Allison Blaize News

The West Coast premiere of playwright Michael Hollinger’s unpredictable comedy ‘Under the Skin’ opens this weekend at International City Theatre in Long Beach, directed by ICT artistic director caryn desai [sic]. Check out the photos here!

What does it mean to give a part of yourself to someone else? International City Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of Under the Skin, a surprising new comedy by Michael Hollinger (Opus). caryn desai [sic] directs the three-week run, April 28 through May 14, at ICT's home in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Two low-priced previews are set for April 26 and April 27.

Skylight Theatre presents a stream of the play WEST ADAMS. Written by Penelope Lowder & Directed by Michael A. Shepperd, 3:00pm Thursday, July 30, 2020.

KPFK'S Arts In Review welcomes playwright Penelope Lowder and actress Allison Blaize, discussing Skylight Theatre Company's presentation of the archival video of West Adams by Penelope Lowder, directed by Michael A. Shepperd, a play about the absurdity of racism, the first of a three play season of Skylight's SkyLab developed plays that were planned for 2020. It will run for free on FB and YouTube on Thursday, July 30th at 3pm, Skylight Live: https://skylighttheatre.org/event/skylight-live/.

Penelope Lowder's WEST ADAMS is a keenly observed look at race, class, and privilege seen through a magnifying glass that elevates it to an over-the-top state, for both better and worse. The timely show focuses on two interracial married couples: pregnant Caucasian Sarah (Allison Blaize) and Latin Edward (Andrés M. Bagg), and Asian Julie (Jenny Soo) and Caucasian Michael (Clayton Farris). They live in the burgeoning West Adams district of Los Angeles, thrilled to be part of the community's gentrification. But when a very wealthy black family moves in across the street, they struggle to even pretend they can keep up with the Jones', and the pressure devolves them into a spiral of resentment, racism, and, ultimately, revenge.

A creative staple of the Los Angeles Theatre community, director/actor Michael A. Shepperd will next be exhibiting his directorial talents in the world premiere of playwright Penelope Lowder's WEST ADAMS, opening February 1, 2020 at the Skylight Theatre. This dark comedy on race, class, and a bouncy house in the West Adams neighborhood features Andrés M. Bagg, Allison Blaize, Clayton Farris and Jenny Soo. Michael managed to find a spare moment between his multi-tasking to answer a few of my inquisitive queries.

A new, dark, comedy about race and class. With a hostile takeover of a neighborhood block party and bouncy houses, Penelope Lowder's newest play set in historic West Adams takes an uncomfortable look at altruistic gentrification gone wrong. Perhaps reshaping a newly adopted neighborhood in your image isn't as lofty as one might think. Opening February 1, 2020.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, The Other Side of the Hill Productions Inc. in association with SPARK Theatrical present the first show of the Road's 2019-2020 season, the world premiere of THE SPANISH PRAYER BOOK, written by Angela J. Davis and directed by Lee Sankowich. THE SPANISH PRAYER BOOK will preview on Tuesday, September 17; Wednesday, September 18 & Thursday, September 19 at 8pm; will open on Friday, September 20 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 23 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

"Think of these memories as sharp slivers embedded in the soul."International City Theatre presents a gripping drama about war refugees haunted by the death of their loved ones - and by memories of the things they had to do to survive.A Splintered Soul by Long Beach-based playwright Alan L. Brooks opens Oct. 19 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

"Think of these memories as sharp slivers embedded in the soul."International City Theatre presents a gripping drama about war refugees haunted by the death of their loved ones - and by memories of the things they had to do to survive.A Splintered Soul by Long Beach-based playwright Alan L. Brooks opens Oct. 19 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

A secret wedding ceremony between the daughter of an American missionary and a local teenage girl is disrupted by violence when a child soldier fleeing the atrocities of war stumbles into their remote Ugandan church.caryn desai [sic] directs the Los Angeles premiere of Cardboard Piano by Whiting Award-winning playwright Hansol Jung. Cardboard Piano opens May 4 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, with two low-priced previews set for May 2 and May 3.

A secret wedding ceremony between the daughter of an American missionary and a local teenage girl is disrupted by violence when a child soldier fleeing the atrocities of war stumbles into their remote Ugandan church. caryn desai [sic] directs the Los Angeles premiere of Cardboard Piano by Whiting Award-winning playwright Hansol Jung. Cardboard Piano opens May 4 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, with two low-priced previews set for May 2 and May 3.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director are thrilled to announce that the first show of its 2017-2018 season, the smash-hit, critically acclaimed world premiere of STUPID KID, written by acclaimed playwright Sharr White (The Other Place) and directed by Cameron Watson (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof). STUPID KID is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood. After 14 years in prison for a crime he swears he didn't commit, Chick returns home to find his flat-broke family under the thumb of his dangerous Unclemike. A rollicking Gothic Western tale of a family isolated by shame, STUPID KID explores power, guilt and the limits of maternal love.

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, the world premiere of STUPID KID, written by acclaimed playwright Sharr White (The Other Place) and directed by Cameron Watson (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof). STUPID KID opens tonight, September 22nd, and runs through November 12 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, the world premiere of STUPID KID, written by acclaimed playwright Sharr White (The Other Place) and directed by Cameron Watson (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof).

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, the world premiere of STUPID KID, written by acclaimed playwright Sharr White (The Other Place) and directed by Cameron Watson (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof).

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, the world premiere of STUPID KID, written by acclaimed playwright Sharr White (The Other Place) and directed by Cameron Watson (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof).

Dharma Bum Productions and writer/director C.J. Haine present the World Premiere of Secure Storage, a play that explores addiction, sibling rivalry, familial resentments, and the limits of emotional and relational tolerance.  

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, have announced that their critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS CHOICE, Stage Raw TOP TEN) first show of its 2016-2017 season, EDWARD ALBEE'S THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY, written by Tony award-winning playwright Edward Albee and directed by Andre Barron, is extending again, now through Saturday, December 10 at the Road Theatre Company's second home, The Road on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.