L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
October 30, 2024
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
NEWS: PLAYWRIGHTS’ AWARDS IN L.A
Rachel Borders, India Kotis. Matthew Scott Montgomery, Louisa Hill, Erica Wachs
Created in 2015 by Shem Bitterman and Cathleen Young, PLAY LA, in partnership with The Greenway Court Theatre and Stage Raw, develops five original plays by local writers from the ground up and pairs them with area theatres. In addition, each writer is awarded a $1,500 stipend, and the opportunity to work with professionals in the world of theatre and film in the development of their new works. Rachel Borders, Luisa Hill, India Kotis, Matthew Scott Montgomery and Erica Wachs have been selected as winners of the 2024/25 PLAY LA Program. PLAY LA aims to nurture new plays into being and bring them to the stage in full productions in as timely a manner as possible. The health and strength of the theatre lives in its ability to react nimbly to current events, and the health of playwrights depends on their ability to see their works staged. Accordingly, at the end of the year-long writing process, PLAY LA will present a two-day festival of the new plays in collaboration with notable local theatres. For more information about PLAY LA, go here.
Celebrating outstanding talent in the Los Angeles theater community, the Los Angeles New Play Project (LANPP) announces this year’s grant recipients: Shualee Cook for “Cercle Hermaphroditos,” to be produced by After Hours Theatre Company (Graham Wetterhahn, Artistic Director); Roger Q. Mason for “Hide and Hide” to be produced by Skylight Theatre Company (Producers Gary Grossman and Armando Huipe); Ankita Raturi for “नेहा & Neel” to be produced by Artists at Play (Marie-Reine Velez - Producer); Amy Tofte for “Righteous Among Us” to be produced by Little Fish Theatre (Suzanne Dean and Stephanie Coltrin, Co-Artistic Directors). Los Angeles New Play Project supports new and original works presented on small stages within Los Angeles County. Each playwright receives a grant of $20,000. Each of the submitting producers will receive an additional $20,000 to help offset the cost of producing. But there are many steps in between that rely on the facilities and input of the various theatres within the LA theatre community. LANPP was founded in 2021 by director Paula Holt. For information regarding the Los Angeles New Play Project please consult the website: http://lanpp.org/
PREMIERES
Brian Letscher, Melissa Bales, Samanth Solyan
Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice has extended its Premiere of “Demolition,” focusing on identity, truth, parenthood, “and the courage it takes to break things apart in order to become your own kind of hero.” Now running through Nov 24 Written by Matthew Letscher, the cast includes Melissa Bales, Ryan Foust, Brian Letscher, Samantha Sloyan, Tony Pasqualini and Keith Stevenson, directed by Max Mayer. Pacific Resident Theatre is located at 703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. For tickets, go online: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/ or call (310) 822-8392. Performances are Thu-Sat (8pm), Sun (3pm).
AROUND TOWN
Ensemble
Laguna Playhouse presents a revival of award-winning “A View From The Bridge,” delving into the complexities of family, love and justice. Written by Arthur Miller. The cast of features (in alphabetical order): Richard Baird, Lowell Byers, Frank Corrado, Steve Froehlich, Coby Rogers, Matthew Salazar-Thompson. Margot White and Marie Zolezzi, directed by David Ellenstein. Previews begin Oct 30. Press opening on Nov 3 (5:30pm), continuing through Nov 17 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-2787.
Wayne Brady Rachel Harris John O’Hurley
Garry Marshall Theatre in Toluca Lake is hosting a concert reading of the new musical, “To Sir, with Love.” Joining previously announced Wayne Brady are John O’Hurley, Rachael Harris, Kelley Jakle and Darcy Rose Byrnes. Other cast members include Josh Adamson, Pat Towne, Nick Apostolina, Isabella Blake-Thomas, L.J. Benet, Anthony Carro, Jahbril Cook, Caiden Falstrup-Finney, Gus Pappas, Rena Strober and Haley Wolf. The ensemble will be directed by Sheldon Epps. The special concert adaptation of To Sir, With Love is set to be performed at the Garry Marshall Theatre. 4252 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, 91505. Directed by Sheldon Epps, this exclusive invite-only event will have concert dates on Nov 8, 9, and 10, 2024. For a full cast breakdown, to request an invitation, and for more information, visit www.lythgoefamily.com
SOLO MOJO
Dreya Weber
El Portal Theatre in NoHo will be hosting the solo show, “Hexen.” Told through song, audience interaction and aerial dance, Dreya Weber weaves the narratives of three women representing witch archetypes. Part historical account, ancestral legacy and imaginative fancy, the show explores the demonization of women, the power of reclaiming ancestry and the celebration of the mystical. Hexen is directed by Rose Bonomo and contains original music by Weber with recordings of Mahler and Dvorak sung by Jenny Trier. Performance is Nov 22 (8pm). El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood. For tickets and information call 818-508-4200 or go to www.elportaltheatre.com.
Lisa Robins and Mitch Levine
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 Nov. 1, Arts in Review welcomes Lisa Robins (writer/actor) and Mitch Levine (director/playwright) from Rogue Machine’s World Premiere of “Commited,” now Extending Through November 9.