How is it possible that a musical based on a book written nearly 40 years ago feels more timely than ever today? The tour of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of The Color Purple just opened at the Pantages Theatre, and its messages of female empowerment in the face of rape, sexual assault, and domestic abuse … More Theater Review: The Color Purple at the Pantages Theatre
Have you noticed a rise in the number of historical fiction TV shows over the past few years? Audiences seem to love watching narratives set in ancient times. What’s more interesting is that many of the shows have Roman ties. Shows like Netflix’s Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, Amazon Prime’s Britannia, and even the comedy … More What is Television’s Obsession with the Roman Empire?
Native Son begins at the end of the story—with Bigger (Jon Chaffin), a 20-year-old black man in 1930s Chicago, hunted down by an angry mob, furious about a crime he possibly committed. Based on a book of the same name by Richard Wright, this stage adaptation by Nambi E. Kelley is in its southern California premiere … More Theater Review: Native Son at Antaeus Theatre Company
A few years ago, much earlier in the existence of the UMPO (Unauthorized Musical Parody Of) Series, they did a production of Clueless. Now, it is back in a new and much improved iteration starring the series’ talented stable of actors. Written by UMPO Series Executive Producer Kate Pazakis and directed by Jimmy Smagula, this 2018 … More Theater Review: The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Clueless at Rockwell Table & Stage
Soft Power, currently in its world premiere at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre, is billed as “a play with a musical.” This is a unique description fitting for a unique show, both in structure and in content. With play and lyrics by David Henry Hwang and music and additional lyrics by Jeanine Tesori, Soft Power taps … More Theater Review: Soft Power at the Ahmanson Theatre
That was a very problematic clambake! Sometimes, Broadway revivals manage to present a classic, beloved show in a new light, with the very best finding a new, deeper meaning that will make even devoted fans see something in the material they’ve never seen before. Other times, shows are better off left in the past. Despite … More Theater Review: Carousel on Broadway
Adapting a beloved movie for the stage is no simple task. There are those that have succeeded—Legally Blonde, Once, Bring it On. There are many more that have failed—Catch Me If You Can, Ghost, High Fidelity. Mean Girls opened on Broadway last month to mixed reviews and 12 Tony nominations, at least partially thanks to an undersaturated … More Theater Review: Mean Girls on Broadway
ON STAGE & SCREEN 