Lena Sands News

Orpheus, Eurydice, a trouble-making horse and Death herself converge in a very funny and irreverent reimagining of the Greek myth by surrealist poet, playwright and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. Deaf West Theatre views Cocteau's whimsical, magical and highly visual play, first performed in 1926, through a unique lens: translated from the French into Spoken English by John Savacool, into American Sign Language by Andrew Moore, and slated for a run at the True Colors Festival in Tokyo, Japan at the end of April. Deena Selenow directs Orphée in a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre, opening March 13 for a four-week run through April 5. Three low-priced previews are set for March 8, March 11 and March 12.

Moses and Kitch stand around on the corner - talking smack, passing the time, and hoping that today a miracle will come. The Echo Theater Company presents theWest Coast premiere of Pass Over, the 2019 Lucille Lortel award-winning play by Antoinette Nwanduthat mashes up Waiting for Godotwith the Exodus saga - a rare piece of politically charged theater by a bold new American voice.Deena Selenow directs for a July 13 opening at Atwater Village Theatre. Pay-what-you-want previews begin July 10, and performances continue through Aug. 19.

Formidable actress Betsy Moore brilliantly portrays Alice as an adult who questions whether or not to end her life due to personal and professional road blocks. Her mind wanders, creating a visit from Mira, an extraterrestrial "star caller" from one of Tiptree's stories, portrayed by Megan Rippey, phantasmagorically dressed by Lena Sands in mermaid-like, metallic green, who leads Alice on an episodic, emotional journey through the shadows of her past where, despite her life's accomplishments, buried pain and unmet desires reside. During her journeys, Alice encounters her younger selves (Isabella Ramacciotti as Little Alice and Paula Rebelo as Young Alice) during the dreamlike remembrance sequences in which Alice travels to Africa with her mother (Anneliese Euler), becomes an officer in the Army, works for the CIA and the Pentagon before she started writing science fiction under the male pen name of James Tiptree, Jr. as a last grasp for life at the age of 50.

The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man - Part fact, part fever dream, and part musical, this captivating new work opens with Alice B. Sheldon - better known to sci-fi aficionados as author James Tiptree, Jr. - contemplating suicide. Dodging in and out of reality, the play, with a bold musical score from award-winning world music artist Yuval Ron, investigates gender, longing and creativity as self-exploration through one of the science fiction world's greatest literary tricksters. Sheldon was most notable for breaking down the barriers between writing perceived as inherently 'male' or 'female,' as it was not publicly known until 1977 that Tiptree was, in fact, a woman. Inspired by the biography 'James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon' by Julie Phillips along with 'With Delicate Mad Hands' by James Tiptree, Jr., The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man, is a co-production from Son of Semele Ensemble and opens on October 27 at Son of Semele Theater in Los Angeles.

The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man - Part fact, part fever dream, and part musical, this captivating new work opens with Alice B. Sheldon - better known to sci-fi aficionados as author James Tiptree, Jr. - contemplating suicide. Dodging in and out of reality, the play, with a bold musical score from award-winning world music artist Yuval Ron, investigates gender, longing and creativity as self-exploration through one of the science fiction world's greatest literary tricksters.

The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man - Part fact, part fever dream, and part musical, this captivating new work opens with Alice B. Sheldon - better known to sci-fi aficionados as author James Tiptree, Jr. - contemplating suicide. Dodging in and out of reality, the play, with a bold musical score from award-winning world music artist Yuval Ron, investigates gender, longing and creativity as self-exploration through one of the science fiction world's greatest literary tricksters.

The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man - Part fact, part fever dream, and part musical, this captivating new work opens with Alice B. Sheldon - better known to sci-fi aficionados as author James Tiptree, Jr. - contemplating suicide. Dodging in and out of reality, the play, with a bold musical score from award-winning world music artist Yuval Ron, investigates gender, longing and creativity as self-exploration through one of the science fiction world's greatest literary tricksters. Sheldon was most notable for breaking down the barriers between writing perceived as inherently 'male' or 'female,' as it was not publicly known until 1977 that Tiptree was, in fact, a woman. Inspired by the biography 'James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon' by Julie Phillips along with 'With Delicate Mad Hands' by James Tiptree, Jr., The Woman Who Went to Space as a Man, is a co-production from Son of Semele Ensemble and opens on October 27 at Son of Semele Theater in Los Angeles.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition included productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018. Stage Raw is a community funded professional journalism website that was created in response to the decline of arts coverage in local mainstream and alternative media.The Awards ceremony was held Monday night, August 20, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by Coeurage Theatre Company, and co-directed by Jer Adrianne Lelliott, Thaddeus Shafer and Lauren Ludwig. Winners notated in red below.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition includes productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition includes productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) announces that its critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Stage Raw TOP TEN), uniquely immersive theatrical experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, JULY 22 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

After our intake interview with the Asylum's Dr. Spivey (Trent Mills), we were invited through the loading dock door into the showers where two asylum staff members required us to don our patient wear. Once we learned the rules for the evening's entertainment, double doors opened to reveal the Psych Ward, marvelously realistic with wired cage doors opening into the space where patients sat playing games at the tables around the center stage area. Nurses walked around handing out 'medication' while new patients interacted with the actor-patients playing cards or other games at tables, after which we were directed to look for clues to discover the secrets around the 'ward' which would lead us to our reward. No - I am not going to tell you what that reward was nor how to solve the clues. That is part of the fun!

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) presents a unique immersive experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST will begin previews on Thursday, May 11; will open on Friday, May 25and perform through Sunday, July 1 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

AFTER HOURS THETRE COMPANY (who most recently produced the Ovation nominated Dogfight and I Love You Because) presents a unique immersive experience, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, produced by Graham Wetterhahn, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST will begin previews on Thursday, May 11; will open on Friday, May 25and perform through Sunday, July 1 at SIX01 Studio, 630 S. Flower St. in Burbank.

The second play in this year's Block Party is AMERYKA, written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone, which continues through April 29, 2018 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Plan to arrive early so you can take advantage reading all the information posted in several areas of the lobby (as well as in the two main theater entrances) about Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko, a Polish freedom fighter who assisted Thomas Jefferson in the formation of our country, as his remarkable life and beliefs are central to the plot of this play.

The Critical Mass Performance Group production of "Ameryka," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre, will open Saturday, April 21 at 8 p.m. Written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company, "Ameryka" is currently in previews and will close April 29.

Casting is set for the Critical Mass Performance Group production of "Ameryka," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company, "Ameryka" will begin previews April 19, open April 21 and close April 29.

From the playwright and producers of Hit the Wall comes the West Coast premiere of Exit Strategy by acclaimed Chicago playwright Ike Holter. First produced in Chicago in 2014 and then off-Broadway in 2016, this fiery and poetic play will be directed by Deena Selenow. Three preview performances are scheduled for September 26, 27, and 28, and opening is set for Friday, September 29 at 8pm. The run will continue through November 5 in the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

From the playwright and producers of Hit the Wall comes the West Coast premiere of Exit Strategy by acclaimed Chicago playwright Ike Holter. First produced in Chicago in 2014 and then off-Broadway in 2016, this fiery and poetic play will be directed by Deena Selenow. 

Jennifer Blood (Matilda) presents a reading of Rachel Kauder Nalebuff's The Bumps to benefit Planned Parenthood. Directed by Deena Selenow with a cast that includes Jennifer Blood, Taifa Harris, and Eric Clem, the event will take place at 22 Boerum Place in Brooklyn, NY on August 14 & 15 at 7:30 PM.