Tom Dugan’s Simon Wiesenthal — Nazi Hunter, acclaimed at Theatre 40 last year, moves to Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre. Although Dugan’s father told him stories about his World War II service, the writer/performer’s repertoire of solo shows extends far beyond that subject. He’s currently writing his sixth solo — The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln. READ MORE
A Touch of Evil For Headly, Madigan and Rous at
Henley’s The Jacksonian
by Rachel Fain | February 15, 2012
Beth Henley’s new The Jacksonian opens tonight at the Geffen Playhouse. The three women in the cast — Amy Madigan, Glenne Headly and Bess Rous — gather to discuss the evil that permeates the play, which is set in the year that Jackson, Mississippi was desegregated. Headly was instrumental in getting the play produced. Original photography by Eric Schwabel. READ MORE
Bart DeLorenzo Interviews SCR’s Marc Masterson
by Bart DeLorenzo | February 14, 2012
Director Bart DeLorenzo questions South Coast Repertory’s new artistic director Marc Masterson about the company’s new directions, its use of local artists, his working habits, views on the LA theater scene — and SCR’s current production of Elemeno Pea, which marks Masterson’s directing debut at SCR. READ MORE
Three Year Swim Club Reaches the Mainland at EWP
by Stephanie Jones | February 14, 2012
A true Hawaiian story about a group of pre-World War Ii swimmers who trained for the Olympics in an irrigation ditch arrives on the mainland in the East West Players production of Lee Tonouchi’s The Three Year Swim Club. The author and director Keo Woolford discuss the play and its cast, who had to be somewhat proficient in both Hawaiian Pidgin and hula. READ MORE
How Does Huber Solve a Problem Like Being Mom…
and Maria?
by A.R. Cassell | February 10, 2012
Kim Huber was a kid who grew up in the Southern California musical theater scene, ran off to New York and Broadway for a decade, then returned here to raise a family and perform in the same venues where she started. On the eve of playing Maria in The Sound of Music for 3-D Theatricals in Fullerton, she talks about balancing career and family. READ MORE
Two LA Gigs for Jon Marans, Professional Playwright
by Amy Tofte | February 10, 2012
Jon Marans has both a new play and an old play up in LA right now — The Cost of the Erection at the Blank and Old Wicked Songs at the Colony. He makes 100% of his living from his plays. Advice, please. How about “Every play should be a mystery”? READ MORE
Lesli Margherita in La Mancha — Aldonza vs. Dulcinea
by Samantha Mehlinger | February 10, 2012
Lesli Margherita, playing Aldonza in Musical Theatre West’s Man of La Mancha, looks forward to changes in the musical arrangements that she hopes will make Aldonza sound a little more…whorish. The recent Ovation winner for Kiss Me Kate doesn’t like to look stuffy, as you can tell from the trailer for her new web series Sparklepuff Lazerium. READ MORE
JoBeth Williams and Robin Larsen Fall to Earth
by Deborah Behrens | February 9, 2012
JoBeth Williams equates making her LA intimate theater debut in Joel Drake Johnson’s The Fall to Earth at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble to climbing Mount Everest. Director Robin Larsen helmed the playwright’s Four Places at Rogue Machine Theatre to critical acclaim in 2010. The two discuss diving into the drama’s complex emotional cauldron of parent vs. adult child relationships. READ MORE
Slithering Snakes, From Kreitzer and Stangl
by Tom Provenzano | February 8, 2012
From dust to dust, from chalk to chalk — Chalk Repertory returns to the Hollywood cemetery where it acquired its name and staged its first production, this time with the West Coast premiere of Carson Kreitzer’s Slither. It examines the relationship between women and snakes through the centuries. Casey Stangl, who staged the play’s premiere in Minnesota before she became a rising director in LA, takes the helm. READ MORE
Kieren van den Blink Takes What’s Mine
by Steve Julian | February 8, 2012
Kieren van den Blink, producing and starring in Bekah Brunstetter’s Mine for her Little Beast Theatre at Elephant Lab, discusses the twists and turns and celebrity encounters as she “follows her bliss” in Hollywood. READ MORE
Brenner Brings Buddha to the Bootleg, Reilly Directing
by Pauline Adamek | February 7, 2012
Evan Brenner’s solo Buddha – A Fantastic Journey condenses reams of sutras about the Buddha’s life into about 90 minutes. Brenner discusses his show’s path and how acclaimed actor John C. Reilly’s direction of the West Coast premiere at the Bootleg has improved it. READ MORE
Jane Lanier Fell Into a Burning Ring of Fire
by Julio Martinez | February 3, 2012
Jane Lanier is no longer dancing, but she’s choreographing and directing. Currently she’s re-creating movement for non-dancers in Jason Edwards’ staging of the Johnny Cash bio-musical Ring of Fire. This version originated at La Mirada and now approaches engagements in Thousand Oaks (Cabrillo Music Theatre), Riverside and Denver. READ MORE
