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From Amy Herzog, the award-winning author of 4000 Miles (a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), comes Belleville, which follows a young American expat couple living in a trendy Parisian neighborhood. Their life seems lovely, but beneath the surface of Zack and Abby's enviable marriage, unrest simmers. Hailed by The New York Times as "thrillingly good," this chilling psychological drama asks unsettling questions about whether you can ever really "know" another person. Starring Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect, True Blood) and Thomas Sadoski (Life in Pieces, The Newsroom), this modern Hitchcock-style drama will keep you on the edge of your seat at The Pasadena Playhouse.
Based on Chaim Potok's beloved novel, and adapted by Aaron Posner and Potok, The Chosen is an award-winning tale about tolerance, compassion and how embracing the differences of others brings wisdom and understanding to ourselves. Set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, against the backdrop of World War II, the revelation of the Holocaust and the desperate struggle of Zionism, The Chosen is a moving coming-of-age story about two observant Jewish boys who live only five blocks -- yet seemingly worlds -- apart. Sometimes called a "Jewish Catcher in the Rye," The Chosen made Potok a literary star in 1967. Now, Los Angeles' Fountain Theatre brings this beautiful story to the stage.
Whodunits -- you gotta love 'em. From the secluded locales to the cast of colorful characters in which everyone's a suspect to the final, ingenious twist, the author who did it best was Agatha Christie. One of her most famous stories, The Mousetrap, has it all. A group of strangers trapped by a snowstorm discovers that a murderer is among them, and you'll never guess who it is! The longest-running play in history, The Mousetrap has been thrilling audiences continuously since its 1952 premiere in London's West End. Now you can experience the ultimate whodunit at Crown City Theatre Company in North Hollywood.
Recently named Billboard magazine's most successful R&B artists of all time -- over Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson -- the true story of The Temptations comes to vibrant life in an electrifying new musical. They were five young guys on the streets of Detroit when they were discovered by Berry Gordy, who signed them to his legendary new label. After 24 attempts, they finally had a hit and the rest is music history -- how they met, how they rose, the groundbreaking heights they hit with tunes like "My Girl," "Just My Imagination" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the nation fell into civil unrest. You'll hear the iconic hits and witness the signature dance moves that made the "Classic Five" Temptations part of our cultural history in this thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal. Don't miss this prestigious project from award-winning writer Dominique Morisseau (The Detroit Project, TV's Shameless), hot Broadway choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Flashdance, Memphis, On Your Feet!) and Tony-winning director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), coming to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Get your tickets for Ain't Too Proud now during this special pre-sale offer.
Take the timeless songs of Elvis Presley, combine them with the plot of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, add some hip-swiveling swagger and you're guaranteed to get All Shook Up. This hit Broadway show centers on a '50s-era guitar-playing roustabout named Chad who rides into a small town and changes everything -- especially the life of a young girl with big dreams and a big crush. With a book by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis), this musical comedy rocks and rolls along on hits like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock," "Don't Be Cruel," "It's Now or Never" and more at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
Celebrate a legend's 77th birthday at El Portal Theatre - Debbie Reynolds Mainstage in North Hollywood! This tribute to Ann-Margret includes a range of songs and performances from her early years intermixed with stories about her life. Best known for her roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid and many more, Ann-Margret and Friends is an homage to a woman who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with such giants as Dean Martin, Al Hirt and Elvis Presley. Bring a birthday card and receive a special gift at the show!
Daphna Feygenbaum considers herself a "real Jew" -- the most devout in her family -- while her cousin Liam is a self-described "bad Jew," complete with a shiksa girlfriend. When the two arrive in New York for their Holocaust-surviving grandfather's funeral, they instantly butt heads in a savagely funny battle royale over a cherished family heirloom. Hailed by The Washington Post as "the funniest play of the year," Joshua Harmon's Bad Jews comes to The Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles. Jewish or not, you're sure to find something to love, and laugh at, in this riotous exercise in familial feuding.
L.A.-based contemporary ballet company Barak Ballet plans an ambitious program featuring E/Space, recognized by Dance Magazine as one of 2017's "Most Inventive Works," for its fusion of music, visual design and seemingly kaleidoscopic choreography. The troupe's performance at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica also features four world premieres by artistic director Melissa Barak and the Joffrey Ballet's Nicolas Blanc, making this one of the must-see dance events of 2018.
Center Theatre Group is presenting encore productions from three outstanding companies at their second annual Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Playwrights' Arena's Bloodletting, the first production, is a fantastical journey to discover the power we hold within. On a visit to the Philippines to spread their father's ashes, a brother and sister befriend a local girl who is revealed to be an Aswang, a supernatural creature from Filipino folklore. Together they unlock the truth about their father, and the truth about themselves.
The soulful torch songs of Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and more fan the flames of sultry, sexy romance-gone-wrong in the Tony-nominated musical revue Blues in the Night, which tells the tragic tale of three women who get burned by the same treacherous man. L.A. theater great Sheldon Epps returns to stage his hit show in the intimate Lovelace Studio Theater at The Wallis, where you'll no doubt be stirred and shaken by more than two dozen of the greatest jazz-blues tunes ever recorded, including the title song and classics like "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," "Lover Man," "Am I Blue?" and more.
For the past decade, BODYTRAFFIC has traveled the globe as L.A.'s most invigorating dance ambassadors. Named one of Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch in 2013 and the "company of the future" by the Joyce Theater Foundation, BODYTRAFFIC is now hailed as one of the hottest dance ensembles in the U.S. The contemporary ensemble has earned a reputation for sharing the sheer joy of dance with audiences across the world through commissions from today's most sought-after choreographers. To celebrate their 10th Anniversary Season, BODYTRAFFIC now comes home to Los Angeles for a debut performance at The Wallis.
In this sexy French farce, it's the 1960s and Parisian womanizer Bernard is enjoying the good life with his three fiancées -- all beautiful airline hostesses with frequent (but never overlapping) layovers in Paris. And thanks to Bernard's faithful housekeeper, who nimbly switches out photos and favorite foods in his apartment according to schedule, the women will never find out about each other. All is going great, until a new, faster Boeing jet throws the airline schedules out of whack and Bernard finds himself juggling all three women at once. Add Bernard's friend -- who's hilariously bad at keeping all the lies straight -- to the mix, and the whole plan is poised to fall apart. This slapstick comedy from French playwright Marc Camoletti won a Tony on Broadway and was made into a 1965 film starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. Now you can laugh along with all the saucy fun at this production of Boeing Boeing at Santa Monica's Morgan-Wixson Theatre.
Leave the modern world and step back in time to the divinely decadent Kit Kat Klub of pre-war Germany, where the music is tantalizing and the drinks are plentiful. Inside the club, lives intertwine as a cabaret singer, an expat American writer and other misfits and outcasts of Weimar-era Berlin converge to escape a changing society where their kind is less than welcome and dark forces threaten to end the party forever. Led by the mysterious Emcee and charismatic singer Sally Bowles, the colorful characters of this Kander and Ebb masterpiece are eager to entertain you with beloved musical numbers, including "Don't Tell Mama," "Willkommen" and "Cabaret." Here's your chance to see Cabaret in Los Angeles, at Celebration Theatre @ The Lex.
From Black Mirror to Jurassic Park to 2001: A Space Odyssey, countless classic stories have been inspired by scientific "what-ifs." And as our gadgets get ever more shiny and smart, the storytelling possibilities are only getting more mind-blowing along with them. Young writers will be leading the way into these brave new worlds, and you can discover the most cutting-edge, science-inspired plays from these fresh voices at Caltech's MACH 33 Festival. Hosted by the Pasadena Playhouse, these staged readings present work by up-and-coming Los Angeles-area and Caltech/JPL playwrights and include post-show discussions with the authors. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Chris, the spirited daughter of an American missionary, falls head-over-heels in love with a local teenage girl in Northern Uganda. Late at night on the eve of the millennium, they secretly meet in a church to exchange vows and plot their escape. But when the surrounding war zone encroaches on their fragile union, they cannot escape its reach. Confronting the religious and cultural roots of intolerance, Cardboard Piano at Long Beach's International City Theatre explores violence and its aftermath, as well as the human capacity for hatred, forgiveness and love.
With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too. Recommended for All Ages. Children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre. All patrons must have a ticket, regardless of age.
Award-winning actress Debra Ehrhardt continues to share the intimate details of her life in her one-woman show, Cock Tales: Shame on Me!, directed by Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Running the emotional gamut from guilt and shame to pleasure and elation, Ehrhardt takes you on a bumpy 75-minute ride from her early years as a young girl in a religious family through her sexual awakening as a young adult. Ehrhardt, which The New York Times describes as "an entertaining and charming raconteur," has written three long-running autobiographical one-woman plays, including Jamaica Farewell, which ran for 10 years and was optioned for film by Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson. Now Ehrhardt reveals her colorful history of a lifetime of encounters with a world full of testosterone-fueled gentlemen -- and not-so-gentle-men -- at Santa Monica Playhouse.
Inspired by poet Walt Whitman's experiences tending to wounded soldiers during the Civil War, this haunting, compassionate work by Matthew Aucoin, LA Opera's Artist in Residence, explores the connections that come between us and pull us apart. As Whitman listens to wounded veterans share their memories and messages, he forges a bond with an enigmatic young soldier. Their encounter forces him to examine his own role as a writer and poet. Intricately scored for chamber orchestra, with beautifully detailed choruses, Crossing shines in this special concert performance at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts featuring Rod Gilfry as Whitman and conducted by Aucoin himself. Performed in English with projected English translations.
Dad. The Dog. The Roof. explores fragmented memories, returning home and our shifting relationship to memories of home. Part ritual, part meditation and part meta-theatrical performance, the work addresses the home as a container. The exterior of homes, like containers, are facades to contextualize and hide the contents found within. What if we packed away our memories of home in the containers we pack our homes in? And what happens when we ritualize the unpacking of those memories through forced performance? The characters might be seeking atonement; they might be seeking entertainment; they are probably just seeking. Be there as five performers make their way through the fragmentation with aggressive physical theatre, stillness and an elevated utilitarian approach to object work at Highways Performance Space and Gallery in Santa Monica.
When a shocking furniture accident claims the life of his Uncle Max, L.A. actor Doug Elling must work in his family business in Brooklyn to be confronted with not only his dysfunctional family, but what lead him to become an actor in the first place. This Miserable Productions play stars Alex Skuby (King of Queens, The Fosters), Mo Collins (Mad TV, Lady Dynamite) and more at Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks.
Named "one of ballet's most exciting undertakings" by The New York Times, the Dance Theatre of Harlem has electrified theaters around the world with the passion, power and technical precision its dancers bring to each performance. Pushing boundaries for four decades and counting, this multicultural ensemble has evolved into one of the nation's most vital dance institutions. For this program at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, the troupe of 14 racially diverse dance artists will perform a thrilling and eclectic program of neo-classical and contemporary ballet, including Brahms Variations, Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven and Vessels.
When your famous twin sister’s suicide letter instructs you to put together a makeshift wake in a Palm Springs cocktail lounge, what can you do but grant her final wish? LA writer Lana arrives in Palm Springs to host an evening with competing ex-lovers, surprising new flames, and enough arousing confessions to raise the dead. DEATH BEFORE COCKTAILS IS a modern black comedy about love, sex, and the secret concoction at the end of the tunnel.
The Group Rep presents the comic thriller Deathtrap, written by Ira Levin (The Stepford Wives, Rosemary's Baby). A successful-but-currently-stalled playwright whose recent offerings have been flops, conspires with his wife to "collaborate" with a student whose new thriller shows tremendous potential. Suspense mounts as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play. Directed by Jules Aaron and produced by Larry Eisenberg, see Deathtrap at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.
Ayad Akhtar’s controversial Pulitzer Prize and Obie Award-winning drama has become one of the most passionately discussed plays in the world. Amir Kapoor is a brilliant, successful Muslim American attorney who has turned his back on his faith in order to thrive in post-9/11 Manhattan. On the surface, he has it all: a beautiful wife, a swanky apartment and a lucrative career. But the charmed life he so artfully constructed is put in jeopardy when a dinner party turns tumultuous and the guests' ideals of culture, marriage, career and family collide. Hari Dhillon reprises the role of Amir he created in New York, London and Los Angeles for this live-in-performance recording, joined by Behzad Dabu and Emily Swallow from the Mark Taper Forum’s L.A. premiere and Geoffrey Arend (Body of Proof, Madame
Amir has left his Pakistani heritage behind climbing the corporate ladder, but his wife, Emily, doesn't share his negative feelings about Islam. In fact, she's encouraged Amir to help his nephew with the case of a controversial imam. When they throw a dinner party for Amir's colleague Jory and her husband Isaac, hard truths lead to brutal consequences in Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer-winning drama Disgraced, presented as a live audio performance at James Bridges Theater in Los Angeles.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast comes to L.A.'s CASA 0101 Theater, sharing the classic story of Belle and the young prince trapped in the body of a gruff beast. If Belle can help him learn to love and be loved, the curse that's trapping him will end and he'll be transformed to his former self. But time is running out.
This witty and intimate piece invites you to spend an evening with Dorothy Parker and 14 actors in her New York apartment in 1958. The Dorothy Parker Project brings alive several of her short stories and poems, giving you an opportunity to experience the full range of this sensitive writer beyond her fabled acerbic wit and her membership in the legendary Algonquin Circle. She may dispel some rumors you've heard about her, and reveal some important things you might not have known when this new play opens at Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice.
"Men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses," wrote Dorothy Parker. She also wrote terrific stories and screenplays, poems and epigrams, witticisms and criticisms. She was a mordantly funny and cynical dissector of early 20th century high society and a brilliant observer of the tiny and telling details that reveal the truth about our relationships. Her stories still read like a modern, brilliant stand-up comedian taking to task men who can't understand women, and women who can't understand each other. Starting with audience suggestions, Dorothy Parker UnScripted picks up her comedic scalpel and recreates an impressionistic night of Dorothy-style scenes and observations, reminiscent of the Roaring 20's. Take a seat at The Edye at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica and join Impro Theatre in raising an imaginary martini glass to Dorothy Parker.
Eclectic Stew is a monthly event that brings professional writers, actors, directors, poets and musicians together to display their work. See a genre-blending assortment of small productions on stage at Eclectic Company Theatre in Valley Village.
Jack Fry's Einstein! returns to the Santa Monica Playhouse with a new set of accolades -- earlier this year, Einstein! traveled to New York City for the Stem Theater Festival, where it enjoyed a sold-out run and was the festival's highest-grossing show. In addition, it earned "Pick of the Fringe" status at the Hollywood fest. Of course, Einstein's name has become synonymous with "genius," but there's so much more to him than his world-changing theories. Set in 1914 Berlin, the solo play follows young Albert Einstein as he struggles to prove his General Theory of Relativity, while his personal life -- new fatherhood, a wife who won't agree to a divorce, failing health -- and society crumble around him due to the Great War. Told with humor and heart, Einstein! draws on the recent release of 15,000 documents and Fry's three years of research to show a side of the genius that's rarely seen. The show is recommend for ages 10 and older.
Do you love brunch? Do you sometimes wish you could marry two of your favorite things -- food and burlesque dancers? Cherry Poppins Productions is proud to join Lili St. Byr and Ginger Lee Belle in a fearsome squad for their newest food-themed burlesque show Foodies & Boobies! Join some of L.A.'s hottest burlesque dancers for this messy and delicious burlesque extravaganza at El Cid in Los Angeles. Brunch is available for purchase.
When Joy gets on the Brooklyn Scallywags and meets the star, Lizzie Lightning, she and her long-term partner Michelle find their lives turned upside down. For The Love Of asks how much you're willing to sacrifice - or lose - to follow your heart. Part of Theatre of NOTE’s “Year of the Woman,” this production features an all-female cast and all-female design team.
Why did the Disneyland singer become a Hollywood dominatrix? Find out the answer to this real-life riddle and more when Hudsy Hawn (otherwise known as Brooke Wilkes) takes the stage at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. This one-woman musical memoir promises to take you on a sexy, honest and vulnerable tour into the blacks, whites (and grays) of the BDSM world. Stick around afterwards for a Q&A and after party.
Award-winning film and TV director Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) helms veteran actress Annie Abbott's zany, heartfelt solo show, Giving Up Is Hard to Do. Abbott, a veteran Broadway and L.A. stage actress, has appeared in such TV shows such as Transparent, Castle, Californication, L.A. Law and The X-Files. Revealing some of the audacious steps one has to take to have a lifelong career as a working character actor, Giving Up Is Hard To Do follows what happens when Abbott finds herself suddenly widowed, and applies that same singular determination to the horrors of online dating at middle age. Coffee date by coffee date, she naively encounters an unforgettable, ruefully funny crew of oddball characters as she forges a triumphant new life, retelling every outrageous detail at Santa Monica Playhouse.
Based on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and featuring a pop-rock score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), the joyous musical Godspell comes to Glendale Centre Theatre just in time for the Easter season. Godspell retells the story of Jesus and his disciples through a series of charming, comedic sketches and an eclectic blend of songs ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, including "Day by Day," "Save the People" and "All for the Best." This rousing, joyful show and its positive message of hope and kindness has resonated with generations of audiences since it opened off-Broadway in 1971.
After successful performances around the U.S., singer-songwriter Shelley Fisher's one-woman show, The Hebrew Hillbilly: Fifty Shades of Oy Vey! returns to the Santa Monica Playhouse. Hear how she got her start growing up as a little Jewish girl from Memphis with big rock 'n' roll ambitions. Fisher has had success as a jazz and blues vocalist and created her own romantic-comedy cooking show, Forkplay. She even had a close encounter with the king, Elvis! Her tale is a heartwarming testament to the power of dreams, determination and finding purpose beyond the Hollywood sign. The Hebrew Hillbilly, her funny and moving musical celebration, features 17 original Memphis-inspired pop, blues and rock 'n' roll songs, which she penned with pop composers Harold Payne and Ken Hirsch. This show is recommended for ages 12 and older.
In his "kind, warm, beautifully observed and deeply moving new play" (Chicago Tribune), Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam (Sons of the Prophet) takes a fresh look at the hilarity, heart and horrors of modern American family life. Deciding to shake the holiday up a bit, Erik Blake brings his family from Pennsylvania to New York City to celebrate Thanksgiving at his youngest daughter's run-down apartment. But as darkness falls outside the crumbling pre-war duplex, mysterious things start to go bump in the night -- and family tensions reach a boiling point. After a successful Broadway run last year, where it won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play, The Humans now comes to the Ahmanson in L.A., directed once again by two-time Tony winner Joe Mantello (Assassins).
Get carried away by the harrowing adventures of Quasimodo and Esmeralda when The Hunchback of Notre Dame swings into Fred Kavli Theatre. This epic Disney musical's all set to ring in its Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza premiere. You'll be whisked back to the perilous streets of 15th-century Paris, where wicked men in power pull the strings and heroes appear where you'd least expect them. Based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, with music from the animated feature's Academy Award-nominated score, the production is enhanced with new songs by two acclaimed musical theatre legends: Alan Menken and Steven Schwartz. The theatrical production embraces the story by featuring verbatim passages from Hugo's gothic novel. Plus, in true 5-Star Theatricals fashion, you'll experience a "Broadway" quality production, with a full professional live orchestra. his show is appropriate for audience members ages 10 and up.
A One Man Show chronicling the life and death of the most controversial comedian of all time... Lenny Bruce. Busted for obscenity, Lenny fought for freedom of speech all the way to the supreme court. He accidentally died of an overdoes in 1966, while out on appeal.
It's 1988. In the shadow of Dodger Stadium, two men arrive with big dreams ... but no documents. ICE is a bilingual, humorous journey in search of what it means to be "American." With a love of baseball, Tia Victoria's salsa recipe and the help of a talking truck, two cousins work day and night to make their taco truck the "Uncle Sam" of mobile restaurants. Will a contest to be "the most American food truck" at Dodger Stadium on the 4th of July prove to Immigration, Naturalization and Customs that they truly belong? See the trenchant play at Los Angeles' 24th Street Theatre.
Key Change comes during a pivotal time for female empowerment in the entertainment industry. This powerful one-act by Catrina McHugh is the story of real women living their lives behind bars. We see the love, the heartache and the challenge that each of these women face on a daily basis as they participate in the telling of each other's stories. Key Change originally toured in male prisons throughout England before officially premiering at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and then making its US Premiere Off-Broadway. There, it received the highest accolade, the New York Times Critics Pick.
Marshall and Julie, a young interfaith couple living in Dallas, have discovered that they have twin boys on the way. No one is more proud than Marshall's mother Rhonda, queen of Texas organic foods, but suddenly the whole family is pulled into a tug-of-war with a little help from YouTube, a meddling teacher and more than a few centuries of tradition. By the time it's all over, there's no telling who (or what) will be left intact. The hilarious, one-act circumcision comedy Knife to the Heart stars Josh Zuckerman, Chelsea Kane, Patricia Richardson and Todd Sherry. Enjoy all the fun at the Dorie Theater at The Complex in Los Angeles.
Most coming-of-age stories are about young adults, but for the protagonist of the new one-act solo show L.O.V.E.R, finding herself takes a little more time. Veteran actress of stage and screen Lois Robbins ("Sex and the City") wrote and stars in this dramedy, which shows one woman's journey as she recounts her entire sexual history only to discover that the most important relationship she has is with herself. Don't miss it at The Zephyr theatre in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles' first Hispanic classical theater festival, LA Escena presents an array of compelling classic plays, from dramas to comedies. Celebrate the arts at Greenway Court Theatre. LA Escena is made possible by the UCLA Center for 17th- and 18th-Century Studies, Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Center for European and Russian Studies, Latin American Institute, and Departments of Spanish, Portuguese and English, as well as by the generous support of UC Riverside's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon provides a peek behind the scenes of TV's Golden Age in this hit Broadway comedy, based on Simon's time as part of the writing team for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. Set in 1953, the play depicts the distressed writing staff of a weekly variety show as they frantically scramble to top each other with gags while vying for the attention of star madman Max Prince. Max's habit of boozing and popping too many pills is increasing under the pressures of rising McCarthyism, network executives and sponsors who want him to cut back his "too-smart" staff so they can chase after the Leave It to Beaver audience. A skillful mix of nostalgia, laughter and colorful characters, Laughter on the 23rd Floor remains an enduring classic from Simon, as evidenced in this new production from Garry Marshall Theatre.
It's not every day you get the chance to see two heavyweight British actors onstage in a theatrical masterpiece, but get your clicking finger ready, because here's your chance: the Bristol Old Vic production of Long Day's Journey Into Night is coming to Los Angeles, starring Oscar winner Jeremy Irons (Brideshead Revisited) and Olivier winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) and directed by Richard Eyre (Notes on a Scandal). Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic is a must-see for any theater fan, and if you've already experienced it, it might just be a must-see-again with this production, which The Times of London called "tantalizingly close to perfection." Don't miss it at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
The ultimate love story continues in LOVE NEVER DIES, Andrew Lloyd Webber's spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. This story of boundless love, full of passion and drama, follows one of the most successful musicals of all time, which has now been seen by more than 130 million people worldwide and is the winner of over 50 international awards. The new touring production will reflect an extensive re-working of the material by an Australian creative team for the original Australian premiere in 2011. Described by Chris Boyd in The Australian as "The best thing Lloyd Webber has written in the quarter century since The Phantom of the Opera".
In a time of resistance what will you do? Buenos Aires, Argentina, and people are disappearing off the streets but no one is talking about it. The "Dirty War" waged by the military Junta against its own people is in full swing. Three generations of women in a single family face state terrorism. The Mothers of Los Desaparecidos de Argentina can teach us all how to fight tyranny. The Madres is one family's story.
Treat mom to a show filled with magic and wonder -- and even a festive champagne toast -- at this special Mother's Day edition of Magicopolis' long-running hit Escape Reality, named a Los Angeles Times "Critic's Pick" and an LA Weekly "Pick of the Week." Mixing sketch comedy and magic acts (including optical illusions, levitation, mind-reading and a Houdini-inspired escape), the husband-and-wife team of Steve Spill and Bozena serve up an entertaining vaudeville-style show complete with one-liners and amazing feats of magic. This celebration of the most important woman in the world includes admission to the show along with a souvenir bag of tricks, magic class, a glass of champagne or sparkling cider plus other fun surprises.
Merely Players Shakespeare Co. present this production of the Bard's Much Ado About Nothing at Whitmore Lindley Theatre Center in Los Angeles. Beatrice and Benedick are adamant in their mutual dislike, while Claudio and Hero are deep in love. Their two stories take an unexpected course during a stay at Leonato's beach house.
Award-winning writer and international performer Monique DeBose explores race, family and identity through her unique lens of being born to a southern African American father and Irish upstate New York mother. Performed with original music, Monique exposes the beauty, disgrace and complication of both the black and white worlds she experienced growing up amid the political and racial tension in the seventies that is still prevalent today. Experience the bravery, vulnerability, hilarity, ignorance and ridiculousness that is race and identity in America.
My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy is the story of Brad Zimmerman’s struggle to fulfill his dream and make it as a comedic actor in New York. One-part standup, one-part theatrical, and all parts uproarious, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy has garnered rave reviews wherever it has played, including sold-out runs off-Broadway, in Philadelphia; Boston; Atlanta; Toronto; Huntington Beach and Thousand Oaks, CA; Palm Beach, Florida; Skokie, Illinois; The Gordon Center for the Performing Arts in Maryland; the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey; and at dozens of other venues throughout the USA. Every mother dreams her children will grow up to be happy, healthy, and successful. Every Jewish mother secretly – and often not so secretly – adds specifics to her wish: a doctor, a lawyer, a dentist … or these days, a Silicon Valley tycoon – would make her very happy. Brad Zimmerman’s mother has finally adapted to her ‘actor-waiter’ son’s career choice and financial situation. “If all goes well, I think Brad is going to buy a bookcase,” she boasts to her friends.
Set in 1930s Chicago, where opportunities for African-American men are elusive, Kelley’s adaptation focuses on the inner workings of the protagonist’s mind as a series of unleashed events violently and irrevocably seal his fate.
In recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center proudly presents the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal. One of Broadway's biggest and most compelling hits in recent years, Next to Normal offers a heartbreaking, humorous and unflinchingly authentic look at a modern family struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder. Featuring original songs by Tom Kitt (American Idiot), including "Just Another Day," "You Don't Know" and "Superboy and the Invisible Girl," this emotional powerhouse of a musical addresses grief, suburban life and even ethics in modern psychiatry. Find out why The New York Times called it "much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical." This show contains mature themes and is recommended for ages 14 and older.
Everything that made the Jazz Age so jazzy -- flappers, bootleggers and the music of George and Ira Gershwin -- comes together in Nice Work If You Can Get It, the hilarious musical comedy and homage to the Roaring '20s. Joe DiPietro, Tony-winning writer of Memphis and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, weaves the Gershwins' most beloved hits, along with extravagant dance numbers and glittering costumes, throughout the story of lovable playboy Jimmy and the beautiful bootlegger Billie. Experience songs like "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Fascinating Rhythm" in new ways that will make you laugh and marvel. Nominated for 10 Tony Awards during its Broadway run, this sparkling, feel-good show can be seen at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
Considered by many to be the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off shines a spotlight on the hilarious backstage antics of a group of beleaguered actors attempting to perform a theatrical flop called Nothing On. This play-within-a-play is a comedic triumph of slamming doors, falling trousers ... and flying sardines. Written by award-winning English novelist and playwright Michael Frayn (Copenhagen, Democracy), the comedy of errors remains a crowd-pleaser more than 35 years after its debut. Catch this joyfully out-of-control British farce at A Noise Within in Pasadena.
The shaken martinis, the bespoke tuxedos, the ridiculously named girls in every port -- James Bond may be a creature of habit, but one thing gets a fresh update in each 007 film: the title theme song. Join Bond, James Bond, for a night of stirring songs and stories that'll have you shook as 007 recounts his highly classified and incredibly dangerous missions in On His Majesty's Secret Cabaret. Presented at the historic El Cid in Los Angeles, this show features music direction and arrangements by Emily Rosenfield and performances by stories from Broadway, movies and TV including Jonah Platt (Wicked), Drew Seeley (Jersey Boys), Lindsay Pearce (Glee), Shelley Regner (Pitch Perfect), Molly McCook (The Ranch) and more.
ON YOUR FEET! is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent-and each other-to become an international sensation: Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Now their story has arrived on Broadway in an exhilarating original production that's already won the hearts of critics and audiences alike, with the Chicago Tribune declaring "IT'S A HIT!" and The New York Times cheering, "The very air in the room seems to vibrate in this undeniably crowd-pleasing musical!" "If you aren't humming a Gloria Estefan hit when you leave the theater, it might be time to check your pulse!" raves the Associated Press.
This Tony Award-winning musical is based on the true story of one of the most controversial trials in U.S. history. Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager, is charged with an unthinkable crime in early 20th-century Georgia. As the press whips the public into a frenzy, Leo's only hope lies in a brave crusade for justice led by the Southern wife he never understood, among people that never understood him. With a rousing score by Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years) and a powerful script by Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy), this transformational story is part murder mystery and part exploration of the endurance of love and hope against all odds. Don't miss this 3D Theatricals production of Parade at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
PAW Patrol is on a roll with its hit live tour! It's the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay's Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom's Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to be found. PAW Patrol to the rescue! Ryder summons Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Everest to rescue Mayor Goodway and run the race in her place. Using their unique skills and teamwork, the pups show that "no job is too big, no pup is too small," and share lessons for all ages about citizenship, social skills and problem-solving as they make several heroic rescues on their race to the finish line. Bring the whole family and join the adventure at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Who doesn't want to be able to fly? Who wouldn't want to buckle swashes with pirates? When it comes to having the ultimate adventures, Peter Pan knows how to do it up. And just as Peter never grows old, neither does the world of Neverland. You can return to explore its coves and jungles over and over again, especially if your guides are best-selling novelists Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and Jersey Boys playwright Rick Elice. They're the imaginative Dream Team that cooked up the smash-hit Broadway prequel Peter and the Starcatcher. This madcap music-filled adventure throws pirates, mermaids, orphans and secret agents of the Queen together on the high seas. It racked up a slew of Tonys on Broadway, and now you can see this enchanting coming-of-age tale at the Long Beach Playhouse in a production that's bound to appeal to your entire crew.
Psyche on Vine skewers LA’s obsession with quick-fix psychotherapy by presenting a fine dining restaurant where all the waiters are trained and licensed clinical psychologists. The play features a number of notable film, television and stage actors including Sean Whalen (Never Been Kissed, Twister), Sean Carrigan (American Vandal, The Young and the Restless), Wolfgang Bodison (A Few Good Men), Cathy Shambley (The Groundlings), Vincent Alvas (Grachi on Nickelodeon) as well as a host of comedic standouts. The play has already received rave reviews from numerous noteworthy members of the film and television industry.
Ever wonder where comedy stars like Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman and Lisa Kudrow got their start? At Los Angeles' own legendary comedy theater, The Groundlings! Now, the troupe presents its latest and greatest main stage show, Royal Wedding, an evening of sketches and some improvisation, always original and always hilarious.The Groundlings is full of comedic treasure: Today's comedian at Royal Wedding just may be one of tomorrow's top comedy superstars.
Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater's first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage. Vanity Fair raves, "FISTS OF ALL AGES SHALL BE PUMPING!"
From conspiring nobles to mischievous sprites, bawdy puns to swoon-worthy poetry, all the trademarks of Shakespeare's masterpieces come to life in an original comedy made up right on the spot in Impro Theatre's Shakespeare UnScripted. But fearest not! You don't need to be an Elizabethan scholar to enjoy this loving send-up; if you at all paid attention in high school English, you'll have a blast. Plus, the show is inspired by your suggestions, and how often do you get to say you collaborated with Shakespeare? So, get thee to The Broad Stage in Santa Monica for what's sure to be a fun show.
World-famous performing-arts troupe Shen Yun summons an ancient Chinese world to vibrant life via traditional music, dance and acrobatics, along with spectacular animated backdrops, historically authentic costumes and thunderous orchestral sound. Their latest exciting stage extravaganza, Experience a Divine Culture, stars a cast of 100 in a wildly colorful, exhilarating and heartfelt journey through 5,000 years of glorious civilization, now on the verge of disappearing completely. You'll see more than a dozen dance pieces, each with its own story, as well as several solo vocal and instrumental performances as part of the show Broadway World calls "extravagantly beautiful," when it arrives on stage at Long Beach Performing Arts Center's Terrace Theater.
Everyone's favorite ogre is coming to the stage in this musical adaptation of the beloved animated film Shrek. ENCORE's all-ages production (with actors ranging from 4 years old to adults) throws just about every fairy tale ever told into a blender for a hip and funny mash-up. Come along for a song-filled adventure as a very unlikely ogre hero teams up with a sassy donkey and a feisty princess who's anything but a damsel in distress. Together, the trio takes on the short-tempered bad guy, Lord Farquaad, to save their kingdom. Featuring music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek The Musical promises to be ogre-sized fun for the whole family at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.
What do you do when all your best friends suddenly start getting married? Forced to systematically transition from best friend to bridesman as each of his girlfriends gets married, Jordan Berman has decided it's time to start looking for a Mr. Right to call his own. This proves, however, to be a most uneasy transition. The New York Times hailed Significant Other as "an absolutely wonderful new play ... as richly funny as it is ultimately heart-stirring." Laugh (and wince) along as he wades through a string of workplace crushes, painfully awkward first dates and other romantic misadventures on his search for true love in this bittersweet comedy from Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews). After a successful off-Broadway and Broadway run, Significant Other takes the stage of L.A.'s Geffen Playhouse.
An uplifting musical comedy hit based on the 1992 film, Sister Act takes place in Philadelphia in 1978, where disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be found: A convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle imposed by uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, but in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase only to find themselves up against Deloris and the power of her newly-found sisterhood. Filled with uplifting gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, Sister Act is a sparkling musical tribute to the universal power of friendship. Enjoy the show at the Westchester Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to the woods Snow White will go! Creating Arts Company is proud to present the classic tale of a beautiful young princess who is banished into the woods by her evil stepmother the Queen. After taking refuge in the seven dwarfs cottage, the magic mirror informs the Queen that Snow White is still the fairest of all. Outraged, the Queen decides to take matters into her own hands with a poisoned apple! Help Snow White escape the evil Queen's plan in this one-hour, interactive, immersive, cinematic experience that will thrill the whole family at the Pico Playhouse in Los Angeles. This show is recommended for those age 3 and older.
The provocative and hilarious new play by Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (Yellow Face, M. Butterfly) begins as a play in the present and bursts into a musical set in the future. Inspired by the West's often ridiculously inauthentic portrayals of Asia, Soft Power examines the conflicts, misunderstandings and cultural tightrope walk on the night of a theater company gala, amidst China's 21st-century rise and a beloved East-meets-West musical. Soft Power marks the first collaboration between Hwang and Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), debuting at Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.
With its hothouse emotions, lush melodies and commentary on racial tolerance, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific is both a romantic musical and a deeply felt drama. As Americans stationed on an island paradise during World War II, a nurse and a GI both fall in love with island residents, but a culture clash threatens their relationships. Ultimately love wins out, but the dangers of war threaten their happy endings. The unforgettable score of this timeless musical is filled with all-time favorites like "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," "There is Nothing Like a Dame" and "Bali Ha'i." See this production of the classic show at Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge and see for yourself why this Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning musical has melted the hearts of audiences for over 60 years.
Ah, adolescence -- your parents drive you crazy, school is a drag, and you just discovered the seeming all-consuming importance of sex. The coming-of-age story has inspired countless classics, but few have exploded the way Spring Awakening did on Broadway and at the Tonys. With insanely catchy songs like "The B**ch of Living" and "Totally F**ked," this rock musical remix of a scandalous 1891 German play is a thoroughly modern take on the universal messiness of growing up. Now Cupcake Theater brings this bold and poignant modern classic to North Hollywood.
Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away there was an epic battle between the evil Galactic Legion and the good Space League to rule the universe. Star Quest follows Young Ben Bracone, a man with big dreams to become a pilot in the Space League and help defeat the Galactic Legion and restore peace in the universe. His dream quickly becomes reality when a spaceship lands in his yard and he is whisked off by Princess Raine to find her missing battle bot which has plans that can save the universe! Come be a part of the action in this Creating Arts Company original at Pico Playhouse. Star Quest is a one-hour, immersive, interactive, mini-musical that is packed with space fact and fiction and will thrill ages 3 and up! Choose your side when you enter and get an official sticker! Become a member of the Space League to restore justice to the universe or join the evil Galactic Legion to take over and rule all the galaxies!
The performers “make a rhythm out of anything we can get our hands on that makes a sound,” says co-founder/director Luke Cresswell. A unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy, STOMP has created its own inimitable, contemporary form of rhythmic expression: both household and industrial objects find new life as musical instruments in the hands of an idiosyncratic band of body percussionists. It is a journey through sound, a celebration of the everyday and a comic interplay of characters wordlessly communicating through dance and drum.
This interactive multimedia duet between Ramya Harishankar and Dr. Priya Srinivasan explores the ways that performance as research can come alive. Based on Srinivasan's book, Sweating Saris: Indian Dance as Transnational Labor, which examines the history of Indian dance from 1880 to the present in the US in relation to restrictive anti-Asian immigration policies (1924-1965). The performance features her long relationship with Harishankar, her students and teaching processes while questioning dance not just as an aesthetic form but its relationship to socio-political, historical, cultural, racialized and gendered forms of power. While audiences of Bharata Natyam often see dance as a polished end product, Sweating Saris exposes dance as a form of labor. Using postmodern frameworks and structured improvisation (which is part of both Indian and contemporary dance), the work unpacks what is often unsaid "behind the scenes," including the ways in which the book was created. Enjoy the show at Santa Monica's Highways Performance Space and Gallery.
Sylvia is a modern romantic comedy about a husband, a wife, a marriage and a dog. When Greg brings home a dog he found in the park bearing only the name "Sylvia" on her name tag, their marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives. See it at Camarillo Skyway Playhouse.
Shakespeare's rowdy, screwball comedy The Taming of the Shrew follows the treacherous road to romance for a strong-willed pair of lovers who've met their ultimate match in each other. Until Kate has a husband, her sweet younger sister cannot marry -- but feisty, fiery-tongued Kate rejects every suitor who tries to woo her. Along comes Petruchio, willing to take a chance ... and her sizable dowry. Packed with timely and provocative points regarding gender politics, ENCORE's all-ages production (with adult and teen performers) of The Taming of the Shrew is sure to send sparks flying at Hermosa Beach Community Theatre.
Teatro Martini's sizzling dinner spectacular features an edgy combination of cabaret, comedy, music and cirque-style aerials and acrobatics. The Teatro Martini experience comes complete with a four-course meal. As you dine on your gourmet entree, you'll be captivated by an energetic show of non-stop comedy, daring acrobatic acts, live music and more. Teatro Martini's performers come from across the globe to provide you with a captivating and tantalizing getaway from the ordinary.
Widely considered one of Shakespeare's greatest works, The Tempest lyricly tells the story of Prospero, an exiled duke who reigns over an enchanted island where fantastical creatures, mystery, music and romance abound. He conjures a shipwreck that delivers his enemies to the island, but the plot thickens when Prospero's beloved daughter falls for the enemy's son. It's a magical tale about power, the transformative power of forgiveness, and the bond between parent and child. This great story has inspired all kinds of adaptations, from poetry and paintings to operas and films like Forbidden Planet. Let yourself be swept away by this charming production when The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co. bring it to the stage of Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center in North Hollywood to open their 12th season.
Passionate smoldering secrets lurch beneath the surface of genteel society and explode in a climax of accusation, confession and consequence. Inspired by Tennessee Williams' masterful storytelling and delicious language, Impro Theatre starts with a single audience suggestion and builds improvised full-length plays that range from hilarious to tragic. Expect to see anything from Southern belles with broken hearts to brutish Alpha males to disastrously dysfunctional families when Tennessee Williams UnScripted comes to The Edye at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Threat is a story of a psychotherapist who tries to control a bipolar, brilliant and dangerous maniac in order to save innocent lives but finally is forced to a make a bold choice between honoring her oath and protecting others. It asks the question of whether a psychotherapist treating a troubled student could have prevented the carnage we’ve seen time and time again at schools across America. Full of suspense and catharsis, Threat is a tense exploration of narcissism, risk and self-realization.
The Keen family is dealing with a recent tragedy concerning their daughter, Dana, a Navy corpsman in the Iraq War. Larry copes with a tumbler of scotch (or five), Barbara sets an extra plate setting and Samantha, their teenage daughter, secretly uses Twitter to create a protest. Then Nasser, an Iraqi refugee, arrives at their door unannounced on Christmas Eve. As the family fights over whether or not to keep Nasser's "gift," tempers fly and secrets are revealed. Will the Keens be pulled further apart or will they find grace and redemption in this intriguing family dramedy? This world-premiere production by the Road Theatre at NoHo's Lankershim Arts Center was a semi-finalist for the O'Neill Playwrights Conference.
Written by the composer of RENT, Jonathan Larson based Tick, Tick... BOOM! on his own life. The musical chronicles the struggle of an artist facing increasing challenges between "real life," pursuing artistic passions and the fear of growing older. Peer into the tough decisions of a struggling artist at Los Angeles' Chromolume Theatre at The Attic.
Trump in Space is Star Trek meets Avenue Q meets Trump, a musical battle of good vs. bad and ideals vs. opportunism. This original musical is an epic space adventure filled with all the sci–fi tropes we love and all the politics we love to hate. Four hundred years in the future, the fallout of the Trump administration has left humans stranded without a planet. Captain Natasha Trump, a direct descendant of President Donald J. Trump, races to find humanity a new planet because the earth blew up! Running time is one hour.
It's back, but better than ever! It helped usher totally awesome terms like "Whatever" and "As if" into the mainstream, but those gems of the lexicon are only the beginning of what the endlessly quotable film Clueless has to offer. Now the classic cult comedy starring Alicia Silverstone is getting an unauthorized musical adaptation at beloved Los Feliz dinner theater destination Rockwell. Here's the cool part. It features an all-new script, new cast and a new director. Starring some of Los Angeles' finest belters of show tunes, it's a marvelously campy onstage send-up to one of the most marvelously campy onscreen send-ups ever made.
In the award-winning comic play Under the Jello Mold, Jennie Fahn revisits her very colorful character of a mother during what turned out to be the final act of her mother's life. Jennie's mother was a force to be reckoned with -- a former dancer never content to merely rehash her past, there was always a story to be embellished, always a name to drop, always a lesson to teach. Jennie learns that not only were her post-mortem instructions hid in a specific place ... her mother was also hiding a long-held secret. Enjoy this comedy about life, loss and being of sound mind and body at the Pico Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Echo Theater Company and Circle X Theatre Co. join forces to present Yusuf Toropov’s new play that is part thriller and part spiritual mystery. How far will powerful men and institutions go to keep their secrets — and who pays the price when they do? Set in 1992 Massachusetts against the backdrop of the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal and a toxic drinking water scandal (the latter made famous by the book and film "A Civil Action”), An Undivided Heart is part thriller and part spiritual mystery. A series of otherworldly visions and an unlikely encounter with a Zen priest propel Father Mike Cleary into a collision course with his Archdiocese, while Lynne Callahan, a young widow, struggles to make sense of her life in a town whose water has been polluted with deadly chemicals. The two confront a universal problem: How do victims of suffering caused by others find a way to go on?
Confession: Fiona Goodwin is British. Very. And also, she's a lesbian. Very. Her religion, family and country urge her to be straight. Ms. Goodwin, however, has other urges that involve rescuing pretty maidens. She spent three decades lying to herself about the fact that she is gay. Despite religious exorcisms, a lifetime of Jungian analysis, dating countless beautiful but unavailable women and one very available but sweaty man, Fiona Goodwin is and always will be a very British lesbian.
Leaving her North Carolina home behind, Violet boards a bus and travels through the segregated South to be healed by a minister, convinced he can heal her scar, while discovering the true meaning of beauty along the way. From American roots to folk to gospel, Violet is a powerhouse musical with a score from Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shrek, Fun Home) and book and lyrics by the acclaimed Brian Crawley (A Little Princess). Witness the fantastic show in this production at Hollywood's Actors Co-op Theatres.
Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles ("Brave," "Love Song"), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland). "It's an empowering musical of the highest order!" raves the Chicago Tribune. Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's beloved film, WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna. A waitress and expert pie maker, Jenna dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.
Waste Land is a WORLD PREMIERE serio-comedy period piece by legendary playwright Don Nigro that explores the tumultuous love between T.S. Eliot and his first wife, Vivienne during the time leading up to his creation of one of the most influential poems of the twentieth century. Full of literary references, musings about art and creativity, and appearances by recognized modernist characters like Ezra Pound, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Gertrude Stein and Bertrand Russell, Waste Land is a funny and moving investigation of Eliot’s life, loves, friendships and torments.
The ageless tale of Romeo and Juliet is set against the backdrop of the New York City gang warfare of the 1950's. As rival gangs battle over their turf, a boy and a girl from opposing sides fall in love and begin their tragic fight for survival. This Bernstein/Sondheim gem comes to the Glendale Centre Theatre with such well-loved songs as "Tonight," "Somewhere" and "Maria."
On a snowy night in a rural farmhouse, three siblings huddle together in the dark with a flashlight, while the audience (unseen by them) gathers closely around. Expect to be fully immersed in this beautiful, provocative and disturbing ghost story, a memory play by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s Daniel Talbott (Slipping) that Time Out Chicago calls “a work of spare and haunting power.” (Following the production’s initial three-week run, April 12 through April 26, What Happened When will re-open this summer and again in the fall, each time featuring a different combination of ensemble members.)
In this delightfully macabre, adult-skewed take on The Adventures of Pinocchio, a little wooden puppet comes to life at the hands of the drunken wood-maker Geppetto in the tumbledown tourist trap amusement park of Shoreside. Their lives spiral through a world of bullies, profiteers and showmen until they must face their darkest fears in the belly of the legendary monster, the Dogfish. Combining masks, highly expressive physical performance, dance and multiple puppetry traditions with projected media, sophisticated 3D effects and illusions, Wood Boy Dog Fish is Pinocchio like only the Rogue Artists Ensemble could imagine it. See the visual feast at Burbank's Garry Marshall Theatre.
Yankee Doodle tells the story of Broadway's founding father, George M. Cohan, over the course of 22 show-stopping production numbers. Hear toe-tappingly patriotic hits like "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Mary's a Grand Old Name" and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" in this biographical musical revue at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
