Very few new shows, especially musicals, have that extra special spark, that je ne sais quoi that makes them a surefire success. For starters, there must be a good book - with a story that's credible...and funny - and a pleasant score that keeps your fingers and toes tapping, at least while you are in your seats. Justin Love, based on a story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, is one such musical, that , in spite of its excess, is guaranteed to make you laugh nonstop and with a cast and crew to die for.
Oya can run faster than anyone-but not fast enough to escape her destiny. Shirley Jo Finney directs the long-awaited Los Angeles premiere of In the Red and Brown Water. Lyrically weaving together elements of urban contemporary realism with West African mysticism, Tarell Alvin McCraney's lusciously theatrical and boldly original new play opens at The Fountain Theatre on October 20.
Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider have announced the first show of its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season, the world premiere musical, JUSTIN LOVE, with book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning and lyrics by Lori Scarlett. The show will be directed by Michael Matthews with choreography by Janet Roston and musical direction by Gregory Nabours. JUSTIN LOVE will begin previews tonight, September 7, and will open on Friday, September 21, running through Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.
Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider have announced the first show of its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season, the world premiere musical, JUSTIN LOVE, with book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning and lyrics by Lori Scarlett. The show will be directed by Michael Matthews with choreography by Janet Roston and musical direction by Gregory Nabours. JUSTIN LOVE will begin previews on Friday, September 7, and will open on Friday, September 21, running through Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.
The excitement of last weekend's opening night performance of Cyrano by Stephen Sachs, a co-production between The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre, was given an added thrill by the attendance of film/TV actress Marlee Matlin. Matlin is a longtime supporter and patron of Deaf West, and she starred in the CBS television movie version of Sachs' 1997 play Sweet Nothing in my Ear, which also premiered at the Fountain. See photos of Matlin with the cast below!
What is the true language of love? The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre collaborate on the world premiere of 'Cyrano,' a modern day, re-imagined signed/spoken version of the classic 'Cyrano de Bergerac' is performed in ASL and English, April 28-June 10. See photos from the production below!
The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre present the world premiere of a modern day classic romance, a re-imagined signed/spoken version of "Cyrano de Bergerac." CYRANO, written by Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist) and directed by Simon Levy, opens at The Fountain Theatre on April 28, with previews beginning April 20.
The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre present the world premiere of a modern day classic romance, a re-imagined signed/spoken version of "Cyrano de Bergerac." CYRANO, written by Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist) and directed by Simon Levy, opens at The Fountain Theatre on April 28, with previews beginning April 20.
Rod Menzies directs the world premiere of an Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA production. The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther Kingby Andrew Dolan, a play as provocative as its title, runs March 17 - April 29 at Atwater Village Theatre.
Rod Menzies directs the world premiere of an Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA production. The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther Kingby Andrew Dolan, a play as provocative as its title, runs March 17 - April 29 at Atwater Village Theatre.
Singer/dancer/showgirl Josephine Baker (born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906) tintillated audiences worldwide with her banana dance and became the sensation of Paris, France, her permanent home once she renounced her American citizenship in 1937. Her life in the US was hardly an easy one, victimized by racial injustice since childhood. Despite her fame, she had even been thrown out of the prestigious Stork Club in New York, due to color constraints. Now in a two-act solo show that includes song, dance and anecdotes, classy Sloan Robinson portrays the uniquely sensual Baker with unmistakable style.
Celebration Theatre is thrilled to announce the fourth show in its 2010-2011 Season of Shows, the West Coast Premiere of the gay rap opera BASH'D! - A GAY RAP OPERA, written by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow, music by Aaron Macri, musical direction and additional beatz by DJ Jedi, directed and choreographed by Ameenah Kaplan and produced for Celebration Theatre by Ryan Bergmann and Michael A. Shepperd with Nathaniel Mathis, Cameron Faber and Michael C Kricfalusi III.
The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its winners and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2010.
The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its winners and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2010. Announcements were made at a ceremony held on Monday, March 14 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.
The 2011 Garland Award recipients were announced today, honoring the best of Los Angeles theatre. Under the voting system each Garland winner was named on at least three critics' 'Best of 2010' lists. Each critic listed up to five nominees for each category except performance, up to 10 nominees for performance in musical productions and 10 for straight plays. Here are the critics' lists, minus the winners.
The critics who voted are Jeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Holder, Eric Marchese, Dany Margolies, Dink O'Neal, Melinda Schupmann, Madeleine Shaner, Les Spindle, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. Back Stage thanks them, as we hope you will when you see them this year, for their perpetual devotion to Southland theater large and small.
The Ovation award-winning Fountain Theatre ('Best Season, 2010') celebrates the centennial of Tennessee Williams' birth (March 26, 1911) with the West Coast premiere of his final play, by special permission of the Williams Estate. Simon Levy, just announced as the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 2010 Milton Katselas Award for special achievement in directing, directs A House Not Meant to Stand, opening February 26 at The Fountain Theatre. Low-priced previews begin February 19.
The Ovation award-winning Fountain Theatre ("Best Season, 2010") celebrates the centennial of Tennessee Williams' birth (March 26, 1911) with the West Coast premiere of his final play, by special permission of the Williams Estate. Simon Levy, just announced as the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 2010 Milton Katselas Award for special achievement in directing, directs A House Not Meant to Stand, opening February 26 at The Fountain Theatre. Low-priced previews begin February 19.
The Ovation award-winning Fountain Theatre ("Best Season, 2010") celebrates the centennial of Tennessee Williams' birth (March 26, 1911) with the West Coast premiere of his final play, by special permission of the Williams Estate. Simon Levy, just announced as the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 2010 Milton Katselas Award for special achievement in directing, directs A House Not Meant to Stand, opening February 26 at The Fountain Theatre. Low-priced previews begin February 19.
The Ovation award-winning Fountain Theatre ('Best Season, 2010') celebrates the centennial of Tennessee Williams' birth (March 26, 1911) with the West Coast premiere of his final play, by special permission of the Williams Estate. Simon Levy, just announced as the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 2010 Milton Katselas Award for special achievement in directing, directs A House Not Meant to Stand, opening February 26 at The Fountain Theatre. Low-priced previews begin February 19.
Subtitled 'A Play with Cartoons,' Neighbors is guaranteed to be the most provocative play you'll see this year. Following on the heels of last season's multiple award-winning production of Stick Fly, Joseph Stern's Matrix Theatre Company is back with Brenden Jacobs-Jenkins' shocking, explosive, and wildly theatrical new play that examines race relations in post-racial America.
