Anita W. Harris – Long Beach Post Written by lyricist Peter Kellogg and composer David Friedman, with lively direction and choreography by Todd Nielsen, “Desperate Measures” is an enjoyable escapade with lovely songs, comic frivolity and yes, a thin plot, but a big heart due to its charming and talented cast. Read more…
Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania The play’s real star is Jamie Harrison and his eye-deceiving illusions. Even in the condensed version, actors flip upside down, get sucked through tiny boxes, change costumes (by Katrina Lindsay) in a snap, and shoot fire from their wands. Read more… Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA The star has to be … Read more
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA I suspect what has made Lauren Yee’s truly magical play with music such a critically acclaimed production since its debut at South Coast Rep in 2018 has been what former Angeleno theatremaker Chay Yew, now recognized as one of our country’s most noteworthy directors, has brought to the production since … Read more
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw It’s hard to believe that Frankie Valli, at age 90, is currently on a “farewell tour” scheduled to end this April. Perhaps he’s aging better than Jersey Boys, which despite all the flash and frills, seems timeworn — a tribute to a once stellar act now fading into obscurity. Read … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix Continuing for one more night at CSULB, the production is enjoyable for its cast and crew’s creative collaboration in staging Shakespeare in this novel way. With time, perhaps it can be tweaked to become more grounded in its purported L.A. setting while bringing the fluidity of the Stefano, Trinculo … Read more
Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color Andi Chapman’s rendition of Macbeth at A Noise Within is a refreshing work of art with a stunning ensemble cast comprised mostly of Black & global majority actors. Read more… Deborah Klugman – Stage Raw It’s a compelling way to begin this story of murder and mayhem. There’s … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix The play thus offers many lenses through which to challenge notions of race and gender—including a hilarious science-based plot twist near the end—successfully inverting what we might think of as true and fixed. It’s a refreshingly lighthearted way of sending up those concepts, though a more substantive story … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix History can be enjoyable in the form of a well-structured play like “Richard III,” even if the playwright may not have been entirely accurate about the man. And Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s lively and engaging staging definitely does it justice, making this production a must-see. Read more…
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix Corny, cheesy, metatheatrical – “The Play That Goes Wrong” is all this and more. And more laughs could not be had at the theatre as a result. Catch it now before the Cornley Drama Society starts getting better at staging their mystery and ruins all the fun. Read more… … Read more
Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review A compelling concept interweaves into this narrative around identity, friendship, and what bonds us to a particular place—a satisfying beginning and powerful ending is unfortunately held back by an unengaging middle. Read more… Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color The West Coast premiere of Sanaz Toossi’s Wish … Read more