John Iacovelli News

Writer, actor and activist Timothy Conigrave's best-selling memoir (winner of the United Nations Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction and listed as one of the '100 Favorite Australian Books' by the Australian Society of Authors) is one of Australia's great love stories. The stage version by Tommy Murphy captures all its special magic. Producers Nick Hardcastle and Nate Jones launch their newly formed Australian Theatre Company with the Los Angeles premiere of Holding the Man, featuring an all-Australian cast and directed by veteran Hollywood acting coach Larry Moss. Opening night is May 10 at the Matrix Theatre. Scroll down to see some photos from the production!

Two character plays about love and friendship over time like Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade and Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry are A-list treasures. Their lack of pretension and real humanity make them linger quite joyously in the mind. In spite of some wonderful moments, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Richard Alfieri is not quite at that level. As in a sitcom, many of the reactions are too quick and ready-made...and the outcome relies heavily on illness and sympathy to keep the two characters connected; but despite its flaws, the play is enormously entertaining and appealing in the right hands. What makes the current Laguna Playhouse production so memorable is the pairing of film legend Leslie Caron with 6-time Ovation Award winner David Engel, both known for their superior reliability with a dance step or two.

Love, seduction, decadence and murder. DOMA Theatre Company partners with Requiem Media Productions, LLC to present the world premiere of a new musical based on Oscar Wilde's classic novel, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' Dorian's Descent, with book by Chris Raymond, Marco Gomez and Michael Gray, lyrics by Marco Gomez and Chris Raymond, and music by Chris Raymond, opens May 30 at the MET Theatre with Gomez directing, Raymond providing musical direction/orchestrations, and choreography by Cate Caplin.

Touching, richly-staged and beautifully-acted, REST---Samuel D. Hunter's oh-so-engrossing and oh-so-funny new play now having its world premiere at Costa Mesa's South Coast Repertory through April 27---presents a disheartening reality of life we all must face sooner or later: that getting older is, for the most part, no fun, especially as one enters the twilight phase of their time on the planet. While that description suggests an overtly sad story, what really hits you as a delightful surprise is the amount of wit and humor that it contains, even as the play's overarching dark themes are hovering.

Writer, actor and activist Timothy Conigrave's best-selling memoir (winner of the United Nations Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction and listed as one of the '100 Favorite Australian Books' by the Australian Society of Authors) is one of Australia's great love stories. The stage version by Tommy Murphy captures all its special magic. Producers Nick Hardcastle and Nate Jones launch their newly formed Australian Theatre Company with the Los Angeles premiere of Holding the Man, featuring an all-Australian cast and directed by veteran Hollywood acting coach Larry Moss. Opening night is May 10 at the Matrix Theatre.

What happens when an elderly patient with dementia goes missing in a northern Idaho blizzard, leaving his wife and others behind to face the unknown? The story is Rest, a heartbreakingly funny and tender play commissioned by South Coast Repertory from Samuel D. Hunter. SCR Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson directs the world premiere of Rest, today, March 28-April 27, on the Segerstrom Stage.

What happens when an elderly patient with dementia goes missing in a northern Idaho blizzard, leaving his wife and others behind to face the unknown? The story is Rest, a heartbreakingly funny and tender play commissioned by South Coast Repertory from Samuel D. Hunter. SCR Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson directs the world premiere of Rest, March 28-April 27, on the Segerstrom Stage. The show is a cornerstone production of SCR's Pacific Playwrights Festival. Tickets are available online: www.scr.org.

To borrow a tagline from the long-running reality TV series 'The Real World,' the wickedly amusing GOD OF CARNAGE shows exactly 'what happens when people stop being polite... and start getting real.' Well, at least, 'real' in a comically over-the-top way, that is. This outrageous farce---directed by Michael Arabian and featuring some top-notch, gusto-tinged performances from its four-person cast---continues its regional Southland performances at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts through February 16.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT presents the third production in its 2013-1014 season of shows, the 2009 Tony Award-winning play, GOD OF CARNAGE, written byYasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Michael Arabian. Press opening was Saturday, January 25 and BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the third production in its 2013-1014 season of shows, the 2009 Tony Award-winning play, GOD OF CARNAGE, written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Michael Arabian. GOD OF CARNAGE will preview tonight, January 24, 2014 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 25) and run through Sunday, February 16, 2014 at La MiradaTheatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the third production in its 2013-1014 season of shows, the 2009 Tony Award-winning play, GOD OF CARNAGE, written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Michael Arabian. GOD OF CARNAGE will preview on Friday, January 24, 2014 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 25) and run through Sunday, February 16, 2014 at La MiradaTheatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Phylicia Rashad sets a new standard for August Wilson's plays.

Long Wharf Theatre, in co-production with the McCarter Theatre, presents August Wilson's Fences, directed by Phylicia Rashad. Check out a first look below!

Long Wharf Theatre, in co-production with the McCarter Theatre, presents August Wilson's Fences, directed by Phylicia Rashad.

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL had its world premiere this June at the The Pasadena Playhouse, and according to the LA Times, the show could have a future life over seas. Sheldon Epps, artistic director if the Pasadene Playhouse told LAT of a London transfer: 'I'm feeling optimistic that it's going to happen. It could happen in the spring or fall of next year.'

The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with David Shor Productions, presents SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL. Performances for the world premiere presentation began May 24 and run through today, June 23. The musical celebrated its official press opening on Sunday, June 2, 2013.

When a group of actors gathers to give a presentation on a distant genocide, they realize that summaries are not enough. In their attempt to delve into history, they struggle with stereotype, fear and their own personal histories, uncovering the potential for brutality in all of us. Joseph Stern and The Matrix Theatre Company present the West Coast premiere of a brave, chilling and very funny new work by Jackie Sibblies Drury. 'We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South-West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915' opens today, June 8. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Village Green Productions has announced the return of THE BOOMERANG EFFECT, written by Matthew Leavitt, produced by Del Shores and directed by Damaso Rodriguz. THE BOOMERANG EFFECT will mark the final production Mr. Rodriguez will direct in Los Angeles prior to his becoming Artistic Director of the Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland. THE BOOMERANG EFFECT will preview tonight, June 6 & Friday, June 7 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, June 8 and will run through Saturday, July 27 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., in West Hollywood.

The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with David Shor Productions, presents SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL. The world premiere presentation began May 24 and opened last night, June 2, 2013, at The Pasadena Playhouse.

Sleepless in Seattle is one of the most popular films of the 90s which gave Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan two of their best roles ever as destined.to.meet lovers Sam and Annie. In a brave move Jeff Arch, Ben Toth and Sam Forman have composed a musical based on the movie which is making its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse through June 23. Under Sheldon Epps superior guidance, the well-cast show is a very bright, upbeat, contemporary look at relationships that does its ultimate best to remain faithful to the tone and texture of the film.