David Hunt

Interview: Adaptor/Director John Strysik of THE CASE-BOOK OF C. AUGUSTE DUPIN
by Shari Barrett - Sep 4, 2026

John Strysik is the adaptor/director of The Case-Book of C. Auguste Dupin in with its world premiere engagement opening at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills opening September 17, 2026. It brings three of Edgar Allan Poe’s foundational detective stories - The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mystery of Marie Rogêt, and The Purloined Letter - into a single, cohesive evening of theater. Here’s my conversation with him about his inspiration for the play, his dual role with the production, and what inspired him to bring its world premiere to Theatre 40.

THE CASE-BOOK OF C. AUGUSTE DUPIN to Premiere at Theatre 40
by Stephi Wild - Aug 24, 2026

Theatre 40 will present the world premiere of a new play adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's Dupin mysteries, written and directed by John Strysik in Beverly Hills.

Review: Norm Foster's LAKEFRONT U.S. Premiere Engagement at Theatre 40
by Shari Barrett - Jul 30, 2026

All in all, Lakefront offers a very enjoyable two-hour romantic journey guaranteed to keep you laughing and rooting for these lost and lonely souls looking for their soulmate.

Interview: Holly Sidell on Portraying Isabel in CROSSING DELANCEY
by Shari Barrett - May 27, 2026

Told through a series of vignettes, Crossing Delancey examines Bubbie's belief in the old-world Jewish family custom of all young women needing to find a husband as soon as possible to settle down and raise a family against those of Isabel, a modern 1980s Jewish woman in New York City learning to stand on her own two feet. I spoke with Holly Sidell who is portraying Isabel in the current production at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills through June 21.

PATRIOTIC GAMES Will Come to Theatre 40
by Stephi Wild - May 18, 2026

Theatre 40 will present staged readings of PATRIOTIC GAMES, a new play by Victor Bardack and Edward Michael Bell, directed by Joel Zwick, depicting the clash between FDR and Charles Lindbergh over U.S. involvement in WWII.

LAKEFRONT, THE HEIRESS, and THE CASEBOOK OF C. AUGUSTE DUPIN. To Be Presented At Theatre 40
by A.A. Cristi - May 11, 2026

Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills announced its 60th season, featuring six productions including three world premieres, a U.S. premiere, comedies, mysteries, and a classic drama.

CROSSING DELANCEY To Play Theatre Forty In Beverly Hills
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 17, 2026

Crossing Delancey will be presented at Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills. The romantic comedy by Susan Sandler will run for a limited engagement. Performances will take place at the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre.

Theatre 40 to Present THE TEN TOMBS OF DR. STYLES Staged Reading on March 23
by Gillian Blum - Mar 15, 2026

Theatre 40 will present a staged reading of Frank Semerano's mystery/comedy The Ten Tombs of Dr. Styles, directed by Christopher Franciosa, on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 7 p.m.

THE UNEXPECTED GUEST to Open at Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 4, 2026

The Unexpected Guest, the classic mystery by Agatha Christie, will be directed by Warren Davis and produced by David Hunt Stafford for Theatre Forty. The production will be presented at Theatre Forty in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre.

UNNECESSARY FARCE Will Be Presented in Free Reading at Théâtre Forty
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 24, 2026

Theatre Forty will present a free play reading of 'UNNECESSARY FARCE' by Paul Slade Smith, directed by Melanie MacQueen, on February 28, 2026, at the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Theatre 40 To Present ONE-ACTS OF LOVE
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 28, 2026

Theatre 40 will present 'ONE-ACTS OF LOVE,' a collection of six short plays exploring various dimensions of love, on February 10, 2026, at the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Syrie James' DRACULA, MY LOVE to be Presented at Theatre 40
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 23, 2026

Dracula, My Love, written and directed by Syrie James, adapted from her novel Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker is coming to Theatre 40.

Review: World Premiere of WHAT OPA DID at Theatre 40 through 2/15
by Shari Barrett - Jan 22, 2026

What Opa Did is masterful and brutally honest storytelling at its best, with each actor dedicated to showing each person as a human being, not just either good or bad, while trying to cope with the reality of their lives in Germany in World War II.

Review: SEVEN GUITARS at TAG
by F.H. Kekoa - Jan 15, 2026

Though the production overall was a bit hit-or-miss for me, I was nonetheless impressed by the design and some stand-out performances, and am genuinely delighted that this show, one of my personal favorites of the Century Cycle, gets to live again on the TAG stage.

Review: AN INSPECTOR CALLS at Greystone Mansion
by Harker Jones - Jan 13, 2026

AN INSPECTOR CALLS is a bit of a soap opera by way of a particularly existential “Twilight Zone” episode while tackling class, entitlement, and status, making it as relevant as it was 60 years ago.

Interview: Director Cate Caplin on Moving AN INSPECTOR CALLS into Greystone Mansion
by Shari Barrett - Jan 3, 2026

J.B. Priestley’s Hitchcockian suspense drama An Inspector Calls enjoyed a very successful run at Theatre 40 during this past November/December, directed with great skill and innovation by Cate Caplin. As of January 8, the production moves into the stately Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, a perfect location for the play’s action. Here is my interview with Cate about moving the production there.

Review: AN INSPECTOR CALLS Shines Under Cate Caplin’s Direction at Theatre 40
by Shari Barrett - Nov 17, 2025

Directed with pinpoint focus and lots of movement by Cate Caplin to keep the play from becoming a typical “talking heads” production, I guarantee An Inspector Calls will keep you captivated until its startling conclusion.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS Begins Performances At Greystone Mansion In January 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 14, 2025

Theatre 40 will present An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley at Greystone Mansion from January 8–18, 2026. Directed by Cate Caplin, the limited engagement features performances Thursday through Sunday, with an additional showing on January 14.

St. Charles Singers to Present CANDLELIGHT CAROLS In Wheaton
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 13, 2025

The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, will be joined by virtuoso Chicago guitarist Goran Ivanovic for its 41st annual Candlelight Carols concerts.

Theatre 40 to Present World Premiere of WHAT OPA DID
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 12, 2025

Theatre 40 will present the world premiere of What Opa Did, a new play by Christopher Franciosa exploring a young woman’s confrontation with her family’s wartime history.