LADCC Critics

A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY at A Noise Within

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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

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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

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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

OLD CLOWN WANTED at the Odyssey Theatre

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Neal Weaver  – Stage Raw Romanian-French experimental playwright Matei Visniec began his prolific writing career in Bucharest, but because of the strict censorship at the time, none of his plays could be produced. He sought political asylum in France and began writing in French.Read more… Now running through November 4

THE CAKE at the Geffen Playhouse

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Jonas Schwartz –  TheaterMania In this political climate, it is very easy to demonize those who think differently, particularly when their beliefs infringe on others’ rights. The right to refuse service to members of the LGBTQ community has become explosive, going all the way to the Supreme Court, where the issue has still not been … Read more

OTHELLO – Griot Theatre at The Actor’s Company

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Lovell Estell III — Stage Raw Like most of Shakespeare’s greatest works, this familiar tale of jealousy, love and betrayal readily lends itself to critical exploration and original adaptations. Although it was written over four hundred years ago, it’s particularly relevant in these neurotic times given our seemingly endless obsession with ethnic identity and matters … Read more

AMERICAN HERO – IAMA Theater Company at the Pasadena Playhouse

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Erin Conley – On Stage & Screen Three “sandwich artists” with very different lives walk into a franchise. What happens? Unfortunately the answer is…not much. American Hero, a play by Bess Wohl currently being presented by the IAMA Theatre Company in a guest production at the Pasadena Playhouse, is a comedy about working class America, … Read more

GLORIA – Echo Theater Company at Atwater Village Theatre

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Deborah Klugman – Stage Raw Although the publishing world serves as the framework for Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ scathing dramedy, his story is less about the decimation of a once flourishing profession as it is about the impoverishment of our lives and our relationships with others, or lack thereof.Read more… Erin Conley – On Stage & Screen … Read more

ALL NIGHT LONG at Atwater Village Theatre

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Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw Not every work of art is designed with the mass audience in mind. Some are experiments or explorations, or maybe just a diverting goof. All these terms might apply to John O’Keefe’s All Night Long, a kaleidoscopic fever dream of a play that revels in erudition and silly humor but doesn’t … Read more

FAIRY TALE THEATRE 18 & OVER: THE MUSICAL at Ammunition Theatre Company at The Pico

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Ellen Dostal – BroadwayWorld Ammunition Theatre Company ventures into the wacky world of fractured fairy tales for its latest production, FAIRY TALE THEATRE 18 & OVER: THE MUSICAL. Written and narrated by Michael J. Feldman, with original songs by Jason Currie, the show consists of four sketch comedy skits performed in 90 minutes, no intermission, … Read more