Thomas James O'Leary

The first live standings have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company presents Scott McPherson’s multi-award-winning MARVIN’S ROOM opening February 18, 2022. Thomas James O'Leary directs a cast of Laura Esterman, Lee Guthrie, Mark Rosenthal and Jane MacIver. I had the chance to question Thomas on ROOM, his past directorial projects and his long run playing the titular Phantom.

This Spotlight focuses on Nan McNamara, an award-winning actress who I have seen in many productions at the Actors Co-op in Hollywood, perhaps most notably in the 2017 Ovation Award-winning '33 Variations' in which she played a journalist who was able to go back in time to interview Ludwig Von Beethoven (an outstanding performance by Bruce Ladd) about his work. But what happened to the world premiere production of Lee Blessing's 'A Body of Water' which Nan directed when Covid-19 shut down L.A. theaters?

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Winner 2018 Best Direction of a Musical - Intimate Theatre) announces its 28th Season of shows!

Director Thomas James O'Leary is delighted to be back at Actors Co-op after receiving the 2018 Ovation Award for Direction of a Play for 33 Variations. Other recent directing credits include Sunday in the Park with George (Musical Theatre Guild), Next to Normal (Pico Playhouse), Flim Flam: Houdini and the Hereafter (Malibu Playhouse), Dusty de los Santos andBloodletting (Skylight Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Carrie, Nine, How to Succeed in Business… (AMDA), Reserve Champion and A Horse with a View (Hollywood Fringe Festival), and The Escape Artist's Children (Celebration Theatre).  

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, concluded their 23rd Anniversary season with SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, the Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The one-night-only concert took place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 7:00 PM. 

For their final show of Season 27, Actors Co-op Theatre Company is proud to present Lucas Hnath's The Christians, directed by Thomas James O'Leary, produced by Carly Lopez. When the pastor of a mega church unilaterally decides to enlighten his congregation with his own personal revelation, he is faced with doubt and dissension among his flock. Hnath's Obie Award-winning play examines the schism in today's church and the role of faith in America.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will conclude their 23rd Anniversary season with SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, the Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The one-night-only concert will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 7:00 PM.

Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Todays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.

Due to sold out houses, Actors Co-op Theatre Company has added two additional performances,  Today-December 8 at 2:30 pm and Today-December 15 at 2:30 pm. The Tony Award-Winning Musical She Loves Me, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, based on the 1937 play Perfumerie by Miklos Laszlo directed and choreographed by Cate Caplin, Musical Direction by Anthony Lucca, produced by Crystal Jackson, tells the beloved story of two feuding shop clerks who are unaware that they are the recipients of each other's love letters. 

Due to sold out houses, Actors Co-op Theatre Company has added two additional performances,  Today-December 8 at 2:30 pm and Today-December 15 at 2:30 pm. The Tony Award-Winning Musical She Loves Me, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, based on the 1937 play Perfumerie by Miklos Laszlo directed and choreographed by Cate Caplin, Musical Direction by Anthony Lucca, produced by Crystal Jackson, tells the beloved story of two feuding shop clerks who are unaware that they are the recipients of each other's love letters. 

The longest-running show in Broadway history, and one of the most successful worldwide stage productions of all-time, PHANTOM will welcome Broadway's Ben Crawford when he takes over the iconic title role beginning tonight, April 16, 2018 at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today a new leading man for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. The longest-running show in Broadway history, and one of the most successful worldwide stage productions of all-time, PHANTOM will welcome Broadway's Ben Crawford when he takes over the iconic title role beginning Monday, April 16, 2018 at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today final principal casting for the 30th Anniversary of the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. One of the most successful stage productions of all-time, the musical will welcome back international stage star and Platinum-selling Swedish recording artist Peter J back to lead the 30th Anniversary.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today final principal casting for the 30th Anniversary of the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. One of the most successful stage productions of all-time, the musical will welcome back international stage star and Platinum-selling Swedish recording artist Peter J back to lead the 30th Anniversary.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce that the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE!, Stage Raw TOP TEN, Ovation Recommended), smash-hit, Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moises Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 26at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moisés Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal).  33 VARIATIONS will preview on Thursday, February 9 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 10 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 19 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moises Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal).  33 VARIATIONS will preview on Thursday, February 9 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 10 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 19 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Last Sunday, we ventured into Los Angeles to see two Ventura County theater alumni in a production of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Next to Normal, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that is being staged at the Pico Playhouse. Michelle Lane and Harrison Meloeny were both in Cabrillo Music Theatre's 2015 production of Mary Poppins and have reunited to appear in this highly acclaimed production.

Bipolar disease most often occurs in women creating abnormal behavior patterns, and usually treated with drugs. In the Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal, the problem is presented via a wife and mother, Diana (Michelle Lane). Her behavior shows extreme mental instability, and the effects on her husband Dan (Nick Sarando) and teen daughter Natalie (Isa Briones) cause a serious rift in their ongoing relationships. Eventually a heartfelt loss from the past unravels that is at the core of the woman's suffering. Structured in a most unusual way, Next to Normal is akin to a rock opera, but it is not completely sung; there is intermittent dialogue. The most emotional moments, though, come through song, so the music by Tom Kitt and book by Brian Yorkey flow together smoothly, and with the three tiered open set and loosely structured staging, what occurs is an unparalleled musical drama. Now in the intimate space of the Pico Playhouse, the complex drama unfolds crystal clear with fine direction from Thomas James O'Leary and a marvelously skilled ensemble, all of whom sing and act their socks off.