Lonny Chapman News

The Group Rep presents LOOSE KNIT, written by Theresa Rebeck, directed by L. Flint Esquerra, produced by Katelyn Ann Clark, a seductively smart, dark comedy about women who, once a week gather to knit. As the sweaters pile up, their lives fall apart. August 2 - September 8, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.

The Group Rep presents a musical staged reading of PEACH BOY, based on a 200 year old favorite fairy tale character Momotaro, book and lyrics by Tony Pinizzotto, music by Phil Luna, directed by Hisato Masuyama. PEACH BOY is a timeless tale of love, adventure, and coming-of-age; crafted to excite as it restores your faith in never being told you're too old to dream. Two performances only! Tuesday, July 2 at 8 pm and Wednesday, July 3 at 8 pm.

The Group Rep presents a musical staged reading of PEACH BOY, based on a 200 year old favorite fairy tale character Momotaro, book and lyrics by Tony Pinizzotto, music by Phil Luna, directed by Hisato Masuyama. PEACH BOY is a timeless tale of love, adventure, and coming-of-age; crafted to excite as it restores your faith in never being told you're too old to dream. Two performances only! Tuesday, July 2 at 8 pm and Wednesday, July 3 at 8 pm.

Director Patrick Burke trained at?The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Onstage at the Group?Rep:?A Christmas Carol,?Inspecting Carol,?Sherlock's Last Case,?Hotel Paradiso, Awake and Sing,?Boeing Boeing,?Don't Dress For Dinner,?That Lovin' Feelin',?A Nice Family Christmas, Lost In Yonkers,?A Midsummer Night's Dream,?Romeo & Juliet, and Rumors.  When did you get interested in puppets and puppetry?

The Group Rep's production of AVENUE Q played to sold out houses opening weekend at the Lonny Chapman Theatre. The Tony Award-winning musical, with music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Lopez and Marx, Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, directed by Patrick Burke, produced by Drina Durazo and Kevin Hoffman, Jr., Music Direction by Paul Cady, and Choreography by Michele Bernath has quickly become a Critics Pick.

This, my fourth viewing of the smash Tony Award winning musical superhit Avenue Q, was a treat in many ways.. This little show, like a Sesame Street for adults, plays out like life - only bigger - with off-the-wall grotesquely funny situations, hilarious one-liners and tantalizing music, each and every tune a winner. The show leaves you craving more, but unfortunately you only have through July 7 to see the Group Rep's delicious production in North Hollywood. It's one thing to see this show on the huge Ahmanson or Pantages stages and quite another to see it on the smaller more intimate stage at Group Rep. This close-up intimacy enhances the enjoyment of the show one hundred fold.

The Group Rep presents AVENUE Q, Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, directed by Patrick Burke, produced by Drina Durazo and Kevin Hoffman, Jr., Music Direction by Paul Cady, and Choreography by Michele Bernath.

The Group Rep presents A Cabaret Line, a Two Night Only! fun fundraiser cabaret show, directed and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, with music direction by Richard Allen, produced by Doug Haverty, June 11 and June 12 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

The Masher by Grace Jasmine - a disturbing and often hysterically funny #MeToo allegory where men are held responsible and women are judge, jury and…?

Homeward LA is a 10-day citywide event from April 26 - May 5, where multiple productions of monologues based on stories from people who have experienced homelessness will be performed by actors all around the city. Join The Group Rep for one of over 50 productions happening throughout the Los Angeles area! Together we will experience stories from the lives of those who strive to find their way home, increase awareness around the homeless crisis facing Los Angeles, and raise funds for The Midnight Mission, an amazing nonprofit organization on Skid Row.  Some material contains adult themes and language.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation will honor Pegasus Transit and David Ralphe with this year's Pillar of the Arts Awards at the Spotlight Awards Ceremony during a dinner and auction event to be held Saturday, May 11 at the Wood Ranch Country Club. Ralphe and Pegasus Transit are being honored for their extraordinary support of the arts in our community. Joining them will be Artists of the Year Keenon Hooks and Andrew Allen, Young Artist of the Year Lucas Panczel, Volunteer of the Year Sharon Gibson, and Educator of the Year Melissa Albertson. Tickets are available to the public by visiting www.simispotlight.com.

Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. This is on the campus of Beverly Hills High School. Theatre 40 is Beverly Hills' professional theatre company. Ample free parking is available beneath the theatre. The parking area is best accessed through the driveway at the intersection of Moreno and Durant Drives.

The Group Rep presents two unusual one-acts, Paul Zindel's LET ME HEAR YOU WHISPER directed by Katelyn Ann Clark, and Tennessee Williams' THE STRANGEST KIND OF ROMANCE directed by JC Gafford.

The Group Rep Theatre at the Lonny Chapman Theatre is accepting submissions for their third annual festival of NINE WINNING ONE-ACTS, to be presented June 8 through July 14, 2019, Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 7 pm, for a total of 12 performances, Upstairs at the Group Rep, an intimate 38 seat theatre on the second floor of the Lonny Chapman Theatre at 10900 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California.

Art Shulman has produced many full-length plays including The Rabbi's Mission; The Rabbi & The Shiksa; The Yentas Wear Red Hats; I Got Troubles; Doubting Thomas; I'm Not Just A Comic Genius; Rebecca's Gamble; Not One More Foot Of Land!; Bagels; Boxcar & Eugenia; Sex Is Good For You!; Old Broads Can't Dunk; God, Bring Me A Miracle; The $4 Million Giveaway; Misconceptions; Joe Carbone's Job; September 10; Career Day; and the Xmas musical, Trolls Stole The North Pole. Additionally, he's written many one-act plays, too numerous to list here.

The Group Rep opens its 45th Season with two James McLure one-act comedies, LAUNDRY AND BOURBON and LONE STAR, directed by Barbara Brownell, produced by Lloyd Pedersen. Three young women who are neighbors and friends share drinks and hard truths about life, love, and marriage while doing laundry on a very hot day. In another part of town three men beat-the-heat in the backyard of a bar as the local high school hero, recently returned after a hitch in Vietnam, details his military and amorous exploits. Laughs are shared, souls are bared.

While a number of restaurants are offering up free meals for Federal workers on furlough due to the government shutdown, The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre is jumping in to offer a pair of free tickets to a show.

Actress/director Barbara Brownell has numerous credits as an actress. Broadway: Play it Again, Sam and The Ballad of Johnny Pot.  King Lear at the Actor's Studio, NY.  Touring: Oklahoma, On a Clear Day.  Regional: Zing!, Barefoot in the Park, Star Spangled Girl.  L.A.: Happy Birthday Wanda June, Dylan, A Case of Libel, Early Cabaret, Chicago, Dull Pain. She won the 2017 Broadway World award for Best Leading Actress in a play, LA . T.V. shows include Mad Men, Big Love, Night Court (3), Grey's Anatomy, Monk, L.A. Law, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, and recurring on Webster and MASH.  Films include Behind the Candelabra, Going Home, Hearts of the West, Someone to Watch Over Me, Ants, Mark of the Witch, and The Master.  In this interview, Brownell discusses acting and directing Laundry and Bourbon and Lone Star at The Group Rep, set to open this Friday January 25.

The Group Rep's Co-Artistic Directors, Larry Eisenberg and Chris Winfield announce the Group Rep's 45th Season (2019) with six eclectic and unique plays: Laundry and Bourbon & Lone Star, two one-act comedies by James McLure, directed by Barbara Brownell (January 25 - March 3),  The Secret of Chimneys, a long lost play by Agatha Christie, directed by Jules Aaron (March 29 - May 5), Avenue Q, the wry, Broadway musical written by Jeff Whitty, Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, directed by Patrick Burke (May 31 - July 7),  Loose Knit, a modern comedy by Theresa Rebeck, directed by L. Flint Esquerra  (August 2 - September 8), Night of the Living Dead, a gripping terror-filled drama based on the George Romero film, adapted by Gus Krieger directed by Drina Durazo (October 4 - November 10), and the beloved farce The Man Who Came to Dinner by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, directed by Bruce Kimmel (December 6, 2019 - January 12, 2020).  The six shows will be performed on the Main Stage, first floor 90 Seat Theatre.