LOS ANGELES THEATER REVIEWS

Never has a political mockery been more in need than in these turbulent, and let's face it, horrendously tragic times. And when the Commander-in-Chief is a 'smirking chimp' with a weaker grasp of the English language than a fifth grader, there is no better way to stick it to the man than with a sha...

There is something magical afoot at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as a wondrously imaginative collaboration between Deaf West Theatre and the Center Theatre Group is making a World Premiere in the form of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a New Musical Fable......

David Mamet deserves a slap on his creative wrist for penning such a nonsensical work as his 1974 play Squirrels, which is currently making its Southern California premiere at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica......

The verdict is in, Twelve Angry Men is a hit. The Roundabout Theatre Company's touring production of the Reginald Rose courtroom drama is currently in session at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and is injecting newfound passion into this classic story......

Upon first entering the Mark Taper Forum, distraction ensues with three large television screens barraging the theatre with television clips ranging from CNN to the 'Price is Right,' all hoping to establish the overwhelming drowning feeling created in a world full of immediate and all too accessible...

Leave it to a former 'Daily Show With Jon Stewart' correspondent to twist a situation, which on face value could be predisposed to sheer melancholy, into a wry satirical commentary on the poorly operated Los Angeles penal system......

That's a wrap, and it seems as though 'nerd' is the word. NBC's reality casting series, 'Grease: You're the One That I Want' finished with a bang Sunday night crowning Max Crumm and Laura Osnes the leads, Danny and Sandy, in the upcoming Broadway revival of Grease......

The story is perhaps better known among the modern generation of playgoers than any other biographical production in theatrical repertory. It could thus be imagined that any such show is doomed to come off as stale or tired, yet it is the very fact that the multi-generational awareness of The Diary ...

Finally, after what has to have been one of the longest audition processes for a Broadway show, NBC's 'Grease: You're the One That I Want' narrowed down the nation-wide search for Danny and Sandy to the final four, whittling away the lesser talents along the way......

Space Therapy, a screwball comedy full of outrageous humor and shock-tainment, is Tanner's latest work, which he also directs, making its world premiere at the Zephyr Theatre in West Hollywood. This cult playwright, having co-written the long running Zombie Attack!, and more recently Oklahomo!, is ...

In the constant battle of old and new, jazz pitted against R&B, conservative hair versus hip-hop fashion, the neighborhood barbershop allows each struggle to take center stage while three generations of barbers reminisce and look ahead at the changing times......

In hopes of finding two virtually unknown talents to lead this summer's upcoming revival of Grease on Broadway, NBC's reality casting special, 'Grease: You're the One That I Want' reached the semi-finals round, narrowing down the Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko wannabes to six overall......

Taking the now familiar path of stand up comedy by way of theatrical houses, Billy Connolly Live! has set up shop at the Brentwood Theatre for a short while, which works to Connolly's benefit as the 500 seat intimate venue allows for a unique experience......

Andrew Lloyd Webber, in his quest to become arguably one of the most prolific modern musical theatre composers, produced his fair share of absolute tragedies, including the extremely disjointed Song and Dance, which originally ran in London under the title Tell Me On a Sunday, both to critical brow ...

NBC put on its game face Sunday with the latest installment of 'Grease: You're the One That I Want,' their reality casting special for the soon to bow on Broadway revival of the classic musical. This week was missing any female performances, as the remaining four Danny's left in the competition m...

Taking in a night of Marilyn: Forever Blonde is a treat, and far more enjoyable than turning on another episode of 'True Hollywood Story' ......

A show that started in this city nearly 30 years ago, They're Playing Our Song, makes a rather pleasurable return to the El Portal Theatre spinning some disco-era tunes from the genius of composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager......

The outfits were divine and the amount of talent packing the house was innumerable as self-congratulatory praise was spread around. Oh wait, that was the Academy Awards… wrong show. Once again, NBC faced a formidable opponent in terms of a ratings battle as 'Grease: You're the One That I Want' ...

Let the games begin. That is games of ticket scalpers and daily lottery drawings for those impossible to snag seats, as Broadway's smash hit Wicked has finally landed in Hollywood for a presumably lengthy run......

This week marked a change of pace for NBC's 'Grease: You're the One that I Want,' as producers seemed to have jumbled up the run of things, fixing a few glaring mistakes made last week but dropping the ball overall......

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's restaurant in Studio City celebrated their 8th anniversary with a cool sense of chic cabaret as Maura M. Knowles (Bare) flew through stage classics to a crowded house......

After going dark for a week, NBC's 'Grease: You're the One that I Want' made its triumphant return Sunday evening, although a slightly overshadowed one as it battled against the Grammy Awards......

Hollywood is the town where young dreamers flock, hoping to one day be discovered and launch into a career of cheers and stardom. It is a place where everyone walking down the street, be it bum or barista, has within them the next cinematic masterpiece......

There are moments in musical theatre when the sets become cumbersome and staging simply hampers the works on stage, which might explain the popularity of Reprise! Broadway's Best's Marvelous Musical Monday series at UCLA......

Like most things in life, Jamaica, an island known for the occasional holiday getaway by some of the more wealthy, is not the most luxurious of locales when looked at closely......