Tom Buderwitz News

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are delighted to present the second show of its 2016-2017 season:  Davis Gaines starring in the hilarious comedy LEND ME A TENOR, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Art Manke.  LEND ME A TENOR will preview on Friday, October 21, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 22) and run through Sunday, November 13, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.   

Geffen Playhouse announces the cast for its production of The Model Apartment written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies.

Do you know that old saying, 'beauty is in the eye of the ogre.' No? Then we suggest a trip to see Atlanta Lyric Theatre's new production of Shrek The Musical which can explain it much better than we can.

A town hall event will be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) for members of the greater Los Angeles theatre community next Monday, August 22, from 7:30?9:30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to examine the real-life consequences on LA's cultural ecosystem when Actors' Equity Association's new plan (which will eliminate the 99-Seat Plan) is put into place on December 14, 2016.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), under the co-leadership of Artistic Directors Andrew Borba and Vivienne Benesch, brings its 33rd season to a close with William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew directed by Andrew Borba and featuring the outstanding talents of its entire 2016 Conservatory company onstage and off to produce this comedy masterpiece. The Taming of the Shrew plays August 12 - 19 on the Bratton Theater stage at the Chautauqua Institution. Opening night is Saturday, August 13 at 6pm. Tickets are $35 and are currently on sale.

Do you know that old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the ogre." No? Then we suggest a trip to see Atlanta Lyric Theatre's new production of Shrek The Musical which can explain it much better than we can.

Imagine Project, a brand new children's theatre company focusing on gender equity, diversity, and inclusion, will launch its new company with Beyond Imagination, a gala event on Sunday, August 21, 2016 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Colony Theatre Company in Burbank, CA. Imagine Project will be the only union theatre company in Los Angeles dedicated solely to children's programming. The event is free and open to the public but RSVP registration is required at imagineprojectca.com/eventbrite. The evening will feature complimentary food, wine, live entertainment, and an auction. Dress code is 'cocktail swanky.' Actor Jeffrey Landman, best known as Billy Hill in the Halloween film franchise, will serve as MC for the gala. John Achorn, Karl Ramsey, and Juliette Storace, of the Commedia dell'Arte Studio Zanni, will also perform. The launch event will serve as a fundraiser for the new theatre company. Proceeds will be used to fund production costs for The Tale of Turandot by Armina LaManna, Imagine Project's inaugural production slated for early 2017.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the fifth show of its 2015-2016 - 25thAnniversary Season, the critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE, Stage Raw TOP TEN), world premiere ofJOHN IS A FATHER, written by Julie Marie Myatt, starring Sam Anderson and directed by Dan Bonnell is EXTENDINGthrough SATURDAY, JULY 16 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Two exceptional plays, one extraordinary playwright, the Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the  fifth show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the World Premiere of JOHN IS A FATHER, written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Dan Bonnell. JOHN IS A FATHER will run in repertory with BIRDER, also by Julie Marie Myatt. JOHN IS A FATHER opened last night, May 12, and will run through July 3 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

While the writing is a bit disjointed and the story much too difficult to follow due to many comments spoken only in Polish by Ilia Volok as Zemon, a Polish taxi driver who provides various services to Maria, the acting by the two leads Seamus Mulcahy and Deanna Dunagan is superb. But while their characters are fascinating in their complexity and Robin Larsen's direction keeps the action moving briskly around the three rooms making up Tom Buderwitz's scenic design (which places the set in the middle of the space with audience members seated on both sides), this up close and personal theatrical experience seems to have something lacking in the fabric of the writing to keep you interested in what exactly is going on between these two lost souls.

Two exceptional plays, one extraordinary playwright, THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, announce the fifth show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the World Premiere of JOHN IS A FATHER, written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Dan Bonnell. JOHN IS A FATHER will run in repertory with BIRDER, also by Julie Marie Myatt. JOHN IS A FATHER will begin previews on Monday, May 9 at 8pm; will open on Thursday, May 12 at 8pm and run through Sunday, July 3 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Two exceptional plays, one extraordinary playwright, THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, in association with CENTER THEATRE GROUP announce the fourth show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the World Premiere of BIRDER, written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Dan Bonnell.  BIRDER will run in repertory withJOHN IS A FATHER, also by Julie Marie Myatt.  BIRDER will begin previews on Monday, April 25 at 8pm; will open on Friday, April 29 at 8pm and run through Sunday, June 19 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's THE REVISIONIST receives its West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August: Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Opening Night is tonight, April 1, in the  Lovelace Studio Theater.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents the West Coast Premiere of CASA VALENTINA by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, the iconic playwright of the Broadway hits Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage Aux Folles, Newsies and Kinky Boots. The production opened on March 20 and will play through April 10, 2016, at The Pasadena Playhouse. Click below to go behind the scenes with the cast and creative team!

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's THE REVISIONIST will receive its West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August: Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Previews begin in the Lovelace Studio Theater tonight, March 29. Opening Night is Friday, April 1.

Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina won a deserved four Tony nominations in 2014 when it played on Broadway. This is a fine example of an unusual play, one of surprising depth, that goes out of its way to hit a nerve or two. Although comical, Casa Valentina is a drama at the core, with some shades of kitchen-sink reality. Currently onstage at the Pasadena Playhouse, Fierstein's latest opus takes a long look at yet another minority with fortitude and alacrity. Directed with finesse by David Lee, the cast is nothing short of luminous. Casa Valentina is set in a hotel in the Catskills, circa 1962, where a sorority club of straight men, who dress

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle named the multi-nominated Hit the Wall and Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles as 2015's Outstanding Productions at the organization's 47th annual awards event, held on Monday evening, March 14 at the Moss Theatre of New Roads School in Santa Monica.

In its first production following a hit Off-Broadway run, Jesse Eisenberg's THE REVISIONIST will receive its West Coast debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in a new production directed by Robin Larsen. Leading the cast is Tony Award-winning star of August: Osage County Deanna Dunagan, Seamus Mulcahy and Ilia Volok. Previews begin in the Lovelace Studio Theater on Tuesday, March 29. Opening Night is Friday, April 1.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2015 (Dec. 1, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2015).

The 2015 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement during the past 12 months, were presented on Monday, November 9 at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center. Among the many winners were the stars and creative team of Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING, now on Broadway. Scroll down for photos from the arrivals, ceremony and after-party!