While the setting of Picnic, William Inge’s classic play that first debuted on Broadway in 1953 and opened at North Hollywood’s Antaeus Theater last night, may be literally dated, its universal themes still ring almost unnervingly true. Works that deal with innate human needs and desires can be almost timeless—whether it’s Kansas in 1952 or Los Angeles … More Theater Review: Antaeus Theater’s Picnic
It’s rare to see an acclaimed musical that is close to your heart and nearly a decade old presented in a way that makes you feel as if you are seeing it for the first time. It is even more rare to have this happen two years in a row. I first saw Deaf West’s Spring … More Theater Review: Deaf West’s Spring Awakening (Redux)
From the moment you enter the Vortex, the downtown LA warehouse performance space that is home to the current immersive production of American Idiot, it’s clear it is not the Idiot many theater fans came to know and love on Broadway and on tour over the past several years. This is Idiot like you haven’t seen it before, stripped down … More Theater Review: American Idiot LA at the Vortex
Although you get the sense early on in the national touring production of Cinderella, currently playing at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre, that this version of the popular fairy tale isn’t quite the one you grew up with, this point is really driven home at the end of act one. As Cinderella flees the ball at midnight, she … More Theater Review: Cinderella at the Ahmanson
Here’s the great thing about seeing a Disney musical—it is often impossible to wipe the smile off your face for hours, sometimes even days, afterwards. Beauty and the Beast (my personal favorite) was the first Disney Theatrical Production in 1994, and has since been followed by The Lion King (1997), Mary Poppins (2004), Tarzan (2006), The … More Theater Review: Newsies at the Pantages
After seeing Carrie at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts this past weekend, I understood immediately why the 1988 Broadway production went down in history as one of the most notable and expensive flops of all time. There is simply no world in which this musical is a Broadway show, but that does … More Theater Review: Carrie the Musical at La Mirada
As I’ve discussed before, Wicked was in many ways the beginning of my theater obsession. I have seen the show ten times over the past ten years, including performances on Broadway, on tour in Boston while I was in college, on tour in my hometown, and now in LA. Considering that this show has been … More Theater Review: Wicked at the Pantages
I first saw Kinky Boots as part of a four show weekend in NYC back in January. At the time, I was very curious to compare it to Matilda, which I also saw during that trip. These two shows were the top contenders for the Best Musical Tony Award that season, and in what was … More Theater Review: Kinky Boots
This past weekend I saw the national touring production of Pippin at the Pantages Theater in LA. I had previously seen the Best Revival Tony-winning production in New York City back in January, where it ended up being my favorite of the four shows I saw that trip. The Los Angeles leg of the tour … More Theater Review: Pippin
When Deaf West Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening begins, two actresses, both playing Wendla, face each other from opposite sides of a mirror that sits center stage. The music starts to play and one Wendla (Katie Boeck) begins singing “Mama Who Bore Me”, accompanying herself on the guitar, while her counterpart (Sandra Mae Frank) begins … More Theater Review: Spring Awakening at Deaf West
ON STAGE & SCREEN 