October 2006
LA’s legit theatre scene for fall is so different from films. The past summer has brought us fine theatre and come fall, we will see even more and exciting happenings on stage. Be it in the larger venues like downtown or the Equity waiver small houses, you will love attending live –on stage- a thrilling evening out.
Here’s a terrific new innovation. A new free night of theatre is being inaugurated. On October 19th more that fifty theatrical organizations, large and small, will offer free tickets to their productions. Mark this date now. On October 3 tickets will be made available by logging on to www.freenightoftheater.net or log on to the LASA website. www.LASTAGE.Alliance.com. This will be an ongoing event in many cities. Keep checking my blog or log on to www.lastagetix.com/freenight. for further information. How’s that for a deal?
.Let me start with the Center Theatre Group downtown, although why always down town?
The beautiful Pasadena Playhouse featured an admirable production of August Wilson’s prize-winning FENCES starring the incredible Laurence Fishburne with lovely Angela Bassett and very ably directed by the Playhouse’s artistic director, Sheldon Epps. I originally saw this in New York when it opened in 1987 starring James Earle Jones and featuring Courtney B. Vance as the young son. He is all grown- up and is the real husband of Bassett. What a stirring night in the theatre this was . Coming soon is ‘SISTER ACT,” The Musical. Remember the movie with Whoopi Goldberg? Well, throw in singing and dancing nuns, it’s billed as the funkadelic musical event of 2006. Should be a blast. Incidentally, the balcony theatre at the Pasadena Playhouse was renamed the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for Carol Burnette’s deceased daughter and starting with a new play called “GRACE.” A very interesting love triangle when a devout mid-western couple arrive in Florida to develop a chain of Gospel-type motels with the slogan of “where would Jesus stay?” Plans go awry, naturally, but it was fun to watch.
Now, at the Music Center downtown, The L.A. Opera season has begun with an amazing schedule for the remainder of 2006. Verdi’s “DON CARLO,” with new Music Director, James Conlon conducting and Massenet’s “MANON” with Placido Domingo conducting Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in this beautiful French love story.
The L.A. Philharmonic opens the Disney Hall fall season with Esa-Pekka Salonen
conducting Mahler, Mussorgsky and Haydn with guest soloists.
John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “DOUBT” returns to the Ahmanson with Tony winners Cherry Jones and Adriane Lenox starring. Set in 1964 in a NY Catholic school, this heated drama with healthy skepticism will keep you in doubt long after the play ends.
Following “Doubt” comes winner of six 2005 Tony Awards,”THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA,” A beautful Italian love story. Lovely Lynn Redgrave wrote and performs in “NIGHTINGALE” at the Mark Taper Forum. She has written and performed about both her parents and now this is about an invented woman who sings like a nightingale, but we hear it’s about her grandmother. Should be wonderful, She’s a treat to see and hear.
The Pantages in Hollywood always has wonderful shows, mostly fantastic Broadway musicals like the current “SWEET CHARITY” starring talented
Molly Ringwald to be followed by ‘THE TEN TENORS” on Oct. 24th for only two weeks but well worth hearing and seeing Australia’s debonair musical group sing opera, jazz, pop, the works..
UCLA LIVE, at Royce Hall has an International Theatre Festival with groundbreaking productions from countries including China, Ireland, England, Canada, the U.S. and Russia. Check it out by calling 310-825-4401 or www.uclalive.org. .
Also, in W estwood, the newly refurbished and remodeled Geffen Playhouse will be having a world premiere of “WISHFUL DRINKING,” written and performed by Carrie Fisher. Call 310-208-2028 for more info.
Our Smaller Stages are ablaze with amazing productions at lesser prices. Patronize all that I’ll tell you about..Firstly, kudos go to charming Evelyn Rudie, who, with her husband, playwright director Chris DeCarlo, have been running the successful Santa Monica Playhouse for many years since she gave up being a Hollywood child star. She is being honored by Women In Theatre with a 2006 Red Carpet Award for her support and involvement in the performing arts in greater L.A.. Evelyn was the youngest performer to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the youngest to win an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of “Eloise” on Playhouse 90. Currently at the Playhouse is a tribute to “Tom and Dave” comedy team until the 29th followed by “AUDITION! THE MUSICAL,” a hilarious ride on the Hollywood roller coaster of life. Stars Evelyn Rudie and three other actresses/singers/dancers. A perfect theatrical evening for the entire family. Also in Santa Monica, The Powerhouse Theatre has “THE VICTORIAN HOTEL,” a haunted Victorian era hotel serving as the backdrop for a torrid love affair along with puppetry, mask work, music and modern technology. WHOOOH!
The Odyssey Theatre in Brentwood, continues with the extremely funny “MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS” where legendary producer David O. Selznick stops production on “Gone With The Wind” to bring in a reluctant Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming to rewrite the faulty script in one week and keeping them sequestered in his office during that time. Catch this before it closes. Also in Brentwood, at the Skirball Cultural Center u p Mulholland. Is “WORK SONG”, Three views of architect Frank Lloyd Wright starring Gregory Itzin, Robert Foxworth and Amy Brenneman. Ph. 310-827-0889 for dates and times.
Theatre Forty, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre on the campus of Beverly Hills High, is playing two Lillian Hellman classic dramas in repertory, “THE LITTLE FOXES” and “ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST” where a southern family’s fortune declines amidst the struggle to maintain power and position by greed, rivalries and disloyalties. Wonderfully talented actors in both plays, magnificient sets and both beautifully directed.
In Hollywood, a world premiere of “LEIP SIG” is at the famed Lee Strasberg Institute. Stars Salome Jens, Mimi Kennedy and Mitchell Ryan and deals with unanswered questions as the past unfolds. At Hollywood’s Art/Works Theatre, Jose Rivera’s “REFERENCES TO SALVADOR DALI MAKE ME HOT”. The comedy/drama is a surrealistic lyrical celebration of love, lust and longing as a young wife awaits her soldier-husband’s return from overseas.
IN THE VALLEY, Arthur Miller’s provocative “BROKEN GLASS” is at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. Set in Brooklyn while the Nazi threat is on the rise in Germany. This psychological stunner reveals long-held secrets and fragility of a Jewish marriage. On a lighter note, “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES” is just what the doctor ordered, a musical blast from the past down memory lane loaded with all the golden oldies at the El Portal in North Hollywood. The Whitefire in Sherman Oaks has “DVORAK IN AMERICA,” a new musical with David Galligan directing. Composer Antonin Dvorak (1893) when teaching at the NY conservatory, finds music and love in America.. Tony Danza in “I REMEMBER YOU” is at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank for just 4 weeks. See him, he’s great!
That’s 30 for now. Stay tuned for more theatre and films.
Harriette
Here’s a terrific new innovation. A new free night of theatre is being inaugurated. On October 19th more that fifty theatrical organizations, large and small, will offer free tickets to their productions. Mark this date now. On October 3 tickets will be made available by logging on to www.freenightoftheater.net or log on to the LASA website. www.LASTAGE.Alliance.com. This will be an ongoing event in many cities. Keep checking my blog or log on to www.lastagetix.com/freenight. for further information. How’s that for a deal?
.Let me start with the Center Theatre Group downtown, although why always down town?
The beautiful Pasadena Playhouse featured an admirable production of August Wilson’s prize-winning FENCES starring the incredible Laurence Fishburne with lovely Angela Bassett and very ably directed by the Playhouse’s artistic director, Sheldon Epps. I originally saw this in New York when it opened in 1987 starring James Earle Jones and featuring Courtney B. Vance as the young son. He is all grown- up and is the real husband of Bassett. What a stirring night in the theatre this was . Coming soon is ‘SISTER ACT,” The Musical. Remember the movie with Whoopi Goldberg? Well, throw in singing and dancing nuns, it’s billed as the funkadelic musical event of 2006. Should be a blast. Incidentally, the balcony theatre at the Pasadena Playhouse was renamed the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for Carol Burnette’s deceased daughter and starting with a new play called “GRACE.” A very interesting love triangle when a devout mid-western couple arrive in Florida to develop a chain of Gospel-type motels with the slogan of “where would Jesus stay?” Plans go awry, naturally, but it was fun to watch.
Now, at the Music Center downtown, The L.A. Opera season has begun with an amazing schedule for the remainder of 2006. Verdi’s “DON CARLO,” with new Music Director, James Conlon conducting and Massenet’s “MANON” with Placido Domingo conducting Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in this beautiful French love story.
The L.A. Philharmonic opens the Disney Hall fall season with Esa-Pekka Salonen
conducting Mahler, Mussorgsky and Haydn with guest soloists.
John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “DOUBT” returns to the Ahmanson with Tony winners Cherry Jones and Adriane Lenox starring. Set in 1964 in a NY Catholic school, this heated drama with healthy skepticism will keep you in doubt long after the play ends.
Following “Doubt” comes winner of six 2005 Tony Awards,”THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA,” A beautful Italian love story. Lovely Lynn Redgrave wrote and performs in “NIGHTINGALE” at the Mark Taper Forum. She has written and performed about both her parents and now this is about an invented woman who sings like a nightingale, but we hear it’s about her grandmother. Should be wonderful, She’s a treat to see and hear.
The Pantages in Hollywood always has wonderful shows, mostly fantastic Broadway musicals like the current “SWEET CHARITY” starring talented
Molly Ringwald to be followed by ‘THE TEN TENORS” on Oct. 24th for only two weeks but well worth hearing and seeing Australia’s debonair musical group sing opera, jazz, pop, the works..
UCLA LIVE, at Royce Hall has an International Theatre Festival with groundbreaking productions from countries including China, Ireland, England, Canada, the U.S. and Russia. Check it out by calling 310-825-4401 or www.uclalive.org. .
Also, in W estwood, the newly refurbished and remodeled Geffen Playhouse will be having a world premiere of “WISHFUL DRINKING,” written and performed by Carrie Fisher. Call 310-208-2028 for more info.
Our Smaller Stages are ablaze with amazing productions at lesser prices. Patronize all that I’ll tell you about..Firstly, kudos go to charming Evelyn Rudie, who, with her husband, playwright director Chris DeCarlo, have been running the successful Santa Monica Playhouse for many years since she gave up being a Hollywood child star. She is being honored by Women In Theatre with a 2006 Red Carpet Award for her support and involvement in the performing arts in greater L.A.. Evelyn was the youngest performer to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the youngest to win an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of “Eloise” on Playhouse 90. Currently at the Playhouse is a tribute to “Tom and Dave” comedy team until the 29th followed by “AUDITION! THE MUSICAL,” a hilarious ride on the Hollywood roller coaster of life. Stars Evelyn Rudie and three other actresses/singers/dancers. A perfect theatrical evening for the entire family. Also in Santa Monica, The Powerhouse Theatre has “THE VICTORIAN HOTEL,” a haunted Victorian era hotel serving as the backdrop for a torrid love affair along with puppetry, mask work, music and modern technology. WHOOOH!
The Odyssey Theatre in Brentwood, continues with the extremely funny “MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS” where legendary producer David O. Selznick stops production on “Gone With The Wind” to bring in a reluctant Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming to rewrite the faulty script in one week and keeping them sequestered in his office during that time. Catch this before it closes. Also in Brentwood, at the Skirball Cultural Center u p Mulholland. Is “WORK SONG”, Three views of architect Frank Lloyd Wright starring Gregory Itzin, Robert Foxworth and Amy Brenneman. Ph. 310-827-0889 for dates and times.
Theatre Forty, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre on the campus of Beverly Hills High, is playing two Lillian Hellman classic dramas in repertory, “THE LITTLE FOXES” and “ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST” where a southern family’s fortune declines amidst the struggle to maintain power and position by greed, rivalries and disloyalties. Wonderfully talented actors in both plays, magnificient sets and both beautifully directed.
In Hollywood, a world premiere of “LEIP SIG” is at the famed Lee Strasberg Institute. Stars Salome Jens, Mimi Kennedy and Mitchell Ryan and deals with unanswered questions as the past unfolds. At Hollywood’s Art/Works Theatre, Jose Rivera’s “REFERENCES TO SALVADOR DALI MAKE ME HOT”. The comedy/drama is a surrealistic lyrical celebration of love, lust and longing as a young wife awaits her soldier-husband’s return from overseas.
IN THE VALLEY, Arthur Miller’s provocative “BROKEN GLASS” is at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. Set in Brooklyn while the Nazi threat is on the rise in Germany. This psychological stunner reveals long-held secrets and fragility of a Jewish marriage. On a lighter note, “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES” is just what the doctor ordered, a musical blast from the past down memory lane loaded with all the golden oldies at the El Portal in North Hollywood. The Whitefire in Sherman Oaks has “DVORAK IN AMERICA,” a new musical with David Galligan directing. Composer Antonin Dvorak (1893) when teaching at the NY conservatory, finds music and love in America.. Tony Danza in “I REMEMBER YOU” is at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank for just 4 weeks. See him, he’s great!
That’s 30 for now. Stay tuned for more theatre and films.
Harriette
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