It has often been said that the work-a-day world is made up of blood, sweat and tears. Perhaps that is most true for blue collar workers who find themselves laboring with their hands, especially in factories where those on the line are required to stand for hours on end doing repetitive work with little hope of any real recognition or promotion into management. Such is the case of the characters in Center Theatre Group's production of SWEAT, the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage, now at the Mark Taper Forum through October 7, 2018.
Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group's production of "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage. The 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum August 29 through October 7, 2018. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the opening of "Sweat" is set for September 5.
Director Daniel Sullivan's adaptation of HENRY IV, Parts 1 & 2 may only be playing in the Japanese Garden on the VA campus for another three weeks but it is bound to rank as one of the summer's most talked-about events. Why? Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has saved up a secret weapon for the production, one few can resist.
"Henry IV," staged by Tony Award winning director Daniel Sullivan, features Harry Groener as Northumberland, Tom Hanks in his Los Angeles stage debut as Sir John Falstaff, Hamish Linklater as Hal, Joe Morton as Henry IV, and Tony winner Rondi Reed as Mistress Quickly.
What made the Hot List? Check out these productions for a look at the vast creativity of theatre makers in action in Los Angeles: FOREVER BOUND at Atwater Village Theatre, PLUNGE: Part 1 of The Ballad of Bimini Baths Trilogy at Son of Semele, SOFT POWER downtown at the Ahmanson, VIOLET at Actors Co-op, THE GIANT VOID IN MY SOUL from Ammunition Theatre Company, WOOD BOY DOG FISH at Garry Marshall Theatre, and Antaeus Theatre Company's NATIVE SON in Glendale. Reviews by BWW Sr. Editor Ellen Dostal, LADCC.
Soft Power/play and lyrics by David Henry Hwang/music & additionaal lyrics by Jeanine Tesori/directed by Leigh Silverman/choreographed by Sam Pinkleton/music supervisor - Chris Fenwick/Ahmanson Theatre/through June 10
When was the last time you listened to or watched the musical The King and I and really zeroed in on it from a cultural perspecive? In the world premiere play/musical Soft Power now onstage at the Ahmanson through June 10 The King and I is referenced throughout.
DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! is a campy noir classic that follows the devious actions of fading Hollywood star Angela Arden, played to the hilt by Drew Droege in drag. Think of Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard" and throw in a bit of Joan Crawford's attitude and you get the idea of who Angela Arden is. And let me tell you, Droege is a wonder running across the stage in high heels, always dressed to feminine perfection by costumer Allison Dillard. But Angela is trapped in an unhappy marriage and plots to kill her husband, Hollywood producer Sol Sussman (Pat Towne) in order to be with her young, and very well-hung lover Tony Parker (Andrew Carter). His endowment is a running gag throughout the play, aimed at almost every other character at some point, a bit too suggestive and sexy for young audiences.
The Celebration Theatre production of "Die, Mommie, Die!," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre, will open Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m. Written by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann, "Die, Mommie, Die!" is currently in previews and will close May 20.
The world premiere of "Soft Power" by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music and additional lyrics) will open at the Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, May 16. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the new production, check out the photos below!
A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, is bringing back its smash hit production of MICHAEL FRAYN's hilarious NOISES OFF from Saturday, April 21 to Sunday, May 20, 2018, reviving a critical and audience favorite for all to enjoy. Featuring most of the original A Noise Within cast, Noises Off, directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, pays tribute to the art of theatre-making itself as chaos reigns onstage and off.
BRIGHT STAR follows two pairs of star-crossed lovers, two decades apart, all against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. And now through March 25, the Tony Award-nominated musical makes its home at the Hobby Center.
By the time Shakespeare gets to the last of his history plays concerning the Wars of the Roses, HENRY V, the party boy who would be king has become a man. Gone are the indiscretions of youth seen in the earlier HENRY IV plays, which follow young Prince Hal on his escapades with Falstaff and the Eastcheap gang. When HENRY V opens, it is the responsibilities of a monarch that now weigh heavily on the new king's head, amid increasing tensions with France.
Quiara Alegria Hudes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who wrote the book for the Broadway musical "In the Heights," which received the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical and was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Her Pulitzer-nominated and winning trilogy of plays known as the "Elliot Trilogy" are now being presented concurrently, giving Los Angeles theatre audiences a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in this exciting playwright's work. ELLIOT, A SOLDIER'S FUGUE, the first in her trilogy of Elliot plays, is being produced by Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre at the same time they are presenting the second play in the trilogy, Hudes' Pulitzer-winning WATER BY THE SPOONFUL at the Mark Taper Forum. The Latino Theater Company will present the final installment of the trilogy with their production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) opening later this month.
Performances have begun for Center Theatre Group's production of "Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes. Directed by Shishir Kurup, the production will open February 3 and continue through February 25, 2018, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
Last night, at Los Angeles's annual Ovation Awards ceremony, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation announced the establishment of The Gordon Davidson Award, a new honor to be bestowed annually by SDCF to recognize a director or choreographer for lifetime achievement and distinguished service in the regional theatre nationally. SDCF President Sheldon Epps and SDC President Pam MacKinnon jointly announced the new recognition. The first Davidson Award will be announced in the latter half of June 2018, at an event still in development.
BRIGHT STAR at Pioneer Theatre Company is utterly ravishing. The masterful performances and staging will take your breath away as they unforgettably illuminate the moving story and songs. Essentially the original Broadway production transferred to the PTC stage, this is not a locally produced regional production, nor is it a typical national tour per se in its current state. This is the last city where it will be presented in this form, starring Carmen Cusack, who was Tony-nominated for her role. Suffice it to say, the experience of seeing BRIGHT STAR at Pioneer Theatre Company is something very special. In addition to reviewing, BroadwayWorld was provided the opportunity to speak with cast and band members about the production.
Be careful about expressing your admiration for certain artists during Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's hard-edged solo play, HOW TO BE A ROCK CRITIC. Though the audience is encouraged to engage in some give and take with Jensen as he impersonates the legendary writer Lester Bangs, fans of Jethro Tull, Herb Alpert, Styx and others may find their tastes abruptly dismissed as the gonzo journalist flings the LPs of musicians he can't abide by across the room.
Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group's production of Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegr a Hudes. The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be produced at the Mark Taper Forum January 31 through March 11, 2018. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the opening of Water by the Spoonful is set for February 11.
Bright Star, the new musical from Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-winning Steve Martin and Grammy Award-winning Edie Brickell, opens at Pioneer Theatre Company, running January 12 - 27, 2018. Tickets are available at tickets.pioneertheatre.org.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, San Francisco's Curran's will wrap up 2017 with the Tony Award nominated new musical BRIGHT STAR, from Grammy and Emmy winner Steve Martin and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Edie Brickell. Original BRIGHT STAR lead, Carmen Cusack, will revive her role, for which she received universal raves and a 2016 Tony Award nomination.
