LOS ANGELES THEATER REVIEWS

Singer Henry Prego wanted to produce a staged Christmas show that is reminiscent of the nostalgic 60s TV specials at the Hollywood Palace with himself as host singing Frank Sinatra holiday favorites and introducing some talented guest star acts. Well, that he has achieved with A Sinatra Christmas cu...

Todd Robbins classifies Play Dead as a spooky entertainment; it may or may not scare you. I am vulnerable and open, but not that readily frightened and certainly not squeamish at the sight of blood; many are, however. And...Play Dead's stylish theatricality, off-color and fun stories, great intense ...

THE FOREIGNER is billed a two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue. It has been revived a great many times, from the high school to the professional level, including a well-received 2004 off-Broadway production featuring Matthew Broderick as Charlie. That description certainly sugar coats t...

On Sunday, December 1 Kritzerland Records presented its 40th show and annual Christmas presentation entitled A Kritzerland Christmas III at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with special guest star Terri White. It was a beautiful evening of mostly familiar Christmas music with a few lesser known bu...

Whimsical, poetic, and surprisingly clever, TOTEM---the latest touring Cirque du Soleil spectacular to hit Southern California---is currently performing under a large tent erected at the Orange County Great Park's Festival Site through December 29 (the traveling troupe of 46 will then move to the Sa...

BEETHOVEN AND MISFORTUNE COOKIES is the true story of Kabin Thomas, a musician and, for eleven years, a Professor of Music at the University of Arkansas. Ernest Harden, Jr. portrays Professor Thomas, taking us on Thomas' harrowing journey back to his childhood as he questions his mental health, just...

GOD'S GYPSY is a bold, sexy and humanizing portrait of the 16th century mystic who became one of the most controversial reformers of the Catholic Church. Spoiled with beauty and riches, Teresa was sent to a convent as a young girl to learn discipline, but instead discovered an unparalleled spiritual...

The McCallum Theatre has given the Coachella Valley another reason to be thankful this holiday weekend by presenting the stellar national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET through December 1. As anyone who has read my previous reviews knows, I am a big fan of Mitch Gershenfeld and The McCallum Theatre ...

Tom Dudzick's Miracle on South Division Street is an eclectically funny holiday comedy whose characters could easily be your next door neighbors, if you live in a small city like Buffalo, NY on the East Coast, where in a cockeyed way it seems almost politically correct to be ethnic, intolerant, and ...

The Lion King/book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi/music & lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice/additional music & lyrics by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M. Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Julie Taymor/directed by Julie Taymor/Pantages Theatre/through January 12, 2014...

No matter how you feel about the vast number of liberties Matthew Bourne takes in creating his scenario for The Sleeping Beauty, you must admit the end result is vibrantly imaginative, magical and fascinating to watch. Now at the Ahmanson Theatre for two weeks only through December 1, Sleeping Beaut...

'If only Eve had given Adam a daiquiri, we'd still be in paradise,' ruminates Gordon Goodman as John Barrymore at the end of BARRYMORE by William Luce. To that I say, 'If only John Barrymore could have stopped drinking, what acting heights could he have gone on to reach?'...

LOST GIRLS by John Pollono is a hard-hitting working class drama about people struggling to redefine family. The struggle of America's working class sometimes gets short shrift in pop culture--either represented as generic American Heroes, or as struggling simpletons who need to be saved. But the re...

Are you ready for some hearty laughter? Then head over to Theatre 40 and enjoy the witty repartee in Moss Hart's LIGHT UP THE SKY! There's nothing quite like the hours before the opening night of a theater production, and I am sure anyone ever involved in the production of a play will not be able ...

Side Show/book & lyrics by Bill Russell/music by Henry Krieger/directed by Bill Condon/La Jolla Playhouse/through December 15...

Barrymore/by William Luce/directed by Janet Miller/Good People Theatre Company (GPTC)/Greenway Court Alliance Theatre/through December 1...

Presented by Upright Cabaret (led by Chris Isaacson) which brings the best of Broadway and pop once a month to GLEH (Gay Lesbian Elder Housing) on Ivar in Hollywood in the form of a charitable concert to raise awareness of GLEH through song....

LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL focuses on each character's struggle to find love as well as direction in their life. Each makes choices that seem to pull the them apart, and one wishes the entire Gant family could learn to focus on how to love one another before it is too late - a universal lesson for us all...

Most of us often think about which famous historical figure or literary giant we would like to meet if we could go back in time. Turns out playwright/director Daniel Rover Singer is a passionate fan of both Charles Dickens and the Reverend Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll). Although Dickens and Ca...

While watching the opening night performance of Musical Theatre West's lively (haha) regional premiere of Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, something struck me almost immediately: I'm laughing hysterically. Though previous productions have certainly entertained in the past, much of the jokes and silly...

Set in a garage in suburban Long Island, THE BLACK SUITS tells the tale of four boys (lead singer, guitar, bass and drums) who are preparing for stardom by way of the St. Anne's Battle of the Bands. The band and the music give focus and sustenance to the boys whose lives are filled with teenage angs...

On Monday evening November 11 striking actress/singer Sandy Bainum presented a concert and launch party for her new CD Simply. This album, as well as her last one from 2012 One Christmas, were both produced by Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records. It is difficult to think of Bainum simply. She is a ta...

L.A. Theatre Works' Radio Theatre Series will air KINDERTRANSPORT written by Diane Samuels, directed by Jeannie Hackett and featuring Jane Kaczmarek, Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn. The broadcast can be heard locally in Southern California on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-9 pm on KPFK 90.7 FM in Lo...

After 23 years of entertaining the world, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies will be closing their doors May 18, 2014 after completion of this their last season The Last Hurrah!...

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