THE JEW WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS
Tuesday, December 15th, 2015RECOMMENDED
The jokes may be broad, the characters stereotypical, and performances far from nuanced, but Andy Shultz’s The Jew Who Saved Christmas!, the latest from Zombie Joes Underground Theatre Group, does precisely what a comedy is supposed to do—it makes you laugh.
(read more)
CASH ON DELIVERY
Monday, December 7th, 2015
The words “Oh what a tangled web we weave” have rarely been truer than they are about out-of-work landlord Eric Swan, whose multiple attempts to deceive the British Department Of Social Security are about to be found out in Michael Cooney’s side-splitting farce Cash On Delivery, now getting a sensationally performed big-stage revival at the El Portal Theatre, directed by (and co-starring) none other than Cooney’s celebrated playwright dad Ray.
(read more)
A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS
Sunday, December 6th, 2015
One of America’s most beloved holiday movie classics is back … and live on stage in Theatre Unleashed’s West Coast Premiere of Josh Carson’s A Very Die Hard Christmas, the Bruce Willis megasmash as seen through a Saturday Night Live lens, with puppets and songs thrown in for hilarious measure.
(read more)
REUNION
Saturday, November 21st, 2015
Does your upcoming 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, or 50th High School Reunion fill you with excitement and joy … or does the mere thought of attending inspire terror and dread? Either way, Marc Ellis, Michael Lange, and David M. Matthews’ tune-filled, feel-good musical Reunion, now getting its World Premiere at the NoHo Arts Center, is one invitation you’ll want to accept.
(read more)
THE SPARROW
Saturday, November 7th, 2015
A teenage girl’s return to her hometown following a ten-year absence takes both the introverted orphan and the audience observing her journey-into-adulthood on unexpected paths in The Sparrow, now getting a supremely theatrical West Coast Premiere by Coeurage Theatre Company, “Los Angeles’ only pay-what-you-want theatre.” (They’ve even trademarked the slogan.).
(read more)
UNCLE VANYA
Friday, November 6th, 2015
You know from the moment Ilya Ilych Telegin, aka “Waffles,” starts the show off by singing and strumming along to Marvin Etzioni’s “The Mandolin Man” that The Antaeus Company’s West Coast Premiere of Annie Baker’s Drama Desk Award-winning adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya isn’t going to be like any Vanya (or perhaps any Chekhov) you’ve seen, and though I remain ambivalent about the talky Russian playwright, when the Anateus revival takes flight, it soars.
(read more)
CAKE
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
The lives of nine college town residents intersect in Wendy Gough Soroka’s World Premiere comedy Cake, the latest from Theatre Unleashed and a crowd-pleaser despite its unnecessarily lengthy scene changes.
(read more)
LOBBY HERO
Thursday, October 8th, 2015
Jeremy Luke’s tour-de-force performance as lovable lug Jeff anchors Theatre 68’s thoroughly winning revival of Lobby Hero, Kenneth Longeran’s coming-of-age-in-four-nights comedy that held me spellbound for over two-and-a-half hours.
(read more)
Since 2007, Steven Stanley's StageSceneLA.com has spotlighted the best in Southern California theater via reviews, interviews, and its annual StageSceneLA Scenies.
COPYRIGHT 2025 STEVEN STANLEY :: DESIGN BY