Registered Critic: Jill Weinlein
HAMILTON
HAMILTON right now is dark at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre and will now be suspended through Sunday, April 19th, If you have purchased tickets to a performance of HAMILTON during this time period, the box office has already initiated a refund.
Postponed – ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
For all patrons currently holding tickets to Once on This Island scheduled to open on April 7 to May 10, the Center Theatre Group leadership ask that you please wait for them to contact you about your options.
The WaterWay
Each week, new videos will be added to the Center Theatre Group website and updates will be shared through the company’s social media channels with the hashtag #ArtGoesOn.
Frankenstein
“Frankenstein” now at The Wallis is one of the most unique productions of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. The dance elements by Max Baumgarten is mesmerizing & Joanna Lynn-Jacobs is exquisite to watch as she transforms into the “future female.”
Revenge Song
The actors in “Revenge Song” rap and wave French flags in this swashbuckling real life story of a queer 17th century French swordswoman Julie d’Aubigny (Margaret Odette).
ALL PERFORMANCES CANCELED BY CTG – THE BOOK OF MORMON
“The Book of Mormon” features book, music and lyrics by the primary creators of the hit-comedy show South Park, Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Co-directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, the show cleverly opens with the captivating “Hello” song. Ten newbie Elders practice their door knocking skills, similar to “The Telephone Hour” from another popular musical “Bye, Bye Birdie.”
THE LAST SHIP
Sting is quite a storyteller in his new musical “The Last Ship” now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. It took him many years to write the hauntingly memorable songs that he sings with a stellar cast.
Hope is on the horizon, and the mountain of steel does sail on the sea to lay to rest a beloved man. At the end of the show, you will sing “The Last Ship” sailing all the way home.
Postponed – ROCK OF AGES
In 2005 Matthew Weaver created the multi-genre entertaining musical Rock of Ages in Los Angeles. It debuted as a new kind of musical at the King King club on Hollywood Blvd. With its success, it was made into a motion picture, and also opened on Broadway. After performing over 2,350 shows, Rock of Ages earned 5 Tony nominations, and branched out to 20 productions worldwide. It appeals to all ages who appreciate 30 hit classic rock songs from the 80s. Now it’s back in Hollywood and so much fun to watch.
VOLTA
VOLTA is one of Cirque du Soleil’s finest. The performers infectious adventure and spirit fuels inspiration for the character WAZ to transform and become his true self. By fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power, he is liberated and discovers freedom and happiness.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Direct from Broadway, playwright Heidi Schreck encourages the audience to ponder about the importance and how dated the U.S. Constitution is today. Director Oliver Butler has actress Maria Dizzia open the show as an adult Schreck, and soon she becomes a fifteen-year-old Schreck participating in an American Legion debate competition. She won enough prize money to put herself through college.
DISNEY’S FROZEN
Now at the Pantages until Feb. 2, 2020, the music and lyrics by wife and husband duo, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez are catchy, especially the precious song “Do You Want To Build A Snowman,” and later their new song “I Can’t Lose You.”
Key Largo
Tony award winning scenic designer John Lee Beatty, creates the Key Largo Hotel lobby set, that becomes an integral part of setting the tone for the drama brewing inside and out. When Andy Garcia and his group of “merry men” hole up inside the hotel until a hurricane passes through, the tension inside is as electrifying as the lightning outside.
The Thanksgiving Play
The cast of The Thanksgiving Play is three white thespians and one white director creating an original Thanksgiving message during Native American Heritage Month. It’s filled with cultural missteps, as they try to figure out how to be politically correct.
THE NEW ONE
Comedian, writer and performer Mike Birbiglia bares his soul about his relationship with his couch, wife and daughter as he takes the stage at the Ahmanson Theatre. Direct from Broadway, Birbiglia with additional writing by Jennifer Hope Stein, and directed by Seth Barrish (“Sleepwalk with Me”) begins by declaring his fondness of a couch he discovers that was left on a street years ago. The story evolves on how this piece of furniture offers comfort for sitting, sleeping, watching television, eating meals and finally cradling “The NEW ONE” a baby.
A Kid Like Jake
Parenting is not easy for Alex (Sarah Utterback) and Greg (Tim Peper) with their precocious son Jake in the West Coast Premiere “A Kid Like Jake” by Daniel Pearle and presented by IAMA Theatre Company. Marriage isn’t a piece of cake either, as we see in this explosive drama about a couple whose son prefers to dress up as Cinderella, instead of playing with trucks or G.I. Joe figures.
BLUE MAN GROUP
It’s loud from the beginning when this blue trio enters onstage and pull a gong out of the bag to bang. With each strike, lights on the back wall sparkle along the chaotic floor to ceiling set by Jason Ardizzone-West. One soon realizes their senses will be challenged and at times overloaded by New York-based lighting designer Jen Striver’s enhancements.
Skintight
Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel is wickedly good in Joshua Harmon’s newest play SKINTIGHT at the Geffen Playhouse. I sat frozen in my seat watching her magically change for the better, as Jodi, a neurotic Jewish mother, and daughter of successful fashion designer Elliot (Harry Groener).
Jodi arrives in Elliot’s modern two-story New York townhome after a red-eye flight to surprise her father on his 70th birthday. Lauren Helpern’s set oozes high-end luxury in gray hues, rich wood paneling, and a contemporary stairway.
As a divorced, empty nester mother with two adult boys, Jodi is “holding on by a thin thread.” Feeling jilted that her ex-husband is about to marry a “skintight” 24-year-old Soul Cycle “spinner” who takes classes to maintain her tiny waist and large breasts.
LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS
“Latin History for Morons” concludes with “Latins are so American that it hurts. They have shed blood for America in every war in America, and are the most decorated soldiers.” If all this information was put into history books for our children to read, imagine how Americans would see Latin people and how Latin people would see themselves.
Witch
WITCH leaves the audience wondering how much a soul is worth, when hope is hard to come by today. Elizabeth Sawyer (Maura Tierney, Golden Globe Winner) is the most reviled woman in her village, inciting people to stare and whisper about her in their midst. When she meets Scratch (Evan Jonigkeit) chemistry heats up and Elizabeth isn’t ready to give away the only thing she has in life.
Hannah and the Dread Gazebo
My favorite part of Hannah and the Dread Gazebo is after the final bow when Director Jennifer Chang has the cast perform “A Sweet Potato Woman” to bright lights and music. Dancing standouts include Hahn Cho and Gavin Lee.