L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
L.A. Stage Insider
Written by Julio Martinez
July 19, 2023
IN MEMORIAM: Tom Ormeny
Tom Ormeny
Tom Ormeny, born on Apr 17, 1946 in Budapest, Hungary, has passed away from cancer. Tom and his wife, Maria Gobetti, are the co-founders and Artistic Directors of The Victory Theatre Center. Since 1971, Tom had produced, directed and/or acted in over 100 productions, many at the Victory, many of them world premieres. Most recently, “Who’s Your Daddy?,” dramaturged and directed by Tom, went on to be a critical hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. During their tenure at The Victory, Tom and Maria have produced many world premieres. Thirty years ago, for the debut production of “On the Money,” Tom took over the role of Jack when the actor who played the role had to take more remunerative work. Tom then performed the role for the next five months of that very successful run. I worked with Tom and Maria during the hectic days of Equity’s stomping on and revisioning of the Equity-waiver code for L.A.’s 99-seat theaters. Tom worked so actively for arts advocacy. He was instrumental in forming Los Angeles Municipal Promotions (LAMP) that successfully lobbied for the “one percent for the arts” tax for the City of Los Angeles. Since 1989, he had served on the actor/producer side of the Actors’ Equity Review Committee for the Los Angeles 99 Seat Theatre Plan. He served eight terms as the president of the Los Angeles Theatre Alliance. Tom and Maria have also graciously opened the doors of The Victory Theatre Center to ongoing projects such as “Backstory,” a “bi-monthly evening of true stories, poetry, and flights of fancy.” Tom’s passing leaves a hole in the fabric of the Los Angeles theater community.
NEWS
La Mirada Theatre
The Tony-nominated La Mirada Theatre for The Performing Arts announces that its recently concluded season broke its all-time box office records for attendance, single tickets, and overall revenue -- for the second year in a row! The 2022-2023 “Broadway Series” season opened with the London version of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, which was quickly followed by A Few Good Men, Grease, The King and I, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. All of the shows were co-produced by La Mirada Theatre and McCoy Rigby Entertainment. La Mirada Theatre is unique among U.S. regional houses: its self-produced shows are sponsored solely by a municipality, The City of La Mirada, which also owns and manages the theatre itself. The 2023-2024 season of shows opens this October. Season information, subscriptions and single tickets to 2023-24 season are now available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310 or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com.
PREMIERES
Ashley Rose Wellman
Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood is premiering “Kill Shelter,” underscoring headline-relevant issues of choice, autonomy (both human and animal) and power dynamics, written by Ashley Rose Wellman. The cast of Kill Shelter includes Nadia Marina, Chloe Madriaga, Alex Hogy, C.J. Craig, Ashley Romans, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Brandon Warfield, and Jack Clevenger (please note that the show is double-cast), directed by Shaina Rosenthal. Theatre of NOTE is located at 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, 90028. Previews run Aug 10-13. Opens Aug 17, 2023, running through Sep 24 (Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun (6pm). Runs 90 minutes, no intermission. Online Ticketiing: theatreofnote.ludus.com
Ray Abruzzo
Ray Abruzzo will star as Eddie Carbone in Ruskin Group Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's “A View from the Bridge,” directed by Mike Reilly, opening Aug 18. Last season at the Geffen Playhouse, Abruzzo starred in King Liz. He has gained widespread admiration in previous years for his performances on stage in “Dinner with the Boys,” written by and starring Dan Lauria at the Acorn Theatre on NY's Theater Row and in the west coast premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s “Mauritius” at the Pasadena Playhouse. Additionally, the cast features Kim Chase, Aurora Leonard, Brandon Lill, Jesse Janzen, Sal Viscuso, Kevin Alain, Jamie Daniels, Aaron Marshall, Jeff Prater and Nicole Millar. “A View from the Bridge” opens Aug 18, running through Oct 8 (Fri & Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm) through Oct 8. Ruskin Group Theatre is located at 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.ruskingrouptheatre.com or by calling (310) 397-3244. Free parking available on site.
AN EVENT IN THE THE FOREST
Pamela Adlon & Wendie Malick
Wendie Malick and Pamela Adlon are set to host “Echoes in the Forest,” a gala fundraising event for Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary summer season. The event will feature food and drink on Theatricum’s outdoor stage in the Topanga woods; a silent auction; performances by Beau Bridges, members of the Theatricum company and surprise guests; and the presentation of the Will Geer Humanitarian Award to theater, dance, film and television legend Debbie Allen in honor of her tireless advocacy for social justice, community empowerment and the development of young artists. All proceeds benefit the artistic and educational programming at Theatricum, honoring founder Will Geer’s legacy to the arts and the next generation. The event will take place Aug 5 (6pm) at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum,located 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 90290. For tickets, go to Theatricum.com or call (310) 455-3723.
Susan Hayden
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 July 21, Arts in review welcomes Susan Hayden, author of recently published, “Now You Are A Missing Person,” a “memoir in poems, stories & fragments.” Hayden is also the creator/producer of Library Girl, a long-running monthly literary series at Ruskin Group Theatre
A committed, talented thespian.
He’ll be missed.
LA Theater community has lost a
hero!
Thank you Julio for letting us know about the sad passing of Tom Ormeny. I still have the handouts from the LA Stage workshop he led at Cal Arts on public relations back in the day, and have quoted his advice often in the ensuing years. He was a wise, kind, and generous soul who leaves a big hole in our community. Sympathy to Maria and the whole Victory Theatre family as well.