Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review Having trouble finding a loving commitment this Valentine’s Day? Aren’t we all? With a three-hour-plus run time and two intermissions, South Coast Repertory’s latest offering, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, is definitely a commitment. However, it’s worth pursuing because of a staging as brilliant as it ever was … Read more

Once @ CHANCE THEATER

Amanda Callas – Broadwayworld Once feels like a revelation, with all the delicate tenderness of a romantic ballad and the foot-stomping joy of a rustic Irish pub on music night. Read more…   Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review Jacqueline Malenke’s haunting lighting set the tone of the show and brought it to a … Read more

An Inspector Calls @ THEATRE 40

Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive British socialist J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls” is a clever dramatization of the British class system. Especially worth seeing as staged at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Read more… Harker Jones – BroadwayWorld A classic of mid-20th-century English theater, Priestley’s script has complexity. He gives each of his characters … Read more

Paranormal Activity @ AHMANSON THEATRE

Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA Beginning in the total dark with a burst of ear-splitting ambient noise, this opening choice is as if the show’s creators are giving us a warning: This is only the beginning, motherf***ers, so get ready to scream out loud and jump out of your seats on a regular basis for … Read more

Moulin Rouge! @ HOLLYWOOD PANTAGES/SEGERSTROM

Amanda Callas – Broadwayworld A decadent, kitchen-sink-sized chocolate sundae with a sparkly sprinkling of campiness on top, Moulin Rouge! has the allure of something that you know is excessive but you simply cannot resist another bite. Read more… Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review The love story with attitude, French flair, and a soundtrack … Read more

Grease @ EL PORTAL THEATRE

Harker Jones – BroadwayWorld In the end, if you love GREASE, you may not mind the grumbles and grouses that plagued the production for me. All the songs you love are there, and sometimes that’s enough. The 1950s throwback to a seemingly more innocent time is certainly a palliative to the horrors of today. Read … Read more

The Fantasticks @ RUSKIN GROUP THEATRE

F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history, goes back so many years and has gone through so many iterations—including a critically ill-received 2000 film—that you would think material this familiar wouldn’t pack the same emotional punch of a first viewing. You would be wrong. Read more… Amanda Callas … Read more

Reel to Reel @ ROGUE MACHINE

F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw The Los Angeles premiere of Reel to Reel at Rogue Machine may be one of the most unusual—and quietly moving— productions you are likely to see this season. Read more… Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA What John Kolvenbach has created could so easily slip into gimmickry but never does … Read more

A Doll’s House, Part 2 @ PASADENA PLAYHOUSE

Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania Jennifer Chang’s interpretation of Hnath’s play is puzzling. The dialogue crackles on its own, yet Chang adds unnecessary modern touches, like a violin version of the White Stripes song “Seven Nation Army” (sound by John Nobori) and modern tennis shoes (costumes by Anthony Tran). Read more… Harker Jones – BroadwayWorld Director Jennifer … Read more