Mark McClain Wilson News

The Rogue Machine Theatre's West Coast premiere of Bryony Lavery's DIRT, a precautionary dissertation of the lethal hazards of commonplace chemicals humans come in contact with, benefits from its strong talented cast. Bravo to all the actors for their commitment to their respective roles, some requiring the tackling of reiterating endless laundry lists of chemical terminology. 

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

Playwright Lyle Kessler is perhaps best known as the author of 'Orphans' which began its stage life at the Matrix Theater in Los Angeles. Similar to the two lost brothers living in Philadelphia looking for family in that play, Kessler's new play 'The Great Divide' also centers on two very different brothers in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia dealing with the loss of their mother and overhearing father as best they can while life throws them curve balls, especially when two unexpected siblings show up and break into their family home looking for love as well as money.

Elephant Theatre Company is delighted to present the World Premier of The Great Divide by Lyle Kessler, directed by David Fofi. Opening night is tonight, July 11th at the Lillian Theatre (1036 N. Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038). The production runs Thursday, Friday and Today at 8 PM and Sunday at 5 PM through August 29th, 2015.Tickets are $25 and available at Plays411.net/divide or by calling 323.960.4429.

Elephant Theatre Company is delighted to present the World Premier of The Great Divide by Lyle Kessler, directed by David Fofi. Opening night is Saturday, July 11th at the Lillian Theatre (1036 N. Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038). The production runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 5 PM through August 29th, 2015.Tickets are $25 and available at Plays411.net/divide or by calling 323.960.4429.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Theatre of NOTE completes its 2013 season with the West Coast premiere of THE INVISIBLE PLAY written by Alex Dremann and directed by Amanda Weier. THE INVISIBLE PLAY will preview Friday, November 22nd and Saturday, November 23rd, and will open on Friday, December 6th at 8pm and run through Saturday, December 21st at Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd (just north of Sunset) in Hollywood.

Nominees for the 2011 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 19 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank; the complete list of nominees is as follows.