LOS ANGELES INTERVIEWS

“There’s a bit of the feeling of that famous kiss in Times Square at the beginning of the play—- a feeling of infinite possibility at the end of the war, which is a version of America we all know. Many people don’t realize how harshly the pendulum swung back after that.”...

Breaking With Tradition Productions’ latest production Brothers Play by Matthew Doherty will open January 14, 2023, at Legacy LA (with one preview January 13th).  James Eckhouse directs the cast of Rob Nagle, Jeffrey Nordling and Jamie Wollrab. I had the opportunity to get some insight into...

Alessandra Assaf has taken her life-long admiration for Ava Gardner and fashioned a love letter to her in her one-woman show Twelve O’Clock Tales with Ava Gardner opening at the Whitefire Theatre January 15, 2023. This tale of the silver screen icon is directed by Michael A. Shepperd....

The Wallis presents the Los Angeles premiere of Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights, opening January 11, 2023. Emma Rice directs her own adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic. This engagement is a National Theatre, Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal Co-Production in Association ...

After a pandemic enforced break, the North American tour of Mean Girls finally lands in Los Angeles at the Pantages January 4, 2023. Lawrence E. Street reprises his role of Mr. Rick Duvall from beginnings of the 2019 national tour....

Rogue Machine has world premiered Justin Tanner’s latest comedy Little Theatre at the Matrix. Lisa James directs the cast of: Ryan Brophy, Zachary Grant and Jenny O’Hara. Jenny made some time between rehearsals and shooting to answer a few of my queries....

Fresh from her Carnegie Hall debut last month, Tony-award nominee Melissa Errico brings her holiday show Evergreen Holiday to Feinstein’s at Vitello’s December 21st and 22nd. Accompanied by a jazz trio led by Randy Waldman, Melissa’s special guest Jon Lovitz will join in on the storytelling th...

Megan Hilty’s stint with The Tabernacle Choir last year O Holy Night, narrated by everybody’s favorite baddie Neal McDonough, will air on PBS December 13, 2022 and BYUtv on December 18, 2022. This, the latest edition of PBS’ #1 primetime holiday program for seventeen years, “Christmas with T...

The incomparable Broadway legend Chita Rivera will be appearing at Segerstrom Center for The Arts in her latest concert show The Rhythm of My Life December 11, 2022. This talented lady has been awarded countless awards, including Tonys, a Lifetime Achievement Tony, the Medal of Freedom and a Kennedy...

The U.S. tour of the hit Star Wars burlesque parody The Empire Strips Back has begun previews at the Montalban theatre, with opening night on November 30, 2022. This unique show is best described by its creator Russall S. Beattie who let me beam into his creative brain a little....

Adding to their already extensive line-up of impro shows, The Groundlings will be presenting A Night of Family for one-night only December 5, 2022. This show features Main Company member Annie Sertich with three Groundlings alumni Tim Bagley, Michael Hitchcock and Mindy Sterling. I got a chance to p...

The Groundlings brand new Friday/Saturday holiday show Groundlings Cozy Winter Cabin opens December 2, 2022. Chris Eckert directs Main Company members Sam Desurra, Chris Kleckner, Laird Macintosh, Karen Maruyama, Jessica Pohly, Jay Renshaw and Annie Sertich. Jessica very pleasantly surprised me...

Roberto Williams stars as the 'Courage is Cowardice' Winston in George Orwell's 1984 at the Grand Annex, San Pedro. Enjoy!...

The Geffen Playhouse is world premiering mentalist Vinny DePonto’s latest show Mindplay. The run (already started) plays through December 18, 2022. I got the chance to chat with Vinny’s long-time collaborator director Andrew Neisler....

Clyde’s, the latest work of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, just opened at the Mark Taper Forum November 15, 2022. Clyde’s centers around a truck stop (Clyde’s) staffed by rehabilitating ex-cons. Kate Whoriskey directs the cast of Kevin Kenerly, Tamberla Perry, Reza Salazar, Nedra...

Next up at Theatre 40, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner opening November 17, 2022. Cate Caplin directs the cast of: Larry Eisenberg, Diana Angelina, Abigail Stewart, Marc Antonio Pritchett, Fred Dawson, Crystal Jackson, Patty Lewis, Jenn Robbins and David Hunt Stafford. The very busy Cate managed to f...

East West Players conclude their 56th season with Prince Gomolvilas’ The Brothers Paranormal opening November 20, 2022 (with previews beginning November 17th).  Jeff Lui directs the cast of David Huynh, Roy Vongtama, Tamika Simpkins, Jasper Louis, Emily Kuroda and Pearrie Hammie. Prince found ...

The national tour of Aaron Sorkin’s reimagining of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has settled in at the Pantages, running through November 27, 2022. Bartlett Sher directs a stellar cast led by Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch. In one of the pivotal roles, Melanie Moore (as Scout Finch) breaks...

Rather than paint a mural of multicultural children holding hands around the globe or undertake some other trite pass at celebrating diversity with young people, Imagine Theatre's artistic director, Armina LaManna chooses to prioritize stories from the intricate 'cultural fabric of LA', working equi...

Broadway pianist/ composer/ all-around host Seth Rudetsky returns to The Wallis with his signature concert series, this time with Tony Award winner Lillias White November 3, 2022. The always working Seth managed to spare a few moments to answer some of my queries....

Invincible – the Musical world premieres November 30, 2022, at The Wallis (with previews beginning November 22nd). Tiffany Nichole Greene directs this reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet weaving in the catalogue of hit songs of Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. I managed to catch Bradley Brede...

The latest edition of Mama G’s Horror Camp returns to The Bourbon Room Halloween weekend. Chadd McMillan and Nathan Moore co-direct the large cast of Broadway and Los Angeles Theatre triple threats. I had the chance to chat with Frankie Grande, who’s lighted stages on both the opposite coasts....

Playwright Danny Robins’ 2:22 – A Ghost Story will have its U.S. premiere November 4, 2022 (with previews starting October 29th) at the Center Theater Group’s Ahmanson. Matthew Dunster directs the cast of four: Constance Wu, Anna Camp, Adam Rothenberg, and Finn Wittrock.  I persuaded  Finn t...

Next up at Laguna Playhouse, Love Among the Ruins world premieres October 30, 2022 (with previews starting October 26th). Michael Arabian directs the stellar cast of JoBeth Williams and Peter Strauss in this adaptation of the 1975 ABC Theatre Presentation that starred Katherine Hepburn and Laurence ...

Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran John Rubinstein performs in his first one-man show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at Theatre West opening October 22, 2022. This world premiere (co-produced in association with New Los Angeles Repertory Company) is directed by Peter Ellenstein. John carved out s...