Eric Keitel News

The world premiere of John Strysik’s Power and Light is currently running in rep at Theatre 40. Jeff G. Rack directs this story of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in the beginnings of electricity with the cast of David Hunt Stafford, Eric Keitel, Warren Davis, John Combs, Richard Large, Bailey Castle, Mandy Fason and Kurtis Bedford. Jeff graciously made time out of his multi-tasking weekend to answer a few of my queries.

'Power and Light' is a new play about the rivalry between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in the development of electricity. Tickets are $35.

Theatre 40’s hit immersive drama The Manor- Murder and Madness at Greystone returns for its nineteenth season at the Greystone Mansion January 18, 2024.  Martin Thompson directs the cast of Darby Hinton, Eric Keitel, Daniel Leslie, Carol Potter, Nathalie Rudolph, David Hunt Stafford, Amy Tolsky, John Combs, Katyana Rocker-Cook, Gail Johnston, Kristin Towers-Rowles and Peter Mastine. John managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.

The Manor- Murder and Madness at Greystone is by now a Los Angeles/Beverly Hills institution. The play, returning for a nineteenth season, surpassed its 200th performance in 2014. This will mark its first engagement since 2020.

Theatre 40 is presenting a rehearsed reading of the play The Christmas Truce by Phil Porter as the concluding event in its Fall 2022 Monday Night Seminars series. The reading was originally scheduled to take place in the theatre, but will now instead be presented virtually on Zoom on Monday, November 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

In The Play's the Thing, a playwright named Sandor Turai comes up with a plan to save the engagement between his nephew Albert and an actress named Ilona after Albert overhears a flirtatious conversation between Ilona and Almady, an obnoxious actor (and Ilona's former lover).

Its warnings of the trappings of materialism and conformity are universal and timeless.

Theatre 40 will present a staged reading of a new play, Disrupting the Box, on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. The play is written and directed by Theatre 40 company member David Datz.

Theatre Forty will present a Zoom reading of a new play, Mr. Simpson by Stephen Maitland-Lewis on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

Theatre 40 will present a play reading on YouTube of a new work by John Strysik, Power & Light. Thomas Edison and Nikolai Tesla: The War That Lit the World. Pioneering scientists in electronics, they were rivals with differing viewpoints on delivering energy. Edison was about the money, while Tesla was more a believer in free energy for all. Commerce won.

Theatre 40 will present a Zoom reading of the new play Blind Ratz on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

Theatre 40 will present a Zoom reading of the play Vacuum by Leda Siskind on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PDT. This is a FREE event.

Theatre 40 is launching a shortened season of its long standing Adult Education Theatre Appreciation Seminars this month. This Semester's theme is 'THE OTHER: plays concerning the relationships with those different from ourselves'. The presentations are virtual, online.

Now celebrating its 18th year, the annual production of THE MANOR has become a Los Angeles/Beverly Hills institution with several performances selling out even before tickets go on sale to the public. Its popularity, no doubt, is due to the scandalous true story as told by the talented actors who each inhabit their characters to a tee, costumed to time-period perfection, as well as the chance to be inside the grand and glorious architectural landmark in which the events of 91 years ago actually took place, performed in two acts taking place 10 years apart. The names of all characters in the tragic Doheny family saga have been changed, of course, a?oeto protect the guiltya?? as we are told before the play begins by the mansion's loyal butler, James, portrayed this year by David Hunt Stafford who also produces the show for Theatre 40 in association with The City of Beverly Hills.

Every January I look forward to attending THE MANOR by Katherine Bates, presented by Theatre 40 inside the historic Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills where the story upon which it is based actually took place. Now celebrating its 17th year, the annual production has become a Los Angeles/Beverly Hills institution with several performances selling out even before tickets go on sale to the public. Its popularity, no doubt, is due to the scandalous true story as told by the talented actors, costumed to time-period perfection, as well as the chance to be inside the grand and glorious architectural landmark in which the events of 90 years ago actually took place, performed in two acts taking place 10 years apart. The names of all characters in the Doheny saga have been changed, of course, "to protect the guilty" as we are told before the play begins by the mansion's loyal butler, James (Daniel Lench who has masterfully played the part for 6 years).

Important to note right from the start ... Jeff Goode wrote The Eight: Reindeer Monologues back in the early 1990s around the time of the Clinton administration. The vehicle was his way of speaking out on a number of political issues. Maybe the sex scandal of Bill Clinton? Taking Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, who are revered as two of the most benevolent fantasy characters of all time, and gossiping about their bouts with sexual harrassment and alcoholism, turns them into pretty despicable people. But when you are that good and held up as a model of perfection, something's gotta give. Everyone has flaws, and Goode has his reindeer take them to the extreme.

Created and written by Charlie Mount and Jeff G. Rack. Directed by Jeff G. Rack. Based on the short stories The Strawberry Window, The Blue Bottle, The Messiah and Night Call, Collect by Ray Bradbury. Performed and adapted by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc. Presented by Arcane Theatreworks and Whitefire Theatre.

Most of the MARTIANS text is taken from Ray's own words from interviews and books he's written on the art of writing, as well as adaptations of his Martian stories The Strawberry Window, The Blue Bottle, The Messiah and Night Call, Collect. Adapted with and directed by Jeff G. Rack, Mount personifies Bradbury to a tee as, acting as our guide to mankind's next great adventure to the planet Mars, allowing us to get to know the mind and heart of the great writer who believes that humanity can only survive by carrying our culture out into the Universe. In fact, one of Bradbury's favorite films was Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 'Going to the stars, taking your culture with you, and living forever! That's what it's all about!' Bradbury said. That's the theme explored in MARTIANS: AN EVENING WITH RAY BRADBURY.

Created and written by Charlie Mount and Jeff G. Rack. Directed by Jeff G. Rack. Based on the short stories The Strawberry Window, The Blue Bottle, The Messiah and Night Call, Collect by Ray Bradbury. Performed and adapted by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc. Presented by Arcane Theatreworks and Whitefire Theatre.

Created and written by Charlie Mount and Jeff G. Rack. Directed by Jeff G. Rack. Based on the short stories The Strawberry Window, The Blue Bottle, The Messiah and Night Call, Collect by Ray Bradbury. Performed and adapted by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc. Presented by Arcane Theatreworks and Whitefire Theatre.