L.A. Stage Insider

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

Written by Julio Martinez

September 20, 2023

NEWS

Faye Viviana

Faye Viviana, Founder and Executive Producer of Crimson Square Theatre Company, has officially resigned from the company. Since its founding in 2019, Crimson Square, housed at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, has produced 9 shows, multiple staged readings, created a mentorship program. As well as an ongoing writer’s lab under Viviana’s leadership. Most recently, the company has staged “An Infinite Ache” by David Schuler, running through Oct. 1.  Viviana’s role of Executive Producer blended the duties of both Artistic Director and Executive Director. She continues to produce offstage under her indie film banner, V3 Productions.

Ron Bottitta

Rubicon Theatre, Ventura County’s leading not-for-profit theatrical organization, is unveiling the company’s 25th Anniversary “Silver” Season, entitled Truly Yours.  The 2023-2024 season is comprised of five diverse productions, opening with the Fountain Theatre’s West Coast Premiere of “The Lifespan of a Fact,” written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell (based on the nonfiction book by John D’agata and Jim Fingal). Features Ron Bottitta, Jonah Robinson and Inger Tudor. Plays Oct 4-21. Rubicon rings in the holidays with a revival of the award-winning musical revue, “The World Goes ‘Round,” a celebration of the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Dec 6-23). Rubicon’s season continues with: “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” by Richard Hellesen, starring Tony-Winner John Rubenstein (Feb 21-Mar 10, 2024); the West Coast Premiere run of “A Train,” written and performed by Annie Torsiglieri, original music by Brad Carroll, directed by Risa Brainin (Apr 10-28, 2024). Season closes with multi-Tony winner, “Once,” written by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (Sep 11-29, 2024). Rubicon Theatre Company is located at The Karyn Jackson Theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. For more information about Rubicon Theatre Company, or to purchase tickets, call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

PREMIERE

Paloma Morales and Angel Juarez

CASA 0101 Theater will present the World Premiere production of Founding Artistic Director, Josefina Lopez’s “Queen Of The Rumba,” A Play With Dance, directed and choreographed by Corky Dominguez starring actresses, Paloma Morales (as Alicia Parla) and Angel Juarez (Young Alicia Parla), in the titular character of the play. Will be presented on Fri & Sat (8pm) and Sun (3pm), Sep 22-Oct 22 in the newly dedicated Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, 90033.For further information, please visit www.casa0101.org 

Scott Lipman, Kyrie Dawson, Eliza Frakes and Christian Skinner     Photo by Michael Galligan

Nine Twenty Collective, in association with The Echo Theater Company, presents the U.S. premiere of “Certain Death and Other Considerations” by Eliza Frakes. Direct from a hit run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this ensemble-devised, ‘eco-anxious’ dark comedy combines Greek tragic structure, realism and physical theater “to explore the implications of living as the last viable generation — the good, the bad and the funny.”  The ensemble includes Kyrie Dawson, Eliza Frakes, Scott Lipman, Emma Pierce Rempel and Christian Skinner. Choreographic deviser, Satori Folkes Stone. Plays Sep 24 –Oct. 15 at Echo Theater Company, Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave, Los Angeles, 90039. For tickets and more information, call (310) 307-3753 or go to www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

Steve Vinovich ("The Professor") and Erin Pineda ("Ella") in the Los Angeles Premiere of Aaron Posner's "Life Sucks."

Interact Theatre Company (ITC) presents the Los Angeles premiere of “Life Sucks, a reimagining of Anton Chekhov's classic play, Uncle Vanya, written by Aaron Posner (Stupid F*#king Bird) and directed by ITC Artistic Director, Barry Heins. The cast includes John Ross Bowie, Anne Gee Byrd, Olivia Castanho, Ercin Pineda, Lily Rains, Marc Valera and Steve Vinovich. The production begins previews Sep 22, opening Sep 30 at 8pm, performing Fri & Sat (8pm) Sun (3pm) through Oct 29 at The Broadwater Main Stage, 1076 Lillian Way in Los Angeles. Tickets available online at: https://our.show/life-sucks, or through Interact Theatre Company's website www.interactla.org. Tickets also available at the box office.

AROUND TOWN

Jamie Torcellini

International City Theatre presents “Deathtrap,” the 1979 Tony-nominated comedy thriller by Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives). The cast includes Geoffrey Lower, Jill Remez, Coby Rogers, Michelle Holmes and Patrick Vest, directed by Jamie Torcellini. “Deathtrap” runs Thu-Sat (8pm) and Sun (2pm), Oct 20- Nov 5 (two preview performances take place on Oct 18 & 19 (8pm). International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center at 330 East Seaside Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or go to www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

5-Star Theatricals announces the third and final show of its 2023-2024 season, “Oliver!,” with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, musical direction by Anthony Lucca, choreography by Christopher M. Albrecht and directed by Kari Hayter. The Cast will feature Kayden Alexander Koshelev, Mark Capri, Monika Peña, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper,” Alkaio Thiele, Andrew Metzger,” Janna Cardia, Alex Boling, Clare Snodgrass, Rianny Vasquez, Zander Chin, Harry Cho, Kirsten Adler, K.J. Rasheed, Jesus A. Chavarria, Randi DeMarco and Analia Romero. Oliver opens Oct 13, running through Oct 22 at the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center (formerly the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza), 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. For Tickets and more information, call (800) 745-300. Tickets are also now and may be purchased at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, or through www.5startheatricals.com.

SOLO MOJO

Asta Leigh

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents the recent Hollywood Fringe Festival hit comedy, “BEFOK (or the Desperate Attempt to Impress Iñárritu),” ‘a manic ride of determination, desperation, ketamine and chickens, where the only thing at stake… is her life’ (for anyone who’s pursued a career in Hollywood). Written and performed by Asta Leigh, directed and story-crafted by Matt Ritchey. Plays Oct 20–Nov 5 (Thu-Sat (8pm), Sun (4pm). Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., 90025. For ticket and more information, go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com, or call (310) 477-2055 ext. 2

 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 Sep 22, Arts in Review welcomes actresses, Paloma Morales (as Alicia Parla) and Angel Juarez (Young Alicia Parla), starring as the titular character of the play, “Queen of the Rumba,” written by Josefina Lopez, opening Sep 22 at Casa0101 Theater in Boyle Heights.