Donnie Smith News

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) played to sold out houses opening weekend of their 27th Season with the thriller ROPE, written by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Ken Sawyer, produced by Kevin Shewey.  ROPE runs now through Sunday, October 28 at the Actors Co-op Crossley in Hollywood.

In 1948 Alfred Hitchcock directed the film Rope based on Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play. Its setting was switched from London to New York, and at least for me, the psychological crime story played out in a very talky, uninteresting manner. The stage play, by the way, is rarely produced. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op, Rope is a fun, delightful romp through a game of murder that perks attention from the moment it starts, and thanks to brilliant director Ken Sawyer and his outstanding cast, it's a riveting and enjoyable evening in the theatre, far, far ahead of that Hitchcok movie. I hate the word p

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) presents the first show in its 27th Season with the thriller ROPE, written by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Ken Sawyer, produced by Kevin Shewey.  ROPE will preview on Thursday, September 20 at 8pm and will open Friday, September 21 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 29 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St, presents a star-studded celebration for legendary American author, activist and thinker Langston Hughes' 115th birthday on Wednesday, February 1 at 8:00 p.m. which is also the first day of Black History Month. Performances include readings of poetry by Hughes plus music that he wrote, inspired and/or enjoyed.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces a star-studded celebration of Langston Hughes, "The Voice" finalist Laith Al-Saadi and more.

The West Coast premiere of Ike Holter's HIT THE WALL vividly illustrates what might have happened that fateful night in 1969  when Stonewall became the flashpoint for what many consider the start of the gay liberation movement. With director Ken Sawyer's inventive staging, the audience becomes almost fully immersed in the play's actions. The stage seems to be every available space where an audience member's not physically sitting.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Today, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Sixth Avenue have announced the West Coast premiere of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter. This acclaimed play brings audiences into the famed 1969 Stonewall riots, credited historically as the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Directed by Ken Sawyer with a cast of 10, a live three-piece band, and original music by Anna Waronker (former singer for That Dog) and Charlotte Caffey (guitarist for The Go-Go's), Hit the Wall will play three previews on September 15, 16, and 17, and opening is set for Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Hit the Wall will run through October 25 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

The gangbusters theatre company presents SUNSHINE, written by William Mastrosimone & directed by Corryn Cummins, produced by Dana Lyn Baron, and starring Mary Kelsey, Donnie Smith and Adam Garst. The show runs as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, playing now through June 28, 2015.

The gangbusters theatre company presents SUNSHINE, written by William Mastrosimone & directed by Corryn Cummins, produced by Dana Lyn Baron, and starring Mary Kelsey, Donnie Smith and Adam Garst. The show runs as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, playing June 7-28, 2015.

SUNNY AFTERNOON examines the mysteriously unrecorded 48 hours Lee Harvey Oswald was in the custody of Police Captain William Fritz (Darrett Sanders), who has only a limited amount of time to pry the answers from Lee before he is to be transferred from police headquarters to county jail and an appointment with his own destiny.

Beyond Meat, a leading developer of plant-based products that replicate the texture and taste of meat, today offered a facility transparency challenge to large-scale poultry processors, in light of the recent disclosure about salmonella in chickens distributed in California, Oregon and Washington.

In 86 minutes, SUNNY AFTERNOON presents thought-provoking storytelling at its best with a cast that could not be any more perfect in their characterizations of every person to be in Oswald's presence from the moment he was arrested until he was murdered. The play is bold, meticulous in detail, flooded with character, and challenging in every respect.

SUNNY AFTERNOON, written and Directed by Christian Levatino will be presented in a fully staged workshop production opening Friday, June 14th at 8:00pm // Hollywood Fringe Festival

The West Coast premiere of HOUSE by Daniel MacIvor is extending its run schedule through September 1, 2012, at Rogue Machine. After August 11th, all Friday shows play at 10pm and Saturday shows play at 8pm (August 4th is now at 8pm).

On the heels of their 2011 Best Production Awards sweep (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) for Small Engine Repair, which launched Rogue Machine's "Off The Clock" series last season, HOUSE will take the first late night slot this season tonight, July 6th.