How to Write a New Book for the Bible by Bill Cain. Melinda Schupmann – ArtsInLA.com Narrator Bill (Tyler Pierce) enters with a notebook in hand and announces: “First rule of writing? Write what you know. If writers stuck to it, there would be no books.” On that note, over time, we learn that Bill is a … Read more
Death of a Salesgirl by Patricia Scanlon. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com First to strike the attentive audience member upon entering the theater here is John Zalewski’s sound design. It seems to consist of effervescent electronic dots and anchoring bass-note dashes. A haunting, initially disquieting, ultimately soothing presence, his sound will continue to envelop the production. Meanwhile, next of note … Read more
42nd Street by Mark Bramble, Michael Stewart, Harry Warren and Al Dubin. David C. Nicols – L.A. Times Audiences craving unbridled pizazz should race to 42nd Streetat the Carpenter Center in Long Beach. Musical Theatre West opens its 60th season with the indestructible backstager, and scores a toe-tapping triumph. Read more… Shirle Gottlieb – Gazette Newspapers If you’re a musical theater buff, you’re undoubtedly acquainted … Read more
KONG: A Goddamn Thirty-Foot Gorilla by Adam Hahn. Pauline Adamek – LA Weekly Adam Hahn’s spoofy homage to King Kong, the 1933 creature feature about a colossal gorilla that is captured and runs amok in New York City, is an ambitious undertaking. Just how do you depict a giant ape on stage without stop-motion animation trickery and cinema … Read more
Orestes 3.0: Inferno by Charles Mee. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com Apollo, god of healing and truth, pops onstage for a chat with the audience. He is clad in Bermuda shorts and sunglasses, a party boy. Does his makeover shake our core beliefs? If our gods aren’t who we think they are, how can we put one foot … Read more
Build by Michael Golamco. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com Technology and human relationships combine to warmhearted effect in Michael Golamco’s world premiere. Even his not terribly likeable two characters turn universal, sympathetic, and somewhat heroic by play’s end. Read more… Mayank Keshaviah – LA Weekly For those more familiar with ‘World of Warcraft’ than Waiting for Godot, Michael Golamco’s newest play may appeal as … Read more
Godspell Jr. by John Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz. Pauline Adamek – ArtsBeatLA There’s nothing quite like the pure spirit and shining, happy faces of talented young teens and kids. Provided with a suitable vehicle, namely Godspell, Jr., the vibrant energy of this mostly female, mostly eight-grader cast of eight kids provides a great night of musical entertainment. Fittingly, the … Read more
Bad Apples by Jim Leonard. Terry Morgan – LAist.com Circle X Theatre Co. has been one of the best theatre companies in Los Angeles for fifteen years now. One thing the company has never lacked for is ambition, and this admirable quality is on display in their current world premiere, Bad Apples. It’s a musical concerning the Abu … Read more
The Doctor’s Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw. Pauline Adamek – LA Weekly George Bernard Shaw’s turn-of-the-century play is a platform for his diatribe against doctors. Shaw’s passionate distrust and satirical takedown of the medical profession is wrapped up in a slightly dull, five-act drama that’s enlivened by mildly comedic undercurrents and interesting discussions on contemporary morality. Read more…
Seminar by Theresa Rebeck. Hoyt Hilsman – The Huffington Post Plays about writers and writing present major challenges for both audiences and playwrights. Because writing is such an internal process, full of grinding frustration and occasional exhilaration, it is a tough subject to portray on stage. Playwright and film/TV writer Theresa Rebeck makes a valiant but flawed assault on … Read more