ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD at A Noise Within

Frances Baum Nicholson – Stage Struck Review There is a certain fascination in the fact that two theaters in Pasadena are featuring plays based on looking sideways at a Shakespearean works. At Boston Court, a new play looks at “The Merchant of Venice” from the Jewish perspective. At A Noise Within it’s the now-classic “Rosencrantz … Read more

DEAR EVAN HANSEN at the Ahmanson Theatre

Frances Baum Nicholson – Stage Struck Review When news the Tony-winning “Dear Evan Hansen” was headed for L.A. on its first national tour, a dash for tickets seeming mildly reminiscent of the “Hamilton” frenzy began. Erin Conley –  On Stage and Screen There have been plenty of musicals about complicated, grieving families over the years, … Read more

THE OTHER PLACE at Chance Theatre

Margaret Gray – LA Times Sharr White’s “The Other Place” captures a powerful actress in her prime. This critic-pleasing play’s first New York production, back in 2012, which eventually moved to Broadway, starred Laurie Metcalf. Its O.C. premiere, now playing at Chance Theater, has lured the mesmerizing Jacqueline Wright to Anaheim. Read more… Now running through … Read more

THE BENCH, A HOMELESS LOVE STORY at Hudson Guild Theatre

Neal Weaver  – Stage Raw This solo performance is written and performed by Robert Galinsky. In addition to being a writer and actor, Galinsky is a lifelong social activist, volunteering with numerous organizations, including teaching classes for incarcerated youth at New York City’s Rikers Island Detention Center.Read more… Now running through November 9

OPPENHEIMER – Rogue Machine at the Electric Lodge

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw  Although Rogue Machine is a small theatre company, it’s always punching above its weight class and generally achieving whatever artistic challenges it sets for itself. This year the group had a particularly difficult task — it had to find a new home, a misfortune that sometimes sinks otherwise stable organizations. … Read more

WICKED LIT at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena

Harker Jones – LA Weekly Presenting its 10th season of screams and scares at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, Wicked Lit has become an Halloween-season tradition in Los Angeles. The immersive walking theater experience presented by Unbound Productions gives patrons a look at Mountain View’s stunning mortuary (designed by Cecil E. Bryan) and provides … Read more

EVERYTHING THAT NEVER HAPPENED at Boston Court Pasadena

Frances Baum Nicholson –The Stage Struck Review Boston Court Pasadena’s Co-Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky loves Shakespeare. That I know. She has directed insightful productions of the Bard’s work at several venues, and in her “RII” at BC she  pared one play down to great effect, allowing more focus on essential and timeless themes in a … Read more

A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY at A Noise Within

Frances Baum Nicholson –The Stage Struck Review Of all of Oscar Wilde’s creations, the overall theme of “A Picture of Dorian Gray” has most become a part of the English language.  Rob Stevens – Haines His Way In his program notes for the current A Noise Within’s production of his adaptation of A Picture of Dorian … Read more

RAG HEAD at The Complex

Deborah Klugman – Stage Raw In August 2012, white supremacist named Wade Michael Page entered a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and shot and killed six people —another of the all too frequent hate crimes that continually debase our nation. Here in Los Angeles, Sikh writer/performer Sundeep Morrison became alarmed….Read more… Now … Read more

THE TURN OF THE SCREW at the Harold Clurman Laboratory Theatre

Lovell Estell III — Stage Raw The Turn of the Screw, Henry James’s novelette involving the supernatural, is one of a select number of short fictional works that have consistently attracted critical valuation. First published in 1898, it’s since been fruitful material for many artistic renderings.Read more… Now running through October 31