Justin Love, Celebration Theatre

Justin Love — Book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, Story byDavid Elzer and Bret Calder, Music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, Lyrics by Lori Scarlett. Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com Justin Love gives an old plot a modern twist, shines it up with with a bright and upbeat score, adds genuinely clever dialogue and lyrics, and wraps it all up in a Hollywood that only exists in fairy … Read more

Year of the Rabbit, Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA

Year of the Rabbit by Keliher Walsh. Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com I don’t think I’d ever actually considered the possibility that our soldiers fighting in the Middle East might be the children of our soldiers who fought in Vietnam. Keliher Walsh’s world premiere play, Year of the Rabbit, takes that idea and runs with it. Read more… Pauline Adamek – LA … Read more

Three Views of the Same Object, Rogue Machine

Three Views of the Same Objectby Henry Murray. Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com It’s a play about aging—Stop! Wait! Don’t turn away! It’s an honest, frank-and-sometimes-funny look at people making difficult life decisions at a time of life when their conversation focuses just a bit too much on bodily functions. Read more… David C. Nichols — L.A. Times … Read more

The Blue Iris, Fountain Theatre

The Blue Iris by Athol Fugard. David C. Nichols – Backstage In The Blue Iris, prolific South African playwright Athol Fugard treads delicately yet resolutely through the landscape of the heart. In doing so, the venerable 80-year-old dramatist cannot help clutching at ours, as this riveting U.S. premiere demonstrates.  Read more… Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com It’s hard to know exactly what to make … Read more

The Grönholm Method, Baby Tiger Productions at the Falcon Theatre

The Gronholm Method by Jordi Galcerán Ferrer. Translation by Anne Garcia-Romero andMark St. Germain. Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com I was surprised to learn that The Grönholm Method was originally written in 2003; I would have guessed it came out of the “Greed is Good” late 1980s. Indeed, whenever this tale of a job interview from hell mentions Occupy Wall Street or any other … Read more

The Exorcist, Geffen Playhouse

The Exorcist by John Pielmeier. Pauline Adamek – ArtsBeatLA The Geffen Playhouse have commissioned John Pielmeierto adapt author William Peter Blatty’s legendary horror story to the stage for a world-premiere presentation, and it’s difficult to comprehend why. Why take a sensational novel that was cleverly parlayed into a hit movie to great effect and then – almost forty years later … Read more

Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announces Officers for upcoming year

At a May meeting of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, David C. Nichols was chosen as the Circle’s president for a one-year term. Nichols, who writes for the L.A. Times and other local publications, had previously held that office from 2008 to 2010. Outgoing president Bob Verini, who has held the office since 2010, will take over as Awards Chair for the LADCC Awards ceremonies … Read more

The Year in Los Angeles Theater, 2011 – Sharon

Recap by Sharon Perlmutter. I’m always pleased when I see a show that lives up to its hype.  I’m even more pleased when I see a show that had no hype at all, but just knocks me off my feet.  There were both in 2011. I came late to Ebony Rep’s production of A Raisin in the Sun.  (Hell, I came … Read more

2nd Photo Essay — post show at the 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards event

Prize recipients, nominees, critics, publicists, theater practitioners and aficionadi all mingled in the foyer of A Noise Within’s glamorous theater in Pasadena following the 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards event, which was held on Monday, March 19, 2012. For a full list of the nominees, go here. You can now follow theLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle on twitter via @LADramaCC. Enjoy this photo … Read more

Photo Essay — 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards evening 2011

A grand time was had by all who attended the 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards event. This group of professional theater critics, theLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC), annually gives awards for excellence in theater. The ceremony took place Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within’s glamorous theater in Pasadena, and was co-produced by LADCC members David C. Nichols and Sharon Perlmutter. The fun-filled show … Read more