Alan Abelew

Inspired by a 1970 Federico Fellini film, OLD CLOWN WANTED centers on three aging clowns who compete for a job in a room with no windows and very little furniture, in which theater and circus arts are intertwined in an absurdist, cynical, tender and very funny look at aging and man's fear of uselessness in society. The entertaining and non-stop action in this new translation from the French by Jeremy Lawrence, is appropriately directed by Romanian-born Florinel Fatulescu, who has won numerous theater awards for his daring and innovative style. While the overall production seemed very Italian in nature to me, there was certainly enough Vaudevillian slapstick schtick to keep audiences laughing from start to finish.

Inspired by a 1970 Federico Fellini film, three aging clowns compete for a job in an absurdly comic look at man's fear of uselessness in society. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of Old Clown Wanted by Romanian-French playwright Matei Visniec in a new translation from the French by Jeremy Lawrence. Romanian-born Florinel Fatulescu directs for a Sept. 22 opening, with performances continuing through Nov. 4 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Inspired by a 1970 Federico Fellini film, three aging clowns compete for a job in an absurdly comic look at man's fear of uselessness in society. Odyssey Theatre Ensemblepresents the West Coast premiere of Old Clown Wanted by Romanian-French playwright Matei Vi?niec in a new translation from the French by Jeremy Lawrence. Romanian-born Florinel Fatulescu directs for a Sept. 22 opening, with performances continuing through Nov. 4 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Inspired by a 1970 Federico Fellini film, three aging clowns compete for a job in an absurdly comic look at man's fear of uselessness in society. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of Old Clown Wanted by Romanian-French playwright Matei Visniec in a new translation from the French by Jeremy Lawrence. Romanian-born Florinel Fatulescu directs for a Sept. 22 opening, with performances continuing through Nov. 4 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

The 1941 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE gets a dusting off from the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble providing a wonderfully expressive vehicle for the acting talents of Sheelagh Cullen and Jacque Lynn Colton as Abby and Martha Brewster, the seemingly harmless and most delightful murderers of their single unattached male boarders. Cullen and Colton totally charm while dithering on ever so casually describing their deadly deeds as calmly as sharing a recipe of elderberry pie.

Two murderous old ladies, a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, a Boris Karloff look-alike and a theater critic in love. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Joseph Kesserling's infectiously funny black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Elina de Santos, opening night is August 26 at the Odyssey Theatre.

Two murderous old ladies, a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, a Boris Karloff look-alike and a theater critic in love. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Joseph Kesserling's infectiously funny black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Elina de Santos, opening night is August 19 at the Odyssey Theatre.

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) is widely recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969, and is best known for his play Waiting for Godot which launched his career in theater. He then went on to write numerous successful full-length plays including Endgame in 1957, Krapp's Last Tape in 1958 and Happy Days in 1960, as well as several short, one-act plays. While his plays may not be for everyone, Beckett's works capture the pathos and ironies of modern life, yet still maintain his faith in man's capacity for compassion and survival no matter how absurd his environment may have become.

The KOAN Unitkicks off the new year with Beckett5, a quintet of darkly humorous, seldom-seen short plays by Samuel Beckett opening January 21 at the Odyssey Theatre.

The KOAN Unit kicks off the new year with Beckett5, a quintet of darkly humorous, seldom-seen short plays by Samuel Beckettopening January 21 at the Odyssey Theatre.

It would not be the Halloween Season in L.A. without WICKED LIT, presented by Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack. The company's 7th annual immersive theatre event takes place inside and on the grounds at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California, running from October 2-November 14, 2015. The mission of Unbound Production is to re-imagine timeless stories for new audiences by creating immersive, theatrical adaptations of literature. And, I think, to put the fright back into Halloween!

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced the line-up for WICKED LIT 2015, the company's 7th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 6th year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California. Get a sneak peek at THE EBONY FRAME, left!

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced the line-up for WICKED LIT 2015, the company's 7th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 6th year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California. Get a sneak peek at THE EBONY FRAME, left!

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced the line-up for WICKED LIT 2015, the company's 7th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 6th year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California.

The wondrous production at the Odyssey Theater begins the moment you walk into the misty other-worldly atmospheric set designed by Keith Mitchell which, along with the dome and water well, has the blind soothsayer Tiresias perched in a woven swing hanging just above the entrance. A large, clear glass orb hangs above the front row with an image of an ancient warrior, soon identified as slain King Laius, within it. The mood is set for a theatrical experience unlike anything you have seen before when it comes to Greek Tragedy!

Director Ron Sossi puts a unique stamp on Ellen McLaughlin's acclaimed adaptation of Sophocles' Oedipus in a new production from Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and KOAN. Oedipus Machina opens on May 30 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Director Ron Sossi puts a unique stamp on Ellen McLaughlin's acclaimed adaptation of Sophocles' Oedipus in a new production from Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and KOAN. Oedipus Machina opens tonight, May 30 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Director Ron Sossi puts a unique stamp on Ellen McLaughlin's acclaimed adaptation of Sophocles' Oedipus in a new production from Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and KOAN. Oedipus Machina opens on May 30 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Thirty years after directing and choreographing the Odyssey Theatre's award-winning West Coast premiere, and following a wildly successful off-Broadway revival at the York Theatre last season, Bill Castellino reunites with musical director Gerald Sternbach to charm audiences with a revitalized, updated version of Ionescopade at the Odyssey Theatre, beginning May 31. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!