Judi Lewin News

 The Explorers Club, written by Nell Benjamin, directed by Melanie MacQueen, and produced by David Hunt Stafford, will be presented at Theatre 40. Learn how to purchase tickets.

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.

The Revolutionist written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Melanie MacQueen will be presented at Theatre Forty, May 18- June 18, 2023.

The Group Rep continues their 50th Season with the stage adaptation of Colin Higgins’ cult-classic film HAROLD AND MAUDE, directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Lloyd Pedersen for the Group Rep.  Check out a first look at photos here!

The Group Rep will present the stage adaptation of Colin Higgins’ cult-classic film HAROLD AND MAUDE, directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Lloyd Pedersen for the Group Rep.  The play runs February 10 through March 19 on the Main Stage of the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, CA.

Theatre 40 world premieres John Strysik’s DEATH, WITH BENEFITS January 27, 2022. Jeff G. Rack directs this dark comedy cast of Susan Damante, Cheryl David, Kevin Dulude, Larry Eisenberg and Philip Sokoloff. I had the opportunity to interrogate John on the reasons behind his DEATH.

Theatre 40 presents Death, with Benefits. This world premiere engagement of a dark comedy, by John Strysik is directed by Jeff G. Rack. 

The Group Rep presents Ken Ludwig's THE GAME'S AFOOT (or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS), a holiday mystery farce directed by Larry Eisenberg, produced by Lloyd Pedersen.

The two-time Telly Award-winning film version of The Blank Theatre's production of The Tragedy of JFK (as told by Wm. Shakespeare) is now available for free streaming on YouTube (https://youtu.be/jhnBy9fKvHk). Conceived, adapted, and directed by Daniel Henning, the play had its world premiere in Los Angeles on October 1, 2016.

Ruby gets off the bus from Utah with 'nothing but tap shoes in her suitcase and a prayer in her heart.' As fate would have it, she is immediately cast in the chorus of a Broadway show. When the theatre is forced to close, Ruby's songwriting sailor boyfriend persuades the Captain of his ship to allow the show to move on deck. Voila! Dames at sea! When the show's lead gets seasick, Ruby may have to go on for her. Will Ruby come back a star? Do you need to ask?

THE SOUND OF MURDER by William Fairchild premiered in London in 1959, making the plot somewhat predictable now, given the abundance of murder mysteries written and being produced on local stages. But this one set play is exactly the kind of British murder mystery that Theatre 40 audiences enjoy, especially with the company's designers onboard who always create a visually stunning production. Skillfully directed by Adrian Cohen to keep the action interesting and a lot more than just a lot of talking heads with British accents, the cast of THE SOUND OF MURDER includes Roslyn Cohn, Gabriel Olivas, David Hunt Stafford, Peter Trencher, David Westbay and Kate Whitney. And why that title? There's some audio equipment involved that turns out to be a pivotal prop in the investigation!

MB Artists and the Whitefire Theatre present the world premiere of BRUSHES: A Comedy of Hairs, written by Cathy Hamilton and Carol Starr Schneider, directed by Kevin Bailey. BRUSHES untangles the hysterically complicated relationship between women and their hair since time immemorial. This smart, sassy, shiny new play deals with disaster, vanity, envy,    self-doubt, sex, death - even the law - are explored in hilarious and poignant style. In a series of vignettes, the follicular follies flow from the Bad Hair Days Inn to a new salon on the block called Blow Me Now. 

Bar Mitzvah Boy. Southern California Premiere engagement of a new play.

For eight of the last ten years, Wicked Lit has created theatre among the dead - quite literally - at Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena. Three stories adapted from classic literature have been the norm most recently, with a fourth story functioning as a framing device to connect the pieces and bring a sense of camaraderie to the crowd. The result is an exceedingly entertaining evening of indoor-outdoor theatre in one of the spookiest venues in Southern California.

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson and Artistic Director Paul Millet have announced the details for Wicked Lit: The Chimes and The Corpse, the company's 10th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 9th consecutive year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena, California.

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson and Artistic Director Paul Millet have announced the details for Wicked Lit: The Chimes and The Corpse, the company's 10th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 9th consecutive year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena, California.

REPRISE 2.0 (led by Producing Artistic Director Marcia Seligson), in association with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television's Department of Theater (UCLA TFT) chaired by Brian Kite, presents its inaugural production of Sweet Charity.  Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach, the classic Broadway hit plays through July 1 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Take a look at photos from the show's opening night below!

REPRISE 2.0 in association with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television's Department of Theater presents its inaugural production of Sweet Charity. Get a look at the all-star cast below!

Casting is now complete for the inaugural REPRISE 2.0 production of Sweet Charity. Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, the classic Broadway hit plays from June 20 to July 1 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.