Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.
Miller's classic drama opens South Coast Repertory's milestone 50th season, with actor Charlie Robinson as Willy Loman and a dramatically diverse cast. The show runs on the Segerstrom Stage Aug. 30-Sept. 29. Tickets are available online:www.scr.org. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!
To kickstart its 50th Season, Orange County's Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory is presenting a newly-envisioned local revival of the classic 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winning play DEATH OF A SALESMAN, featuring an outstanding performance by veteran stage and screen actor Charlie Robinson in the title role. Performances continue on the Segerstrom Stage through September 29.
Miller's classic drama opens South Coast Repertory's milestone 50th season, with actor Charlie Robinson as Willy Loman and a dramatically diverse cast. The show runs on the Segerstrom Stage Aug. 30-Sept. 29. Tickets are available online: www.scr.org.
French Stewart, TV star ('3rd Rock From the Sun') and local theatre mainstay ('Stoneface': 'Voice Lessons') hosted the 44th annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Awards on March 18 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St. downtown.
The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre in 2012. The 44th annual LADCC Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18 at historic, heralded Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown L.A.
In Stephen Adly Guirgis' wickedly funny, intensely riveting 2011 dark urban comedy THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT -- now enjoying a superb, profanity-laced new production at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through January 27 -- the idea of personal growth is explored mostly through the (cuss) words and actions of recovering addict Jackie, a volatile yet vulnerable NewYorican ex-con in desperate need to change himself and his wretched lot in life. Unfortunately, though, in this brilliant play, his optimistic trajectory is pretty much hindered by inescapable behavioral and environmental circumstances.
Comedy often comes out of desperate circumstances. Laughter can follow as people try to change those circumstances by making better choices in life.
That's the heart of Stephen Adly Guirgis' play The Motherf**ker with the Hat, the Broadway hit at South Coast Repertory Jan. 6-27. The production is directed by Michael John Garcés, artistic director at Cornerstone Theatre Company.
Katselas Theatre Company presents THEATRE SEX: BEFORE & AFTER, theatrical readings in honor of World AIDS Day 2012. BEFORE AIDS: tonight, November 30th at 8pm and AFTER AIDS: December 2nd at 8pm at the Skylight Theatre Complex – 1816 N. Vermont, LA.
Find out who's really crazy when a couple of lovebirds bring their mismatched families together. The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s multiple award-winning classical theater company, presents You Can't Take It With You, the timeless comedy about love, life and living by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Gigi Bermingham directs the fully double cast production Oct. 18 through Dec. 9, with low-priced previews beginning Oct. 11.
Jitney is the eighth play in August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle and recently completed a critically acclaimed run at SCR (South Coast Rep) in Orange County. It has now transferred to the Pasadena Playhouse through July and certainly stands tall as one of Wilson's earliest and best kitchen sink dramas. The production has sensational acting and direction by Ron OJ Parson and balances enough humor with the heartache of real life to make it thoroughly absorbing and entertaining fare.
South Coast Repertory's (SCR) production of August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson with an all-star cast led by Charlie Robinson, transfers to The Pasadena Playhouse immediately following its SCR engagement. Performances begin tonight, June 21 and run through July 15, with an official press opening on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m at The Pasadena Playhouse.
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) and South Coast Repertory, will present August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson. Performances will begin June 21 through July 15, with an official press opening on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m at The Pasadena Playhouse. Check out a sneak peek of the production photos below!
August Wilson's Jitney, a play about a ragtag group of drivers of gypsy cabs-known as jitneys-closes out SCR's 2011-2012 season, with an all-star cast led by Charlie Robinson, who last wowed SCR audiences in another Wilson hit, Fences. Ron OJ Parson, who has previously directed Jitney at St. Louis Black Rep, directs the show, which runs on the Segerstrom Stage now through June 10. See photos of Charlie Robinson and the cast of JITNEY on stage below!
August Wilson's Jitney, a play about a ragtag group of drivers of gypsy cabs-known as jitneys-closes out SCR's 2011-2012 season, with an all-star cast led by Charlie Robinson, who last wowed SCR audiences in another Wilson hit, Fences. Ron OJ Parson, who has previously directed Jitney at St. Louis Black Rep, directs the show, which runs on the Segerstrom Stage from tonight, May 11 - June 10.
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) and South Coast Repertory, announced today the full casting and creative team for JITNEY. Single tickets are also now on sale to the public. South Coast Repertory's (SCR) production of August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson with an all-star cast led by Charlie Robinson, will transfer to The Pasadena Playhouse immediately following its SCR engagement. Performances will begin June 21 through July 15, with an official press opening on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m at The Pasadena Playhouse.
August Wilson's Jitney, a play about a ragtag group of drivers of gypsy cabs-known as jitneys-will close out SCR's 2011-2012 season, with an all-star cast led by Charlie Robinson, who last wowed SCR audiences in another Wilson hit, Fences. Ron OJ Parson, who has previously directed Jitney at St. Louis Black Rep, will direct the show, which will run on the Segerstrom Stage from May 11 - June 10.
Both history and literature are peppered with intense stories of sibling rivalry--the most contentious of which often recount the environmental and circumstantial forces that pit them against one another, sometimes resulting in wrenching, tragic results. Added to this cannon almost a decade ago was Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, currently enjoying a well-executed revival production at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through January 29, 2012.
Teachers cast spells, cows wander the halls and pigtails speak in the deliriously funny opener of SCR's Theatre for Young Audiences season: Sideways Stories from Wayside School, which runs Nov. 5-21 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.
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