Deborah Lawlor News

After 34 years as artistic director, Fountain Theatre co-founder Stephen Sachs has announced his retirement at the end of 2024.

Per playwright Howard L. Craft, the spirit of the human soul has the capacity to return to earth multiple times until it successfully learns…well…whatever it is supposed to learn. Can’t speak for the soul, but the performer J. Alphonse Nicholson needs no do-overs to embody the five incarnations of Abel Green within Craft’s play FREIGHT. Simply put, Nicholson nails each Green ably, in every possible way. Completely.

Welcome to Bluefish Cove. The Fountain Theatre will transform the parking lot surrounding the set on its outdoor stage to create an oceanfront experience for its 40th anniversary production of the groundbreaking comedy/drama, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove by Jane Chambers.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Fountain Theatre co-founder Deborah Lawlor passed away on Tuesday, May 2, at the age of 83.

This Spotlight focuses on Simon Levy who began his directing career in San Francisco, then moved to Los Angeles in 1990 where he has been the Producing Director for the Fountain Theatre since 1993. His directing and producing credits are numerous, with over 100 productions in Los Angeles and San Francisco that have won more than 200 awards. His journey has been blessed with having wonderful mentors along the way, which has enabled the talented director to earn his living doing theatre and earned him great respect from the entire L.A. Theatre community.

Off Broadway West Theatre Company ("OBW"), a San Francisco non-profit 501(c)(3) theatre company, is celebrating its 12th Theatre Season by producing Stephen Sachs' play, Bakersfield Mist.  Based on actual events, this play questions appraisals of authenticity in art, and by extension, our relationship to one another.  The play premiered in 2011 at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles and enjoyed a three-month run (2014) on London's West End, starring Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid.  

The Chosen - A silent father, an ancient tradition and an unexpectedly important game of baseball forge bonds of lifelong friendship between two Jewish boys from "five blocks and a world apart" in this funny, poignant, timely and timeless father-son story about recognition and acceptance of "the other." Final extension - must close June 10!

LA & NY-based actor and author Tim Cummings was honored with his third Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Award on Monday, March 19th 2018 for his leading performance in The House in Scarsdale: A Memoir for the Stage, written by award-winning playwright, poet, and former Guggenheim fellow, Dan O'Brien.

Friendship, faith and fatherhood. Jonathan Arkin, Alan Blumenfeld, Dor Gvirtsman and Sam Mandelstar in The Chosen, the award-winning stage adaptation by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok of Potok's beloved novel. Simon Levy directs for aJanuary 20 opening at the Fountain Theatre, where performances continue through March 25. The Fountain celebrates the novel's 50th anniversary (last April) with the West Coast premiere of Posner's new, streamlined version.

Forever Flamenco presents 'Paisaje' ('Landscapes') by Gerardo Morales Guitarist/percussionist Gerardo Morales directs a journey through the ethereal landscapes of music, dance and emotion with an all-star cast: dancers Fanny Ara and Timo Nu ez, guitarist Gabriel Osuna, singer Antonio De Jerez and pianistMatthew Amper. The Los Angeles Times hails the Fountain Theatre's monthly Forever Flamenco series as the earth and fire of first-class flamenco, and LA Splash says, Being the sensual, intimate art form that it is... the way you feel when you walk out of a Forever Flamenco performance is pretty darn fabulous.

Forever Flamenco presents A Night in Triana IV Forever Flamenco returns to the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A. with an incredible line-up under the artistic direction of master guitarist Antonio Triana: dancers Fanny Ara, Reyes Barrios, Alejandro Vega and Daniela Zerme o; singer Jesus Montoya; and, alongside Triana, guitarist Kai Narezo.

A powerful dancer with an explosive spirit, world-renowned Leilah Broukhim returns to the Fountain Theatre in 'Forever Flamenco' on Sunday, October 22.

Raised in an upstate New York blue-collar family, Fred Herko showed much promise as a concert pianist, going on to attend Julliard. But at age 20 after seeing a performance of Giselle, he announced his intention to give up the piano and become a ballet dancer. The resulting severe beating by his father for pursuing a career for gay men, only inspired Herko to follow the type of life he dreamed for himself after being awarded a four-year scholarship to attend the American Ballet Theater School. He moved to Greenwich Village and never looked back during his too short yet wildly successful career.

Curator, writer and translator Gerard Forde will lead a Q&A discussion following the Thursday, Sept. 28 performance of Freddy at the Caminito Theatre on the campus of Los Angeles City College.

A naive young woman falls under the spell of Fred Herko, a brilliant ballet dancer of extraordinary charisma and talent and a fiery denizen of Andy Warhol's Factory.

A powerhouse dancer and audience favorite, artistic director/dancer Lakshmi "La Chimi" Basile returns to the Fountain with a brand new show focusing on simplicity, beauty and distilling the art of flamenco to its essence.

A naive young woman falls under the spell of Fred Herko, a brilliant ballet dancer of extraordinary charisma and talent and a fiery denizen of Andy Warhol's Factory.

Sometimes what you're searching for is right where you started. The Fountain Theatre presents a powerful, funny and deeply moving mother-daughter story byJeremy J. Kamps. Multiple award-winning Shirley Jo Finneyreturns to the Fountain to direct the world premiere of Runaway Home for a Sept. 16 opening.

Forever Flamenco returns to Barnsdall Gallery Theatre with a passionate show directed by master guitarist Antonio Triana and featuring dancers Mizuho Sato, Oscar Valero, Daniela Zermeño and Alice Blumenfeld; singer Antonio De Jerez; percussionist Joey Heredia; and guitarists Gabriel Osuna and Antonio Triana. The concert is set for Barnsdall Park on Sunday, August 20th.

Forever Flamenco by Jose Tanaka - World renowned guitarist Jose Tanaka directs a show that's sure to get you on your feet and screaming ¡Ole! This month's Forever Flamenco line-up includes dancers Mizuho Sato, Daniela Zermeño and, making her Fountain debut, flamenco powerhouse Lola Mayo direct from Spain.