LOS ANGELES THEATER REVIEWS

Christopher Knopf's world premiere The Red Room , clearly reminiscent of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, has modern day repercussions in spite of its period time and place. Although appearing affluent on the surface, all members of this family dynasty are suffering. A failing business; for some...

On Sunday September 30 beautiful theatre star Juliana Hansen debuted her one-woman cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Directed by dynamic Bruce Kimmel and with sleek musical direction from A.J. Robb, Hansen literally had her audience eating out of her palm from the very top of the 70-mi...

Marsha Moode aptly describes Crazy For You as a great tonic to help us cope with today's news cycle.The great Gershwin musical score, the corny jokes, thin plot, loony mix-ups... and true 'dreamy' romance all add up to an evening of sheer bliss. DCLO's current production of the Tony winning Best Mus...

Dangerous Corner, an intriguing play about relationships written by J.B. Priestley in 1932 has a fresh, new look at Crown City Theatre. Director Gary Lamb's vision brings the play into the 60s and puts the spirit of a deceased character on stage, singing, playing the piano, lounging imperiously and ...

Toward the end of the second act of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage's By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, a character shouts, "It's not what's said, it's what's not said!" This could be a tagline to describe the show, which is light and funny in its first act, and far more serious in the sec...

The 20th Century's most compelling decade will come roaring back to life as This Is The 60's lands at The McCallum Theatre for one performance, Thursday, October 18 at 8:00 pm. More than a stage show, and much more than a concert, This is the ‘60s takes the audience on a cultural journey celebrati...

British playwright Alan Ayckbourn's amusing 1972 comedy ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR--which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year--is currently eliciting chuckles through October 7 at South Coat Repertory in Costa Mesa. Though very much a product of its era, the three-act play directed by SCR co-found...

On Sunday, September 23 Chelsea Emma Franko, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012, debuted her cabaret evening The Girl from Apple Valley to a warmly enthusiastic SRO crowd at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Like most young performers, who present their life. so. far in a 60 minute set - Chelsea amaz...

One is accustomed to the overwhelming cult following of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where fans at midnight screenings dress in character and talk back to the screen. But who would have thought that an Academy Award-winning film like The Silence of the Lambs, whose overall tone is intensely seriou...

Very few new shows, especially musicals, have that extra special spark, that je ne sais quoi that makes them a surefire success. For starters, there must be a good book - with a story that's credible...and funny - and a pleasant score that keeps your fingers and toes tapping, at least while you are ...

Hard to believe, but Sweeney Todd first bowed on Broadway in late 1979 and I was in New York to witness the brilliant achievement of Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou and the entire creative team. It is difficult to find just the right words to express how very much this show affected me when...

Fitting three performances in one day can come at a cost depending on where you're playing. And though Batman Live World Arena Tour was only in San Jose for four short days (heading to Los Angeles next), Saturday evening's performance, the third showing that day, found the large HP Pavilion less tha...

Orange County-based 3D Theatrical's surprisingly ebullient new production of the Irving Berlin musical revue I LOVE PIANO--now performing through September 23 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton before it moves to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, September 28-30--is buoyed by its compose...

Now at Doma Theatre, the current production of Xanadu is not quite up to their Jekyll & Hyde, but satisfying nonetheless, and certainly with enough colorfully entertaining qualities to make it worth your while as a respite from the end of summer heat....

Suave, charming, ego maniac Aristotle Onassis comes to vivid life through the brilliantly modulated, cautiously executed and intensely focused performance of Anthony Skordi on the stage of the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. With a sharp eye to his every move, director Bruce Katzman stages the wo...

Arguably the most anticipated Broadway musical to ever hit the road in recent decades, the worship-worthy comedy THE BOOK OF MORMON--whose first national tour is now cheerfully spreading its gospel at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 25--certainly lives up to its massive box office...

With a stellar touring cast and astounding direction from Broadway directors Casey Nicholaw, who has also choreographed brilliantly, and Trey Parker, who also wrote the book, music and lyrics with partners Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, Book of Mormon is irresistible heaven at the Pantages through Nov...

On Saturday September 8, Kritzerland live performance concerts turned two years old and Bruce Kimmel celebrated the event with a potpourri of The Songs That Got Away at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Kritzerland's newest monthly home base. Assisting Kimmel were regulars Dennis Kyle, Juliana ...

With a career encompassing Broadway, TV and film, veteran comic actress Jane Kean is best known for playing Trixie Norton in the hour-long color, musical version of the Honeymooners series (1966-70). Kean presented her one-woman show onstage at the Colony Saturday September 8....

The Full Monty/book by Terrence McNally/music & lyrics by David Yazbek/choreography by John Todd/directed by Richard Israel/Third Street Theatre/through October 14...

The World Goes 'Round/music by John Kander/lyrics by Fred Ebb/originally conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman & David Thompson/re-envisioned by Robert Marra/Actors Co-Op at Crossley Theatre, Hollywood/directed & choreographed by Robert Marra/through October 14...

Jon Lawrence Rivera's brisk staging, making generous use of the vast stage area, Nick Salamone's quirkily funny Hollywoodesque yet faithful adaptation, and a splendidly fun-loving cast make for this unique theatrical evening now through September 29....

I, Caligula An Insanity Musical/book and lyrics by Kai Cofer/music and orchestrations by Cody Gillette/partially based on Caligula by Albert Camus/directed by Kai Cofer/Secret Rose Theatre/closed August 26...

Farm Boy/by Michael Morpurgo/adapted by Daniel Buckroyd/directed by David Fofi/Matrix Theatre/closed August 26 ...

The Blue Iris/by Athol Fugard/directed by Stephen Sachs/Fountain Theatre/through September 16 (will not extend)...