Andrew Schmedake News

The nominees for the 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were announced this week.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company presents the three-time 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 Fairy Tale Players are back with their latest production featuring brand new tales...set to MUSIC! Life as a grown up does not have to be challenging if you have the proper tools. If you're a problem-riddled adult, it's time to learn new lessons. By utilizing multiple musical genres, like opera for the gay cat ballet tale, or a Sondheim homage to a penguin on the verge of giving up his lifelong dream of flying, this new Fairy Tale Theatre 18 & Over: The Musical offers scrupulous guidance in a not-so-discreet comedy that is sure to pleasure even the fussiest.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) presents the first show in its 27th Season with the thriller ROPE, written by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Ken Sawyer, produced by Kevin Shewey.  ROPE will preview on Thursday, September 20 at 8pm and will open Friday, September 21 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 29 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition included productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018. Stage Raw is a community funded professional journalism website that was created in response to the decline of arts coverage in local mainstream and alternative media.The Awards ceremony was held Monday night, August 20, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by Coeurage Theatre Company, and co-directed by Jer Adrianne Lelliott, Thaddeus Shafer and Lauren Ludwig. Winners notated in red below.

The Fairy Tale Players are back with their latest production featuring brand new tales...set to MUSIC! Life as a grown up does not have to be challenging if you have the proper tools. If you're a problem-riddled adult, it's time to learn new lessons. By utilizing multiple musical genres, like opera for the gay cat ballet tale, or a Sondheim homage to a penguin on the verge of giving up his lifelong dream of flying, this new Fairy Tale Theatre 18 & Over: The Musical offers scrupulous guidance in a not-so-discreet comedy that is sure to pleasure even the fussiest.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition includes productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition includes productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) announces that its critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Stage Raw TOP TEN), uniquely immersive theatrical experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, JULY 22 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

After our intake interview with the Asylum's Dr. Spivey (Trent Mills), we were invited through the loading dock door into the showers where two asylum staff members required us to don our patient wear. Once we learned the rules for the evening's entertainment, double doors opened to reveal the Psych Ward, marvelously realistic with wired cage doors opening into the space where patients sat playing games at the tables around the center stage area. Nurses walked around handing out 'medication' while new patients interacted with the actor-patients playing cards or other games at tables, after which we were directed to look for clues to discover the secrets around the 'ward' which would lead us to our reward. No - I am not going to tell you what that reward was nor how to solve the clues. That is part of the fun!

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) presents a unique immersive experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST will begin previews on Thursday, May 11; will open on Friday, May 25and perform through Sunday, July 1 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) presents a unique immersive experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST will begin previews on Thursday, May 11; will open on Friday, May 25and perform through Sunday, July 1 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

Andi Chapman directs the Southern California premiere of Nambi E. Kelley's visceral, groundbreaking stage adaption of Richard Wright's racially charged novel, Native Son, for Antaeus Theatre Company. Wright's iconic novel about oppression, freedom and justice comes to life on stage at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale beginning April 19, with performances continuing through June 3. Low-priced previews take place April 12-18.

The Sacred Fools Theater Company is delighted to present the World Premiere of The Art Couple by Brendan Hunt (Absolutely Filthy), directed by Lauren Van Kurin. The comic mayhem begins Friday, February 16 and runs through Sunday, March 17 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm (with the exception of Sunday, March 4 - no performance that date). The show will be performed in the Black Box Theater of the Broadwater Theater Complex.

Long before Felix met Oscar, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin were ill-fitting roommates in the south of France, which turned out to be a fateful co-habitation that changed the face of art - as well as Van Gogh's face! Playwright Brendan Hunt cleverly re-imagines these two art masters as the subjects of Neil Simon's original draft of The Odd Couple, which Hunt presents as being co-written with yet another of the oddest couples possible - Sam Shepard, here introduced as Steve, an oddball busboy looking for his first big break.

Andi Chapman directs the Southern California premiere of Nambi E. Kelley's visceral, groundbreaking stage adaption of Richard Wright's racially charged novel, Native Son, for Antaeus Theatre Company. Wright's iconic novel about oppression, freedom and justice comes to life on stage at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale beginning April 19, with performances continuing through June 3. Low-priced previews take place April 12-18.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the 1962 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, directed by Thom Babbes, produced by Carly Lopez. This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII.  A Man for All Seasons opens tonight, Friday, March 2 at 8:00 pm, and will run through Sunday, April 15 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT is the funniest and funkiest musical around. SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found - a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. Come and see why this fabulous show has been seen by more than 6 million people worldwide. Performances are January 19 - February 18 at 8 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday, plus 8 pm on Thursday, February 15 and 2 pm on Saturday, February 17.

SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT is the funniest and funkiest musical around. SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found - a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. Come and see why this fabulous show has been seen by more than 6 million people worldwide. Performances are January 19 - February 18 at 8 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday, plus 8 pm on Thursday, February 15 and 2 pm on Saturday, February 17.