Daisuke Tsuji News

As with each passing season, 2018 proved to be another exceptional year for theater not only in Souther California in general but also in Orange County---my home base. This year, the OC finally welcomed the debut of what has become this century's most awarded and most renowned stage musical ever about the Founding Father etched regally on the 10 dollar bill. Meanwhile, So. Cal. enjoyed a powerful surge of new stage works that explored Asian-American experiences, a positive step forward in the presentation of diverse voices we seldom hear from on the stage. A pair of touring musicals---both opening in the O.C. in early 2019---made such an impact in their Los Angeles engagements for me personally that I had to include them in my list, even though I have not 'officially' reviewed the productions for print. With that said, here is my 'Best of 2018' from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby---a mixture of outstanding shows and brilliant performances that made a lasting, memorable imprint in my theatergoing experience this year.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open the U.S. premiere of Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's Snow in Midsummer, directed by Justin Audibert, on August 5 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. Preview performances are August 2, 3 and 4, and the play runs through Oct. 27, 2018.

The tragic events surrounding the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in mid-70's Cambodia serves as the overarching backdrop that links the past and the (near) present in Lauren Yee's stunning new play CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND---which continues its World Premiere production at Orange County's Tony Award-winning regional theatre South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through March 25, 2018. Commissioned by SCR as part of its CrossRoads Initiative, this powerful and searing new drama---sprinkled with welcome bits of comedy and, yes, rock concert music interludes---had its initial staged reading at last year's Pacific Playwright's Festival and is now an absorbing, full-fledged production under the admirable direction of Chay Yew.

Part comedy, part mystery and part rock concert, playwright Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band explores an overlooked chapter of history-1970s Cambodia with its vibrant surf-rock music scene and then under the Khmer Rouge regime. The play features songs by the Long Beach-based band Dengue Fever. The world premiere of this South Coast Repertory commission is directed by Chay Yew on the Julianne Argyros Stage, March 4-25. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

General ticket sales are underway for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's (OSF) 83rd season, which begins with the first preview on Feb. 16 and continues through Oct. 28. The 2018 season features four plays by William Shakespeare, a re-imagined classic musical, two West Coast premieres, one U.S. premiere and two world premieres as well as a host of events and opportunities to further engage with the onstage works.

Playwright Julia Lederer's WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN focuses on the novel conceit of utilizing the actual organ of the heart in all references to the heart as love - actually breaking your heart, physically stealing your heart, a weak heart as the product of two broken-hearted parents, a heart made of yarn being caught on hooks and objects passing by. Lots of clever word play on 'heart.' Lederer smartly chooses to depict the aggressor as being a woman instead of a man.

Boston Court will produce the West Coast premiere of With Love and a Major Organ. Written by Julia Lederer and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, the West Coast premiere will begin previews on September 28 with an October 7 opening.

Boston Court will produce the West Coast premiere of With Love and a Major Organ. Written by Julia Lederer and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, the West Coast premiere will begin previews on September 28 with an October 7 opening.

Internationally recognized Shakespeare specialist Rob Clare directs one of the Bard's most popular and delightful romantic comedies, filled with shrewd observations about life, love and human nature. Antaeus Theatre Company presents a fully partner-cast production of As You Like It, opening July 27 and July 28 (one opening for each cast) at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale. Low-priced previews begin July 20.

Internationally recognized Shakespeare specialist Rob Clare directs one of the Bard's most popular and delightful romantic comedies, filled with shrewd observations about life, love and human nature. Antaeus Theatre Company presents a fully partner-cast production of As You Like It, opening July 27 and July 28 (one opening for each cast) at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale. Low-priced previews begin July 20.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Today, January 26.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Thursday, January 26.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Thursday, January 26.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs today, May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2014 season with Shakespeare's comic exploration of love in all its glory and madness, A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Shana Cooper, with movement by Erika Chong Shuch. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays at the Bruns Amphitheater now through September 28. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2014 season with Shakespeare's comic exploration of love in all its glory and madness, A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Shana Cooper, with movement by Erika Chong Shuch. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from tonight, September 3 through September 28.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2014 season with Shakespeare's comic exploration of love in all its glory and madness, A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Shana Cooper, with movement by Erika Chong Shuch. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from September 3 through September 28.