Julius Caesar @ Independent Shakespeare Company

Don Shirley – Angeles Stage The free-admission but donation-reliant ISC returns to its Old Zoo space within Griffith Park with “Julius Caesar,” after two seasons in a much smaller dell just to the west, deeper within the park (following the COVID-caused cancellation of ISC’s outdoor activity in 2020). The temporary location was used primarily because … Read more

Last Summer at Bluefish Cove @ Fountain Theatre

Don Shirley – Angeles Stage “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” isn’t usually considered a classic, but it played an important role in LA theater history as the first lesbian-themed play to have a long run — more than two years at the Fountain Theatre after a 1981 opening. This summer the Fountain has revived “Last … Read more

CRABS IN A BUCKET @ Echo Theater Company

Harker Jones – BroadwayWorld Bernardo Cubría’s world premiere CRABS IN A BUCKET: OR HOW BITTERNESS RUINED THE FUN is a riotous satire of small minds divided by envy. Focused on literal crabs in a shucking bucket, the crabbiest crab, Amargo (Xochitl Romero), and daffy sidekick Pootz, (Anna Lamadrid), spend their days bitching about the crabs … Read more

Misery @ The Garage Theatre

Terry Morgan – Stage Raw For some unknown reason, Southern California is having a little theater horror boom at the moment, with at least four shows playing concurrently – Beetlejuice, Exorcistic, The Ants and Misery. As a horror fan, I intend to see them all. I previously expressed my disappointment with The Ants in my … Read more

Beetlejuice @ Pantages Theatre

Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania Broadway hit Beetlejuice, now running at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre before making more stops on its North American tour, features a delightful score and book along with hysterical performances. It’s the must-see show of the season. Director Alex Timbers and his crew have morphed the beloved film into a fun house … Read more

A cluster of classics – in South Pasadena, Griffith Park, Topanga, Glendale, Boyle Heights Plus ‘Into the Woods,’ Ali meets Fetchit, ‘The Ants,’ ‘Beetlejuice’ musical

Don Shirley – Angeles Stage But this summer’s crop of classics includes a genuine surprise in the usual list of venues. Have you heard of South Pasadena Theatre Workshop? I had not, until a few weeks ago. But last weekend I entered this company’s 60-seat theater, where I was transported to Russia, two turns-of-the-century ago, … Read more

Garden of Alla: The Alla Nazimova Story @ Theatre West

Rob Stevens – Haines His Way Alla Nazimova was one of a kind. Mostly forgotten now, she was a force to be reckoned with in the early days of the film industry—that is Silent Movies. The Russian-born actress, coming off her Broadway successes, negotiated her own contract with Metro Pictures in 1917 that paid her … Read more

The Tempest @ Antaeus Theatre Company

Martίn Hernández – Stage Raw Director Nike Doukas adds a three-piece combo and rocking beat to Shakespeare’s tale of magic, revenge, and love in a production that is part musical, part radio play, and all fun. Rather than a set that depicts the play’s island motif, Doukas and scenic designer Angela Balogh Calin strategically place … Read more