The View UpStairs at Madnani Theater

The View UpStairs

Madnani Theater
6760 Lexington Ave Los Angeles

The View UpStairs is a gripping, heartfelt and provocative new musical that pulls you inside the world of historic 70s New Orleans bar The Upstairs Lounge. This forgotten community comes to life when a young fashion designer from 2017 buys the abandoned space, setting off an exhilarating journey of seduction and self-exploration that Entertainment Weekly calls "a moving homage to LGBT culture, past and present." Filled with "beautiful love songs" (The New Yorker), it's "an eye-popping roller coaster for the visual senses" with "all of the ingredients for an iconic cult phenomenon!" (Edge Media Network).

Thru - Oct 29, 2017

Price: $20-$30

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 323-957-1884

www.celebrationtheatre.com

The View UpStairs Reviews

Average Rating based on 7 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Broadway World - Highly Recommended

"...The west coast premiere of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS bursts with a high-energied hodge-podge of some great vocals, charming performances and wonderfully executed choreography."

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- Gil Kaan

Stage Scene LA - Somewhat Recommended

"...Director Michael A. Shepperd and cast do their best to make The View UpStairs come alive, Cate Caplin has choreographed some bouncy production numbers, and musical director Anthony leads a sensational onstage band, but The Boy From Oz this is not. Wes, as written, is entirely too unsympathetic a character, even with an actor as capable of charming an audience as Hancock, and the relationship that suddenly blossoms with hot NYC-to-L.A. transplant Bluestone is too out-of-the-blue to be believed. And the rest of Vernon's characters don't fare any better."

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- Steven Stanley

Grigware Blogspot - Highly Recommended

"...This piece is most definitely worth a look. It's a gift to all of us who need to learn from the struggles of the past in order to face nd conquer the ever-growing issues of the future."

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- Don Grigware

The Los Angeles Post - Recommended

"...It's Celebration Theatre, which, ipso facto, means the actors are good. And the director is Michael A. Shepperd, which means those good actors work hard and give it their all. With the assistance of period-appropriate choreography by Cate Caplin, vibrant music direction by Mr. Anthony, a terrific set by Alex Calle and lighting by Martha Carter, and first-rate costumes by Michael Mullen – a special shout-out for the ghostly-elegant final outfits – Mr. Shepperd has created an energetic and heartfelt production which crackles along and almost manages to overcome the weaknesses of the script and score."

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- Dan Berkowitz

Stage Raw - Highly Recommended

"...The show works best when it is content to be a good-time musical that features 15 songs, providing a rich and varied showcase for the members of the ensemble. Along the way, it reminds us of how dangerous gay life could be as recently as 1973. It pays an eloquent tribute to the 32 people who died in the fire. And at the end it provides a glamorous and glitzy fashion show, courtesy of costume designer Michael Mullen."

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- Neal Weaver

Haines His Way - Recommended

"...Under Michael A. Shepperd's direction the action has a nice flow and he always manages to keep the audience interested in what is transpiring. Anthony doubles as music director, leading his four piece onstage band. Vernon has written some lively melodies but his lyrics though are pedestrian and most songs sound more like underscored dialogue rather than true songs. Cate Caplin has provided some lively and period choreography on the postage stamp sized stage. Alex Calle's scenic design is a riot of color; it looks like a Mardi Gras float exploded and covered every surface with beads and photos."

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- Rob Stevens

Tin Pan LA - Recommended

"...As a new musical, The View Upstairs is an interesting hybrid of memory-play and musical. For, as a musical alone, it falls short: the stakes are not high enough, and it's missing that sense of urgency to propel the drama forward. Instead we float through this piece like a smoke in the air-perhaps that's the intention. Nevertheless, this production of Vernon's piece is given a glorious presentation at Celebration Theatre, honoring everything that the piece calls forth: a sincere recollection of gay history to build a better tomorrow for all-a message that is ever more vital today."

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- Ryan Luevano