Michael A. Shepperd News

A LITTLE NEW MUSIC is proud to present a milestone 10th showcase of fresh and original musical theater material with special guest host, John Tartaglia, who brings his sparkling humor to this dynamic evening celebrating the next generation of musical theater artists.

Actors' Equity Releases Statement Re: Equity Waiver Lawsuit, Asner vs. Actors' Equity

The Celebration Theatre has picked a perfect production, the Los Angeles premiere of playwright Robert O'Hara's BOOTYCANDY, to inaugurate  their new home @ the Lex.  Entertaining, and with prominent reoccurring social themes of gay acceptance and upended racial stereotyping. 

Celebration Theatre at the Lex presents its first play in its new home, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews &Michael A. Shepperd, the Los Angeles premiere of the 27th Annual LAMBDA award- winner for Best LGBT Drama of 2014/2015, BOOTYCANDY by Robert O'Hara (Antebellum) and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (The Color Purple, Failure: A Love Story). Comments Celebration Theatre's Executive Director Michael C. Kricfalusi, 'All of us atCelebration Theatre are so excited to have found a new home and even more excited to kick off our 33rd season with BOOTYCANDY. It's going to be a great year!' BOOTYCANDYwill begin previews on Friday, October 23 at 8pm; will open on Thursday, October 29 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, December 20 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series... LIFE IN LIMBO, which examines the existences of 10 men in the closet who come together on one night to recount the histories of their lives in a brave, insightful, surprisingly truthful and revealing narrative.

As BroadwayWorld reported this weekend, members of the Los Angeles theatrical community have filed a lawsuit today against Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, challenging the Union's decision to eliminate its 25-year-old waiver of jurisdiction over small 99-seat theaters, a program popularly known as Equity Waiver.

This just in from actors and other members of the Los Angeles theatrical community who filed a lawsuit today against Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. The lawsuit challenges the Union's decision to eliminate its 25-year-old waiver of jurisdiction over small 99-seat theaters, a program popularly known as Equity Waiver. Plaintiffs claim that the Union's decision to end Equity Waiver will unfairly destroy small theater in Los Angeles and deprive thousands of actors of opportunities to collaborate on creative theatrical projects.

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series... LIFE IN LIMBO, which examines the existences of 10 men in the closet who come together on one night to recount the histories of their lives in a brave, insightful, surprisingly truthful and revealing narrative.

Celebration Theatre at the Lex presents its first play in its new home, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the Los Angeles premiere of the 27th Annual LAMBDA award- winner for Best LGBT Drama of 2014/2015, BOOTYCANDY by Robert O'Hara (Antebellum) and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (The Color Purple, Failure: A Love Story).  Comments Celebration Theatre's Executive Director Michael C. Kricfalusi, "All of us at Celebration Theatre are so excited to have found a new home and even more excited to kick off our 33rd season with BOOTYCANDY.  It's going to be a great year!'  BOOTYCANDYwill begin previews on Friday, October 23 at 8pm; will open on Thursday, October 29 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, December 20 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration Theatre announced today the first show in association with Nicholas Caprio, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, KIM JONG FUNNER: A FEW BLOCKS OVER, OUT OF HIDING, IN PRIMETIME!.  KIM JONG FUNNER: A FEW BLOCKS OVER, OUT OF HIDING, IN PRIMETIME!, will open today, September 18 at 8pm and perform through Saturday, October 10 at the Celebration's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration Theatre announced today the first show in association with Nicholas Caprio, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, KIM JONG FUNNER: A FEW BLOCKS OVER, OUT OF HIDING, IN PRIMETIME!.  KIM JONG FUNNER: A FEW BLOCKS OVER, OUT OF HIDING, IN PRIMETIME!, will open on Friday, September 18 at 8pm and perform through Saturday, October 10 at the Celebration's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

 International City Theatrecontinues its 30th anniversary season with a production celebrating the 30th anniversary of a modern American classic: Fences by August Wilson. Gregg T. Daniel directs Wilson's powerful drama, opening tonight at International City Theatre's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. 

International City Theatre continues its 30th anniversary season with a production celebrating the 30th anniversary of a modern American classic: Fences by August Wilson. Gregg T. Daniel directs Wilson's powerful drama, opening tonight, August 21, at International City Theatre's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

Celebration Theatre announced today its 2015-2016 season of shows, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd.  This is the Celebration's 34th season and the first in its new home at the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles. Comments Celebration Theatre's Executive Director Michael C. Kricfalusi 'After wandering the streets of L.A. for two years, all of us at Celebration Theatre are thrilled to have found our new home and even happier to have found it at The Lex, less than 10 blocks from where we used to be!'

International City Theatre continues its 30th anniversary season with a production celebrating the 30th anniversary of a modern American classic: Fences by August Wilson. Gregg T. Daniel directs Wilson's powerful drama for an August 21 opening at International City Theatre's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for August 19 and 20.

Now celebrating its 23rd Anniversary, The Blank Theatre's Nationwide Young  Playwrights Festival has chosen 12 plays by young playwrights aged 12-19 from seven different states. These plays will be presented by professional actors and directors in this year's festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, June 4-28.

Celebration Theatre presents as part of its New Works Reading Series... MARRIED NORTH.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly welcomes MacArthur 'Genius' Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney for the West Coast premiere of Head of Passes, a poignant and poetic story about the journey of family and faith, trial and tribulation. In a dilapidated house near the ever-shifting mouth of the Mississippi, Shelah's family gathers on a stormy night for her birthday -- bringing ghosts and secrets of the past with them. As her roof buckles under the weight of the rain, Shelah's convictions begin to wash away, leaving her to excavate the truths buried below. Directed by Tina Landau, the riveting Head of Passes comes to the Bay Area straight from its critically lauded world premiere in Chicago. Head of Passes is a co-production with the Public Theater in New York. It begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage today, April 10, opens today, April 17, and runs through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Press night for Head of Passes will be held today, April 17, 2015.

Celebration Theatre presents as part of its New Works Reading Series... MARRIED NORTH.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly welcomes MacArthur 'Genius' Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney for the West Coast premiere of Head of Passes, a poignant and poetic story about the journey of family and faith, trial and tribulation. In a dilapidated house near the ever-shifting mouth of the Mississippi, Shelah's family gathers on a stormy night for her birthday -- bringing ghosts and secrets of the past with them. As her roof buckles under the weight of the rain, Shelah's convictions begin to wash away, leaving her to excavate the truths buried below. Directed by Tina Landau, the riveting Head of Passes comes to the Bay Area straight from its critically lauded world premiere in Chicago. Head of Passes is a co-production with the Public Theater in New York. It begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage today, April 10, opens today, April 17, and runs through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Press night for Head of Passes will be held today, April 17, 2015.