The Tragedy of JFK at Skylight Theatre

The Tragedy of JFK

Skylight Theatre
1816 1/2 N. Vermont Los Angeles

The Tragedy of JFK (as told by Wm. Shakespeare) is the tale of the conspiracy to assassinate the 35th President of the United States and its aftermath. Using Shakespearian text, this groundbreaking theatrical event illuminates what might have happened surrounding one of the most shocking events in American history. Blank Theatre Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning is a recognized expert on the JFK assassination. He has lectured at colleges and appeared for countless hours on talk radio at stations such as KABC, WABC, KFI, KPFK, WMAL, and others.

Thru - Nov 6, 2016

Price: $30-$35

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 213-761-7061

skylighttheatrecompany.com/

The Tragedy of JFK Reviews

Average Rating based on 7 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Los Angeles Times - Recommended

"...Daniel Henning's adaptation of "Julius Caesar" is an audacious new production from the Blank Theatre Company, one that inventively maps Shakespeare's historical drama to figures and events surrounding the 1963 Kennedy assassination. Marrying director Henning's deep knowledge of both classical theater and JFK conspiracy theories, the play transposes Shakespeare's plot to the political intrigues of an Oliver Stone-worthy cabal at the highest levels of our government."

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- Philip Brandes

Broadway World - Highly Recommended

"...An uncomplicated technical design benefits the production by keeping the audience's attention riveted on the characters. Historical footage projected on the set is the lone obvious enhancement that introduces theatricality to the overall effect. It's beautifully done."

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- Ellen Dostal

Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended

"...There's not a weak link in Henning's cast. Tony Abatemarco's reptilian J. Edgar proves a particular standout, with stellar featured turns delivered by Brian Brennan (Oswald), Cris D'Annunzio (Murchison and Tolson), Jerry Della Salla (Marcello and Valenti), Jonathon Lamer (Connally), Kelie McIver (Evelyn Lincoln), Bruce Nehlsen (Dulles), Jacob Sidney (Bundy), and Jonny Walker (Edwin Walker), plus cameo gems by Roslyn Cohn and John Knight as aides and pollsters."

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- Steven Stanley

ArtsInLA - Recommended

"...This world premiere makes for a fascinating evening, and the sheer inventiveness of the project elicits high praise. This doesn't mean there's not still room for improvement, however, as the nearly two-hour intermissionless journey tends to become something of a one-trick pony. Once the premise is established and the correlation between the two stories becomes a given, where the action will go next and which moments of Shakespeare's text will cleverly adapt into the new-told tale settles into a predictability that's something of an inevitability."

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- Travis Michael Holder

On Stage Los Angeles - Recommended

"...Over all the direction of his own writing works for Henning though the Shakespearean language attempt fluctuates from character to character and expected strong stage presences lapse from time to time to a more natural presentation. The revelation that the disgruntled Army General Edwin Walker (over the top Jonny Walker) actually distributed flyers calling JFK a traitor to the assembled Texans on that fateful day adds to the drama as well as the revelation (according to Henning) of a cabal assembled to do away with the President. Over all the large cast of seventeen with much doubling, brings the story to life."

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- Sheehan

Gia on the Move - Highly Recommended

"...A stellar cast, almost uncanny in physical appearance and behavior symphonize the intrigue of conversations, planning and warning, starting with crack character actors Tony Abatemarco (J. Edgar Hoover), Ford Austin (John F. Kennedy), Chad Brannon (Robert F. Kennedy), Brett Collier (Martin Luther King Jr.) and Time Winters (Lyndon B. Johnson). Every actor bears a notable, transporting familiarity. And all the cast performances are so fine in this production it begs pause to collect ones breath."

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- Tracey Paleo

Stage Raw - Highly Recommended

"...Smart, intense and emotionally powerful, The Tragedy of JFK will move you, inspire you, haunt you and sometimes make you laugh and bring you to tears. Daniel Henning has outdone himself, both with his writing and with his direction and, with a little help from Shakespeare, he may just have created a new American classic."

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- Sheena Metal