Chris Winfield News

The Group Rep presents Charles Marowitz' Sherlock's Last Case directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Drina Durazo, November 30, 2012, through January 13, 2013. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

There have been many dramatized stories about the relationship between teacher/student, mentor/artist. Eve Harrington in All About Eve is the first to come to mind and her infatuation with Margo Channing's every move. She adored her and stole from her. She recreated and used her for her own success, not caring what became of Margo. In his Collected Stories Donald Margulies puts seemingly vulnerable writing student Lisa Morrison (Liza de Weerd) into the nurturing care of teacher/writer Ruth Steiner (Julia Silverman) and extols the comaraderie that develops between them as colleagues until it becomes a fact that Morrison has taken a confided incident from Steiner's life and sensationalized it in her very first novel. Under Sherry Netherland's watchful eye, both actresses hit the jackpot theatrically as they meticulously explore the intelligent issues at hand.

It's a pleasure to see an intelligently written play about sexual identity, one that shows how homosexuality has been affected by the American cultural climate over a 40 year period. But, when the piece goes beyond basic issues and delves deeply into raw human emotions, it comes up all the richer. In fact, Jon Robin Baitz' The Paris Letter with its breathtaking scope and poetic literary style may very well be categorized a new classic, and the current production is rendered so beautifully by a stellar cast and crew at Group rep through September 2.

The Group Rep presents the Tony nominated, fast-paced farce MOON OVER BUFFALO by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor) directed by Drina Durazo, produced by Stephanie Colet.

The Group Rep presents the Tony nominated, fast-paced farce MOON OVER BUFFALO by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor) directed by Drina Durazo, produced by Stephanie Colet.

The Group Rep will present Lee Blessing's COBB, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, produced by Richard Alan Woody.

Needless to say, Joanna McClelland Glass' If We Are Women is a stodgy, heady piece of theatre in which very little if anything happens dramatically. It is the type of play that is better to read than watch. Every kind of woman is represented: the prairie woman, with little or no education, the intellectual and the wanna-be intellectual. There are three generations: two grandmothers, a divorced mother and her teenage daughter, all of whom, as different as they are, have in common a batch of insecurities... and they all want what is better for their lives and the lives of those they love. Now onstage at Group rep, Sherry Netherland has directed four actresses, all of whom give excellent performances, but, in spite of the fine work, something is missing.

The Group Rep will present Lee Blessing's COBB, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, produced by Richard Alan Woody.

The Group Rep is set to present Sam and Bella Spewack's dark comedy MY THREE ANGELS, directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Laura Coker and Troy Whitaker, opening Friday, December 9 at 8pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm, December 9, 2011 - January 15, 2012 (12/25 and 01/01, 7pm shows only) at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

On December 14th, performing duo Double Grande's Deborah Johnson and Wayland Pickard premiered their new show ALL GEMS: Undiscovered Song Treasures as a benefit for the Group Rep Theatre Company at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in NoHo, California.

Sam and Bella Spewack's My Three Angels is one of those black yet heartwarming Christmas comedies, akin to It's A Wonderful Life, that really digs into the underbelly of the human condition. Christmas is never joyful for those facing unsettling economic and personal problems that cry out for even a temporary solution. Remedy? Out of the blue come three uniquely different convicts on a work release program who take jobs with a shopkeeper and his family on Devil's Island. They may begin with menial jobs, but through their darkly scheming, treacherous manner end up producing miracles. Now on stage at Group rep in NoHo, Larry Eisenberg's production of My Three Angels emanates heart and soul guaranteed to make it a truly big hit this holiday season.

The Group Rep is set to present Sam and Bella Spewack's dark comedy MY THREE ANGELS, directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Laura Coker and Troy Whitaker, opening Friday, December 9 at 8pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm, December 9, 2011 - January 15, 2012 (12/25 and 01/01, 7pm shows only) at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

The Group Rep is set to present Sam and Bella Spewack's dark comedy MY THREE ANGELS, directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Laura Coker and Troy Whitaker, opening Friday, December 9 at 8pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm, December 9, 2011 - January 15, 2012 (12/25 and 01/01, 7pm shows only) at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

Once you enter the world according to Phil Olson, there's no turning back. Be prepared to have a good time, or bust! Their fourth Don't Hug Me musical in a row, Don't Hug Me, I'm Pregnant - they referring to the Olson brothers Phil and Paul - is as usual obscenely silly and over-the-top, but a definite charmer, no matter how tired the pregnant jokes become. Now at the Secret Rose Theatre the show is guaranteed to please and has big bit written all over it. Ya, sure, you betcha!

Actor/playwright Doug Haverty's latest world premiere play is a slice of life drama about the inner workings of a bank centering around the tellers who comprise the banking team. Entitled Next Window Please, the piece, despite its commendable message during our troubled economic times and its excellent cast and direction, now onstage at the GROUP rep in NoHo, never catches fire theatrically.

The Group Repertory Theatre, under the direction of Larry Eisenberg, will bring to its stage on June 3 probably the greatest and most revered of the classic melodramas, 'The Poor of New York' by Dion Boucicault. The play closes July 10 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood.

Sometimes plays from the distant past are better left where they belong, or if revisited and given a fresh look, it is wise to make sure the pieces fit securely. Larry Eisenberg, a diligent and resourceful actor and director, ordinarily, has unwisely chosen to take Dion Boucicault's The Poor of New York, a melodrama in five acts, which was last seen on Broadway in 1857, and put a more realistic spin on it. It sounded interesting on paper, and especially with the promo that it would not be done for laughs but with a straightforward approach for pure dramatic effect. Despite some splendid staging and energetic cast contributions, the production, now onstage @ Group rep at Lonny Chapman is like a malfunctioning railroad car trying to catch up to the rest of the train.