Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous @ GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

  Elaine Mura – Splash Magazine Adeptly helmed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson, ANGRY, RAUCOUS, AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS proceeds to do just what the words in the title suggest – no, demand. Of course, Jackson has the advantage of a quartet of talented and seasoned actors to take on the roles of the four principals. After … Read more

Primary Trust @ CENTER THEATRE GROUP

Terry Morgan – Arts Beat LA One never knows where inspiration will strike. Eboni Booth’s play, Primary Trust, is partly set in a tiki bar that is its protagonist’s favorite place on Earth. Although the story is set in New York, Booth mentioned in an interview that her inspiration for that bar was Damon’s, an … Read more

Ascent @ SKYLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color Henry Ong‘s final play Ascent, now having its world premiere at the Skylight Theatre Company, is an urgently relevant production from Plain Wood Productions based on a true story about Chinese aerospace engineer Qian Xuesen. Though the play’s pacing is bogged down by far too many short scenes … Read more

Diavolo: Escape @ L’ESPACE DIAVOLO

Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA While Jacques Heim’s internationally renowned company is famous for its gravity-defying feats, since it’s being performed in this eclectic private former warehouse studio, this production brings the audience literally within five feet of the action. With only 90 seats in the house, the massive yet somehow intimate black box setting … Read more

Fairview @ ROGUE MACHINE THEATRE

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color There are many incredible ingredients at work with the Los Angeles premiere of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Fairview, now playing at Rogue Machine Theatre: a crackling ensemble cast, an intriguing and twisty premise, and a thrilling direction by Oz Scott. But despite these elements present, … Read more

Guilty Pleasures @ THE KENTWOOD PLAYERS

Elaine Mura – Splash Magazine Kudos also to Mimi Hrivnak’s scenic design which incorporates turning the stage around (literally). Daniel Kruger’s costumes, Michael Thorpe’s lighting, and Emaline Johnson’s sound do their bit to develop an intimate setting for the comedy. Read more…

All My Sons @ THE ANTAEUS COMPANY

Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA Arthur Miller often tackles the universal themes of morality vs. what his great classic’s everyman anti-hero Joe Keller calls “practicality,” but this time out the author leaves just a tad room for his audience to discover things for ourselves without incessant preaching about how dastardly our world operates. Read more… … Read more

Amadeus @ PASADENA PLAYHOUSE

Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania In Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, Antonio Salieri may proclaim himself the patron saint of mediocrity, but Jefferson Mays, who plays him in this new Pasadena Playhouse production, is a patron saint of distinction. His transcendent performance will be remembered for shaping the character into someone sharp, broken, and unexpectedly hilarious. Read more… … Read more