A TUNA CHRISTMAS
Friday, December 7th, 2007
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.
(read more)
WINTER WONDERETTES
Thursday, December 6th, 2007
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.
(read more)
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
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.
(read more)
LOVE SWEET LOVE
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007
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.
(read more)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
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)
CINEPHILIA
Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
New York cinephiles Johnny and Arden are 20something “friends with benefits,” or at least that’s how Johnny would refer to his “recreation” with Arden. She, on the other hand, considers their four-and-a-half years’ worth of occasional sex + conversations about movies a “relationship.” Imagine her dismay upon learning that Johnny plans to move to Los Angeles, that he’s already started packing, and that worst of all, it’s because he met a girl three weeks ago and the move out west is to be with her. Then there’s Johnny’s roommate of five years, Plato, who despite dating girls seems even more in love with Johnny than Arden is…and far more distraught about Johnny’s impending departure. Add to the mix the arrival of Johnny’s new girlfriend Natalie, and you’ve got Cinephilia, 80 absorbing minutes of clever conversation and twisted relationships.
(read more)
TWIST
Saturday, December 1st, 2007
The Tony and Oscar winning family classic Oliver and the recent award-
winning off-Broadway musical Twist share the same basic Charles Dickens
plotline. For those living under a rock, it goes as follows: An orphan boy named
Oliver Twist, abandoned at birth, raised in an orphanage, later sold to a
mortician, and eventually taken in by the rapscallion Fagin finds ultimate
wealth and happiness. That’s where the resemblance ends. Unlike the G-
rated, Focus on the Family approved Oliver, Gila Sand and Paul Leschen’s
Twist gives the Dickens classic a subversively gay S/M musical twist. I loved it!
(read more)
THE FULL MONTY
Saturday, December 1st, 2007
I’ve seen five (count’em) five productions of The Full Monty, and I have to tell you,
this is a show I just keep liking more and more. My love affair with TFM (well, it was
just a “like affair” at first) began with the first national tour and continued a couple
years later with a fine non-Equity tour. Then came two large-theater regional
productions, including this year’s superb Musical Theater West version, and finally,
yesterday, my first 99-seat TFM, a production which marks a hugely successful
debut for the just formed Theatre7.
(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.
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