L.A. STAGE INSIDER

Celebrating the Best in L.A. Thearer and Cabaret

LA Stage Insider Aug 17, 2022

Written by Julio Martinez

JOHN RUBINSTEIN STARS IN ‘EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND,’ …THE PREMIERE OF ‘DESERT STORIES OF LOST GIRLS’…THE COMPLEX PREMIERES MATT CHAIT’S ‘BEARINGS’…LATW DEBUTS AUDIO OF ‘ROSENKRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN’…AMANDA GARI AT THE WHITEFIRE…INSIDE L.A. STAGE HSTORY: YIDDISH THEATER IN L.A…AND MORE

NEWS

John Rubinstein

The New Los Angeles Repertory Company is officially back. The original Los Angeles Repertory Company was founded in 1966, co-founded by Artistic Director Robert Ellenstein. New LA Rep, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Ellenstein, is now developing a series of productions on the theme: Plays for Peace, tackling issues of why and how human beings go to war and all the people it affects. Series begins with a world premiere, “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” written by Richard Hellesen, opening Oct 28th. This stage work will be produced by Theatre West in association with New LA Rep, starring Tony-winner John Rubinstein, directed by Peter Ellenstein. Tickets go on sale Sep. 1at Theatre West.

PREMIERES

Tom Allard

Latino Theater Company, in association with Native Voices at the Autry (the only Actors’ Equity theater company in the country dedicated to developing and producing new plays by Native artists), will be presenting the premiere of “Desert Stories for Lost Girls,” a ‘lyrical rumination on identity, family and colonialism over generations,’ by Lily Rushing, directed by Sylvia Cervantes Blush. Plays Sep 30-Oct 16 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center. The cast includes Katie Anvil Rich (Cherokee, Chickasaw), Carolyn Dunn (Cherokee, Mvskoke Creek, French Creole and Tunica/Choctaw Biloxi descent), Samantha Bowling (Cherokee), Rainbow Dickerson (Rappahannock, Thai, European descent), Glenn Stanton (Cherokee) and Tom Allard (Loyal Shawnee). The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. To purchase tickets and for more information, call (213) 489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org.

Matt Chait

The Complex in Hollywood is presenting the premiere of “Bearings,” written and directed by Matt Chait. “Richard Kalvar crossed a line. Something happened and things no longer make sense. Can Kalvar regain his bearings?” The cast includes (in alphabetical order) Vanessa Born, Will Bradley, Leandro Cano, Kim Estes, Trip Langley, Valerie Larsen, Rebecca O’Brien, Jane Papageorge and Allison Reeves.Opens Sep 9 at 8pm, running through Oct 9. Reservations: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bearings-tickets-395606518747

Midnight Theatricals announces the extension of its West Coast premiere production of the hit Off-Broadway and London one-act play, “Afterglow,” exploring the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships,” written and directed by S. Asher Gelman, now playing through Sep 25 at the Hudson Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in L.A. The cast features Noah Bridgestock, James Hayden Rodriguez, and Nathan Mohebbi. Tickets and more information are available at www.afterglowtheplay.com.

AROUND TOWN

Select cast members from writer Abel Alvarado’s recent hit show, “ARENA: A House MUSICAL-al,” recently produced by Casa 101 Theater, will be appearing in an ARENA Stage Takeover as part of The First Year Anniversary of The Queer Mercado (The Queer Market) outdoors, on Aug 20 at 1pm. Performers include Preston Gonzalez Valle, Luis Ceja, Milton David, Chrissi Erickson, Amy Melendez and Daniela Hernandez, who will serve as Narrator.  Event will be held at the Hilda L. Solis Learning Academy, 319 North Humphreys Avenue (at Cesar Chavez Avenue), Los Angeles, CA  90022.  Learn more at www.thequeermercado.com.

Rosalind Ayres

L.A. Theatre Works, the world’s leading producer of audio theater, adds Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead to its extensive collection of state-of-the-art audio theater. Rosalind Ayres directs Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award-winning first play (1966). The cast includes Adhir Kalyan (Rosencrantz) and Matthew Wolf (Guildenstern), as well as JD Cullum, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Anna Lyse Erikson, André Sogliuzzo and Martin Jarvis. The L.A. Theatre Works audio recording of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead will be available for digital download beginning Sep 2 and is currently available for pre-order at latw.org.

 Lauren Gunderson

Sierra Madre Playhouse is presenting Silent Sky, written by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Barbara Schofield, set in the early 1900s, chronicling the life of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love. The cast includes Ann Marie Wilding, April Elize, Candida Celaya, Aubrey Saverino and Jack Menzies. Online Ticketing: https://sierramadreplayhouse.org

Amanda Gari

CABARET CORNER

Amanda Gari, the granddaughter of Eddie Cantor, will star in the world premiere of “Banjo Eyes with Mascara” opening at the Whitefire Theater on September 16.   With an original script written by Gari, she will share memories of her legendary grandfather and her artist father whose painting of Judy Garland is an iconic image. The “musical memoir” is being directed by Kay Cole. She will be backed live by the Andy Howe Trio, Friday nights for six weeks. For tickets, go to: https://amandagari.com/banjo-eyes-with-mascara-coming-to-the-whitefire/.

INSIDE L.A. STAGE HISTORY:

Yiddish Theater and Cabaret in LA

In the 1850s, eight newly arrived Jewish merchants spoke the first words of mamaloshen (Yiddish mother tongue) in the City of Angels. Fifty years later, the Jewish population of LA increased considerably when forward-thinking Pioneer Lot Association subdivided lots in Boyle Heights and adjacent City Terrace and came up with the then-revolutionary concept of selling these inexpensive properties on the installment plan.  Pioneer printed up thousands of advertising flyers and had them distributed in New York City and Chicago. The response was almost overwhelming as a sea of Middle European Jewish immigrant families flowed into East Los Angeles, bringing their Yiddishkayt (Yiddish culture) with them, including a vibrant Yiddish theater scene. 

By the 1930s this area east of Downtown LA had over 75,000 Jewish residents. The works of Sholem Aleichem, Sholem Asch and Sholem An-Ski were produced to sold-out houses at such venues as the Wilshire Ebell and the Assistance League Playhouse. From 1935 to 1939, Musart Theatre, located 1320 S. Figueroa Street, was home to Federal Theatre Project’s (FTP) Yiddish Theatre Group of Los Angeles, which also operated at Figueroa Theatre located at 940 S. Figueroa.  Under the direction of Yiddish theater pioneer Adolph Freeman, the company performed Yiddish plays in English and then in Yiddish on alternate nights. Acclaimed writer Dale Wasserman- then a 21-year-old assistant stage manager–recalled in a 2006 interview, “We did the English versions to attract a younger audience, and it worked.” Produced works included “Professor Mamlock” by Friedrich Wolf, “The Treasure” by David Pinsky, Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing (in Yiddish and English).  

The post World War II years saw a steady migration of LA’s Jewish citizenry to the Westside, particularly the Fairfax area, where two Jewish-oriented cabarets, Billy Gray’s Bandbox and Slapsie Maxie’s, became the outlets for a plethora of Jewish comics and novelty acts, performing in English and Yiddish. The Bandbox (1936-65) on Fairfax often featured manic Yiddish musician Mickey Katz (father of Joel Grey) who became famous for his “Yinglish” parodies of popular songs, including Knish Doctor (“Witch Doctor”), Old Black Smidgick (“Old Black Magic”), Max the Messer (“Mack the Knife”). Club owner Gray would often perform in Yinglish musical revue sendups of popular films (“My Fairfax Lady,” “The Cohen Mutiny”).  A slew of comics got their start there, including Buddy Hackett, Alan King, Billy Barty, Don Rickles, Jackie Gleason, Joey Bishop and Phil Ford.

Slapsie Maxie’s (1943-50), located at 7165 Beverly Boulevard, owned by boxer-turned-actor Maxie Rosenbloom, gets credit for the LA debut of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, as well as Phil Silvers who worked there as an MC. When the club closed, it was converted into The New Globe, dedicated to the revival of Yiddish Theater.  In 1951, it premiered a translation of J.B. Priestley’s “They Came to a City.” It closed after one season. By 1978, after a number of transformations, the space became the home of The New Beverly Cinema.

Back in 1950, there also was an effort to pass on an appreciation of Yiddish theater to a younger generation of LA’s Jewish population when actor/teacher Than Wyenn (grandfather of director/choreographer Diana Wyenn) co-founded Yiddish Kinder Theater. With solid support from parents and the local Jewish arts community, this youthful Yiddishkayt ensemble performed annually at such venues as Wilshire Ebell Theatre until the core ensemble aged out by 1955.

By the mid-50s, Yiddish theatre had disappeared in LA except for the occasional touring show out of New York. Some remnants did remain. In 1958, acclaimed star of film and stage, Paul Muni, demonstrated his Yiddish theater roots when performing in the musical, “At The Grand” with LA Civic Light Opera. In 1976, writer/director Armand Volkas formed The New Artef Players, modeled on the philosophies of 1930s workers theater group, Artef. It disbanded in 1982. Today, efforts to preserve and promote the legacy of Yiddish Theater in LA continue through the efforts of YiddishkaitLA. As for contemporary Jewish theater in our town, check out West Coast Jewish Theatre. 

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Arts in Review, hosted by arts journalist Julio Martinez, celebrating the best in theater and cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles area, airs on KPFK (90.7fm) on Fridays (2-2:30pm), streamed live around the world in real time over www.kpfk.org.