Burt Grinstead News

The Best in LA Theatre for 2013

David Trainer directs the Los Angeles Premiere of David Greig's celebrated new version of August Strindberg's psychological thriller CREDITORS, a co-production between two of the city's most respected theaters, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and The New American Theatre. The production is a sexy, savage, darkly comic, and very modern take on the battle of the sexes.

Creditors/by August Strindberg/a new version by David Greig/directed by David Trainer/Odyssey Theatre Ensemble(OTE)/New American Theatre/at the Odyssey/through December 15

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) in just the past five years (BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), Rogue Machine's first offering (which opened on May 18th) for the 2013 season has sold out the original run. They will now be extending the schedule for the Los Angeles premiere of Dying City by Christopher Shinn (OBIE winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist) through August 5th.

In Dying City, now in its West Coast premiere at the Rogue Machine Theatre, Christopher Shinn examines the devastating effects of the Iraq War on the American soldiers who participated in it and more urgently on those they left behind. At the core are Kelly (Laurie Okin), the wife of a deceased soldier, his identical twin brother Peter (Burt Grinstead) and in flashback, the deceased soldier/husband/brother Craig (also Grinstead).

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening tonight,, May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

Check out a first look at MALIBU COUNTRY's upcoming episode, 'Shell Games,' set to air on ABC on Nov. 16, below!

Due to a last-minute revocation of performance rights, Ira Levin's classic comedy-thriller Deathtrap will be unable to return to the Davidson/Valentini Theatre at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center in September as previously announced. Net proceeds would have benefitted the entire array of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

Ira Levin's classic comedy thriller Deathtrap is set to return to the Davidson/Valenti Theatre for six weeks only, opening on Friday, September 21 and running through Sunday, October 28. Directed by Ken Sawyer, Deathtrap recently enjoyed a ten week sold out run at the Davidson/Valenti Theatre, located at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center in Hollywood. Net proceeds will benefit the entire array of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

Actor Burt Grinstead may have a short theatrical resume at this stage, but he has been working consistently over the past couple of years essaying plays in New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Since coming back to LA last summer, he has been in the highly successful Esther's Moustache at Sidewalk Studio Theatre this past fall and is currently treading the boards once more in the all new critically acclaimed production of Deathtrap at the Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood. In our chat he discusses Deathtrap and the other roles he's played, his focus as an actor, and those actors who have had the most influence on him.

Broadway had one of its greatest commercial hits and the longest running comedy-thriller with Ira Levin's Deathtrap in 1978, and it was later filmed in 1982 with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Like Sleuth before it, Deathtrap makes a game out of murder with plot twists too numerable to mention, and adds just a small amount of comedy to make it all palatable. It's a play within a play, making it doubly intriguing to watch. Now on stage at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre of the Gay and Lesbian Center, this new production of the classic is every bit as fun as the original with a little sexual eye candy thrown in for good measure.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents the first Los Angeles production in 20 years of Ira Levin's classic comedy-thriller, Deathtrap. One of the longest-running plays in Broadway history, the Tony Award Best Play nominee comes to the Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre for a six-week run. Two preview performances, March 28 and 29, precede the official opening night on Friday, March 30. Net proceeds from the play will benefit the entire array of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents the first Los Angeles production in 20 years of Ira Levin's classic comedy-thriller, Deathtrap. One of the longest-running plays in Broadway history, the Tony Award Best Play nominee comes to the Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre for a six-week run. Two preview performances, March 28 and 29, precede the official opening night on Friday, March 30. Net proceeds from the play will benefit the entire array of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents the first Los Angeles production in 20 years of Ira Levin's classic comedy-thriller, Deathtrap. One of the longest-running plays in Broadway history, the Tony Award Best Play nominee comes to the Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre for a six-week run. Two preview performances, March 28 and 29, precede the official opening night on Friday, March 30. Net proceeds from the play will benefit the entire array of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

Gus The Dog Productions is set to present a world premiere play, ESTHER'S MOUSTACHE, written and directed by Laurel Ollstein.

Gus The Dog Productions is set to present a world premiere play, ESTHER'S MOUSTACHE, written and directed by Laurel Ollstein.

Gus The Dog Productions is set to present a world premiere play, ESTHER'S MOUSTACHE, written and directed by Laurel Ollstein.

SpeakEasy Stage Company completes LaBute's "Beauty Trilogy" with New England premiere of 'reasons to be pretty.' Director Paul Melone is a master of these character-driven dramas, leaving no stone unturned to portray the unattractive obsessions of four young beauty-seekers.

From March 4 through April 2, 2011, SpeakEasy Stage will proudly present the New England Premiere of Neil LaBute's provocative drama reasons to be pretty.