Neal Weaver – Stage Raw This world premiere of Frank Henry Kaash Katasse’s They Don’t Talk Back is produced by Native Voices at the Autry, a theatre company dedicated to developing new theatre works by Native American playwrights, and supporting the talents of Native American actors, writers, musicians, and directors. Read more… Now running through March 20.
Paul Birchall – Stage Raw Writer/performer John Posey’s solo show is about the strained relationship between a driven football-crazed dad and his more laidback and thoughtful son. In the program, Posey notes that the story is not autobiographical, though it does contain elements of real life and is drawn from the stories of people he … Read more
Lovell Estell III – Stage Raw At the heart of Stephen Belber’s dramedy is that painful longing that arises from time to time in all of us to revisit a past time of possibility and happiness. Read more… Now running through March 13.
Bob Verini – Stage Raw The premise of William Donnelly’s No Wake is straightforward enough — the throwing together of a divorced couple after the suicide of their long-estranged daughter. With the addition of a third character, the wife’s new husband who has come along for moral support, the action could proceed in any number of ways, … Read more
Deborah Klugman – Stage Raw Co-written by writer/performers David Douglas and Martin Head, Utopia revolves around a faceoff between Martin (Head), a community entrepreneur looking to create an art gallery reflecting the lives and hopes of people of color, and David (Douglas), an artist and former colleague whom he’s summoned from Albuquerque to work with him on … Read more
Neal Weaver – Stage Raw In suburban NYC, the Corelli family business — a construction company — is facing a dire threat. The firm, founded by paterfamilias Dominick (Vincent Palmieri) and henpecked Uncle Albert (David Mingrino), provides employment for Dominick’s elder son Carmine (Johnny Ferretti) and tough-talking butch daughter Marie (Heather Alyse Becker). But Albert’s … Read more
Lovell Estell III – Stage Raw The sneaky, overworked phrase “friends with benefits” takes on new meaning in this watery comedy by Bathsheba Doran. Read more… Dany Margolies – L.A. Daily News Family has not changed since ancient times. Our perceptions of family have. Playwright Bathsheba Doran seems to celebrate this in her play “The Mystery … Read more
Paul Birchall – Stage Raw Padraic Duffy’s rather sweet romantic comedy — the premiere offering at Sacred Fools’ new home at the former Elephant Asylum complex — is a good workmanlike calling card to introduce the company’s style and tone to its new neighborhood. If the play ultimately strikes one as slight, it’s salvaged by … Read more
Don Shirley – L.A. Observed Two plays named after cities: “Barcelona” at the Geffen Playhouse and Rogue Machine’s production of “Pocatello” (in case that doesn’t ring a bell, its namesake is the fifth largest city in Idaho.) Which theatrical destination sounds more inviting? Well, “Barcelona” isn’t bad. But “Pocatello” pops.
Margaret Gray – LA Times Culture shock, like grief, progresses through distinct stages: There’s the honeymoon period, when an expatriate is enchanted by a new country. Bliss gives way to withdrawal and hostility, the adjustment and, ultimately, acceptance. This journey happens to have a pleasing narrative structure that works well onstage. Read more… Now running through … Read more