Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive In his 1960 play “Waiting in the Wings,” Coward bravely took aim at the one foe no human can overcome: Death. In addition, the bold British bard dared tackle another thing avoided like the plague by our youth obsessed culture but which anyone who lives out his/her natural life … Read more
Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA Erik Patterson’s play is witty if somewhat contrived but ultimately gets to something powerful, and the world premiere production by Echo Theater Company features a quartet of expert and moving performances. Read more… Elaine Mura – Splash Magazines Skillfully helmed by Chris Fields, this topsy-turvy, no-holds-barred story grabs and keeps … Read more
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA This perfectly staged and choreographed revival is a hilariously unexpected celebration of the ordinary that, by the time the guys’ drop their drawers and briefly flash the audience in the raucous finale, they have everyone in the house on their feet swaying and hooting as though they’re enjoying a … Read more
Tracey Paleo – BroadwayWorld IF/THEN is a “choose-your-own-adventure” story that splits into two parallel paths. As an interesting note, Tony-Award winner Idina Menzel (RENT, WICKED) originated the role of Elizabeth Vaughan, leading the seminal Broadway cast when the show opened in 2014. Read more… Elaine Mura – Splash Magazines While the creative production team … Read more
Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color Mexodus, a live-looping hip-hop musical created and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, is an extraordinary and mind-blowing accomplishment on all levels from its creative, technical, and performance aspects. Now having its west coast premiere at Pasadena Playhouse, it is a theatrical one-of-a-kind experience with an essential underlying … Read more
Elaine Mura – Splash Magazines Delightfully directed by Jacobs, THE GREAT CLOWN BANK SHOW features a cast of 12, including Ringmaster Hank Jacobs, Gary Greedy (Matthew Goodrich) and Glenda Greedy (Clara York), the founders of the bank, and their sons Gus (Davis Barber) and Glenn (Kevin Brennan). Several talented circus specialists – aerialist (Avery … Read more
Martín Hernández – Stage Raw Teenagers Hagler and Scheppner make a sparkling couple, their commitment to the dialogue, coupled with a youthful exuberance, belying the fate of their characters. Read more… Elaine Mura – Splash Magazines The entire cast sweeps the cobwebs from this Shakespearean classic and makes it exciting and understandable to the … Read more
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw More than four decades after its premiere, Phantom of the Opera remains one of the greatest of theatrical experiences. This touring production honors that legacy, reminding us why the masked and pitiable Phantom continues to haunt the Paris Opera House — and our imaginations. Read more…
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate novel Treasure Island is absolutely good fun. Audiences today are used to watching action stories on screens, but beholding the WGTB troupers leap off of the page onto the stage to enact duels, chases, pistol, musket and cannon … Read more
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA Ultimately, aside from the enchanted and timeless wonder of its Griffith Park setting, what makes this so chillingly relevant is its indictment of the two-faced nature of modern politics. Shakespeare exposes a world where public interest is secondary to the egos of those vying for control and director David … Read more