Reprise is in trouble. Is its mission not clear enough? Should it be just like other musical theater companies or should it continue to produce shows that can’t be seen elsewhere?…Valerie Dillman’s Sarah’s War is a skillfully layered fictionalization of the Rachel Corrie story that dramatizes a variety of perspectives. Plus brief glances at a couple other production that examine the Israeli/Palestinian cauldron. READ MORE
50th Annual World Theatre Day on March 27 Features Malkovich Message
by LA Stage Alliance | February 21, 2012
John Malkovich will write a message for the 50th annual World Theatre Day, sponsored by Theatre Communications Group and the US Center of the International Theatre Institute. An essay contest, online activities, and fund-raising for theaters in quake-stricken Japan will precede the big day itself on March 27. An interactive world map will track local celebrations. READ MORE
Reprise Suspends the Rest of Its Season
by LA Stage Alliance | February 17, 2012
Reprise Theatre Company is canceling the third show of the 2011-2012 season, The Apple Tree, in addition to its earlier cancellation of its second show The Baker’s Wife, while the Reprise board assesses future programming and its funding. READ MORE
LA STAGE INSIDER
by Julio Martinez | February 16, 2012
Zina Bethune killed by hit-run driver…A season of premieres at the Colony, plus details on seasons at LA Opera and Musical Theatre West…KPFK to air LATW radio plays…Richard Chamberlain will appear in the Pasadena Playhouse production of The Heiress…Charles Dillingham steps in as interim executive director at Pasadena Playhouse…Gary Grossman of Katselas Theatre talks…A giant-size Julius Caesar in Beachwood Canyon, almost a century ago…READ MORE
Music Makers. Erection Fires Blanks. Road’s Rage Rep.
by Don Shirley | February 13, 2012
Burbank’s midsizes focus masterfully on musicians — Dissonance at the Falcon and Old Wicked Songs at the Colony. The latter play’s writer strikes out with his latest at the Blank. Road Theatre features fathers engendering rage in Finding Fossils and The Water’s Edge. That last play is by Theresa Rebeck, creator of NBC’s Smash — how about a series about CTG, NBC? READ MORE
LA STAGE INSIDER
by Julio Martinez | February 9, 2012
Stephen Eich discusses his experiences at Pasadena Playhouse, where’s he about to exit his job as executive director, and his hopes for the playhouse and his own career…Wililam Shatner and Peter Gallagher will perform solo shows at the Pantages and Geffen, respectively… DOMA launches a full season…Luis Alfaro’s Electricidad returns…A look at LA’s first theaters. READ MORE
Association for Jewish Theatre Conference: Day 3
by Rachel Fain | February 8, 2012
Theater artists who use first-person testimony and historical artifacts was the topic of a panel on Day 3 of the Association for Jewish Theatre conference, which met at USC on Tuesday. The day continued with a producers’ panel that featured Ron Sossi of the Odyssey Theatre and Joe Stern of the Matrix Theatre. READ MORE
Association for Jewish Theatre Conference: Days 1 and 2
by Cynthia Citron | February 7, 2012
Gathering at UCLA Hillel for the first two days of its 31st conference, the Association for Jewish Theatre produced panels that began with jokes but went on to discuss ethical values, Jewish identity and more. The conference also listened to a keynote speech by Richard Montoya of Culture Clash. READ MORE
Elemeno — Class is in Session. Plus Cirque, Fables, Noir
by Don Shirley | February 6, 2012
Molly Smith Metzler’s Elemeno Pea is relevant to its 99%/1% era and its Costa Mesa place, and it need not apologize for getting big laughs. Cirque’s Iris goes on vacation; will it return to a theater with a new name? Plus brief glances at Cirque’s other LA shows — the good (Ovo) and the bad (Michael Jackson) — and at two productions soon to close, Fairy Tale Theatre +18 and Absolute Black. READ MORE
LA STAGE INSIDER
by Julio Martinez | February 2, 2012
The Hollywood Fringe Festival accepts applications and moves Fringe Central to the Open Fist…LA Opera news…Conan O’Brien headlines a Geffen fund-raiser…stage photographer and sometime actor Ed Krieger speaks…A look at Crane Jackson and his Theatre Rapport, a decade after Jackson’s death…READ MORE
Raisin in the Sun, Jerry Springer, Center Theatre Group
Top LADCC Nominations
by LA Stage Alliance | January 31, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun and Jerry Springer: The Opera each nabbed eight Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nominations — more than those of any other productions. Center Theatre Group won a total of 10 nominations at its three venues. The awards will be presented on March 19 at A Noise Within’s new home. READ MORE
Theatrical Artists Wanted for Meet Me @Metro III
by LA Stage Alliance | January 31, 2012
Meet Me @Metro: Uncovering Los Angeles’ Hidden Treasures (M3-III) will use theatrical artists to uncover history along the Metro Gold Line route next summer. Companies and individual theatrical and musical artists are invited to apply by Feb. 18 for participation in the project, which is sponsored by Watts Village Theater Company. READ MORE
