Author Archive

HERO

RECOMMENDED
Luis Alfaro’s Hero, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, is an intelligent and funny 
comedy about a returned Iraq war vet and his L.A. based family. (Hero is both 
the title of the play and our the name of one of the protagonists, though both 
are used ironically.)
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CONFESSIONS OF A CHRISTMAS BANSHEE


Confessions of a Christmas Banshee is a charming, delightful, and just a bit racy
hour of holiday entertainment, showcasing the triple-threat talents of its L.A.
based cast of four (who met a few years back while performing on Broadway).
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL


The universality of A Christmas Carol has never been more evident than in the 
Celebration Theatre’s fabulous new GAY adaptation of the Charles Dickens 
classic. There have been numerous previous adaptations of ACC for “niche” 
audiences. An imdb search turns up The Muppet Christmas Carol, Mickey 
(Mouse)’s Christmas Carol, Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol, An All Dogs Christmas 
Carol, a Diva’s Christmas Carol, A Flintstones Christmas Carol, Skinflint: A Country 
Christmas Carol, Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas (with Tori 
Spelling as Carol), The Jetsons Christmas Carol, Brer Rabbit’s Christmas Carol, and 
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol. Now, at last, the gay community has a 
Christmas Carol it can call its own.
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A TUNA CHRISTMAS


Earlier this year, Jaston Williams and Joe Sears brought the two dozen or so Tuna,
Texas denizens they created to La Mirada, in a big theater production of
Greater Tuna, which scored both of them Ovation Best Actor nominations.
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WINTER WONDERETTES


In a town where a 3-4 month run in a 99-seat theater can be considered a
smashing success, The Marvelous Wonderettes’ 16 month run at the El Portal
is nothing short of miraculous, and proof positive that even in much
maligned L.A., if you stage it right, they will come.
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RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA


December is family time at the theater.  I can’t help wondering how many of
the talented performers in Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities’ production of
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella first said to themselves, “That’s what I
want to do!” while attending a Christmas season show.  Certainly, children
exposed to this magical production of R&H’s Cinderella will want to re-
experience musical theater again and again.  
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LOVE SWEET LOVE


Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s greatest hits comprise several dozen of the
most memorable songs of the 1960s. Beginning before the British invasion and
continuing through their 1968 Broadway smash Promises, Promises, Bacharach
and David wrote some of the most timeless hits of the decade.  Bacharach’s
melodies and rhythms were complex but accessible and David’s lyrics told stories
that listeners could easily identify with.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL


As many times as I’ve seen Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on TV, I don’t think 
I’ve ever attended a major professional theatrical production, so I didn’t want to 
pass up the chance to see South Coast Rep’s 28th annual production of the 
Christmas classic.

What a treat it was!
(read more)

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