Octopus’s Garden @ BOSTON COURT PASADENA

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color There is something truly remarkable when you witness a play that not only makes marine biologists wholly relatable but that you feel deep compassion for a giant octopus puppet and be stirred in mythical wonder for the deep watery unknown. Such is the accomplishment of Weston Gaylord’s Octopus’s … Read more

Here Lies Love @ MARK TAPER FORUM

Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania A new staging of the Broadway cause célèbre Here Lies Love has arrived at the Mark Taper Forum. But without the benefit of seeing the original Alex Timbers production in New York, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, in this reimagined version helmed by Center Theatre Group artistic director Snehal Desai, the … 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

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

नेहा & Neel @ LATINO THEATRE COMPANY

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color For better or worse, one of the oldest tropes in Asian American identity stories is often the generational & cultural divide between the immigrant parents and their American-born children. Ankita Raturi‘s नेहा & Neel, now having its world premiere at Latino Theater Company in collaboration with Artists At … Read more

Paranormal Inside @ EAST WEST PLAYERS

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color Prince Gomolvilas’ Paranormal Inside, now having one of its rolling world premieres at East West Players, achieves the astounding feat in being a play that is so compelling while fully utilizing multiple global majority actors across different spectrums in meaningful ways, completely deliver on its supernatural premises to … Read more

& Juliet @ AHMANSON THEATRE

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color & Juliet, now performing in Los Angeles at the Center Theatre Group Ahmanson Theatre on their national tour, is a bombastic jukebox musical combo of Shakespeare and 90’s & 2000’s pop music that will leave a gigantic smile on your face when you leave the theatre. Read more… … Read more

Berta, Berta @ ECHO THEATRE COMPANY

Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color There are many exciting elements at play with the west coast premiere of Angelica Chéri’s ‘Berta, Berta’ at the Echo Theater Company with a talented cast and director. But while there is no doubt that the commitment from the actors are sublime, the plot machinations involving supernatural elements … Read more