L.A. Stage Insider

Celebrating the Best in live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area

Written by Julio Martinez

May 14, 2025

NEWS

Ashley Griffin (Eloise) Evan Strand (Will)

Following the close of its Off-Broadway premiere, “The Opposite of Love” will have its L.A. Premier this Summer at The Hudson Theater, playing July 24-Aug 31 (Thu/Fri/Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 4pm; Preview July 24, 6pm; Opening Night July 25). The playwright and original star is Los Angeles native Ashley Griffin (Eloise), making her long awaited Los Angeles theatrical return, co-starring with actor Evan Strand (Will); directed by Melora Marshall, an actress in her own right, particularly at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon. The Los Angeles premiere is being presented by Neil Gooding Productions. "The Opposite of Love” was originally developed with and presented by New York Rep Founding Executive Director, Gayle Waxenberg. For tickets and more information, go here.

Paddy Chayefsky

The Group Rep is presenting “Network,” written by Lee Hall, based on the Paddy Chayefsky film, directed by Tom Lazarus, and produced by Stevie Stern. When news anchorman Howard Beale screams on his final TV broadcast, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore,” the ratings soar. Howard becomes the biggest thing on TV. The audience becomes part of the play both as diners and a studio audience. The distance between fact and fiction is reduced, mimicking the blurring of truth and fiction in contemporary news media. The Group Rep cast features the talents of Linda Alznauer, Patrick Anthony, Fox Carney, Ken Dixon Jr., Bert Emmett, Matthew Harper-Johnston, Idielís Hernández, Belinda Howell, Mimi Kmet, Angie Lin, Hudson Long, Melissa Lugo, Bob McCollum, Michelle McGregor, Kevin Michael Moran, Sherrick O’Quinn, Danny Salay, Tack Sappington, Amy Shaughnessy, Larry Toffler, Cathy Diane Tomlin and Sylvie Wiley. The Group Rep Theatre – Main Stage (first floor) is located at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood 9160. Purchase Tickets: thegrouprep.com. Reservations & Information: (818) 763-5990.

PREMIERES

Devyn Rush (Electra) and Thomas Winter (Nicola Tesla).

Sierra Madre Playhouse presents the Premiere of a new musical, “Flashes of Light,” a star-crossed tale about Inventor Nikola Tesla and his muse, Electra, the Goddess of Storm Clouds. Written by Billy Larkin and Ron Boustead, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. Plays May 25–June 9 at historic Sierra Madre Playhouse, noted for its eclectic programming and compelling theatrical productions. Set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution in New York City in the late 1800s, the story follows inventor Nikola Tesla, guided by Electra, who sends him visions of groundbreaking inventions during lightning storms. The score is a blending jazz, pop, and rock, bringing this fantastical story both tragic and divine to life. The cast includes Devyn Rush as Electra and Thomas Winter as Nicola Tesla. Also featured are Sydney Endicott, Nina Kasuya, Daniel Krause, Amir Levi, Lauren Lorati, Patrick Munoz. Guy Noland. Chima Rok, Christopher Romero Sosa and Steven Wishnoff. The creative includes Tania Possick (choreographer) and Billy Larkin (music director). For tickets and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, 91024.

AROUND TOWN

Baritone Quinn Kelsey Soprano Lisette Oropese Tenor Rene Barbera

LA Opera is presenting Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, a timeless tale of betrayal and revenge, a cornerstone of the repertoire, featuring some of Verdi’s most beloved arias. Music Director James Conlon conducts the production, running May 31-June 21. The cast includes Baritone Quinn Kelsey, tenor René Barbera, sopranos Lisette Oropesa and Kathryn Lewek, baritone Blake Denson, bass Peixin Chen and mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino.The cast also includes several current members of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program: tenor Nathan Bowles, baritone Hyungjin Son, bass Vinícius Costa, as well as mezzo-sopranos Gabrielle Turgeon and Madeleine Lyon. The production, directed by Tomer Zvulun, includes choreographer is Ricardo Apponte and Jeremy Frank is the chorus director. Performances are at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, located at 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012. Tickets can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

SOLO MOJO

Jon Gentry

Santa Monica Playhouse is presenting “Black Bastard,” a 2024 winner of the Soaring Solo Social Impact Award, written and performed by Jon Gentry. Through literature, clowning, self-discovery, and original song, the production invokes 90s nostalgia in a jambalaya of memoir, embodied character transformation, and socio-cultural commentary. Black Bastard plays June 12 (7:30pm), June 14 at (7:30pm) and June 15 (4pm). Reservations are always necessary. Call the Playhouse Box Office at 1-310-394-9779 ext. 2 or reserve tickets by going here.

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 May 9, Arts in review welcomes Elana Lou, Echo Theatre associate director, discussing the winners of the company’s 2024 New Play Competition.

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