Stage West News

Stage West's latest revue celebrates Canadian pop music from 1956 to the present. The energetic cast and the slick production values make for a highly enjoyable evening. * * * * (OUT OF 5)

There's no escape from 'KLUB', the triple threat (Los Angeles Times 'Critic's Choice', LA Weekly 'Theater Pick', and Back Stage West 'Critic's Pick') hit comedy currently at The Actors' Gang through Saturday. After a brief hiatus, 'KLUB' will re-open on June 19, running through July 19 at The Gang's Culver City home in the Ivy Substation. KLUB is the existential comedy in which 10 highly dysfunctional performers must audition with their life stories to escape from a play in which they are trapped. Call it 'A Chorus Line' in reverse. 'Every year we donate our theater space to Culver City High School's Academy of Visual and Performing Arts so the students can put on a week-long series of public performances,' explains Actors' Gang managing director Greg Reiner. 'KLUB will take a brief break so we can honor our commitment to the community.' Variety called KLUB, 'caustically brilliant [and] darkly hilarious, an acid valentine to the theater world that sizzles with anarchic glee.' The LA Weekly said, 'brilliant...furnishes luminous commentary on the obsessive narcissism that impels, and ultimately imprisons, so many performers - onstage and elsewhere.' Agreed the Los Angeles Times, 'The Actors' Gang revives Mitch Watson's demented satire with vampish glee and tasteless overstatement... a near-ideal pairing of style and substance.' Performances of KLUB take place Thursdays and Fridays 8 pm and Saturdays at 8 pm & 10:30pm, June 19 through July 19. Tickets on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm are $25.00; tickets on Saturdays at 10:30 pm are $15.00; all Thursday evening performances are Pay-What-You-Can. The Actors' Gang is located in the Ivy Substation at 9070 Venice Blvd. (near the intersection of Culver and Venice Blvds.) in Culver City. Two hours free parking is available throughout downtown Culver City; the Ince Parking Lot (corner of Culver and Ince) is directly across the street from the theater. In addition, several restaurants (Italian, French, Thai, Japanese, and more) are only a few blocks' walk from The Actors' Gang and offer a variety of dining options before and after the theater. The Ivy Substation is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. For reservations and information, call The Actors' Gang Box Office at 310-838-GANG (310-838-4264) or go to www.theactorsgang.com.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to announce the world premiere production of Annie Baker's play BODY AWARENESS, directed by Karen Kohlhaas and featuring Jonathan Clem, Peter Friedman, Mary McCann and JoBeth Williams.

David S. Howard has worked in theatres all over the country and is a long-time resident company member at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota. In addition to his stage work, Mr. Howard has also been seen on Broadway in I'm Not Rappaport and on film in Meet Joe Black, Deconstructing Harry, Substance of Fire, Moonstruck and Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Direct from Los Angeles, where it enjoyed an acclaimed and extended 5-month run at Open Stage West, the musical Fabulous Divas of Broadway, starring Alan Palmer, made its New York premiere at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street) February 13, with an Opening Night set for Wednesday evening, February 27.

Dsiney's endearing family musical adapts well to the small dinner theater stage. With solid production values and some terriffic performances, the show is a crowd-pleaser. * * * * (OUT OF 5)

Direct from Los Angeles, where it enjoyed an acclaimed and extended 5-month run at Open Stage West, the musical Alan Palmer's Fabulous Divas of Broadway will have its New York premiere this Spring at St. Luke's Theatre to begin previews Wednesday matinee, February 13, with an Opening Night set for Wednesday evening, February 27.

L.A.'s most 'hilariously deranged' (Los Angeles Times) holiday tradition is Bob's Holiday Office Party, and it's back to add a little salt to the season at The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, November 29 through December 22...

The problems of middle-age could hardly be considered substantial enough for a musical revue, but in this day and age of recycled movies and recycled pop-song catalogues attention must be paid any show that offers an original score and some entertainingly clever lyrics. * * * (OUT OF FIVE)

BRUCE CAMPBELL STAR OF EVIL DEAD MOVIES COMES TO TORONTO TO CELEBRATE EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL'S FINAL EXTENSION

Evil Dead: The Musical has announced complete casting for the musical's production at Toronto's Diesel Playhouse, running from Tuesday, May 1st - Saturday, June 23th

Stage West Dinner Theatre offers GUYS AND DOLLS as their 99th production. It's a reasoably entertaining production but fails to show off this classic musical in the best light. * * * (out of 5)

If you enjoy music from Broadway and Hollywood, FOXY 88.5 FM (Toronto) has a full hour of it for you every Sunday night at 7 when Mark Andrew Lawrence presents FRONT ROW CENTRE. This week, Mark Andrew will be featuring the classic musical GUYS AND DOLLS by Frank Loesser. The program is also available through the website at www.foxy885.com.

David and Ed Mirvish have announced the complete all-Canadian cast of We Will Rock You.

New revue covers 65 pop hits from the California music scene circa 1965 to 2000. Lively, energetic cast and endless parade of familiar tunes make this one a winner! * * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

Here is a listing of shows scheduled to begin performances in Toronto and surrounding area between now and the end of November.

Murder and madcap mayhem in a rundown Saskatchewan hotel. That's what happens in Norm Foster & Leslie Arden's musical comedy THE LAST RESORT, a wonderfully silly spoof currently being performed at Stage West Dinner Theatre. * * * (out of 5)

A listing of shows currently running or scheduled to open in the next week.

A galvanic star performance helps make Stage Wests's production of BUDDY enjoyable. Unfortunately, you have to endure a sketchy book and weak performances to get to it. * * 1/2 (out of 5)