Michael Donovan News

Lucas Hnath fans, rejoice! International City Theatre presents A Doll’s House, Part 2, the Obie-Award winning playwright’s bitingly funny, thoroughly modern, 90-minute “sequel” to Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 classic. Trevor Biship-Gillespie directs this stand-alone continuation (no need to know the original) for an April 15 opening at ICT’s home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, where performances continue through May 1. Two low-priced previews are set for April 13 and April 14.

Padua Playwrights presents the world premiere of the newest work from legendary poet/playwright Murray Mednick. Mednick directs his darkly comic Three Tables for a five-week run, April 23 through May 22, at the Zephyr Theatre on Melrose Avenue.

24th Street Theatre's world premiere production of Rapunzel Alone, presented in association with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, returns to the 24th Street venue April 9 through May 1 following a two-weekend run at The Wallis. To increase audience accessibility, all performances feature Spanish supertitles.

International City Theatre presents A Doll's House, Part 2, the Obie-Award winning playwright's bitingly funny, thoroughly modern, 90-minute “sequel” to Henrik Ibsen's 1879 classic.

Working Barn Productions presents the West Coast premiere of what The New York Times calls “a blackly comic inversion of the public Disney persona” — the ambitiously titled A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney by Lucas Hnath (Broadway's A Doll's House, Part 2; Hillary and Clinton; Dana H).

SINGING REVOLUTION is a contemporary production designed to inspire American youth with the ideas that peaceful resistance, social justice, and acts of kindness can change the world.

Loosely inspired by the famous children's story, Rapunzel Alone centers on Lettie, a young mixed-race girl from London who is sent to the countryside for her own safety during the daily bombings of World War II. On an isolated country farm, she faces her own battles with a strict new guardian and a very “fowl” goose.

“Singing Revolution: The Musical,” a thrilling new musical theater production inspired by historical events, is up and running at the  Broadwater Theatre in Hollywood through February 20.

International City Theatre pays tribute to the late, great Stephen Sondheim, kicking off its 37th season with Marry Me A Little. A must-see for Sondheim aficionados, this bittersweet musical two-hander, which weaves 17 of Sondheim's lesser-known songs into a tale of love and loneliness, was first conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman René.

“Lift it up, lift it up: we can sing our country free!” Twenty triple-threat performers and a five piece band will bring an inspirational new musical based on historical events to life this January. Presented by Dreamtone Productions in association with NewYorkRep, the world premiere of Singing Revolution: The Musical sets a tale of star-crossed lovers against the beautiful, moving and timeless true story of Estonia’s 1987 song-filled, peaceful uprising against the Soviet Union. 

The world premiere of Singing Revolution: The Musical sets a tale of star-crossed lovers against the beautiful, moving and timeless true story of Estonia's 1987 song-filled, peaceful uprising against the Soviet Union.

Since Broadway had been dark throughout the nomination process, the society would instead honor virtual theatre productions that happened throughout the year, naming it the Virtual Theatre Award. Other nominees include Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Girls5Eva, Ted Lasso, Bridgerton, Wandavision, Shrill, This Is Us, The Queen's Gambit, and more.

Set in 1948 in a Chicago hotel that has seen better days, the interwoven stories of BLUES IN THE NIGHT evoke the misery and humor of life, love and the dogged determination to do more than just survive. The drama reveals itself through glorious songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Alberta Hunter, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more.

Having a dream is like running with scissors. Just one false step and the journey, or even your life, can be over.  I asked SALVAGE director Damian D. Lewis about his own dream and how much he was willing to do to achieve it. The same theme runs through SALVAGE centering around Harley, a singer-songwriter whose wife is expecting their first child and his journey to deciding what is more important - pursuing his dream or accepting the responsibilities of family life.

The Foundation for New American Musicals presents the 2021 FNAM All-star Benefit and Fundraiser. The evening will honor Tony/Grammy/Emmy Award-winner Marc Shaiman (Hairspray and Mary Poppins Returns), who will receive FNAM's first Inspire Award; and FNAM Founding-member Robert Klein, who will receive the first Founders' Award.

Having a dream is like running with scissors. Harley, a singer-songwriter whose wife is expecting their first child, has decided to hang up his dream before it destroys his family. On the way to pawn his guitar, he stumbles across the bar where his musical hero, Floyd Whitaker, died. Upon entering, he finds an inhospitable bartender and a single surly customer who's strumming the blues on an old guitar. How could he resist an adventure like this?

The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM) will honor Marc Shaiman with their inaugural Inspire Award at their FNAM ALL-STAR BENEFIT AND FUNDRAISER October 24th at a private Pacific Palisades residence. Scheduled to appear that night: Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Bruce Vilanch, Marisha Wallace and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Marc took a brief moment from his many obligations to answer my queries with his snappy quips.

Ebony Repertory Theatre announces full cast and creative team for BLUES IN THE NIGHT, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical conceived by Sheldon Epps. Presented by Ebony Rep, in association with International City Theatre, ERT's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Wren T. Brown (ERT's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) directs this powerful and soulful blues celebration.

Ebony Repertory Theatre has announced full cast and creative team for BLUES IN THE NIGHT, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical conceived by Sheldon Epps.

The Foundation for New American Musicals presents the 2021 FNAM All-star Benefit and Fundraiser. The evening will honor Tony/Grammy/Emmy Award-winner Marc Shaiman (Hairspray and Mary Poppins Returns), who will receive FNAM's first Inspire Award; and FNAM Founding-member Robert Klein, who will receive the first Founders Award.