Shari Barrett News

Even if you have never seen the movie before (could that be possible?), you can spend your holidays in Bedford Falls with George Bailey (Nathan Ondracek, who is a natural sound-alike and physically resembles Jimmy Stewart) and his loved ones as they take you through the heartwarming tale of his life. This tale of love and dreams is the perfect way to celebrate the season with your family, and acts as a reminder to us all that no one is a failure who has friends!

Ever since I was dazzled by Creating Arts Studios production 'Thenardiers Inn' which well-deservedly went on to win the 2015 Hollywood Fringe award for best cabaret and variety show, I wait with anticipation for their next totally immersive theater experience, knowing it will be like no other. It was true for their 'The Experiment Cabaret' and I was not disappointed when I walked into the world famous Sayers Club in Hollywood, transformed into the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas during the reign of the Rat Pack in their current celebratory piece entitled 'A NIGHT AT THE SANDS' - A Vegas Musical Cocktail With an L.A. Twist.

Here's your first look at the musical murder mystery 'SOMETHING'S AFOOT' that spoofs detective stories, most particularly Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None (a.k.a. Ten Little Indians). The play involves a group of standard British mystery characters (the Cockney servants, the brash retired military man, the imperious dowager, the snoopy spinster, the ne'er-do-well nephew, the ingenue couple) who are invited to the lake estate of Lord Dudley Rancour. When the wealthy lord is found dead, it's a comical race against the clock and some outrageous booby traps to find out whodunit.

Theatre Palisades presents the first Los Angeles production of "The Game's Afoot or Holmes For The Holidays" by Ken Ludwig, opening Today, November 6, 2015 and running until Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Directed by Gene Franklin Smith, "The Game's Afoot" is the winner of the Mystery Writers of America's 2012 Edgar Award for Best Play. Nona Hale and Pat Perkins produce for Theatre Palisades by permission from Samuel French. Featured in the cast (in alphabetical order) are Gail Bernardi, Matthew Godfrey, Nicole Knudsen, James Lujan, John Mawson, Maria Pavone, Maggie Peach, and Andi Wagner.

Happy Halloween!  This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories on ghosts, goblins, illusionists and all things Halloween in Washington, DC, Milwaukee, Spain, and more. Check out our top 10 spooky stories around our Broadway World below, which include Signature's HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, DRACULA in Milwaukee, and the 40th Anniversary of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in Spain, just to name a few.

HOPSCOTCH is a new mobile opera performed in limos on three different routes (Red, Yellow or Green) at various points in and near downtown Los Angeles, presented by the Industry, directed by the amazing Yuval Sharon and his incredible production team comprised of composers, singers, musicians, sound engineers, technical wizards, and an extensive support system, all of whom have created a theatrical experience that defies description and will blow your mind.

Here's your first look at the musical murder mystery "SOMETHING'S AFOOT" that spoofs detective stories, most particularly Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None (a.k.a. Ten Little Indians). The play involves a group of standard British mystery characters (the Cockney servants, the brash retired military man, the imperious dowager, the snoopy spinster, the ne'er-do-well nephew, the ingenue couple) who are invited to the lake estate of Lord Dudley Rancour. When the wealthy lord is found dead, it's a comical race against the clock and some outrageous booby traps to find out whodunit.

Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal star in the national tour of LOVE LETTERS, celebrated playwright A.R. Gurney's enduring romance about first loves and second chances.  LOVE LETTERS, a special theatrical tour made its official tour launch at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on October 13.  For a complete tour schedule and more information, visit: http://www.lovelettersontour.com/tickets-and-tour-schedule

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington, DC., Denver, Los Angeles and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Signature's CAKE OFF, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM in Denver, and CARRIE THE KILLER MUSICAL in L.A., just to name a few.

Theatre Palisades presents the first Los Angeles production of "The Game's Afoot or Holmes For The Holidays" by Ken Ludwig, opening Friday, November 6, 2015 and running until Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Directed by Gene Franklin Smith, "The Game's Afoot" is the winner of the Mystery Writers of America's 2012 Edgar Award for Best Play. Nona Hale and Pat Perkins produce for Theatre Palisades by permission from Samuel French. Featured in the cast (in alphabetical order) are Gail Bernardi, Matthew Godfrey, Nicole Knudsen, James Lujan, John Mawson, Maria Pavone, Maggie Peach, and Andi Wagner.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Spain and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Arena Stage's DESTINY OF DESIRE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC National Tour in LA, and BLOOD BROTHERS in Chicago, just to name a few.

Sister community theater groups Kentwood Players and Theatre Palisades are working in tandem this summer to present all three plays in Neil Simon's Eugene Trilogy, beginning with "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Kentwood Players from July 10 through August 15, the just added staged readings of "Biloxi Blues" at Theatre Palisades on Saturday, August 29 at 8pm and by Kentwood Players on Sunday, August 30 at 7pm, and ending with "Broadway Bound" at Theatre Palisades from September 4 through October 11, 2015.

Proving once and for all that concerts need not be serious or dull, Fraser Entertainment Group's 9th installment of A Classic Evening of Broadway bowed at Rockwell Table and Stage on Monday, August 10 to a packed audience of enthusiastic show tune fans. And it was an uber delightful show! Musical director Brad Ellis, best known for TV's Glee and Broadway's Forbidden Broadway, is outrageous fun and his witty repartee at the piano serving as introduction to each of the guest singers was a big plus to the evening's seemingly spontaneous entertainment. Yes, indeed, the ambiance was so casual in the 90-minute set that it was as if we were all sitting on Ellis's private patio sipping drinks and listening to this musical genius create something fresh, for the very first time. He took lots of risks as in his exuberant opener, Peter Allen's 'Everything Old Is New Again'...and motivated each and every singer to join right in and follow his lead. And what a bevy of super-talented performers were on hand, including Valerie Perri, Barbara Minkus, Kevin Odekirk, Damon Kirsche, Jahmaul Bakare, Elizabeth Hayden and even producer Dianne Fraser, whom Ellis referred to as the series' empresario.

Kentwood Players presents Neil Simon's 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' from tonight, July 10, through August 15, 2015, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Austin, Milwaukee, Toronto, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include HEATHERS in Austin, THE ISLAND in Milwaukee, and the Canadian premiere of KINKY BOOTS, just to name a few.

"Brighton Beach Memoirs" is the semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon. It is the first chapter in what is known as his Eugene Trilogy, followed by "Biloxi Blues" and "Broadway Bound." This first play centers on 15 year old Eugene Jerome who lives with his family in Brighton Beach during the height of the Depression in 1937. He has dreams of becoming a star pitcher for the New York Yankees alternating with his growing awareness of girls. Eugene narrates the play with wit and takes us through his memories and reflections of himself and his family as they share their laughter, tears, and love as they navigate the hard times of the depression.

When TRU premiered on Broadway, Robert Morse won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for his tour-de-force portrayal of Truman Capote. For his performance in the 1992 American Playhouse presentation of TRU, Morse won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. As a way to pay it forward, Morse has directed his friend Michael-Anthony Nozzi in TRU presented by Chromolume Theatre and produced by Mike Abramson during this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival. Nozzi gives his own tour-de-force performance as the lonely writer and iconic 70's bon vivant sweetheart.

There's a fascinating mix of familiar and not- so-familiar plays and musicals that will grace Los Angeles stages this summer. LA editors Don Grigware, Ellen Dostal, Shari Barrett and Gil Kaan have chosen their favorites in the list below. Enjoy!

Kentwood Players presents Amy Herzog's dramatic comedy '4000 Miles' from tonight, May 15 to Saturday, June 20, 2015 This mufti-award winning play centers on 21-year old Leo, who after suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, seeks solace from his feisty 91 year-old grandmother Vera in her spacious rent-controlled Greenwich Village apartment that hasn't been redecorated since 1968. Over the course of the month of September in current time, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other in many ways.

Kentwood Players presents Amy Herzog's dramatic comedy '4000 Miles' from Friday, May 15 to Saturday, June 20, 2015 This mufti-award winning play centers on 21-year old Leo, who after suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, seeks solace from his feisty 91 year-old grandmother Vera in her spacious rent-controlled Greenwich Village apartment that hasn't been redecorated since 1968. Over the course of the month of September in current time, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other in many ways.