Los Angeles Interviews
ISC's David Melville & Melissa Chalsma On Being Free, Social Awareness & The Future
by Gil Kaan - August 03, 2020, Los Angeles
As live theatre remains in lockdown, Independent Shakespeare Company (ISC) is morphing their Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival into a free, livestreaming program of four FESTIVAL EVENTS on Saturdays in August, and a hybrid stage production of ROMEO & JULIET Labor Day weekend. ISC's co-founders...
Mindy Sterling On Staying Home & Being a Groundling
by Gil Kaan - July 27, 2020, Los Angeles
The Groundlings alumni and Austin Powers fan favorite Mindy Sterling will be special guesting on The Groundlings weekly online Wednesday show THE CRAZY UNCLE JOE SHOW July 29, 2020, zooming at 8p PST. This hour of improv starts with suggestions from the audience and weaves characters through time an...
DIAVOLO's Jacques Heim Safely Creating THIS IS ME With Vets
by Gil Kaan - July 24, 2020, Los Angeles
DIAVOLO/Architecture in Motion's The Veteran Project will premiere its THIS IS ME: LETTERS FROM THE FRONT LINES on The Soraya Facebook page Friday July 31 at 4p PST. Returning to The Soraya for their fourth engagement, DIAVOLO's latest movement piece deals with our current pandemic isolation from th...
Source Material's Samantha Shay Navigating IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES
by Gil Kaan - July 20, 2020, Los Angeles
Source Material's IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES will world premiere via Zoom July 25, 2020 at 4pm PST. Directed by Source Material's artistic director Samantha Shay, IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES posits the state of theatre in these COVID-19 times using a mash-up of Chekov monologues, drinking duels and coron...
THIS WILL BE Ali MacLean's YEAR @ SheLa Arts
by Gil Kaan - July 13, 2020, Los Angeles
The third annual SheLA Arts' Summer Theater Festival has gone completely digital this year, running July 13 through July 19, 2020. I had the socially distant chance to pose a few questions to one of the five elected playwrights chosen for this year's festival, Ali MacLean, whose THIS WILL BE OUR YEA...
Josh Shaw of MADAMA BUTTERFLY at Home Computer Screens
by Maria Nockin - July 06, 2020, Los Angeles
Named as one of Musical America's Top 30 Innovators in Classical Music, Josh Shaw is the Executive and Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Project (POP), one of L.A.'s most exciting opera companies. During the past nine seasons, Shaw has directed over 35 productions at POP. Since 2011, Shaw has dire...
Playwright France-Luce Benson's Been Ready For SHOWTIME - BLUES
by Gil Kaan - June 26, 2020, Los Angeles
In these pandemic times, The Fountain Theatre has been Zooming their SATURDAY MATINEE series, the latest on June 27 being France-Luce Benson's SHOWTIME BLUES. The cast of this reading includes Cecil Blutcher, Suzette Azariah Gunn and Matt Kirkwood. I had the socially distant opportunity to pose a fe...
Janet Eilber On Martha Graham's IMMEDIATE TRAGEDY & The Lightbulb Moment With Bob Fosse
by Gil Kaan - June 18, 2020, Los Angeles
The works of the incomparable Martha Graham remain a must-see for modern dance aficionados. The Martha Graham Dance Company's latest work IMMEDIATE TRAGEDY will premiere online Friday, June 19 at 4pm (PDT)/7pm (EDT) on The Soraya Facebook page. In collaboration with composer Christopher Rountree and...
The Fabulous Playwright Vincent Terrell Durham Waxes on His POLAR BEARS, BLACK BOYS & PRAIRIE FRINGED ORCHIDS
by Gil Kaan - June 17, 2020, Los Angeles
To commemorate Juneteenth this Friday June 19th, the Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project will present Vincent Terrell Durham's POLAR BEARS, BLACK BOYS & PRAIRIE FRINGED ORCHIDS as a free, live Zoom reading. Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project has gathered groups of regional theatres in various cities ...
Director Jane Page On HUMAN ERROR & New Forms of Storytelling
by Gil Kaan - June 12, 2020, Los Angeles
North Coast Rep's west coast premiere of playwright Eric Pfeffinger's HUMAN ERROR will go on as originally planned, only in these times of social distancing, being presented online from June 15 through June 29, 2020. HUMAN ERROR's a comedy of a medical mix-up that brings two couples of opposing life...
Grammy-Winning Guitarist Laurence Juber on Whitefire, VERY BRADY & Hope
by Gil Kaan - June 10, 2020, Los Angeles
Guitarist Laurence Juber, with a musical resume longer than your arm, will play his first full-length concert since the beginnings of our stay-home orders in AN EVENING WITH LAURENCE JUBER, a virtual benefit for Whitefire Theatre June 13, 2020. LJ graciously took some time for this interview between...
NATIONAL PUPPETRY CONFERENCE's Pam Arcerio Pulling The Right Strings @ The O'Neill
by Gil Kaan - June 05, 2020, Los Angeles
First up in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's newly revamped 2020 Summer Season - now online, the 30th NATIONAL PUPPETRY CONFERENCE (PUP) running June 8 through June 12, 2020. PUP, with an already sold-out main CONFERENCE, is offering the public a series of five master classes, as well as, two fre...
BWW Feature: CORONA CHOREOGRAPHIC CHRONICLES ~ PAT TAYLOR, JAZZANTIQUA, & THE MOVEMENT IN THE MUSIC: A DIGITAL Jazz Dance Showcase
by Valerie-Jean Miller - June 02, 2020, Los Angeles
Since the shelter-in-place order in mid March for all of California, there have been no Theatre productions, no Live Performances, not even a class available in Los Angeles to take to keep working on your craft. Slowly but surely, Artists and Producers are adjusting and finding new ways to present t...
The Groundlings' Stephanie Courtney & Brian Palermo On Zooming THE CRAZY UNCLE JOE SHOW
by Gil Kaan - May 26, 2020, Los Angeles
The Groundlings' weekly Wednesday night show THE CRAZY UNCLE JOE SHOW that's been running for years, halted production like all other live entertainment. Well, Groundlings improv fans can now look forward to the beginning of the online Zoomed editions of THE CRAZY UNCLE JOE SHOW with the first insta...
Reggie Lee Takes On The Voice Of The Iconic Harvey Milk
by Gil Kaan - May 20, 2020, Los Angeles
As part of the official kick-off to West Hollywood's 'One City One Pride,' West Hollywood's Art Division (in collaboration with the Celebration Theatre) presents a free live-stream reading of Patricia Loughrey's DEAR HARVEY on Harvey Milk Day, May 22, 2020. Produced and directed by Celebration Theat...
L. A. Theatres' Inventive Safer-At-Home Work-Arounds, Part 3
by Gil Kaan - April 06, 2020, Los Angeles
Here's the third installment of responses from various Los Angeles Theatre heads on how their individual theatre families are holding up in these crazy, safe-distancing times. As with the first two batches of responses, these are just as amazing in their acknowledged realism and uniform positivity:...
L. A. Theatres' Inventive Safer-At-Home Work-Arounds, Part 2
by Gil Kaan - March 28, 2020, Los Angeles
Here's the second installment of responses from various Los Angeles Theatre heads on how their individual theatre families are holding up in these crazy, safe-distancing times. As with the first batch of responses, these are just as amazing in their uniform positivity....
L. A. Theatres' Inventive Safer-At-Home Work-Arounds
by Gil Kaan - March 26, 2020, Los Angeles
In these crazy, safe-distancing times; I reached out earlier this week to various heads of Los Angeles theatres to see how they and their theatre families are holding up. The replies were amazing in their quickness, numbers and uniform positivity....
Perennial Film & TV Actor C. Thomas Howell Making His Theatrical Debut in WORST-CASE SCENARIO
by Gil Kaan - March 17, 2020, Los Angeles
After 46 years of steady work in front of film and television cameras, C. Thomas Howell will be making his theatrical debut in the world premiere of D.M. Conte's WORST-CASE SCENARIO at the Hudson Comedy Central Backstage Theatre beginning (hopefully) April 2020. Since Thomas made his first screen ap...
Marc Antolin On Returning to Emma Rice, ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS & The Wallis
by Gil Kaan - March 07, 2020, Los Angeles
Marc Antolin and Carly Bawden reprise their lead roles as Jean-René and Angélique in the U.S. premiere of playwright/director Emma Rice's ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS beginning at The Wallis March 17, 2020 for a thirteen-day run. Based on the movie Les Emotifs Anonymes, two lonely souls make a sweet connecti...
Andrew Leeds - From Groundlings' Comic Bro To Being A Big Bro For Zoey
by Gil Kaan - March 06, 2020, Los Angeles
Andrew Leeds, a Groundlings main company member, follows in the long line of his talented Groundlings cohorts in landing an episodic gig. Andrew plays David, the brother of the titular Zoey in NBC's new Sunday night hit Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Actor/singer/writer Andrew agreed to parcel out s...
Playwright Anna Moench Deconstructs Her MAN OF GOD
by Gil Kaan - March 03, 2020, Los Angeles
Playwright Anna Moench's MAN OF GOD begins previews March 3, 2020, with opening night March 12, 2020 at the Geffen Playhouse. MAN OF GOD charts an eye-opening missionary trip to Bangkok of four teenage Korean girls under the chaperone of their revered pastor. When the girls realize their pastor has ...
Geoff Sobelle Creating A HOME For All Audiences
by Gil Kaan - February 17, 2020, Los Angeles
Have you ever experienced a house constructed right in front of your eyes during the course of a couple hours? In addition to this phenomenon, residents of this structure, past, present and future, will interact in a combined house party involving the audience. That's what HOME creator Geoff Sobelle...
Intimacy Coordinator Mia Schachter Keeping It Safe At THE WILD PARTY
by Gil Kaan - February 15, 2020, Los Angeles
Morgan-Wixson's latest mainstage production THE WILD PARTY, beginning March 13, 2020, has incorporated the not usually seen, but much needed intimacy coordinator to their offstage team of creatives/technicians. I had the wonderful opportunity to delve into the importance of having such a professiona...
Many Related Talents FOUND in Renaissance Man Jonah Platt
by Gil Kaan - February 13, 2020, Los Angeles
IAMA Theatre Company's latest production FOUND will be opening Thursday February 20, 2020 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Helmed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, this new musical based on Davy Rothbart's popular Found Magazine, features an array of familiar Los Angeles stage talents including: Jordan K...
Four Larks' Mat Sweeney - A Teddy Bear of a FRANKENSTEIN To Work With
by Gil Kaan - February 12, 2020, Los Angeles
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Four Larks have teamed up to present their world premiere of Four Lark's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic FRANKENSTEIN, beginning February 12, 2020. In conjunction with the novel's 200th anniversary, the collaborative creative forces of Fou...
Groundlings' Deanna Oliver Ever Poised to Referee, er, Direct GROUNDLINGS BAR FIGHT
by Gil Kaan - February 11, 2020, Los Angeles
The Groundlings' latest Friday/Saturday night show GROUNDLINGS BAR FIGHT opens Valentine's February 14, 2020. Deanna Oliver, will be oh, so lovingly corralling and directing a talented troupe of eleven Groundlings as they tickle our funny bones with their fresh and funny BAR FIGHT sketches. A Ground...
Clark Gregg Navigating From the Marvel Universe Back to David Mamet's
by Gil Kaan - February 10, 2020, Los Angeles
An enduring member of the Marvel universe (both cinematic and TV) as Agent Phil Coulson, Clark Gregg will be making his Los Angeles stage acting debut in his long-time friend David Mamet's new play THE CHRISTOPHER BOY'S COMMUNION. Slated for an eleven-performance run at the Odyssey beginning Februar...
Michael Manuel: From Creature to THE FATHER's Memory (Or Imagination?)
by Gil Kaan - February 07, 2020, Los Angeles
The Alfred Molina-starrer THE FATHER, currently in previews, will have its official opening night February 11, 2020 at the Pasadena Playhouse. Playwright Florian Zeller (translated by Christopher Hampton) illuminates the internal struggles of a very proud man cursed with dementia. Two versions of An...
A Leading Lady of Broadway, Christine Ebersole Stars As Herself In AN EVENING At The Wallis
by Gil Kaan - February 06, 2020, Los Angeles
The much lauded and much admired Broadway leading lady Christine Ebersole will be bringing AN EVENING WITH CHRISTINE EBERSOLE for one night only at The Wallis February 28, 2020. Winner of two Tony Awards (42nd STREET and GREY GARDENS), Christine, in between her many theatrical engagements (and prese...
Joel Zwick Navigating $5 SHAKESPEARE & Countless Sitcoms
by Gil Kaan - February 05, 2020, Los Angeles
Prolific episodic director Joel Zwick's next theatrical foray on the Los Angeles theatre boards will be helming the world premiere of Matthew Leavitt's THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, beginning February 7, 2020 at The 6th Act's Theatre 68. This homage to 99-seat theatre in Los Angeles features: Kenajuan...
Margaret Odette On Her Quest To Being A Fierce Badass in REVENGE SONG
by Gil Kaan - February 03, 2020, Los Angeles
Qui Nguyen's REVENGE SONG: A VAMPIRE COWBOYS CREATION will receive its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse opening February 13, 2020 (with previews beginning February 4). Nguyen's musical, historical comedy centers on real-life 17th century opera singer/swordswoman/lesbian Julie D'Aubigny and her...
Actor/Director Michael A. Shepperd Stepping Off-Stage to WEST ADAMS
by Gil Kaan - January 29, 2020, Los Angeles
A creative staple of the Los Angeles Theatre community, director/actor Michael A. Shepperd will next be exhibiting his directorial talents in the world premiere of playwright Penelope Lowder's WEST ADAMS, opening February 1, 2020 at the Skylight Theatre. This dark comedy on race, class, and a bouncy...
HUMAN INTEREST STORY's Chameleon Actor Rob Nagle On Choosing Roles, Classics & L.A. Theatre
by Gil Kaan - January 28, 2020, Los Angeles
A stalwart member of the Los Angeles Theatre community, the multi-award-winning Rob Nagle will next be appearing on the Fountain Theatre stage in the world premiere of Stephen Sachs' HUMAN INTEREST STORY, opening February 15, 2020. Rob essays Andy Kramer, who just having been laid off, fabricates a ...
Dale Dickey Keeps Coming Back to Del Shores & CRAZY
by Gil Kaan - January 23, 2020, Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Premiere of prolific playwright Del Shore's latest THIS SIDE OF CRAZY begins January 30, 2020 at the Zephyr Theatre. Del's latest in his entertaining and relatable dysfunctional family tales centers on renown Gospel singer Ditty Blaylock as she's about to be honored by the Gospel Mus...
Sarah Ruhl Re-Creates Her EURYDICE Into A World Premiere Opera
by Gil Kaan - January 20, 2020, Los Angeles
The LA Opera and the Metropolitan Opera join forces to co-produce the world premiere of EURYDICE from the creative minds of composer/conductor Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl; beginning February 1, 2020 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Based on Sarah's 2003 play EURYDICE, this Greek myth u...
Always a Creative Force To Be Reckoned With, Tim Dang Next Directs LATW's VIETGONE
by Gil Kaan - January 15, 2020, Los Angeles
Next up for L.A. Theatre Works will be Qui Nguyen's VIETGONE, set to be recorded live at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus for four performances beginning January 24, 2020. East West Players' Producing Artistic Director Emeritus Tim Dang will direct this semi-fictional tale of how Qui's p...
I CAN DO THAT, Hector Guerrero's Sojourn Across A Chorus Line
by Jonas Schwartz-Owen - January 08, 2020, Los Angeles
The Welk Resort Theatre, located at the Welk Resort in San Diego, launches the Pulitzer Prize/Tony-winning A Chorus Line as part of its 39th Season. Director/Choreographer Hector Guerrero makes his debut on the Welk Resort stage with this beloved musical created by Michael Bennett in 1975 with musi...
John Waters' Fav Traci Lords - Now a Woman BEHIND BARS
by Gil Kaan - January 06, 2020, Los Angeles
Tom Eyen's cult classic WOMEN BEHIND BARS will take up residency on The Montalbán stage for a two weekend-run beginning January 24, 2020. Scott Thompson directs an ensemble of eclectic pop culture stars, including Traci Lords as the head troublemaker Gloria. Traci was most gracious to take some time...
Max Westwell's Ever Ready To Rise To The Top In MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE
by Gil Kaan - December 26, 2019, Los Angeles
The much lauded, deservedly awarded MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE returns to thunderous ovations at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles a third time (second time in 2006) since its auspicious L.A. debut in 1997. What was considered ground-breaking and quite shocking to ballet traditionalists when Matth...
