Michael Sturgis

Photos: F**KING STRANGERS to Open at Echo Theater Company in Atwater Village
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 16, 2026

Erik Patterson's dark comedy F**KING STRANGERS, directed by Chris Fields, opens at Atwater Village Theatre, following four characters whose online and real-life obsessions spiral into shocking, comedic revelations. Check out the photos, below.

Interview: Playwright Erik Patterson of F**KING STRANGERS produced by The Echo Theater Company
by Shari Barrett - Jul 10, 2026

I spoke with playwright Erik Patterson about his twisted, hilarious and unexpectedly moving story about loneliness, desire, family secrets and the strange ways people try to save one another.They are Ru, who hasn’t left his bedroom in six years; Mick, who can’t stop paying for affection; Julianne, who mourns the life she never pursued; and Dylan, who sells companionship to anyone who can afford him.

F**KING STRANGERS World Premiere to be Presented at Echo Theater Company
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 10, 2026

The Echo Theater Company will present the world premiere of F**king Strangers, a dark comedy by Erik Patterson, commissioned by the company and directed by artistic director Chris Fields

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Reveals 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 5, 2025

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has revealed its 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees for theatrical excellence. See the list of nominees here!

Photos: The Echo Theater Company Presents CLARKSTON West Coast Premiere
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 13, 2024

The West Coast premiere of “Clarkston,” a new play about human connection by Samuel D. Hunter, opens this weekend in an Echo Theater Company production directed by Chris Fields. See photos from the production.

West Coast Premiere Of CLARKSTON By Samuel D. Hunter to be Presented At The Echo Theater Company
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 7, 2024

The Echo Theater Company will present the West Coast premiere of CLARKSTON by Samuel D. Hunter. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Review: CRABS IN A BUCKET at Echo Theater Company
by Harker Jones - Jul 18, 2023

CRABS IN A BUCKET is one of the Echo’s best in recent memory and that’s saying a lot because the Echo consistently brings challenging and entertaining material to vibrant life. The collective is one of Los Angeles’ crown jewels — and maybe one of its best-kept secrets.

Playful CRABS IN A BUCKET By Bernardo Cubría Gets World Premiere At The Echo, July 15 - August 21
by A.A. Cristi - May 30, 2023

The Echo Theater Company presents an outrageous, smart and very funny satire about the impact of “crab mentality” on oppressed communities whose members work against one another instead of together.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Announces 2020-2021 Award Recipients - See the Full List!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 3, 2022

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the award recipients for 2020 and 2021. Poor Clare (The Echo Theater Company) and The Father (Pasadena Playhouse) received the prestigious Production award, with additional honorees named in 18 other categories.

FROZEN, THE BAND'S VISIT, HAMILTON and More Nominated for Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 9, 2022

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the nominees for theatrical excellence for 2020 and 2021. This year's awards have been combined due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

BWW Review: POOR CLARE at Echo Theater Company
by Harker Jones - Oct 27, 2021

Saint Clare of Assisi’s story of devotion, austerity, and understanding, while at first glance not comedic, is brought to vivid and laugh-out-loud life by playwright Chiara Atik.

BWW Interview: Jordan Hull Happily Hustle-ing Between The L Word & CLARE
by Gil Kaan - Oct 21, 2021

The Echo Theater Company’s world premiere production of POOR CLARE will finally open in October (now already in previews), 19 months after the originally scheduled March 2020 opening was shuttered by the pandemic. Playwright Chiara Atik spins the medieval story of St. Francis Assisi into a modern tale seen through the eyes of his sister Clare Assisi.  Echo associate artistic director Alana Dietze directs the POOR CLARE cast of Kari Lee Cartwright, Martica De Cardenas, Tony DeCarlo, Ann Noble, Michael Sturgis and Donna Zadeh, with Jordan Hull as the titular Clare.

New Dates Announced for World Premiere Of Chiara Atik's POOR CLARE
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 9, 2021

The Echo Theater Company's world premiere production of Poor Clare will open in October, 19 months after the originally scheduled March, 2020 opening that was shuttered by the pandemic. Echo associate artistic director Alana Dietze (Dry Land, The Wolves) is back at the helm of Chiara Atik's powerful and very funny modern spin on the medieval story of Saint Clare of Assisi.

World Premiere Of Chiara Atik's POOR CLARE Opens Echo Theater Company's 25th Anniversary Season
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 3, 2021

The Echo Theater Company's world premiere production of Poor Clare will open in September, 18 months after the originally scheduled March, 2020 opening that was shuttered by the pandemic.

Photo Flash: First Look at POOR CLARE at Echo Theater Company
by Stephi Wild - Mar 12, 2020

Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of Poor Clare, a play by Chiara Atik about what happens when your eyes are opened to the injustice of the world around you — and you can't look away. Alana Dietze (Dry Land, The Wolves) directs for a March 14 opening, with performances continuing through April 20 at Atwater Village Theatre.

The Echo Theater Company Will Present the World Premiere of POOR CLARE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 4, 2020

Clare is just a regular noblewoman living in medieval Italy, trying out hairstyles and waiting to get married... until a man named Francis starts ranting in the courtyard. The Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of Poor Clare, a play by Chiara Atik about what happens when your eyes are opened to the injustice of the world around you - and you can't look away. Alana Dietze (Dry Land, The Wolves) directs for a March 14 opening, with performances continuing through April 20 at Atwater Village Theatre. Three 'pay what you want' previews take place on March 11, March 12 and March 13.

Review Roundup: What Did Critics Think of DRIVING WILDE at Theatre of Note?
by Alan Henry - Sep 3, 2019

Driving Wilde, inspired by Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Grey, recently opened at Theatre of Note. Read what the critics had to say!

Stage Raw Announces Its 2019 Theater Award Nominees & Theater Festival Weekend
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 31, 2019

Digital arts journal Stage Raw announces the nominees for its fifth annual Stage Raw Theater Awards, to be held Monday night September 9, 2019, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday August 7, 2019. The Stage Raw Theater Awards honor the finest work performed on Los Angeles area stages of 99-seats or fewer, and are selected by a jury of Stage Raw critics. This year's awards celebrate work performed between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019.

THE LAST DAYS OF DON JUAN Comes to Kings Road Park
by Stephi Wild - Jun 22, 2019

The Classical Theatre Lab's production of The Last Days of Don Juan is presented with the support of the City of West Hollywood's Arts Division.

Definitive Editions of All Three Legendary “Phenomena” Rock Concept Albums
by Tori Hartshorn - Nov 29, 2018

Phenomena is a rock music concept conceived by record producer Tom Galley and brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley and directed by Wilfried Rimensberger. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Brian May, John Wetton, Glenn Hughes, Don Airey, Mel Galley, Neil Murray and Cozy Powell amongst others.