic Director), Mike Niedzwicki, and Lucas Kwan Peterson.

Through combined and extremely intricate dance movements, the skill of the actors/dancers certainly exemplified the group's moniker as a physical theatre ensemble with each scene more exciting that the last. You will not be able to take your eyes off them!

The Kentwood Kids Production of Mark Billen's ALL IN THE STARS opened Saturday, June 1 at the Westchester Playhouse, directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Melodie S. Rivers, and produced by Bruce Starrett for Kentwood Players. Here's your first look at the kids onstage!

Southern California fans of musical theater are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the musical RENT with a one-weekend-only production of the beloved Broadway smash hit presented by Beyond the Stage productions, with proceeds from the show benefiting the HIV/AIDS outreach and education organization The Stigma Project.

Taken from the plays, playlets, journals and poetry of "Theatre of the Absurd" playwright Eugene Ionesco (Rhinoceros, The Bald Soprano, Exit the King), IONESCOPADE is a zany musical vaudeville featuring mime, farce and parody - all hilariously balanced on the edge of madness.

PRIVATE EYES by Steven Dietz is a play about deception and broken trust, labeled by the author as a 'comedy of suspicion,' as the story is told in multiple layers and the audience is repeatedly tricked to believe that the current situation is real as nothing is ever quite what it seems.

If you see only one Comedy Improv show during The Hollywood Fringe Festival, go to the source, The Spolin Players, touted by the LA Times as presenting 'Improv as pure and unpredictable as you will find it.'

The Antaeus production highlights the play's universal and timeless themes by staging the play as presentation theater with the actors speaking directly to the audience, rarely to the person onstage to whom they are speaking. It is performed in conservative modern dress on a minimalistic set, making the words ring truer than in any other production of the show I have ever seen.

The Long Beach Playhouse is closing its 2012-2013 Mainstage Season with one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, the quirky and much-loved musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, an affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies.

Auditions for 'Little Shop of Horrors' with book by Howard Ashman and music and lyrics by Alan Menken take place on Saturday, July 13 from 11am-4pm and Sunday, July 14 from 6-9pm, with callbacks on Monday, July 15 from 7-10pm.at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. Production dates are September 13-October 19, 2013 for a six-week run on Fri/Sat at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm, directed by Michael-Anthony Nozzi.