Burt Grinstead News

In 1948 Alfred Hitchcock directed the film Rope based on Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play. Its setting was switched from London to New York, and at least for me, the psychological crime story played out in a very talky, uninteresting manner. The stage play, by the way, is rarely produced. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op, Rope is a fun, delightful romp through a game of murder that perks attention from the moment it starts, and thanks to brilliant director Ken Sawyer and his outstanding cast, it's a riveting and enjoyable evening in the theatre, far, far ahead of that Hitchcok movie. I hate the word p

Director Ken Sawyer is an award-winning director for his productions of Deathtrap and Hit the Wall a few years ago at the LGBTQ Center. He is getting ready to open The Rope at Actors Co-op this Friday September 21. Sawyer took time from the busy tech week to discuss the play that became one of Alfred Hitchcock's curious films.  How does The Rope in play form differ from Hitchcock's movie? Hitchcock's movie took place in the 40s in New York City. The play originally was set

Darren Lee Cole, producing director of the not-for-profit, SoHo Playhouse (15 Van Dam Street) is proud to announce this year's selections for this year's Fringe Encore Series, featuring the "Best of the Fests" from around the globe. This year's selections come from Fringe Festivals at Brighton, Edinburgh, Hollywood, Limerick, Orlando, Toronto and New York (to be announced in October) and will take place between November 6 - December 16, 2018. Tickets are $39/$25 and can be purchased by visiting www.fringeencores.org.

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.

"Glass breaks so easily. No matter how careful you are." International City Theatre presents The Glass Menagerie, the iconic American classic that launched the career of playwright Tennessee Williams. John Henry Davis (ICT productions of A Walk in the Woods, End of the Rainbow, Trying) directs William's most personal work, opening Aug. 24 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center and Blanket Fort Entertainment have announced an extended run of the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival breakout hit Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Nominated for six HFF Awards including Best Comedy, winner of the 2CentsTheatre Award for Distinctive Voices, and winner of the SoHo Playhouse (NYC) Fringe Encore Series Award, this genre-bending thriller had its world premiere at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre and returns for 10 performances only, July 12 through July 29.

Up-and-coming playwrights Yaakov Bressler and Robert Keller tackle mental illness, sexual identity, and self-direction in a new comedy.

Up-and-coming playwrights Yaakov Bressler and Robert Keller tackle mental illness, sexual identity, and self-direction in a new comedy.

As part of Hollywood Fringe 2018, the world premiere Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde bowed at LGBT in Hollywood on the smaller stage on June 9 for 10 performances. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, this adaptation is written by Fringe veterans Burt Grinstead and Anna Stromberg who also perform the piece. Grinstead plays the dual main characters and Stromberg everyone else, including maids, professors, detectives, Sara, Jekyll's love interest and even small children. Set in London in 1865, the story takes a few twists and turns from the original, but still focuses on Jekyll's scientific study of good and evil. Grinstead and Strombeg lace their script with lots of dark humor and farce, making us question at first whether we are watching a comedy or a thriller. As the plot moves along, though, the joke lines become a naturally entertaining part of the proceedings. 

Conor McPherson's Shining City is set for six performances in the Hollywood Fringe Festival, it was announced today by Hicks Street Productions. Under the direction of Thomas Barr, the cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Brian Foyster, Burt Grinstead, Eddie Kehler, and Kate Whitney. Set design is by Joel Daavid with lighting and sound design by Matthew Richter. Performances begin on June 2 at 8:30pm at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

A mesmerizing second half more than compensates for a curious first in Sam Shepard's FOOL FOR LOVE, the Los Angeles LGBT Center's entry into the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival. With the four characters' relationships peeling open like layers of an onion, the last half explodes with the actors' intensity and their quite evident acting talents. Both Burt Grinstead and  Charlotte Gulezian seamlessly inhabit their roles as the past lovers.

Los Angeles LGBT Center has announced a new production of Fool for Love by Sam Shepard as part of the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The answer to last year's question of whether the digital arts venture STAGE RAW could bring back its awards ceremony celebrating the best of LA's up-to-99-seat theaters, the answer is YES. STAGE RAW is pleased to announce the SECOND ANNUAL STAGE RAW LOS ANGELES THEATER AWARDS, championing the best work of 2015 in L.A.'s still-embattled theaters of up to 99-seats.

An outrageous action-packed film and reboot of the original Death Race 2000, Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 began filming February 8 in Peru.

The West Coast premiere of Ike Holter's HIT THE WALL vividly illustrates what might have happened that fateful night in 1969  when Stonewall became the flashpoint for what many consider the start of the gay liberation movement. With director Ken Sawyer's inventive staging, the audience becomes almost fully immersed in the play's actions. The stage seems to be every available space where an audience member's not physically sitting.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Today, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

Producers for the 6th Annual Indie Series Awards (ISA6) announced today that Better Call Saul's Julie Ann Emery and Cristela's Sam McMurray would present the best comedy series award.

Very witty script, without one false note, by Ian MacAllister-McDonald; even strong-handed direction by Elina de Santos; and executed by a very abled cast of five make for a wonderful 90-minutes of very strong entertaining theatre.