L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
April 24, 2024
NEWS
Troubadour Theater Company is celebrating its 29th season, intermingling one of Shakespeare’s most notorious tragedies, Antony & Cleopatra with the music of 80’s wild boys, Duran Duran. The award-winning Troubies tell the twisted tale of love, lust, and sharp objects where the Rio Grande becomes the Nile in Troubadour Theater Company’s latest world premiere musical comedy event, “Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra!” With musical direction by Ryan Whyman, adaption & direction by Matt Walker, the production will preview on June 6 (8pm), opening June 7 (8pm), then running through June 16 at the Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St. in North Burbank. Performances are Thu/Fri, 8:00 pm; Sat, 4 & 8pm; Sun, 4:00 & 7:30 pm. Tickets available online at www.troubie.com, colonytheatre.org, or by calling the box office at (818) 558-7000.
PREMIERES
Oliver Mayer
Latino Theater Company opens its Spring 2024 season with the Premiere of a daring new play with music, “Ghost Waltz” focusing the boldly original recovery of Juventino Rosas, one of Mexico’s most significant composers — an Indigenous musician whose life story has gone untold and whose works have been attributed to Europeans, written by Oliver Mayer. The cast of actor/musicians includes Ariel Brown, Monte Escalante, Cástulo Guerra, Quetzal Guerrero, Ric’key Pageot, Nathalie Peña–Comas and Eduardo Robledo, directed by Alberto Barboza and music director Alberto López. The production runs May 4-June 2 (Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm) at The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in downtown Los Angeles. Low-priced previews are scheduled Apr 25-May 3. LATC is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (213) 489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org
Laura Stribling Peter Ritt
The Road Theatre Company announces two world premiere plays performing in repertory, “High Maintenance” by Peter Ritt, featuring Tommy Dickie, Kris Frost, Alexis Ingram, Ivy Khan, Merrick McCartha, Christian Prentice and Amy Tolsky, directed by Stan Zimmerman; and “Singularities or the Computers of Venus,” written and directed by Laura Stribling. High Maintenance features Blaire Chandlet, Avery Clyde, Susan Diol, Kate Huffman, Noelle Mercer and Krishna Smitha. High Maintenance will begin previews on Apr 9, opening Apr 12 (8pm), and run through May 19. Singularities or the Computers of Venus, will begin previews Ap 22, opening Apr 26 (8pm), running through June 2. Both will perform at the Road Theatre, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood. For tickets, please call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org to purchase tickets online or to view complete schedule.
AROUND TOWN
Rubicon Theatre Company, celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season this year, announces the launch of its new special event series, “Ventura Live! Music, Laughter & Magic,” featuring Heather Youmans, an all-star band, and musical guests, celebrating the songs and stories of Carole King, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks and more! “Ventura Live! Continue through June 15. This diverse series promises to dazzle audiences of all ages and tastes. All events will take place at Rubicon’s home, The Karyn Jackson Theatre in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District, 1006 E. Main Street. For and program information and tickets, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call (805) 667-2900.
Laurie Grant
ArtsUP! LA is presenting Broadway Bound, a new jukebox musical featuring musicians with varying disabilities. The show features songs and scenes from acclaimed musicals, taking you on a fantastic trip of a young man who is hearing Broadway music for the first time. Created and directed by Laurie Grant, the cast includes Rex Lewis-Clack, Patrick Storey, August McAdoo, Alan Davis, Olena Calderon, Yaro Calderon, Aiden Calderon, Cecilia Mallon, and Devin Weitz who also serves as the co-musical director and choreographer. The show opens May 3rd and runs through May 18th at the Blue Door Theater in Culver City, CA. Tickets are available online or at The Blue Door’s box office. https://www.bluedoorculver.com/. ArtsUP! LA is a nonprofit theater and arts program serving people with disabilities, military veterans, and opportunity youth. For more information, go to https://www.artsupla.org/about.html.
SOLO MOJO
TV personality Fritz Coleman is extending the run of his latest one-person comedy, “Unassisted Living,” a show for “boomers,” covering things like Zoom school, retirement, becoming vegan, pharmaceuticals, celebrating growing up, and growing old. Included are some of his favorite stories and observations about modern life. Performances now run into August at El Portal Theatre in the intimate Monroe Forum, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601. With cocktail table seating and a special guest at each performance, Coleman’s shows play Sundays (3pm) on Apr 28, May 26, July 21 & Aug 18. For online ticketing go to: https://www.elportaltheatre.com/fritzcoleman.html
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.