L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
June 19, 2024
NEWS
Joel Grey Lesli Margherita John Rubenstein
La Mirada Theatre invites you and your entire family to join us in celebrating America, the Fourth of July and the legendary original “Yankee Doodle Boy,” Broadway composer George M. Cohan, with La Mirada Theatre’s “George M. Cohan Weekend Celebration!” The lineup is as follows: Saturday, June 2 (2pm) “George M. Cohan: Life And Music” – Free Concert & Book Signing at the La Mirada Library, 13800 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada; 8pm “Mr. Broadway: The George M. Cohan Celebration” - Exclusive Movie Screening, Live performances with Davis Gaines, Lesli Margherita, John Rubinstein, Joel Grey (pre-recorded) & other Broadway Stars, and so much more; Sunday, June 30 Paragon Ragtime Orchestra concert with pre-show and post-show guest speakers: 1pm – Pre-Show Lecture with writer Elizabeth T. Craft; 2pm – Paragon Ragtime Orchestra performs “Born on The Fourth of July: The Broadway Music of George M. Cohan;” 4pm – Post-Show Talk-back including the presentation of Cohan songs, with Davis Gaines, Robert Creighton, John Rubinstein and Mary Gordon Murray. Songs include “Mr. Broadway’s” flag-waving classics, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” & “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and many more. Theatrical world premieres of unheard Cohan songs, plus pre-and post-show concerts and a FREE CD included! Tickets can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre’s website: www.LaMiradaTheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. La Mirada Theatre for The Performing Arts is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada. Parking is FREE.
PREMIERES
Ensemble
The Santa Monica Playhouse Benefit Series presents the L.A. debut of “Ink & Paint: A New Musical,” created by Danielle E. Moore. Inspired by real events, Ink & Paint follows five women artists at Walt Disney Studios in the 1930s and beyond, whose ranks included first-and second-generation immigrants, a single mother and architect, a record-breaking pilot, a concept artist, and Disney’s first credited woman animator. They tell the true story of the company's first all-women story unit in a mashup of mid-century American history, the golden age of hand-drawn animation, and “the wild, wisecracking women who fought tooth, nail, and paintbrush for their place in it.” Ink & Paint: A New Musical” plays Friday, July 5 (7:30 pm). For Tickets and more information, go here. Santa Monica Playhouse is located at 1211 4th Street (one block east of the Third Street Promenade).
AROUND TOWN
Pictured from left to right: Kyle T. Hester, Brooke Bundy, Garikayi Mutambirwa,Max Pescherine, Sheelagh Cullen, Andrew Elvis Miller, Shireen Heidari.
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Noël Coward’s dark romantic comedy, “Design for Living,” directed by Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award-winner Bart DeLorenzo. The cast features Kyle T. Hester, Andrew Elvis Miller, Sheelagh Cullen, Brooke Bundy, Garikayi Mutambirwa, Max Pescherine and Shireen Heidari. Performances are June 29- Aug 25 at Odyssey - Theatre 1
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, 90025. For tickets, go here.
Elizabeth Evelyn Wright
The Robey Theatre Company Presents “Blessing Lessons,” a free reading of the second in a trilogy of fact-based plays about Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, the 19th Century American humanitarian and educator of Black and Cherokee heritage who founded several schools for Black children as well as the Denmark Industrial Institute (later known as Voorhees College) in 1898. Written by Albert Cowart, Jr., directed by Ben Guillory, presented on June 23 (3pm) at Los Angeles Theatre Center, in the intimate Theatre Four, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 90013. For reservations, go to: www.therobeytheatre.org. This play was developed in The Robey Theatre Company Playwrights Lab.
Rob Morrow and Marcia Cross
Ruskin Group Theatre presents Jon Robin Baitz’s “The Substance of Fire,” A Holocaust survivor’s unwavering dedication to a controversial project tests family bonds, and his legacy. Will he stand by his convictions, or will the lure of commercial success prevail? Stars Rob Morrow and Marcia Cross, Emmitt Butler, Barret T. Lewis and Fiona Dorn, directed by Mike Reilly. Opens July 12 (8pm), continuing Fri & Sat (8pm), Sun (2pm), through Sep 1. Ruskin Group Theatre at 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. For tickets and more information, go here.
HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL 2024
Candace Leung & Dominique Roberts
HFF24 is hosting the Premiere of “Expatriated.” Why are some people “expats” while others are “immigrants?” An L.A. lawyer finds herself in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, while on the other side of the world a Hong Kong lawyer faces the crushing reality of starting a new life in LA. Written and performed by Dominique Roberts and Candace Leung, this production explores contrasting experiences of migration. The show presents its North American premiere at The Broadwater (Second Stage), June 22-25, 2024. For Tickets, go to: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10891.
Charlotte “Charlo” Crossley (Mama) and Karla Mosley (Diva)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. Julio’s guests on June 21 will be Charlotte “Charlo” Crossley (Mama) and Karla Mosley (Diva), featured in “Foxy Ladies Love Boogie 70’s Explosion,” a Hollywood Fringe Fest 24 rock musical revue celebrating the women who defined “The Me Decade.” Playing at The Clubs Room in Hollywood. For tickets, go to: https://tinyurl.com/2v2bfs2t
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