Ron West News

Dumba?? dumbera?? dumbest? Open Fist Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Neil Simon's Musical Fools, an adaptation of the Simon play Fools, with book and lyrics by Neil Simon and music and lyrics by Phil Swann and Ron West (deLEARious, The People Vs Friar Laurence). West also directs, with music direction by Jan Roper and choreography by Louisa Kendrick Burton. Neil Simon's Musical Fools opens Oct. 12 at Atwater Village Theatre, where performances will continue through Nov. 17; pay-what-you-want previews begin Oct. 4.

Dumb... dumber... dumbest? Open Fist Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Neil Simon's Musical Fools, an adaptation of the Simon play Fools, with book and lyrics by Neil Simon and music and lyrics by Phil Swann and Ron West (deLEARious, The People Vs Friar Laurence). West also directs, with music direction by Jan Roper and choreography by Louisa Kendrick Burton. Neil Simon's Musical Fools opens Oct. 12 at Atwater Village Theatre, where performances will continue through Nov. 17; pay-what-you-want previews begin Oct. 4.

The Tea Set were what you would call a classic art school band, all music as art experiment, where mistakes and wrong chords were part of the process. They were creative, noisy, theatrical, clothed in thrift store chic, and WAY ahead of their time. But now it seems the music world has finally managed to catch up to them, and so the band has teamed with LA-based indie label Cleopatra Records for a definitive singles collection called Back In Time For Tea to be released on July 19.

The Second City's A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens returns to Portland Center Stage at The Armory with a new Scrooge played by Isaac Lamb, new jokes, and the same uproariously funny experience Portland audiences have come to expect. Twist Your Dickens begins preview performances on Nov. 27, opens on Nov. 30, and runs through Dec. 23 on the U.S. Bank Main Stage. Ron West returns to direct. Rebecca Sohn joins the cast, while Darius Pierce, Sam Dinkowitz, Chantal DeGroat, Laura Modica, and Nicholas Kessler return with their signature,irreverent take on some of the season's most iconic characters. Written by The Colbert Report alumni and improv comedy veterans Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, Twist Your Dickens cuts through the typical sweetness of the season to offer something bold, fresh, and acerbically funny. 

On November 15, 1949, in Hollywood, California, an up-and-coming young actress met a handsome movie star for dinner -- a blind date that changed history.

On November 15, 1949, in Hollywood, California, an up-and-coming young actress met a handsome movie star for dinner -- a blind date that changed history.

The nominations have been announced for the 2018 Equity Joseph Jefferson ('Jeff') Awards.

On November 15, 1949, in Hollywood, California, an up-and-coming young actress met a handsome movie star for dinner -- a blind date that changed history.

Two performances of One Year Later have been added due to popular demand! Open Fist Theatre Company's "political pop-up" features 13 short plays by writers from across the country that explore our nation's current social and political climate and how the past year has affected us. Finding it hard to get off the couch and get to the theater? Open Fist has brought the couches to Atwater Village Theatre, creating a cozy, speakeasy setting where patrons can arrive early or stay late to have a drink and a chat with the cast and fellow audience members.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory's 2018-2019 season will feature 11 productions along with a special 10th anniversary return engagement of Storm Large in Crazy Enough, a show that had its world premiere at The Armory in 2009 and became one of the company's biggest hits.

One Year Later - This three-week "political pop-up" features 14 short plays by writers from across the country that explore our nation's current social and political climate and how the past year has affected us. Finding it hard to get off the couch and get to the theater? Open Fist has brought the couches to Atwater Village Theatre, creating a cozy, speakeasy setting where patrons can arrive early or stay late to have a drink and a chat with the cast and fellow audience members.

deLEARious Extended through Jan. 27. Tragedy meets hilarity and King Lear gets a happy ending in a madcap musical romp la Mel Brooks and Monty Python.

Open Fist Theatre Company's revival of Ron West and Phil Swann's musical comedy DELEARIOUS has a lot going on. The production contains three storylines in three different time periods twisted together in a fast-paced, boisterous style that was an award-winning hit for the company in 2008. Nine years later, it still packs in more story than you can possibly keep straight but it also offers up plenty of laughs to go along with it.

Tragedy meets hilarity and King Lear gets a happy ending in a madcap musical romp la Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Open Fist Theatre Companyrevives its smash hit production of deLEARious, an award-winning play-within-a-play by Second City'sRon West and composer Phil Swann. West directs for a Nov. 10 opening at Atwater Village Theatre, where performances will continue through Dec. 16. Pay-what-you-want previews begin Nov. 3.

The hilarious hit from comedy giant The Second City returns to The Armory for another year of holiday jeer. The Second City's A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens, written by Emmy Award-winners Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, begins preview performances on the U.S. Bank Main Stage on December 5; opens on December 8; and runs through December 31.

Tragedy meets hilarity and King Lear gets a happy ending in a madcap musical romp la Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Open Fist Theatre Company revives its smash hit production of deLEARious, an award-winning play-within-a-play by Second City's Ron West and composer Phil Swann. West directs for a Nov. 10opening at Atwater Village Theatre, where performances will continue throughDec. 16. Pay-what-you-want previews begin Nov. 3.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare's raucous comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a powerhouse, all-woman cast setting up a witty and thought-provoking debate on politics, power, and love. Framed as a performance by a band of Suffragettes with additional dialogue by Second City's Ron West, The Taming of the Shrew launches Chicago Shakespeare's 2017/18 Season in the Courtyard Theater, now through November 12, 2017.

On Monday, September 25, 2017, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization who for the past 13 years has been dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, will present four honorary awards along side the 26 awards for outstanding achievement in theatre. Just announced, Tony winner Matthew Broderick will present the Outstanding Musical Award alongside fellow presenters Charles Busch, Angel Desai, Lane Harwell, David Pittu and Jennifer Van Dyck.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare's raucous comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a powerhouse, all-woman cast-setting up a witty and thought-provoking debate on politics, power, and love. Framed as a performance by a band of Suffragettes with additional dialogue by Second City's Ron West, The Taming of the Shrew launches Chicago Shakespeare's 2017/18 Season in the Courtyard Theater, September 16-November 12, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare's raucous comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a powerhouse, all-woman cast-setting up a witty and thought-provoking debate on politics, power, and love. Framed as a performance by a band of Suffragettes with additional dialogue by Second City's Ron West, The Taming of the Shrew launches Chicago Shakespeare's 2017/18 Season in the Courtyard Theater, September 16-November 12, 2017.