L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
April 30, 2025
NEWS
Eric K. Roberts and Rebeca Alemán
Latino Theater Company brings Chicago’s Water People Theater back to Los Angeles for a three-week run of “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon,” following the show’s success as part of last season’s Encuentro theater festival. Written by acclaimed Venezuelan playwright, actress and human rights advocate Rebeca Alemán and directed by Iraida Tapias, this Jeff Award-nominated psychological drama, is set in 2019 somewhere in Latin America. Alemán stars as Paulina, a human rights journalist and advocate for victims of femicide and indigenous communities. After surviving a vicious attack that left her in a coma, Paulina struggles to regain her memory. With fellow journalist Rodrigo (Eric K. Roberts) at her side, she must painstakingly piece together the truth in order to demand justice. The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon opens May 3 (8pm), with performances thereafter on Thu/Fri/Sat (8pm); Sun (4pm), through May 25. Six preview performances take place Apr 10-18 on the same schedule. The Los Angeles Theatre Center 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 latinotheaterco.org.
PREMIERE
Roger Q. Mason
Black playwright and Kilroys List honoree Roger Q. Mason’s World Premiere play “California Story,” scrutinizing the past, present, and (hopefully not) future cost of grasping for privilege in America, is being produced with Outside in Theatre at LACC’s Caminito Theatre (855 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, 90028). Runs May 9-June 3 . At the heart of the tale is Pio Pico - California's last Mexican governor - who sacrifices family, identity and integrity to stake his claim in the American dream during California's journey to statehood in the 1800s. California Story is directed by Michael Alvarez, featuring Aphrodite Armstrong, Camila Arteche, Davi Santos, Gracie Cartier, Morgan Danielle Day, Sawyer Shine, and Peter Mendoza The production wil run is Fri/Sat/Mon/Tue. 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm. Tickets may be purchased by going here.
AROUND TOWN
Gigi Bermingham and Emily Goss
Written in 1944, Tennessee Willams’ memory play, “The Glass Menagerie,” garnered the New York Drama Critics Award in 1945. It is being revived by Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, running Apr 27-June 2. Williams' portrait focuses on the dysfunctional Wingfield family. Fading southern belle Amanda (Gigi Bermingham), and her two grown children, aspiring poet Tom (Josh Odsess-Rubin) and desperately shy Laura (Emily Goss), pin their hopes on the long-awaited appearance of a Gentleman Caller (Alex Barlas) in this study of memory, responsibility, and illusion. Directing is Carlyn Ratteray. Antaeus Theatre Company is located at Kiki and David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Broadway, Glendale 91205. For tickets and more information, go here.
Cate Caplin (director) & Kristin Towers-Rowles (actress)
Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills is presenting “Becky’s New Car, a comedy, written by Steven Dietz. The production focuses on Becky Foster. Caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage – with no prospects for change on the horizon. Then one night a socially inept and grief-struck millionaire stumbles into the car dealership where Becky works. Becky is offered nothing short of a new life. The cast includes John Combs, Isabella DiBernardino, Christopher Franciosa, Riley Introcaso, Grinnell Morris, Jenn Robbins, and Kristin Towers-Rowles, directed by Cate Caplin. The play runs May 15-June 15 (Thu-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm). Theatre Forty is located at 241 S. Moreno Drive, in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre, Beverly Hills, 90212. The venue is on the campus of Beverly Hills High School. Free parking is available in the parking lot beneath the theatre. For reservation, call (310) 364-0535. For online ticketing: http://theatre40.org.
Taubert Nadalini, Kary Downing, Hope Lauren, Terry Davis, Tony Pasqualini
In an uncharacteristic and heartfelt departure from its celebrated canon of rare classical gems, Pacific Resident Theatre invites audiences to laugh, heal, and come together with Fostered, a contemporary comedy born from resilience and hope written by Chaya Doswell, directed by Andrew D. Weyman. After a new year marked by devastation from the Los Angeles fires— which claimed the homes of Weyman and some of the cast members, this production offers a much-needed breath of levity. Set in 2016, parents Karen and Sandy Foster are ready and excited to make some big changes in their lives. But their plans are thwarted by their adult children who return home, one by one, each beset with problems. The cast includes Terry Davis (Karen), Katy Downing (Alice), Jillian Lee Garner, Hope Lauren, Hiram Murray, Taubert Nadalini, Tony Pasqualini and Satiar Pourvasei. The production is now open, running through June 15 (Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm). Pacific Resident Theatre is located at 703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. For Tickets, go online: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org, or call (310) 822-8392.
A READING
August Wilson
Interact Theatre Company, in partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library’s LA MADE cultural enrichment program, presents a fully-staged reading of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning masterpiece, “Fences,” a moving portrait of a former baseball player in 1950s Pittsburgh who wrestles with lost dreams, racial injustice, and the fragile bonds of family. Directed by Michael A. Shepperd, this reading is the fourth installment of The Prize Winners, ITC's hugely popular series celebrating acclaimed works of theatre. The cast featuresThe cast features Omete Anassi, Larry Bates, Wayne T. Carr, Shaun Heard, Erròn Jay, Nyla Ray and Danielle Moné Truitt. The event takes place May 10 (2pm) at the Studio City Branch Library (12511 Moorpark Street, Studio City). Admission is free and open to the public, seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 1:30 PM. For more details, visit www.interactla.org.
Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein
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 2, Arts in review welcomes writers/performers Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein, discussing their production of “The Secret Comedy of Women” at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, running through May 18.