We open on a stretch of land somewhere in the midwest, where a family of three is living, homeless, underneath a billboard announcing the upcoming return of Jesus Christ. From this unexpected setting stems a series of questions and occurrences that will keep you guessing even after the story reaches its conclusion. Turtles, a play … More Theater Review: Red Cup Theatre Co’s Turtles
When Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape debuted in 1922, it caused quite a stir. The mayor of New York tried to shut down the original production, worried it would inspire labor protests, and even the FBI noted the work was dangerously close to being radical propaganda. Nearly a century later, this rarely produced, expressionist examination of class divides, … More Theater Review: The Hairy Ape at Odyssey Theatre
Imagine you spend the night with someone for the first time. It’s not quite a one night stand because you both hope it could turn into something more, but it’s still new, and a little awkward. Then imagine that person learns a horrifying family tragedy has occurred, and before you know it, you are quite … More Theater Review: Inkwell Theater’s Currency
“Are there any actors in the audience?” This question, posed by a mad scientist-type character, opens Lunatics & Actors, a world premiere play written by David Bridel and presented by Los Angeles-based clown troupe Four Clowns. It is immediately apparent that the fourth wall does not exist in this piece, which is more interactive performance art … More Theater Review: Four Clowns’ Lunatics & Actors
With summer right around the corner, many LA theater companies are announcing which shows will keep us entertained into next year and beyond. Since there are so many wonderful theater options out there in this great city, I wanted to do a round-up of some of the exciting shows we can expect moving forward. Where: … More Previewing the 2016-2017 LA Theater Season
“Punch me.” These are the opening words of Dry Land, the play by Ruby Rae Spiegel currently in its west coast premiere. They are spoken by Amy (Teagan Rose), a high school swimmer, to her new friend and teammate, Ester (Connor Kelly-Eiding) in the locker room. Why does Amy want to be punched, specifically in … More Theater Review: Echo Theater Company’s Dry Land
The subtitle for Spies Are Forever is “it’s a musical.” Truer words have rarely been spoken—the show is indeed a musical, and a damn fine one at that. This world premiere, made possible by a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised upwards of $58k, features a book by the Tin Can Brothers (Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, and … More Theater Review: Spies Are Forever
“Act one takes place in a British colony in Africa in Victorian times. Act two takes place in London in 1979. But for the characters it is 25 years later.” This information, provided in the “time and place” section of the playbill for Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9, which opens this weekend at the Antaeus Theatre … More Theater Review: Antaeus Theater’s Cloud 9
In Tupelo County, Georgia, the setting of the play Father, Son & Holy Coach, which opened at the Odyssey Theatre this weekend, the annual children’s Easter egg hunt is practically as competitive as the Hunger Games. This one-man semi-autobiographical show written and performed by John Posey tells the story of a complicated relationship between father and … More Theater Review: Father, Son & Holy Coach at Odyssey Theatre
Considering we humans spend about a third of our lives sleeping, it’s only logical that the lone location for Bed, the world premiere play that opened this weekend in Los Angeles, is, you guessed it—a bed. Written by Sheila Callaghan, directed by Jennifer Chambers, and presented by the Echo Theater Company, Bed examines a dysfunctional relationship over … More Theater Review: Echo Theater Company’s Bed
ON STAGE & SCREEN 