John Iacovelli News

The Australian Theatre Company's stunning quartet of talented actors elevates playwright Andrew Bovell's very clever SPEAKING IN TONGUES into an entertaining puzzlement. Jeneffa Soldatic firmly directs her gifted cast in their multiple intersecting roles that asks the audience to really, really pay attention to details.

To close out its current season, Orange County's Tony-winning regional theater South Coast Repertory has chosen to mount an opulent, high-caliber revival of Peter Shaffer's 1979 play AMADEUS, which continues performances in Costa Mesa through June 5, 2016. The recipient of the 1981 Tony Award for Best Play, AMADEUS most notably became the basis for Milos Forman's Academy Award-winning (and, yes, arguably, much more readily known) 1984 film of the same name. For SCR's season-ender---engagingly directed by Kent Nicholson---the rather lengthy play is presented with much of the visual grandness one expects from an antiquated period piece, particularly from this particular theater company. And as an added bonus, the play is performed by a cast of incredible, seasoned actors that winningly transports its audience to a time and place centuries ago. So is it worth revisiting the tug-of-war between Salieri and Mozart? If it is South Coast Rep's visually-stunning production, then the answer is an enthusiastic 'yes.'

Lovers of the era of Busby Berkeley movie musicals are getting a double whammy of Golden Age goodness this month with a pair of musicals playing only two blocks from each other in Hollywood. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU is already running at the mid-sized Ricardo Montalban Theatre on Vine and, very shortly, 42ND STREET will open at the much larger Hollywood Pantages. Both are inescapably linked by their subject matter.  

Corky Hale presents I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - The Life and Lyrics of Al Dubin, which opened May 13 at the Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine St. in Hollywood. This new musical features lyrics by Al Dubin, music mostly by Harry Warren, book by Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner, and musical direction by Gerald Sternbach. The production is directed and choreographed by Kay Cole. BroadwayWorld has photos from the starry opening festivities below!

Producer Corky Hale's I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - The Life and Lyrics of Al Dubin, features lyrics by Al Dubin, most music by Harry Warren, a book by Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner, and musical direction by Gerald Sternbach.  The production is directed and choreographed by  Kay Cole.  BroadwayWorld TV's own LA on-air Host Michael Sterling was invited to take a sneak peek at rehearsals last week and interview some of the show's stars and creative team.  

Head over to the Matrix Theatre in June for a mini Australian theater festival, when L.A.'s Australian Theatre Company presents a 'Double Feature' of two celebrated Australian plays that were made into movies and ATC's second annual free reading series - all over the course of 3-1/2 weeks. Opening with Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell on June 6 and the U.S. premiere of Ruben Guthrie by Brendan Cowell on June 7, performances of the two plays continue in repertory through June 28, with a free 'Works by Women' reading series taking place every Wednesday evening.

Samuel Beckett's classic ENDGAME opened last night, May 1, 2016, at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Directed by Alan Mandell, performances for 'Endgame' will continue through May 22. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Every director has their bucket list of plays they wish to direct or perhaps even appear in someday. Director Alan Mandell has long been enamored with the work of Samuel Beckett and has toured with original productions of Waiting for Godot and Endgame directed by Beckett. With his 80-year career in theatre and innate understanding of the absurdist's work, Mandell has now directed Endgame at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, starring in the production with Barry McGovern. This is the second Beckett play in which the two actors have appeared together, the first being Waiting for Godot in 2012 at the Mark Taper Forum. And their stage camaraderie is a wonder to behold.

Samuel Beckett's classic ENDGAME opens Sunday, May 1, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Directed by Alan Mandell, performances for 'Endgame' will continue through May 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Corky Hale presents I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - The Life and Lyrics of Al Dubin, at the Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine St. in Hollywood. This new musical, features lyrics by Al Dubin, music mostly by Harry Warren, book by Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner, and musical direction by Gerald Sternbach. The production is directed and choreographed by Kay Cole.

Rehearsals have begun for Samuel Beckett's classic ENDGAME, directed by one of Beckett's most renowned interpreters Alan Mandell at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 24 through May 22, 2016. The opening is scheduled for May 1. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce that their critically acclaimed, second show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the West Coast Premiere of BROKEN FENCES, written by Steven Simoncic and directed by Andre Barron, is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, APRIL 17th at the Road Theatre Company's second home, the Road on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

How often have you wondered what it would be like to go back in time and talk to an historical icon? Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP is a gripping and often humorous re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that won London's 2010 Olivier Award for best new play. It's one of the best ways imaginable to honor Dr. King, Black History Month and the Black Lives Matter movement by experiencing its Los Angeles premiere at the Matrix Theatre, directed by Obie Award-winner Roger Guenveur Smith and starring Larry Bates and Danielle Truitt. I cannot imagine any two actors more suited to step into the shoes of these two characters, having worked together in a previous production of the play at San Diego Rep, also directed by Smith.

This Skylight Theatre Company's production of playwright Tony Abatemarco's world premiere of FOREVER HOUSE will be the play I compare/measure all other plays I see this year -- and this is only January! Elizabeth Swain deftly directs her talented cast with never a lag or dull moment; with only time enough for the audience to laugh or shed a tear.

Lunar River in association with Mack Sennett Studios has announced the world premiere of Salome, a radically queer reinvention of the ancient tale, written by Christopher Adams-Cohen and directed by Patrick Kennelly. Salome will run for four weeks only with two preview performances on January 31 and February 4 at 8pm. Opening is set for Friday, February 5 at 8pm. Salome will run through February 28 at The Basement at Mack Sennett Studios. 

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 70 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2015 Los Angeles Awards winners. Highlights include Audra McDonald as 'Best Cabaret Artist', Jerry Mitchell for KINKY BOOTS, Andrea Martin in PIPPIN, and more!  Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

The Matrix Theatre Company honors Black History Month with the Los Angeles premiere of The Mountaintop, directed by Obie Award-winner Roger Guenveur Smith and starring Larry Bates and Danielle Mone Truitt. Recipient of London's 2010 Olivier Award, Katori Hall's gripping and often humorous re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. takes on new meaning with the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Mountaintop opens at the Matrix Theatre on February 6, with previews beginning January 28. (Scroll all the way down to view links to high resolution photos.)

Happy Holidays! It's the last week to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the second show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the West Coast Premiere of BROKEN FENCES, written by Steven Simoncic and directed by Andre Barron.  BROKEN FENCES begin previews on Tuesday, February 9 at 8pm; will open on Friday, February 12 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 3rd at the Road Theatre Company's second home, the Road on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!