WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM

posted on February 11th, 2010 at 7:51 PM by Steven Stanley


Meet the cast of characters of Why Torture Is Wrong, And The People Who Love Them, Christopher Durang’s absurdist screwball war-on-terror romantic farce, now getting its West Coast Premiere by The Blank Theatre Company.  There’s:
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posted in Comedy, Hollywood/West Hollywood, WOW!

SOUVENIR

posted on February 10th, 2010 at 10:23 PM by Steven Stanley


While it may be true that “America’s Got Talent,” a glance at YouTube clips of failed American Idol auditioners proves that the seriously delusional are alive and well and attempting in vain to sing on-key in these United States. Some have even gone on to make records.  Hong Kong immigrant William Hung titled his first CD “Inspiration,” though it’s doubtful that the final result was divine. Back in the 1960s, Pomona housewife Mrs. Elva Miller (known affectionately as “Mrs. Miller”) blithely and cluelessly massacred such 1960s hits as “Downtown” and “A Lover’s Concerto” in her vibrato-heavy, wobbly, off-key mezzo. 
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posted in Burbank/Glendale, Comedy, WOW!

DAVID JOSEFSBERG & KEVIN KERN

posted on February 10th, 2010 at 3:39 PM by Steven Stanley

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posted in Interview

SIDHE

posted on February 7th, 2010 at 10:33 PM by Steven Stanley


A hunky young Irishman and his pretty but droopy young wife arrive at a dark, dingy Chicago apartment for a “look-see.”  Since they’ve come baggage in hand, clearly, they’re planning on staying.  No matter that the “semi-furnished” flat has only a sofa and a floor lamp. No matter that Conall and Jackie have no references.  “Give me some cash, I’ll give you the keys, and then I’ll be out of your way,” offers Louise, the dour 30something landlady, and when the Irishman insists that “I’m not putting this many dollars in your hand without some metal in mine,” the exchange of cash and keys brings Louise and her new renter flirtatiously close.  Even without witnessing this, Jackie is not at all happy about Conall’s decision to rent Louise’s upstairs apartment.  “She looked at us,” she cautions the Irishman, and again, “She looked at us!”
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posted in Drama, North Hollywood, WOW!

THE COLUMBINE PROJECT

posted on February 7th, 2010 at 10:29 PM by Steven Stanley


Of all the Los Angeles theater success stories of 2009, perhaps none was greater than that of The Columbine Project, Paul Storiale’s meticulously researched docudrama about the Columbine High School massacre of 1999.  World premiering last April at the 48-seat Avery Schreiber theater in North Hollywood, The Columbine Project was extended twice before transferring to off-Broadway with unprecedented swiftness (and with the entire L.A. cast intact). Its July through October New York run at the Actors Temple Theatre was praised by the prestigious New Yorker magazine as a production which “fills the tiny, funky theatre with talent and gravity.”  In December, the original North Hollywood production was awarded five ADA (Artistic Director Achievement) Awards including a Best Director award for its creator/writer/director Paul Storiale.
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posted in Drama, North Hollywood, WOW!

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

posted on February 6th, 2010 at 10:35 PM by Steven Stanley


The competitive urge to come in first starts at an early age in William Finn’s Broadway smash, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  Winning is everything for Finn’s band of adolescent regional spelling bee finalists, as well as for many of their parents, and if you have any doubt that kids can be every bit as competitive as adults, this quirky, highly original musical will soon cure you of this misconception.
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posted in Downey/La Mirada, Musical, WOW!

ALL SHOOK UP

posted on February 5th, 2010 at 10:41 PM by Steven Stanley


Ask me to name my favorite musicals of the past decade and All Shook Up (the “Elvis Musical”) is sure to make the Top Ten. With its hit-filled score made up of over two dozen Elvis hits, a clever, funny book by Joe DiPietro, a cast of delicious characters that make this one of the best triple-threat ensemble shows around, and opportunities aplenty for a choreographer to strut his or her stuff, All Shook Up is a non-stop crowd-pleasing delight.  Having seen it on Broadway, in its National Tour, and at Musical Theatre West (twice), I can state without reservations that 3-D Theatricals’ production is as exciting as it gets.  
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posted in Musical, Orange County, WOW!

SWEENEY TODD

posted on February 4th, 2010 at 11:42 PM by Steven Stanley


The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street is back, supersized, in Musical Theatre West’s excellent revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.  A cast of twenty-seven and a twenty-two piece orchestra make this the biggest Sweeney in recent memory, welcome news indeed for theatergoers grown tired of downsized shows.
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posted in Long Beach/San Pedro, Musical, WOW!

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