Monday, September 16, 2013
What's Happening Around Town for September 16, 2013
OPENINGS: Radar L.A., an international city-wide festival of contemporary theatre is set to begin Sept. 24. Presented by REDCAT and CalArts in association with Center Theatre Group, and other local and national partners, the festival will highlight 18 influential productions including works from Latin America, the Pacific Rim and Los Angeles. I’ve highlighted four of the productions that will hold special interest for those who love music and dance but for info on all of the shows that are part of the festival, Click Here.
REDCAT (85 minutes)
Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater
631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 - More Info
Director & choreographer David Roussève’s dance-driven work is a coming of age story for the Twitter generation, in which the central character never makes a physical appearance. Present only in unanswered texts projected on multiple screens, a gay African-American teenager reaches out with growing urgency as the dark realities of his life become apparent. On stage the dancing unleashes a full-bodied expression of emotional states that contrast the intimate romanticism of Nat King Cole with the rough edges of original hip-hop inflected music by d. Sabela grimes, while Stardust plays out against Cari Ann Shim Sham’s immersive video imagery.
The Palace Theatre (90 minutes)
630 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014 - More Info
Renowned theater artist Lemi Ponifasio and his New Zealand-based company MAU introduce a 10-member ensemble of Maori women who articulate a powerful and undisguised challenge – voiced through the Maori language, genealogy, spirituality and ceremony. Drawing on the tradition of Maori women as the writers of poetry and chant, this courageous work of transmission gives expression to resiliency and outrage in the face of power structures and oppression. Through oratory, choral-work and dance, the performers address issues of being Maori women in this world and turn a mirror to the massive social and political turmoil of our times.
LATC: Theater 1 (75 minutes)
514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 9001 - More Info
Track 3 is Theatre Movement Bazaar’s fast-paced and inventive spin on Three Sisters, Chekhov’s turn-of-the-century play about the decay of the privileged class in Russia, and the search for meaning in the modern world. While this smart, contemporary adaptation by Richard Alger follows the main events of the original play, director and choreographer Tina Kronis incorporates elements of vaudeville, song and dance – from Russian folk to disco – to catapult the play from its Victorian origins into a 21st-century existential extravaganza.
The Million Dollar Theater (90 minutes)
307 Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 - More Info
El Gallo mixes opera, comedy and surrealist situations to expose the anxieties that fuel creation, from the audition process through to the climactic concert. For the first act, the audience plays witness to a rehearsal process beset with wrestling matches, bared insecurities and exposed underwear. Viewers then experience the “premiere” of the completed performance. It is entirely sung - in an entirely invented language - to a series of tunes ranging from Gershwin to Middle Eastern folk songs, played by a live eight-piece orchestra. Directed by Claudio Valdés Kuri, El Gallo wittily conveys the obstacles and fears that descend on any production, and the sense of triumph that draws people back to the theater.
The Vagrancy presents the west coast premiere of Bottom of the World by Lucy Thurber, a play accompanied by live bluegrass band, Blue Bird Bandits. This quirky, emotional drama unfolds around a young woman dealing with her sister’s sudden death. Sabina Ptasznik directs the life-affirming piece which flashes back to 1910 and takes a heartfelt look at the various characters’ struggle through loss and longing, while striving for human connection. The cast includes Stephanie O’Neill, Natalie Burtney, Anne Butler, Jordan Boughrum, Jeremy Mascia, Steve Madar, Rosemary Stevens, Michael Edelstein, and musicians J Reinke and Peter Blackwelder. After the play patrons are welcome to a Vagrant Hootenanny hosted by Blue Bird Bandits. Fun, dancing and moonshine guaranteed. Oct. 12 – Nov.3 at the The Lounge Theatres in Hollywood. Click Here for tickets.
OVATION NOMINEES: Congratulations to all of the Ovation Award nominees that were announced tonight at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Hollywood. For a complete list of nominees Click Here. The Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 3 at 7 pm at San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S. Mission Drive in San Gabriel. For more information, visit www.OvationAwards.com.
CABARET/CONCERTS: Following a sold-out May premiere, A Little New Music comes back to Rockwell: Table & Stage on September 24. The program will showcase music by award-winning writers Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen (Broadway-bound Tuck Everlasing), Carmel Dean & Sarah Underwood, and Ryan Scott Oliver (35MM), among many others and will feature performances by Barrett Foa, Julie Garnye, Tinuke Oyefule, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Gina Coconato, the cast of Third Street Theatre’s The Burnt Part Boys, and more. Jordan Kai Burnett hosts and Bryan Blaskie will be on keys. Doors open at 6:30pm and showtime is 8:00pm. Tickets and information: www.alittlenewmusic.org.
Kritzerland presents The Story Goes On: The Songs of Richard Maltby & David Shire, Monday, October 7 at 7:00 pm starring Heather Barr, Will Collyer, Ashley Fox Linton, Sally Mayes, John Sloman and Shannon Warne, with music director John Boswell. For reservations call (818) 754-8700. Cover charge $15 + $10 food minimum + $3 facility charge. Sterling’s at The Federal, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601. Click Here for more information.
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Labels: a little new music, kritzerland, ovation awards, radar la, redcat
Monday, November 12, 2012
Congratulations to the 2011-2012 Ovation Award Winners!
The 2012 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were handed out tonight at the historic Los Angeles Theatre in downtown LA, celebrating the best of the best from the 2011-2012 theatre season. Thirty-five awards were given out to 13 different Southern California theatre companies. Congratulations to all the winners!
BEST SEASON
Center Theatre
Group
BEST PRODUCTION
OF A PLAY (INTIMATE THEATRE)
Peace In Our Time
The Antaeus Company
BEST PRODUCTION
OF A PLAY (LARGE THEATRE)
Waiting for Godot
Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
BEST PRODUCTION
OF A MUSICAL (INTIMATE THEATRE)
The Color Purple: A
Musical
Celebration Theatre
BEST PRODUCTION
OF A MUSICAL(LARGE THEATRE)
Forbidden Broadway:
Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Musical Theatre West
BEST PRESENTED
PRODUCTION
War Horse
Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
ACTING ENSEMBLE
FOR A PLAY
The Cast of Waiting
for Godot
Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
ACTING ENSEMBLE
OF A MUSICAL
The Cast of The
Color Purple: A Musical
Celebration Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Janet Roston, The Color Purple: A
Musical
Celebration Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTION
Gregory Nabours, The Color Purple: A
Musical
Celebration Theatre
BOOK FOR AN
ORIGINAL MUSICAL
Isaac Laskin, Hey, Morgan!
Black Dahlia Theatre
LYRICS/MUSIC
FOR AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL
James Coco, Parmer Fuller and Michael Kramer
Stations: A Los Angeles Holiday Story
Ensemble Theatre Company and Boom Kat Dance Theatre
Ensemble Theatre Company and Boom Kat Dance Theatre
PLAYWRIGHTING
FOR AN ORIGINAL PLAY
Andrew Dolan, The Many Mistresses
of Martin Luther King
Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA
DIRECTOR OF A
MUSICAL
Michael Matthews, The Color Purple: A
Musical
Celebration Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A
PLAY
Emily Mann, The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
LEAD ACTOR IN A
MUSICAL
Davis Gaines
as Cervantes/Quixote, Man of La Mancha
Musical Theatre West
LEAD ACTRESS IN
A MUSICAL
Susanne Blakeslee
as Woman 1, Forbidden Broadway:
Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Musical Theatre West
LEAD ACTOR IN A
PLAY
Alan Mandell
as Estragon, Waiting For Godot
Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
LEAD ACTRESS IN
A PLAY
Pascale Armand
as Jekesai/Ester, The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
FEATURED ACTOR
IN A MUSICAL
Todrick Hall
as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Hairspray
Musical Theatre West
FEATURED
ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
La Toya London
as Shug Avery, The Color Purple: A
Musical
Celebration Theatre
FEATURED ACTOR
IN A PLAY
Hugo Armstrong
as Lucky, Waiting For Godot
Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
FEATURED
ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Zainab Jah as Prudence, The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
(INTIMATE THEATRE)
Luke Moyer, Deathtrap
LA Gay & Lesbian Center
LIGHTING DESIGN
(LARGE THEATRE)
Lap Chu, The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN (INTIMATE
THEATRE)
Tom Buderwitz, Peace In Our Time
The Antaeus Company
SCENIC DESIGN (LARGE
THEATRE)
Daniel Ostling, The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
SOUND DESIGN (INTIMATE
THEATRE)
Veronika Vorel
and John Zalewski, The Children
The Theatre @ Boston Court
SOUND DESIGN (LARGE
THEATRE)
John Zalewski, A Wrinkle in Time
MainStreet Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN (INTIMATE
THEATRE)
Shon LeBlanc, I Love Lucy Live on Stage
Rockahan, LLC
COSTUME DESIGN (LARGE
THEATRE)
Paul Tazewell
The Convert
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
COMPOSITION FOR
A PLAY
Ryan Johnson, Stoneface: The Rise
and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton
Sacred Fools Theatre Company
FIGHT
CHOREOGRAPHY
Andrew Amani, Hearts Like Fists
Theatre of NOTE
PUPPET DESIGN
Susan Gratch, The Children
The Theatre @ Boston Court
VIDEO DESIGN
Shawn Sagady, American Night: The
Ballad of Juan Jose
Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
2012 Zelda Fichandler Award (for transforming regional theatre through unique and creative work)
Bill Rauch, Founder, Cornerstone Theatre Company; Current Artistic Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival
2012 Sherwood Award (for innovative and adventurous artists)
John Sinner
Biller BEST (Building Excellence in Small Theatre) Awards
Bill Rauch, Founder, Cornerstone Theatre Company; Current Artistic Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival
John Sinner
About Productions, The Antaeus Company, CASA 0101, Circle X Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA, Independent Shakespeare Company, A Noise Within, and The Theatre @ Boston Court.
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Labels: ovation awards
Thursday, September 6, 2012
What’s Happening Around Town for Sept 6
The 2012 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award nominees will be announced on Tuesday, September 11 at 7:00 pm. The event will be hosted by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre, located within the Village at Ed Gould Plaza at 1125 N. McCadden Place in Los Angeles, 90038. On September 11, various 2011 Ovation Award recipients will announce the names of this year’s nominees. Scheduled to participate are 2011 Award recipients Beth Kennedy, Matt Walker, Oanh Nguyen, John Flynn, Henry Dittman, Cate Caplin, Brian Danner, and Paul Litteral, along with Terence McFarland, CEO of LA Stage Alliance. The event is free and open to the public. A light reception will be included, and RSVP is required. To RSVP, visit www.LASTAGEOvations.com. The announcement can also be viewed live online at www.LASTAGETimes.com. This year’s Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, 2012 at 7:30pm at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles.
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Circle X Theatre Co. announces the world premiere musical, Bad Apples, book by Jim Leonard, music, lyrics & musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, and featuring choreography by Cassandra Daurden. Bad Apples runs September 28 - December 1st, with opening night on October 13 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.
This world premiere rock musical is inspired by the real-life prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and seeks to answer the simple question: How in God’s name did this happen? Two soldiers ended up pregnant by fellow soldier Charles Graner; both women wanted to marry him, competed with each other to win his love, and enthusiastically tortured prisoners together, documenting most of it in pictures that later leaked and shocked the world. The cast will feature James Black, Kate Morgan Chadwick, Meghan McDonough, Anthony Manough, Mueen Jahan, Larry Clarke, Mapuana Makia, Ian Merrigan, Lina Patel, Sean Spann, and Lauren Hillman. For tickets, please call 323-644-1929 or go to www.circlextheatre.org.
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Lythgoe Family Productions and Pasadena Playhouse have announced casting for A Snow White Christmas featuring Ariana Grande as Snow White, an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as The Magic Mirror, and Charlene Tilton as The Wicked Queen. It will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, with choreography by Spencer Liff, and musical direction by Michael Orland. A gala press opening will take place on December 12 at 7pm and regular performances continue December 13 – 23. The cast also includes Jonathan Scott Meza as Muddles and David Figoli as Herman the Huntsman. Snow White’s Prince will be announced shortly and the Seven Dwarfs will be cast from local children. Auditions will be held on October 6 – 7 at a location TBA.
In the style of a traditional British family Panto, the show features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni), a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102! Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event sponsored by Parenting Magazine in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets and more information is available at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
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Labels: circle x, ovation awards, pasadena playhouse
Monday, November 14, 2011
Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Ovation Award Winners!
The 2011 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were handed out tonight at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, celebrating the best of the best from the 2010-2011 theatre season. Thirty-five awards were bestowed upon twenty different Southern California theater companies. Here is a list of the winners. Congratulations all!BEST SEASON
Troubadour Theater Company
The First Jo-el, Fleetwood Macbeth, A Wither’s Tale
MUSICAL THEATRE:
Best Musical – Intimate Theater
Jerry Springer: The Opera
The Chance Theater
Best Musical - Large Theater
Kiss Me, Kate
Reprise Theatre Company
Acting Ensemble of a Musical
The Cast of A Wither's Tale
Troubadour Theater Company
Choreography
Cate Caplin
Fascinating Rhythms, Rubicon Theatre Company
Music Direction
Paul Litteral
Hoboken To Hollywood, Reasoner Associates LLC
Book for an Original Musical
William Norris, Stuart Gordon, and Dennis Paoli
Re-Animator: The Musical
Red Hen Productions and The Schramm Group LLC
Lyrics/Music for an Original Musical
Gregory Nabours
The Trouble With Words
Coeurage Theatre Company
Director of a Musical
Matt Walker
A Wither's Tale
Troubadour Theatre Company
Lead Actor in a Musical
Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightingale
Leap of Faith
Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
Lead Actress in a Musical
Lesli Margherita as Lilli Vanessi/Kate
Kiss Me, Kate
Reprise Theatre Company
Featured Actor in a Musical
Matt Walker as Leontes/Clown
A Wither's Tale
Troubadour Theater Company
Featured Actress in a Musical
Beth Kennedy as Paulina/Shepherd
A Wither's Tale
Troubadour Theater Company
PLAY AWARDS:
Best Play – Intimate Theater
Small Engine Repair, Rogue Machine
Best Play – Large Theater
A Raisin in the Sun, Ebony Repertory Theatre
Acting Ensemble for a Play
The Cast of Small Engine Repair, Rogue Machine
Playwriting for an Original Play
Stefan Marks
Hello, Crooked Arrow Productions
Director of a Play
Andrew Block
Small Engine Repair, Rogue Machine
Lead Actor in a Play
Stefan Marks as Clark
Hello, Crooked Arrow Productions
Lead Actress in a Play
Laurie Metcalf as Virginia
Voice Lessons, Sacred Fools Theatre Company
Featured Actor in a Play
Henry Dittman as James Moriarty
Watson, Sacred Fools Theatre Company
Featured Actress in a Play
Deidrie Henry as Ruth Younger
A Raisin in the Sun, Ebony Repertory Theatre
DESIGN AWARDS:
Lighting Design – Intimate Theater
Christopher Kuhl
How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found
The Theatre @ Boston Court
Lighting Design - Large Theater
David Weiner
Venice, Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
Scenic Design - Intimate Theater
Joel Daavid
Skeleton Stories, Theatre of NOTE
Scenic Design – Large Theater
Todd Rosenthal
Twist – An American Musical, Pasadena Playhouse
Sound Design – Intimate Theater
Alyssa Ishii
Awake, Bootleg Theater
Sound Design – Large Theater
Joshua Horvath
Venice, Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
Costume Design – Intimate Theater
A. Jeffrey Schoenberg
The Malcontent, The Antaeus Company
Costume Design – Large Theater
Emilio Sosa
Twist – An American Musical, Pasadena Playhouse
SPECIAL AWARDS:
The Sherwood Award
Presented to Christopher Kuhl
OVATION HONORS CATEGORIES:
Composition for a Play
Brian Joseph, Lyle Lovett, Fred Sanders, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins
Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles
Fight Choreography
Brian Danner
The Walworth Farce, Theatre Banshee
Puppet Design
Kristopher Bicknell, Gwyneth ConawayBennison, and Miles Taber
D Is For Dog, Rogue Artists Ensemble
Video Design
Jason Thompson
Venice, Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
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Labels: ovation awards
Monday, September 19, 2011
2011 LA Stage Ovation Awards Nominess
The most nominations for a single production went to Reprise Theatre Company’s Kiss Me Kate (14), Center Theatre Group’s Venice (11), Troubadour Theater Company’s A Wither’s Tale (10), Ebony Repertory Theatre’s A Raisin in the Sun (8) and Demand Productions’ Having It All (7).
Click Here for a complete list of nominees.
The 2011 Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 14 at the Orpheum Theatre, 842 South Broadway, Downtown. Click Here for more information.
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Labels: ovation awards