L.A. Stage Insider
Celebrating the Best in Live Theater and Cabaret in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Written by Julio Martinez
May 1, 2024
NEWS
Snehal Desai (Artistic Director) Meghan Pressman (Managign Director)
Center Theatre Group (CTG) announces the first full slate of programming under Artistic Director Snehal Desai’s leadership, since joining the company in Aug 2023. Dubbed “One CTG. One LA.,” the programming at CTG’s three iconic spaces--the Mark Taper Forum, the Ahmanson Theatre, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre—unifies CTG in one comprehensive season. Kicking it off will be the Oct 2 re-opening of Mark Taper Forum, Desai’s directorial debut with a new production of Green Day’s “American Idiot,” the Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, produced in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre. The CTG season programming also includes: the Premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s “Fake It Until You Make It;” a new adaptation of “Hamlet” from Tony Award-nominated director Robert O’Hara; “Parade,” the winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical; and the Tony, Drama Desk, and Olivier Award-Winning Play, “Life of Pi,” based on the International best-selling novel, and one more Broadway Musical (TBA); also, the previously announced North American Premiere of “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends,” starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. And there are pluses: the 7 Fingers Production of “Duel Reality, A Circus Spectacular;” and The TheaterWorksUSA Productions of “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” and “El Otro Oz.” Subscription Packages on Sale May 8. For Information, Visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.
PREMIERES
José Cruz González
Latino Theater Co. presents the Los Angeles Premiere of “American Mariachi” by José Cruz González, directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela; original music arrangements and music direction by Cynthia Reifler Flores. The production is a comedy with live music about familia, amor and tradición. It’s the 1970s and women can’t be mariachis…or can they? Lucha spends her days caring for her mother and yearning for more as the young women dream big and embrace the transcendent power of music. Previews May 2-10; Opens May 11 (8pm), running through June 9. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, 90013. For tickets and more information. Call (213) 542-7331 or go to: tickets@thelatc.org.
Leviticus Jelks (Playwright) Melissa Coleman-Reed (Director)
Moving Arts Theatre Company announces the Premiere of Leviticus Jelks’ debut play, My White Husband, opening May 18 (previewing May 16 &17). Excitement turns to doubt — and modern reality blurs into retro fantasy — when young screenwriter, Omar, gets his pilot picked up by a Hollywood studio, only to find out that they want to cast a White actor in the role of his very real Black husband. This classic comedy features Devere Rogers, Clifton Adams, Brian Kimmet and Amie Farrell, directed by Melissa Coleman-Reed, running through June 23 (Fri/Sat/Mon, 8pm; Sun 3pm) at the Moving Arts Theatre, 319 Casitas Ave Los Angeles, 90039. Visit https://movingarts.org/project/my-white-husband to reserve tickets.
AROUND TOWN
Nell Benjamin (writer) Melanie MacQueen (director)
Theatre 40 is presenting the stage comedy The Explorers Club, written by Nell Benjamin. London, 1879. The prestigious Explorers Club is in crisis: their acting president wants to admit a woman to a men’s only club, and their bartender is terrible. This female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City; and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink? The cast includes David Hunt Stafford, Matt Landig, Christopher Franciosa, John Combs, Meghan Lewis, Hovannes John Babakhanyan, Kevin Dulude, Daniel Leslie, and Michael Mullen, directed by Melanie MacQueen. Plays May 23-June 23 (Thu-Sat, 7:30pm); Sundays (2pm)2:00 p.m. Theatre Forty, 241 S, Moreno Drive, in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. The venue is on the campus of Beverly Hills High School. Reservations: (310) 364-0535. Online Ticketing: http://theatre40.org.
HOLLYWOODFRINGE FESTIVAL 2024:
SOLO FEMALES
Becca Lustgarten
HFF24 tickets go on sale today, May 1. The musical dramedy, “Dear Auntie B.,” focusing on an Upper West Side Manhattanite and advice columnist extraordinaire, a self-proclaimed dating guru and cultural commentator, who receives news that threatens to derail her...personally and professionally, will be having its World Premiere. Written and performed by Becca Lustgarten, directed by Sally Hughes, runs June 7-24 @ The Actors Company (Little Theater), 916 N. Formosa Ave,L.A. 90046. For tickets and more info, go to: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10714?tab=tickets.
Melina Farahani
British/Persian actress and writer, Melina Farahani, presents the solo drama, "The Godmother.” Inspired by the notorious life of Colombian drug lord, Griselda Blanco, this stage work explores the blurred lines between villainy and heroism, love and morality, challenging audiences to question their perceptions and delve into the depths of human nature...a tale of power, sacrifice, and the indomitable bond between mother and son. Plays June 8 (9:15pm), June 16 (4:45pm) & June 28 (8pm), at Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, 5636 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. For tickets go to 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.
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