Adam J. Smith News

THE 6th ACT presents a world premiere comedy, a heartfelt love letter to all things 99-seat theatre, THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, written by Matthew Leavitt (The Boomerang Effect) and directed by Joel Zwick (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” Serrano The Musical). THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY will open on Friday, February 7 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in Hollywood.

Prolific episodic director Joel Zwick's next theatrical foray on the Los Angeles theatre boards will be helming the world premiere of Matthew Leavitt's THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, beginning February 7, 2020 at The 6th Act's Theatre 68. This homage to 99-seat theatre in Los Angeles features: Kenajuan Bentley, Emerson Collins, Carolina Espiro, Natalie Lander, Luke McClure, Cindy Nguyen, Andy Robinson, Liza Seneca, Adam J. Smith and Jamie Zwick. Joel managed to take some time out of his multi-tasking to answer a few of my queries.

THE 6th ACT presents a world premiere comedy, a heartfelt love letter to all things 99-seat theatre, THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, written by Matthew Leavitt (The Boomerang Effect) and directed by Joel Zwick (a?oeMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,a?? Serrano The Musical). THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY will open on Friday, February 7 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in Hollywood.  

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, hosted a star-studded opening night last evening for The Public Theater production of Tiny Beautiful Things starring Academy Award-nominated writer and actress Nia Vardalos, who reprises the role of Sugar for the Playhouse production. Vardalos originated the role of Sugar at The Public Theater under the direction of Thomas Kail.  

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, is pleased to announce that casting is complete for The Public Theater production of Tiny Beautiful Things starring Academy Award-nominated writer and actress Nia Vardalos, who will reprise the role of Sugar for the Playhouse production.

As its inaugural production, new classical theatre company The 6th Act, led by co-artistic directors Matthew Leavitt and Liza Seneca, presents two playwrights united by a common theme in AN EVENING OF BETRAYAL. Act One is Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL, which tells its story of marital infidelity from end to beginning, and a condensed version of William Shakespeare's OTHELLO, also told in reverse, makes up Act Two

Artistic Directors Matthew Leavitt and Liza Seneca of THE 6TH ACT Theatre Company are pleased to announce their first full production with AN EVENING OF BETRAYAL. A unique combination of Harold Pinter's Betrayal and an extremely condensed version of Shakespeare's Othello, creatively adapted by Liza Seneca (of Antaeus), to mimic the reverse structure of 'Betrayal.' Elizabeth Swain (also from Antaeus), will direct. The show will open June 1st, 2018, at Theatre 68's MainStage Theatre.

 Artistic Directors Matthew Leavitt and Liza Seneca of THE 6TH ACT Theatre Company, along with acclaimed directorElizabeth Swain announce the cast for their Inaugural production, AN EVENING OF BETRAYAL.  They are thrilled to sign such a stellar cast for this complex production, a unique combination of Harold Pinter's Betrayaland an extremely condensed version of Shakespeare's Othello. The show will open June 1st, 2018, at Theatre 68's MainStage Theatre.  

Internationally recognized Shakespeare specialist Rob Clare directs one of the Bard's most popular and delightful romantic comedies, filled with shrewd observations about life, love and human nature. Antaeus Theatre Company presents a fully partner-cast production of As You Like It, opening July 27 and July 28 (one opening for each cast) at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale. Low-priced previews begin July 20.

Internationally recognized Shakespeare specialist Rob Clare directs one of the Bard's most popular and delightful romantic comedies, filled with shrewd observations about life, love and human nature. Antaeus Theatre Company presents a fully partner-cast production of As You Like It, opening July 27 and July 28 (one opening for each cast) at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale. Low-priced previews begin July 20.

The Final Weekend of Chalk Repertory Theatre's fourth biennial FLASH Festival concludes with a new slate of five short plays. Fifteen Los Angeles playwrights were invited to create original 10-minute plays inspired by the space in which they are performed. This year's Chalk RepFLASH Festival is in residence at Los Angeles' St. John's Cathedral with plays written on the timely theme of Religion and Politics, performed by 15 teams of Actors and directed by 15 directors, presented on-site over three weekends, October 6-22, 2016, where five of the short plays are performed each weekend.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) kicks-off its 33rd season under the co-leadership of Artistic Directors Vivienne Benesch and Andrew Borba with the 2010 Tony Award nominee for best new play and Pulitzer Prize finalist, In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) by Sarah Ruhl, and directed by Larissa Kokernot.

Sex and gender. Race and power. Politics and family. Plus Queen Victoria! Antaeus Theatre Company presents Caryl Churchill's outrageous, hilarious and bitingly satirical Cloud 9 in a fully partner-cast production. Casey Stangl directs for a March 10 opening at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo, with low-priced previews beginning March 3.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Julia Edwards' World Premiere play, untethered is a wacky new love story, not the Hallmark variety, the messy, screwing up, begging for mercy kind. Untethered is directed by Jen Bloom, featuring Joy Osmanski and Adam J. Smith, and features original music by Steven Kai van Betten. Untethered opens today, May 8th and runs through Sunday, June 7th at the home of Wicked Lit, Mountain View Mausoleum (2300 North Marengo Avenue, Altadena 91001).

?Julia Edwards' World Premiere play, untethered is a wacky new love story, not the Hallmark variety, the messy, screwing up, begging for mercy kind. Untethered is directed by Jen Bloom, featuring Joy Osmanski and Adam J. Smith, and features original music by Steven Kai van Betten.

A striking image hovers above the action in HENRY IV, PART ONE at The Antaeus Company. It is a partial rendering of the planets orbiting the sun which serves as a constant reminder that this is the journey of a king-in-the-making. As Prince Hal, also known as Harry, slowly transitions from party boy to royal warrior, its glow becomes more and more noticeable until it finally overtakes the stage.

Antaeus, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, opens its 2015 season with a fully partner-cast production of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One. Previews began March 6, with two opening nights set for last night, March 12, and tonight, March 13, (one with each cast) at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. Michael Murray directs. Scroll down for a first look at the casts in action!

Antaeus, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, opens its 2015 season with a fully partner-cast production of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I. Previews begin March 6, with two opening nights set for March 12 and March 13 (one with each cast) at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. Michael Murray directs.