L.A. Stage Insider

Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area

Written by Julio Martinez

April 3, 2024

NEWS

Segerstrom

Segerstrom Center for the Arts unveils its Broadway lineup for the 2024-25 season. With six Orange County premieres, direct from Broadway, this lineup features an array of productions with a mix of classics and innovative new works. The 10 Broadway musical works include “Mrs. Doubtfire” “Back To The Future: The Musical,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “Annie,” “Hamilton,” “MAMMA MIA!,” “Life of Pi,” “A Beautiful Noise,” “& Juliet,” and “Hadestown.” New subscriptions and more information at scfta.org/broadway.

Tracey Paleo

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) goes digital in 2024 with its first-ever simulcast of the awards ceremony on Instagram and Facebook, Apr 8 (8pm).Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ladramacritics/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ladramacritics/. This innovative approach, guided by producer Tracey Paleo, will allow a global audience to engage with the event, while showcasing Los Angeles 2023 theatrical season (stage) nominees and winners. In a bold move embracing the digital age, the LADCC's decision to host its 54th annual awards ceremony via social media marks a significant shift in how Los Angeles stage achievements are celebrated. Accessibility is a key feature, with free viewing available to those with an account on either Facebook or Instagram. The nominations list (https://tinyurl.com/y4277m47) for the LADCC Awards is as diverse as it is impressive, with over 50 percent of nominees being women or members of diverse communities. The digital playbill will be available free online and downloadable starting April 8, and can be found on the LADCC 2023 Awards page:    https://ladramacriticscircle.com/2023-awards/

PREMIERES

Chance Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater company, presents the Orange County Premiere of "Alma.'' This 90-minute Latinx mother-daughter love story “explores the American dream for immigrants and dreamers,” written by playwright Benjamin Benne, winner of the ATC National Latine Playwrights Award. The cast features Marta Portillo (Chance Debut) as Alma and Heather Lee Echeverria (Chance Debut) as Angel. With direction by Sara Guerrero (Founding Artist at Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble), “Alma” will begin previews on May 3, 2024 with the production officially opening on May 11. and will be running thru May 26 at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807. For tickets and more information, go here  or call (888) 455-4212

David Johnson Kim

Los Angeles theater survives and thrives on community collaboration now more than ever. In conjunction with AAPI Heritage Month, Chalk Repertory Theatre will present the premiere of “Pang Spa,” directed by Reena Dutt in collaboration with EST/LA’s premiere production of “Two Stop” directed by Tracey A. Leigh. Penned by David Johann Kim, these two world premieres are companion pieces centered around themes related to the 1992 L.A. Uprising. Both plays will be presented during AAPI Heritage Month between May 2 and June 9, 2024, at Atwater Village Theatre. This collaboration is a part of Center Theatre Group’s L.A. Artist Residency program, a division of the new CTG:Forward initiative. “Two Stop” takes place on the verge of the ’92 L.A. Uprising. A Korean market. A murder scene. A store owner and a neighborhood teenage girl face off. History and histories go head-to-head as L.A. starts to burn. “Pang Spa” stars Christopher Callen, Ben Carroll, Hahn Cho, Edward Hong, Jasmine Kimiko, and Dian Kobayashi. “Two Stop” runs May 2 (opens May 4) through June 9. There is a Hapa Night performance on May 17 and an AAPI Day celebration performance on May 26. To purchase tickets and for more information please visit  https://www.estlosangeles.org/. “Pang Spa” runs May 16 (opens May 19) through June 9.  To purchase tickets and for more information please visit https://www.chalkrep.com/. Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles, CA 90039. Parking is free in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) parking lot one block south of the theater. 

AROUND TOWN

Mary Leeholland Antwon Mason Jr.

The Actors Co-op Theatre Company presents William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” directed by Michael T. Kachingwe. Stranded on the South Pacific coast of Illyria, the quick-witted Viola assumes the disguise of a page boy for Duke Orsino and finds herself at the center of an explosive love triangle in which identity, passion and gender all threaten to come undone. The cast features Mary Leeholland (Viola) and Antwon Mason Jr. (Duke Orsino), as wellas a supporting ensemble of twelve. The production will run from April 5^th through May 12^th, 2024. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:30pm. Additional Saturday Matinees April 13^th and May 4^th at 2:30pm. For Tickets/Info: www.ActorsCo-op.org or (323) 462-8460. The David Schall Theater, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood, 90028.  

Frankie Faison, Meeghan Holaway, Cheryl Umaña,

Interact Theatre Company, in partnership with Los Angeles Public Library's LA MADE cultural enrichment program, presents a staged reading of Stephen Adly Giurgis's Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Between Riverside and Crazy,” directed by Kenneth Meseroll. Starring Tony Award® nominee Frankie Faison as "Pops," along with Steven Culp, Adriàn Gonzàlez, Meeghan Holaway, Cheryl Umaña, Tezz Yancey, and Sofia Yepes. Saturday, April 13 (2pm) at the Studio City Branch Library, 12511 Moorpark St., Studio City. Free, no reservation required, but seating is limited, so arrive early. Doors open at 1:30 PM. More information at interactla.org.

SOLO MOJO

Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors), in association with Da Poetry Lounge (DPL), presents THE 8^th ANNUAL LA GET DOWN FESTIVAL, celebrating the Los Angeles’s diverse arts communities through hip-hop and spoken word. DPL Co-Founder Shihan Van Clief (Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Jam International Tour) and Arianna Lady Basco (The Fabulous Filipino Brothers) return as Festival Directors. The festival, which takes place during U.S. National Poetry Month, opens April 6, 2024, with the closing ceremony on April 27 at Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue). Tickets are now on sale at GreenwayCourtTheatre.org.

Arts in Review, hosted by arts journalist Julio Martinez, celebrating the best in theater and cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles area, airs on KPFK90.7fm on Fridays (2-2:30pm), streamed live around the world in real time over KPFK.org. On April 5, Julio welcomes actress/producer Tracy Paleo, discussing The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, which goes digital in 2024 with its first-ever simulcast of the awards ceremony on Instagram and Facebook, Apr 8 (8pm).