Los Angeles Theater Reviews

Review: THE PITCH at Odyssey Theatre
by Amanda Callas - July 26, 2024

Based on playwright and lead actor Tom Alper’s real life experiences, this is a boiler room tale of telemarketing and desperation.  For something that is fiercely realistic and edgy, with a New York fighter’s indie heart, The Pitch is also hilarious, life-affirming, and an insanely good time.  It’s ...

Review: Musical Theatre West Stages Exuberant Production of Disney's NEWSIES
by Michael Quintos - July 25, 2024

Filled with high-energy singing and dancing that explodes out of an inspirational story based on real events, MTW's new production of this Disney stage musical is a guaranteed fun time, thanks to a terrific ensemble, and memorable music from Alan Menken and Jack Feldman. The show continues at the Ca...

Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Bank Of America Performing Arts Center
by Melissa Heckscher - July 22, 2024

5-Star-Theatrical’s gorgeous and faithful production of Sound of Music, playing through July 28 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, delivers the classic show that we know and love — no more, no less — with stellar performances, stunning sets, and an energetic cast that wi...

Review: PETER PAN at Hollywood Pantages Theatre
by Andrew Child - July 21, 2024

In attempting to reinvent Peter Pan for a modern audience, NETworks Presentations has embraced a major challenge. On the one hand, they have a gem. Jerome Robbins’ original production was packed with humor, heart, and adventures that captivated generations of audiences, not to mention a beautifully ...

Review: TARTUFFE: BORN AGAIN at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
by Amanda Callas - July 18, 2024

Tartuffe: Born Again is an imaginative, hilarious, delightful adaptation of the classic Molière play running at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum through October 13th. Tartuffe: Born Again is an absolute gem, a sheer, show-stopping delight, and you do not want to miss it....

Review: DESIGN FOR LIVING at Odyssey Theatre
by Amanda Callas - July 13, 2024

A glamorous, pansexual, queer 1930s romp through the world of artists, playwrights, interior decorators, and their lovers, Design for Living was an instant hit with the sold-out audience on the afternoon I attended, who loved every minute of it....

Review: YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU at Lonny Chapman Theatre
by Amanda Callas - July 08, 2024

By the end, of the night, I was laughing, crying, and cheering for everyone on stage.  You Can’t Take It with You is a heartwarming, delightful gem, a sold-out smash hit for the Group Rep....

Review: PSYCHO BEACH PARTY at Matrix Theatre
by Amanda Callas - June 28, 2024

Psycho Beach Party is a classic summer comedy at the Matrix Theatre on Melrose through July 7th.  It is glorious, glorious fun, campy, frisky, outrageous, and hilarious from start to finish....

Review: WENDY'S PETER PAN at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
by Harker Jones - June 26, 2024

While WENDY’S PETER PAN would be better served by trimming the fat, focusing on more sharpened performances, and allowing its performers room to breathe, children, despite its evening start time, will likely appreciate the show more than adults who will take notice of its distracting bumps and pecul...

Review: Hollywood Bowl Celebrates Henry Mancini with Cynthia Erivo, Michael Bublé, & More
by Michael Quintos - June 25, 2024

For its opening night of its 2024 season, the Hollywood Bowl presented a musical celebration of composer Henry Mancini’s 100th Birthday with a concert featuring the Hollywood Bowl orchestra—under the direction of principal conductor Thomas Wilkins and welcomed special guest artists Michael Bublé, Da...

Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY at The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
by Melissa Heckscher - June 23, 2024

While it’s true that the story lacks the emotional punch of Broadway faves like Dear Evan Hansen or Les Miserables—or the catchy pop hits of Tony winners like Hamilton or Moulin Rouge—Encore Theatre Group's production of Addams Family is simple and digestible fun....

Review: TINY FATHER at The Geffen Playhouse
by Andrew Child - June 22, 2024

Mike Lew’s two-hander feels ‘of a time’— and it is impressive how quickly these plays that seem to cater to the art sector’s regrowth post-quarantine both in content and structure already feel stale and dated....

Review: REEFER MADNESS at The Reefer Den
by Harker Jones - June 18, 2024

Everyone is phenomenal, from the performers to the musicians to the set director. It’s manically goofy, laugh-out-loud funny, and sexy in its degradation....

Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Pantages Theatre
by Harker Jones - June 16, 2024

The problem is not that it’s bad — it’s certainly serviceable — so much as it’s unmemorable. Something that should never be said about a character as dynamic as Mrs. Doubtfire....

Review: MAGIC FOR ANIMALS at Hollywood Fringe Festival
by Andrew Child - June 14, 2024

As the mystical opening chords begin to play and Liz Toonkel emerges in a stunning sequined costume designed by Stephen James, one might relax back into their seat, assured that a flashy, polished magic show which meekly follows the formula made popular by Copperfield and Blaine is about to unfold...

Review: JELLY'S LAST JAM at Pasadena Playhouse
by Evan Henerson - June 14, 2024

Director Kent Gash’s production in Pasadena serves up equal parts heat and cool, a slick and sweaty celebration of a man who was as vibrant and dangerous as his music. Under the musical direction of Darryl Archibald and choreography of Dell Howlett – both of which are first-rate – the evening cooks....

Review: THE SANDWICH MINISTRY at Skylight Theatre
by Amanda Callas - June 13, 2024

The Sandwich Ministry is an intimate, small town story. It is about faith, smelly church centers, natural disasters, loss, sandwich fixings, and the struggle to find meaning and community.  Playwright Miranda Rose Hall celebrates the unassuming, rich beauty of female friendship and the things that k...

Review: THE WINTER'S TALE at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
by Amanda Callas - June 13, 2024

The Winter’s Tale at Will Geer Theatricum Botanical is a true joy of a production. There is a terrific cast of lively, powerhouse performers and many irresistible moments of magic, delight, drama, and fall-out-your-chair-laughing hilarity.  I absolutely loved it....

Review: DURAN DURANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA at Troubadour Theater At The COlony
by Evan Henerson - June 12, 2024

The Bard is back and DURAN DURANTHONY & CLEOPATRA is up to snuff, zanily on point both in its concept and execution. When it comes to pop-Bard hybridization, Walker and his company know exactly what they’re doing....

Review: THE SPY WHO WENT INTO REHAB at Pacific Resident Theatre
by Amanda Callas - June 12, 2024

The Spy Who Went Into Rehab is a cheeky, high-spirited, brilliant new world premiere comedy at the Pacific Resident Theatre.  This sexy, adventurous, romp follows a simple and hilarious premise — what would happen if James Bond were court-ordered to rehab?...

Review: THE RABBIT QUEEN at The Broadwater MainStage
by Tracey Paleo - June 10, 2024

Did I mention that this all takes place in 1726? No? Well, if it weren’t for the popinjays, you would initially think this is a medieval morality play. ...

Review: Disney's Enchanting THE LITTLE MERMAID Swims Back to the La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Quintos - June 10, 2024

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts' mesmerizing, visually-stunning 2016 production of Disney's stage adaptation of THE LITTLE MERMAID has returned for a limited engagement continuing through June 23, 2024. Filled with colorful costumes and sets and soaring mermaids, this spectacular show will...

Review: Katerina McCrimmon's Star Shines Bright in FUNNY GIRL Revival at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - June 04, 2024

This 2022 revival of the 1964 musical is quite enjoyable, not because of its new changes (via director Michael Mayer and Harvey Fierstein's new book) but thanks mostly to its lead star McCrimmon, who is reason enough to see this touring iteration. The show continues at Segerstrom Center for the Arts...

Review: FRIDA-STROKE OF PASSION: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE at Casa 0101
by Melissa Heckscher - June 04, 2024

Ticket holders expecting the sprawling 360-degree LED screens of viral exhibitions like the Van Gogh or Monet 'Immersive Experiences' should know: This is not that. What it is, however, is a gorgeously produced play that fans of Frida Kahlo—the Mexican painter known for her brilliantly colored self-...

Review: HOLMES & WATSON at Laguna Playhouse
by Amanda Callas - June 03, 2024

Lovers of Agatha Christie, Knives Out, Michael Connelly, and of course, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, will be absolutely delighted by this fiendish period mystery starring everyone’s favorite sleuth and cocaine addict....