L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
November 27, 2024
NEWS
Musical theatre legend Sutton Foster (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Music Man) returns to the Ahmanson Theatre as Princess Winnifred in this beloved musical fairytale, “Once Upon a Mattress.” Full of melodies like “Shy” and “In a Little While,” this update of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea is directed by Tony-nominated Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods) and features a new adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). The Production sets an unapologetic free spirit loose in a repressed kingdom, “reveling in Winnifred’s ability to charm and transform with willpower, honesty, and a little bit of help from her friends.” Opens Dec 10, running through Jan 5, 2025. For tickets and more information, go here.
Cronin Cullen, Robert Smythe, Paul Ganus, Brian Guest
Gary Hudson, Jennifer Olsberg, Scottie Thompson, Chris Ufland
Panic Productions has completed the cast (listed above), in support of Joe Cortese & Frances Fisher, starring in Arthur Miller’s tour de force production of “Death Of A Salesman.” Opening Jan 10, 2025 (Preview Jan. 9th) at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. Arthur Miller’s play, that won virtually every accolade a play can win, including five Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Miller, now arrives at the historic Colony Theatre with an outstanding multiple Award-Winning cast. Performances Thurs, Fri, Sat. 7:30pm and Sun 3pm. For tickets and more information, go to: www.onstage411.com/salesmanage411.com/salesman
A CHRISTMAS CAROL DUO
South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announce SCR’s 44th production of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, and directed by Hisa Takakuwa running Nov. 30-Dec. 24 on the Segerstrom Stage. SCR Founding Company Member Richard Doyle returns for his fourth year as Ebenezer Scrooge. Doyle has appeared in A Christmas Carol for 39 years, playing many different characters, including the Spirits of Christmas Past and Present, Mr. Fezziwig, Scrooge’s nephew Fred, and both solicitors. Doyle has also appeared in 131 SCR productions across its 61 seasons. Joining Doyle in A Christmas Carol’s cast are Preston Maybank, Michael Manuel, Richard Soto, Jennifer Parsons, Diana Burbano, Tommy Beck, Larry Bates, Kelsey Bray, Eduardo Enrikez, Thomas Anawalt, Erika Schindele, Nick Slimmer, William Francis McGuire, Melody Butiu and Alicia Coca. For tickets and more information, go online at www.scr.org or call (714) 708-5555.
The Ensemble Photo by Craig Schwartz
Over at A Noise Within, their “A Christmas Carol,” a stage adaptation by Geoff Elliott that is uniquely faithful to the original novel by Charles Dickens, will return for the 2024 holiday season. Performances take place at the company’s Pasadena venue from Dec 1-24. Every word in Elliott’s play is right out of the novel — not a single one has been added. Throw in original music, eye-popping costumes, holiday crafts in the beautifully decorated lobby and photo ops with the cast after the show, and this A Christmas Carol might just be the best holiday party in town. Co-directed by Elliott and Julia Rodriguez–Elliott, Elliott also alternates in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge with Frederick Stuart, each playing opposite Riley Shanahan as Marley. The supporting cast includes Trisha Miller, Anthony Adu, David A. Rangel, Kasey Mahaffy, Emily Kosloski, Mitch Connelly, Ella Blain, Roshni Shukla, Brooklyn Bao, Stella Bullock, Brendan Burgos, John Preston, Estella Stuart, Aria Zhang and Madison Keffer. Performances of take place Dec 1-24 (Thu & Fri, 7pm; Sat, 2pm & 7pm; and Sun, 2pm.) More information is available at www.anoisewithin.org/relaxed-performances. For Tickets, call (626) 356-3100 or go to www.anoisewithin.org.
AROUND TOWN
Ian Fairlee, Will Riddle, Nick Voss and Blake Burgess Photo: Zach Menedez
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC), Santa Barbara’s only professional theatre company and a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), announces a special added “Community Pay-What-You-Can ”preview performance of “Million Dollar Quartet,” which also coincides with the actual 68thanniversary date at Sun Records that the iconic quartet jammed together, as well as two additional (by overwhelming demand!) performances on Dec 12 (2pm) and Dec 17 (7:30pm). The production features a book by Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux, original concept and direction by Floyd Mutrux, inspired by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. ETC’s production will be directed by Brian McDonald and under the musical direction of David Lamoureux. “Million Dollar Quartet” will now perform from December 4-22, 2024 (with a press opening on Saturday, December 7 at 8:00pm) at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street. Single tickets are available through the ETC ticket office at (805) 965-5400, or online at etcsb.org.
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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 Nov. 29, Arts in Review welcomes Emmy Award winner Ben Decter and Tony Award nominee Kristin Hanggi, discussing “It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!,” playing at The Hudson Theatre, through Dec 15,