Kristin Towers-Rowles News

Art-In-Relation (A.I.R.) is an innovative production company focusing on breathing new life into lesser-known plays and musical theater. I have seen their productions at other locations throughout the city, but unfortunately the facilities and cast talent in past productions has been less than stellar. So I am very pleased to announce A.I.R. has upped its production ante with their latest production staged at the Dorie Theater in the Complex on Theater Row in Hollywood: Andrew Lippa's musical THE WILD PARTY, based on the poem by Joseph Moncure.

Based on conversations with real women shoplifters, 'Sticky Fingers' is a one-hour, monologue-driven, ensemble dramedy about women who steal. In this age of soul-baring 12-step programs, admitting to shoplifting seems to be one of society's final taboos and as such, most shoplifters are ashamed to talk about their crimes. Most people are unaware that many shoplifters (especially women) do not steal out of need or greed, but often steal because of deeper psychological reasons that they may not know or are unable to acknowledge.

Based on conversations with real women shoplifters, 'Sticky Fingers' is a one-hour, monologue-driven, ensemble dramedy about women who steal. In this age of soul-baring 12-step programs, admitting to shoplifting seems to be one of society's final taboos and as such, most shoplifters are ashamed to talk about their crimes. Most people are unaware that many shoplifters (especially women) do not steal out of need or greed, but often steal because of deeper psychological reasons that they may not know or are unable to acknowledge.

Based on conversations with real women shoplifters, 'Sticky Fingers' is a one-hour, monologue-driven, ensemble dramedy about women who steal. In this age of soul-baring 12-step programs, admitting to shoplifting seems to be one of society's final taboos and as such, most shoplifters are ashamed to talk about their crimes. Most people are unaware that many shoplifters (especially women) do not steal out of need or greed, but often steal because of deeper psychological reasons that they may not know or are unable to acknowledge.

CVRep has undertaken something new -- a medium-sized musical comedy with a four-piece orchestra. The result of its production of A CLASS ACT, the story of A CHORUS LINE's lyricist, is an enjoyable evening of theatre, with fabulous dancing.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2015 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, or technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

Resourceful Dan Goggin designed a line of greeting cards to honor the nun, then turned the project into a cabaret which finally became a full-fledged musical comedy in 1985. Now Nunsense plays in several languages all over the world. Everyone has a peculiar fascination with nuns. Why? Well, number one, they dress oddly and apart from that, they live out their daily lives praying and doing things uncommon to the average person. Say you are or grew up a Catholic, you still have difficulty figuring them out. Are they really that stern and block-headed? Well, Dan Goggin takes you behind the scenes, so-to-speak, in this tongue -in-cheek look at the Little Sisters of Hoboken at Mt. Saint Helen's School - you will see them do things, irreverent things, you never imagined in your wildest dreams - who are about to put on a benefit show to raise funds to...Oh, Saints preserve us... to bury four nuns who died from botulism. Currently onstage at Crown City Theatre in NoHo, Nunsense is receiving a nifty revival directed by the terrific Kristin

Executive Producers Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling Publicity and Production (www.msapr.net). and Barbara Van Orden (www.barbaravanorden.com) have announced that vocal auditions for the 10 year Anniversary of LA's Next Great Stage Star® will be held Sunday, December 13, 2015.  'Our annual auditions in search of 10 men and 10 women between 18 and 32 years of age, is highly anticipated by the hierarchy of those associated with the business of presenting Broadway musical theatre in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California said Sterling.  'We couldn't be more grateful to our professional colleagues and select corporate entities for their consistent support of Stage Star since its inception,' added Van Orden 

Truly inspirational stories allow you to believe anything is possible if you trust in your own judgment, dreams, and will to succeed. Award-winning stage star Kristin Towers-Rowles shares her remarkable life story doing just that in her critically acclaimed cabaret show, A Lovely Lineage, directed by Cate Caplin with musical direction by Katie Clarke. Her latest performance on Sunday, October 18 in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal allowed her to share her remarkable tale of survival as she pursued her dreams no matter what roadblocks were thrown in her way.

Little Fish Theatre is excited to announce the next show of its 2015 season, Private Eyes, by Steven Dietz. A highly-layered and intriguing play that explores common, and yet seldom-discussed, aspects of relationships. It is a fascinating examination of the darker, indefinable and more taboo feelings associated with love, mistrust and temptation. But when is the line crossed, and what do we do when it is? It is a playful and often farcical examination of what is so often played as a heavy subject.

Producers Dr. Stephanie Torres and Bren Coombs, in association with MACHA Theatre, present a provocative new musical, 'SEX, LOVE, & YOGA' written by acclaimed playwright Kate Sullivan Gibbens, who will also direct.

Harvey Fierstein's one-act On Tidy Endings, originally part of his 1987 Safe Sex trilogy, holds up very well in the abled reins of director Sara Wagner and her kick-ass cast. Set in a time when gay men only came out of their closets on a need-to-know basis (ex-wives, kids), contracting AIDS equalled a death sentence. Still, the after-effects of a gay man dying have similar revelancy in 2015.

When Violet first premiered off-Broadway in 1997, it created a stir winning two prizes for Best Musical but didn't make waves until 2014 when it transferred to Broadway in an all new production starring Sutton Foster. It heartfully tells the story of a disfigured girl from Spruce Pine, North Carolina Violet Karl who makes a journey to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the hopes of being physically transformed by a faith healer. An accident occurred when she was a teen - a blade that her father was using cut her face, leaving an ugly scar - and Violet always blamed her father proclaiming that he did not want her to be pretty. She would have no male prospects and be forced to stay on to live with him on their small farm. The scar runs deep - 'it reaches to your heart' new acquaintances tell her, so the journey to find a brand new 'glamorized' look means everything to Violet who will sacrifice just about anything to have it all.

Mmmkay Productions is proud to present Harvey Fierstein's moving and critically-acclaimed play, 'On Tidy Endings' as a part of the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival at The Complex's East Theatre, located at 6468 Santa Monica Blvd.. The play will be directed by Sara Wagner and will star Kimberly Patterson, Michael Mullen, Kristin Towers-Rowles, and Andrew Fox.

Kelrik Production's upcoming production of the award-winning off-Broadway hit musical VIOLET, a powerful and heartwarming story of a vulnerable young woman's challenges, loves and emotional journey, will now be staged today, May 15 - 31st, 2015 at the Monroe Forum Theater @ El Portal in North Hollywood.

Kelrik Production's upcoming production of the award-winning off-Broadway hit musical VIOLET, a powerful and heartwarming story of a vulnerable young woman's challenges, loves and emotional journey, will now be staged May 15 - 31st, 2015 at the Monroe Forum Theater @ El Portal in North Hollywood. With a score by Jeanine Tesori (FUN HOME, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, SHREK THE MUSICAL, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley. VIOLET is directed by Joshua Finkel.

Sweeney Todd first bowed on Broadway in late 1979. Fortunately, I was in New York to witness the brilliant achievement of Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou and the entire creative team. Kelrik Productions is presenting the masterwork for the first time, hardly an easy task in a small intimate theatre space such as the Monroe Forum Theatre of the El Portal. Well, let me tell you, they may be exceedingly proud of this production, as it replicates just about everything that the original achieved, minus a full orchestra. Every detail, every move and every musical beat are in line with wonderful musical director Joe Lawrence at the piano. With a perfect cast and brilliantly inventive direction and staging from Kristin Towers-Rowles, this Sweeney Todd could not be better.

SWEENEY TODD, the Tony Award-winning musical, sails into the Monroe Forum Theatre @ El Portal tonight, April 10 to May 10, 2015. Based on a version of SWEENEY TODD by Christopher Bond, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, it's a tragicomic tale of murder, mayhem, and meat pies.

Kelrik Productions proudly presents Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece of musical theatre, Sweeney Todd, winner of 8 TONY Awards, in its original conceptual form as a chamber piece, at the 99-seat Monroe Forum Theatre at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, CA.