OPENINGS: Santa Monica Playhouse is celebrating over a half-century of theatre by bringing back, for a very limited engagement - the award-winning musical Author! Author! An Evening with Sholom Aleichem. It is the longest running Jewish musical in L.A. theatre history (4½ years in its initial run), and it returns for four weeks only, March 8 – 30. The musical features members of the Playhouse Actors’ Repertory Theatre with Chris DeCarlo reprising his award-winning portrayal of Sholom Aleichem, featuring music by Evelyn Rudie and the late Ben Weisman. Author! Author! is set in the early 1900s, as Sholom Aleichem, the most beloved of all Eastern European humorists, the man affectionately referred to as “The Yiddish Mark Twain,” arrives in New York to have his plays produced on the U.S. Stage. It seamlessly weaves the story of his American experience with his own tales of the human condition. For reservations call (310) 394-9779 x 1 or go to www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com.
Ebony Repertory Theatre will present Phillip Hayes Dean’s powerful and moving play Paul Robeson, staged by Dean in his Los Angeles directorial debut. Two-time Emmy Award-winner Keith David will star in this one-man play accompanied by pianist/musical director Byron J. Smith. Performances will run March 12 – 30, with an official press opening on March 14 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles. A powerful chronicle of the life of Paul Robeson, Dean’s play takes us from his childhood in New Jersey to his adult life around the world. An All-American athlete and a lawyer with Columbia Law School credentials, Robeson faces the racism prevalent in society in the early part of the twentieth century. He strives to rise above, and it is his triumph in that struggle that turns Robeson into a modern day hero. Tickets: www.ebonyrep.org or (323) 964-9766.
AWARDS: Congratulations to The Old Globe on their San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Craig Noel Awards. The Globe’s world premiere production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, now playing on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre, led all winners with five awards: The Old Globe’s awards include:
Outstanding New Musical – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Outstanding Direction of a Musical – Darko Tresnjak, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male – Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Outstanding Orchestrations – Jonathan Tunick, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Outstanding Scenic Design – Alexander Dodge, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male – Miles Anderson, The Merchant of Venice
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male – Don Sparks, Pygmalion
Outstanding Lighting Design – York Kennedy, Other Desert Cities
In addition, Randall Dodge received an award for Actor of the Year for his body of work in 2013, which included his role in the Globe’s 16th annual production of the holiday musical Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! www.theoldglobe.org
CONCERTS/CABARET: The Broad Stage and Mark Cortale present Broadway @ The Broad: Adam Pascal, featuring Seth Rudetsky as pianist/host, Sat. March 29 at 8:00 pm. Pascal first achieved fame as the original Roger in the iconic musical Rent, a role that earned him a Drama League award, an Obie award, and a Tony nomination. Tickets: Call 310.434.3200 or visit http://thebroadstage.com/pascal
Next up in Chromolume’s Cabaret Series is The Princess & the Cowboy, starring Amanda Leigh Pickard and Keith Kraft. The special Valentine’s Cabaret will be a night of Broadway and Country Love Songs on February 15 at 8:00 pm. Tickets: $12 Pre-sale, $15 At the door. (2 tickets for $20 if you purchase by Feb. 12). Tickets: www.crtheatre.com/cabaret.html
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