Written by Julio Martinez
February 14, 2024
NEWS
Back in November 2023, Hollywood Fringe Fest (HFF) embarked on the ambitious and unprecedented fundraising goal of $48,000. The goal was to fund 24 low-income Angeleno artists at this year’s festival and raise money to support ongoing programs for artists and a new Artist Services Coordinator position. With your generous support, HFF Succeded! The HFF2024 Artist Fund is now open for applications until Monday, Feb 19, at 9:59pm PST! If Interested in learning about other ways to pay for your Fringe show, go here for tips and tricks to get funding for Fringe!
PREMIERES
L-R: Shannon Cochran, Lauren Blumenfeld and Alexandra Billings Photo by Jeff Lorch.
Geffen Playhouse is extending thr run of the Los Angeles Premiere of “POTUS or Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” written by Selina Fillinger. The cast features Ito Aghayere, Alexandra Billings, Lauren Blumenfeld, Shannon Cochran, Celeste Den, Jane Levy & Deirdre Lovejoy, directed by Jennifer Chambers. Currently performing, the production has been extended through Feb 25. For tickets and more information, go here.
Steven R. O'Brien - Daniel T. McCann - Paul Ian Stanley - Kimberly Demarse
In 2023, after a 17-week run of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” directed by Ronnie Marmo at Theatre 68, four cast members came together with the intention to build upon the artistic connections they had created. The Ektelo Theatre Group was born and “The Pillowman,” by Martin McDonagh, is their debut stage effort. Set in a totalitarian state, a writer is interrogated by the authorities about a series of murders that bear a striking similarity to his work. The cast includes Steven R. O’Brien, Daniel T. McCann, Paul Ian Stanley and Kimberly Demarse. Plays Apr 4-14 (Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm) at Broadwater Main Stage, 1076 Lillian Way, L.A. 90038. Link to tickets: www.onstage411.com/pillowman
Io Zeimar (l.), Stephen Cannon, Andrew Hendren, Ryan Foust.
Michelle Danner Acting Studio is hosting the Premiere comedy, “Historical Records,” where history leaps off the pages and onto the stage in a fusion of beats, rhymes, and past legends, created, produced and directed by Derek Jeremiah Reid. Opens Mar 9. The cast includes Derek Jeremiah Reid, Stephen Cannon, Io Zeimar, Nikita Francois, Andy Hendren, Ryan Foust, Abby A-O, and Maria Sweeney. Michelle Danner Acting Studio is located at 10820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 90232. Mar 9-30. Online ticketing: https://historicalrecords.brownpapertickets.com
AROUND TOWN
Melanie MacQueen
Theatre 40 will be offering an admission free staged reading of the new play “Johnson/Johnson: Two Presidents, Same Problem,” written and directed by Melanie MacQueen, on Feb 17 (2pm) at Theatre 40. In the 1960’s, Lyndon Johnson became President after the assassination of Kennedy. Though a hundred years had passed, the same problem confronted them both - what to do about Civil Rights. Johnson/Johnson takes us through how two very different men fought the same battle - and what it cost them to do so. Theatre Forty is located at 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. This is on the campus of Beverly Hills High School. Ample free parking can be accessed through the driveway at the intersection of Moreno and Durant Drives. Follow the signage. Website: http://theatre40.org
.Musical Theatre Guild (MTG) is presenting the stage musical adaptation of the popular 1998 Adam Sandler romcom film, “The Wedding Singer.” Music is by Matthew Sklar, Book by Chad Beguelin & Tim Herlihy, Lyrics by Beguelin. Directed by Mary Jo DuPrey; Musical Direction by Cassie Nickols Gonzalez, the production stars MTG Members Will Collyer, Matthew Patrick Davis, Zachary Ford, Tal Fox, Nancy Lam, Barbara Minkus, Taulbert Nadalini, Wendy Rosoff and Trance Thompson. Guest Artists include Krista Feallock, Janaya Jones, Marie Guttierez, Antoine Lee, Lyle Colby Mackston, Ashley Moniz and Kyle Montgomery. The performance is One Night Only, Mar 10 7pm, at Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 9040. For tickets and more information, go here.
SOLO MOJO
The Victory Theatre Center displays its recurring series of solo artists, focusing on the individual artist’s ruminations on a film. on Feb 18. “BackStory: Madam Butterfly will offer the creative inspiration for Erica Abbott, Kate Gale, Dane Halvorson, Laura Housex, Miyo Yamauchi, and Douglas Manuel, Adele Slaughter and Laurie O’Brien. Victory Theatre Center is located at 3326 West Victory Blvd, Burbank 91505. Call 818.841.4404 for tix.
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.