Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – April 15 – 21, 2019

April 22nd, 2019

99 Seat Theater in LA, Comedy, Featured, Fringe Festival, LGBTQIA+, Musicals, One Person Shows, Theater, Theatre

Monique LeBleu

Registered Critic, Writer, Editor

Theatrical shows registered on the Better Lemons calendar!
For more shows visit our Calendar.
For shows with a LemonMeter rating, visit our LemonMeter page.

A Tribute to Doug

“With the blessing of Jim Jinkins, the [original] creator of Doug, this classic 90’s cartoon will be brought to life. The Funnie family has arrived at their new home in Bluffington. Doug and his best friend Porkchop meet the classic cast of characters we all know and love: Skeeter, his best human friend; Patti Mayonnaise, his secret crush; and Roger Klotz, the local bully. When Roger tricks Doug into thinking that catching an infamous local swamp creature will make him a town hero, Doug suits up and heads over to Stinson’s pond to bag himself a neematoad!”

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Was Is Das?

“A Circus variety show set in the raucous days of Berlin 1924 that is dedicated to presenting lively and inventive performances ranging from the absurd to the sublime! On any given night you might see Burlesque, Puppetry, Clown, Mime, Dance troupes, Solo Character sketch, Musical numbers, and a variety of Acrobatic & Circus performers doing their thing. Your hosts Gretel Heinz & The Contessa do their best to keep the sense of the 20’s alive and ROARING With Bobby Mitchell on the Keys.”

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The Last PowerPoint

“In “The Last PowerPoint”, ‘Prospective’ Ben, CEO and Sole Proprietor of a new venture called disIncorporated, delivers a persuasive PowerPoint presentation concerning his latest product offering: Mail-Order Seed Potato Death Clock.”

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Too Old, Too Asian, Too Short

“Pamela was a typical obedient Filipino, destined to be a licensed registered nurse. But then life took a detour and opened up to the exciting world of entertainment as a production dancer/magician’s assistant. Although she was told, ‘You’re too old, too Asian, and too short’ she is catapulted into a long and fulfilling career as a dancer on a cruise line for a decade. Pamela grew up with secrets and lies. A poor little rich girl in a 3rd world country. Her father took the Najera family and immigrated to America. Then a chance for a lifetime adventure comes barging through the door. Pamela, seemingly suddenly, is performing with well-renowned magicians traveling the world and making numerous appearances at the Magic Castle. Pamela then continues on as a cruise ship dancer/entertainer touring the waters from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Join Pamela, as she takes you through her journey of transformation despite the comical limitations she was born in to. ”

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Ask A Black Woman

“People of various backgrounds have been asking Shanara all kinds of questions on the streets of L.A., for the past 2 years, on her “Ask A Black Woman” YouTube series and podcast. With only an Android camera and a laminated sign, Shanara began this impromptu project at the dawn of a tense social climate stemming from the current presidential administration. This necessary dialogue revealed layers of unpacked truth for everyone involved. This solo show premier is a theatrical & poetic response with provocative accounts of living Black in America.”

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The Bully Problem

“THE BULLY PROBLEM is a family-friendly musical with a balance of comedy, humorously distinct characters, and a smidge of science fiction. It focuses on the subjects of bullying, intellectual virtuosity, and the importance of human connections. Fourteen-year-old tech whiz Kevin Dijkstra just wants to be left alone to build robots, but the bullies at Van Der Bort Junior High are making that tough. Things change when Kevin inherits an android that seems to needs his help as much as vice versa. Before long, Kevin is caught in the middle of a struggle between bullies and smart kids. The future of the school hangs in the balance!”

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“I Wanna Be Evil: The Story of Eartha Kitt”

“From croaker sack to Chinchilla, Orson Welles called Kitt “the most exciting woman in the world”. In 1968 she was blacklisted for making the 1st Lady cry. “I Wanna Be Evil” chronicles Eartha’s kinship with James Dean, her affairs with Revlon and her volatile relationship with Hollywood.”

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Hell’s Kitty

“Hell’s Kitty is based on the comedy/horror internet series and Netflix movie about a Hollywood writer and his possessed pussycat. Nick, a Hollywood screenwriter, discovers his cat has become murderously possessed, and will stop at nothing to rid him of any women in his life. As his life unravels out of control, Nick must find a way to have his kitty exorcised of the demonic spirit haunting her and creating a body count!”

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Ghost Town

“’Ghost Town’ is a solo performance piece which explores the various points of view surrounding the ‘Anglophone Crisis’ which erupted in Cameroon in 2016 as a result of the citizens from the English speaking regions of the country demanding an end to the discrimination and marginalization perpetuated by the predominantly French speaking government…“Ghost Town” tells their stories through monologues and audio-visual materials.”

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My Thing of Love

“This dark comedy explores a marital triangle in which the wife tries to save the marriage, the husband seeks self-understanding and the mistress craves attention. Originally produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre and then Broadway to glowing reviews. Often hilarious, the play explores the serious issue of infidelity and its effect on a family.”

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Human Rights in Today’s World

“This interactive workshop is a companion piece to Fringe project, Dying for our Voices. It is put on by Youth for Human Rights (YHR), a non-profit organization dedicated to human rights education…The workshop will emphasize freedom of expression but will cover the other human rights as well – because to greater or lesser degree, all of them are infringed in our community and more so in other parts of the world. You’ll see award-winning videos and get materials which make these rights easy to understand.”

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BLACKBOXING

“Travis, a neophyte actor, thinks he’s all ready for his one-man show. His Stage Manager Jim thinks otherwise.”

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Life Plan, or How to Live your Best Life in a Collapsing World!

“It’s that rare time of year when the Life Plan presentation comes through the Los Angeles Habitable Zone! Tired of struggling in underground shelters and fleeing from mutated puss mutts? Life Plan is the answer! You can live out your dream life and you can experience true fulfillment, but only if you come to one of our five Life Plan Presentations this June. This is your last chance of 2068, so don’t miss out! ‘Life Plan’ is immersive satirical sci-fi — you’re live at a timeshare sales pitch from our dystopian future. Fulfillment is the offer. Salvation is the opportunity. Will you cash out? Will you buy in?”

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Made for Each Other

From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to the Hollywood Fringe Festival. “Vincent and Jerry invite you to their wedding…if they go through with it! Gay marriage, with Alzheimer’s twist.”

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Invincible Summer

“A devised, immersive, interactive, collaborative journey into the human soul. Prepare to find your true self again.”

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Samsara

“In “Samsara,” Katie and Craig are having a baby—via a surrogate—who lives in India. A month before the baby’s due date, Craig reluctantly travels to the subcontinent where he meets Suraiya, their young, less-than-thrilled surrogate. As all three parents anxiously await the baby’s birth, flights of fancy attack them from all sides. Of “Samsara,” the Chicago Tribune said, “Genuinely moving … with a laudable awareness of how we sometimes only get one shot at happiness of escape.” The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Aarón Alonso, Joe Calarco, Nardeep Khurmi, Katie Pelensky, and Pooja Shah.”

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Rewind – A New 80s Musical

“REWIND is an original 80s pop musical about love, redemption and the magic of second chances.
A powerful music producer derails a young girl’s promising singing career and she spends the next 50 years waiting tables. When our producer meets an untimely end he is barred from heaven. To gain entrance he must, with a little help from the Universe, rewind time and help her reclaim her true destiny.”

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And Then There Were None

“A classic whodunit from the Queen of Crime. Marooned at a lonely resort, each guest has a dark secret to hide and all fear dark shadows from their wicked past. Isolated and trapped, one by one they start to die. Time Magazine called it “one of the most ingenious thrillers in many a day.”  Directed by Michael Thomas-Visgar.”

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A’mour or Less

“A cabaret for three, featuring well-and-lesser known songs from the musical theatre canon-A’mour or Less tells the tales of romance and sex over 35…more complicated than ever…Free admission.”

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Ascend: When Myths Fall, Heroes Rise

“Gods of four mythologies call upon you, their demigod children, to save them from a rising threat. Go on quests to find the truth, prove yourself in a divine tournament and decide how this story ends. Only you can save the world in this interactive, immersive, multi-room experience.”

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Gunfight at the Not-So-OK Saloon

“A hilarious music comedy in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan set in the Old Wild West.”

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Rock Band Murder Mystery

“This interactive, immersive show focuses on a roarin’ rock band and their entourage. All participants assume the pre-generated personas of the band, manager, roadie, groupies, and other members of the crew. You interact with each other against a deadly threat, and one of you might even be a murderer! Can the show go on??…NO ACTING/IMPROV EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! There are safety rules and basic mechanics in case you want to do something nasty like punch out your A&R rep. The Rock Band™ and Guitar Hero™ video game will represent the band’s in-game music…Two guitars, drums, and microphone available.CONTENT WARNING: Elements of or references to drug use, alcohol, cigarette smoking, violence, sex, prostitution, gambling, the occult and the usual bad behavior associated with rock and roll (mostly simulated).”

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JULIUS WEEZER

“Have you ever wondered what really happened to Julius Caesar on the Ides of March? The Troubies have…and are warning you to “Beware the Ides of March in May!” The terrible tidings and twisted tale of corruption, betrayal, and the quest for absolute power –no, not Washington DC – it’s Rome circa 44 B.C., with Shakespeare’s story of Caesar mashed up with the funk-rock riffs of the resurgent and ubiquitous band, Weezer. This hard-driving, heart pounding, adrenaline rush of a show will feature the Troubies in all their classical glory – speaking the speech and strumming the power chords. Part circus, part improv comedy show, part rock concert – with a live band that complements and compels the Troubie cast as they wind their way through the dark and dangerous world of Julius Weezer! Enjoy the madness with the Troubies and you will be able to say: ‘I came, I saw, I conquered…and I rocked out!’ Age appropriate for eight and up, the show will feature special make-up effects that may disturb some younger guests – after all, Caesar was stabbed 33 times…but who’s counting?”

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Invitation to Love…and Death

“World premiere! Welcome to the wild and wacky world of the hit reality show “Invitation to Love”—an unlikely cross between The Bachelor and American Idol in which male and female “Love Guests” participate in talent competitions to remain in the running to win a proposal from the bisexual “Love Host”. Suddenly, on the night of the singing competition, it starts being targeted by a serial killer…and one by one, contestants and crew find themselves dying for love…literally! Can love survive? Will ANYONE survive? And whodunit? Portions of Invitation to Love…and Death were staged as a serial entry in the 2016-17 season of Serial Killers at Sacred Fools, and it made the final 8 of the season finals.”

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Silver Bullet

“A film noir-inspired drama in which a woman must control the investigation into the death of her best friend’s husband.”

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Start Swimming

“James Fritz’s Start Swimming is a surrealistic play drenched in political upheaval that asks what power young people have to create change. In a room: there are five people with nothing to go on other than their instincts and their desire to live. Is it worth taking risks when a misstep can destroy all they’ve worked for? How do they fight the unseen powers, that manipulate their fear in an attempt to abuse control…all when the rules keep changing? Using Pavlovian consequences, Orwellian overtones, and theatre of cruelty style, this play questions authority, the definition of freedom, and explores the journey of resistance and revolution.”

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Tales From the Powder Room

“6 Vignettes about women in the workplace that happen to occur in the ladies room.”

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Coastal Disturbances

“Holly, who is escaping her troubled life in New York, has come to stay with her aunt, artist M.J. Adams whose home is on a private beach on the north shore of Massachusetts. She meets Leo, the beach lifeguard, who is getting over a failed romance. Just as their romance begins, Holly’s estranged boyfriend arrives. This charming ensemble comedy follows four generations of vacationers on a Massachusetts beach.”

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Anna St. Hesia Dreams

“Anna is trapped in an anesthesia-related coma. Her only way out is to sink deeper into fantasy – a dark fairytale where people weave dreams into tourist destinations. When reality isn’t worth it, is fantasy the next best thing?”

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(IM)PERFEKT

“What if that which you identify with suddenly disappeared? Who would you be then? (IM)PERFEKT is a solo show about identity, beauty, and labels. Sometimes you need to (literally) lose a part of yourself in order to discover who you truly are. What if you have been Perfect all along? How much precious time have you wasted living like you aren’t?”

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White Privilege Lost: Comedic Cabaret on Screwing up a Life

“A mature nurse recounts through songs and humor how she went from a life of privilege to a life full of anxiety and depression. A journey of how a difficult childhood coupled with wrong choices and unfortunate events led to a life of hopelessness and lack.”

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If We Run

“Brian and Rachel were the perfect couple and seemed destined to live happily ever after. But that was a long time ago and life got in the way of those dreams. Tonight, they meet in their old romantic spot for one last night together. Is there still hope for them after all these years?”

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An Excuse To Behave Badly

“Stranded outside of a bar at 2AM on Halloween in Los Angeles, four young women, dressed in what’s left of their Halloween costumes, deal with an existential crisis and some shenanigans while waiting for an elusive Uber…and Magic Mike…and Frankenstein’s monster??”

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Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey)

“Livin’ the Dream is longtime music critic and theatre supporter Bob Leggett’s personal story of diverging paths, celebrity encounters and finding a home in the arts. From his humble roots growing up in the south, it follows his adventures, military career, and music connections to show why he has become one of the most beloved of music bloggers and a die-hard patron of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.”

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The Duchess and the Stripper

“It’s 1961 and the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson … has returned to her hometown of Baltimore for reasons unknown. Tired of the A-list party she’s attending, she decides to visit Baltimore’s Adult entertainment district, The Block with the intention of meeting the leading burlesque performer of her time, Blaze Starr. Blaze is infamous in her own right, having had quite the torrid affair with the Governor of Louisiana. With seemingly little in common beyond home wrecking, at the end of this night, these ladies with the help of one another will choose a path forward as their stars begin their inevitable fade.”

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Silent Joy

“Adapted from an upcoming graphic novel, Silent Joy tells the story of a girl trapped by her own demons who decides to help a kind, mute boy named Joy whose mouth is sewn shut. Together they set out on an epic journey, facing otherworldly perils, to seek revenge on the person that inflicted this abuse on Joy. In the end, the girl must face her darkest memories to find redemption for her friend and discover the truth about herself. A modern narrative inspired by the classic quest story, Dante’s ‘Inferno,’ ‘Silent Joy’ is an enthralling tale of friendship and forgiveness that at once deals with the messiness of humanity and contemplates the reasons for existence.”

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THE SECRET GARDEN

“Experience the magic. Unlock the mystery. Come fall in love with “The Secret Garden,” the third show in our spectacular 2018/2019 season. 3-D Theatricals brings the emotional, Tony Award®-winning musical adaptation of the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, to a whole new audience for a strictly limited engagement starting May 3rd. After the sudden death of her parents, ten-year-old Mary Lennox is sent to live with an uncle whom she’s never met. Mourning the loss of his own true love, Uncle Archibald is distant and strange – leaving Mary to explore a lonely mansion shrouded in mystery and haunted by spirits and lost souls. Strong-willed and brave-hearted, Mary finds solace in a locked-up, hidden garden, and with it, discovers the true meaning of hope; proving that love and magic can bloom from the darkest of places. This heartwarming story of forgiveness and renewal is filled with beautiful music, magical illusions and a talented cast that makes this a must-see theatrical treat for families of all ages.”

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The Trouble Is, You Think You Have Time

“A one-man tour-de-force mixing humor and the passion we all share to live an epic life and to matter. Michael, in his physically unconscious — but mentally/spiritually hyper-conscious — moment of death, reaches out to his two sons to empower them to live big, purposeful lives. ‘The Trouble Is…’ weaves soliloquy with story-telling in a passionate fabric of life’s highest highs and lowest lows, but always guided by and imbued with our shared human determination to live big, to matter and to make our mark with our lives.”

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A Small Group

“An aspiring young comedian wakes up in rehab and can’t remember how he got there. He doesn’t believe he belongs there; does he or doesn’t he? Tormented by the ticking clock, the chugging water cooler, and the buzzing flies, sometimes life isn’t a comedy bit.”

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Temple Tantrum

“Nicole Steinwedell takes us on a no-holds-barred, rock-your-world adventure through her life in and out of a cult as she discovers what it truly means to be free.”

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Hot Off the Press

“Hot Off the Press is a program of excerpted new solo writings presented by talented women playwrights in staged readings. The program includes:
‘Real As It Can Be,’ written and performed by Yvette Cason, [who] takes us on a personal and funny journey from childhood to adulthood. She discovers that life doesn’t always turn out like we planned. ‘Strong As Honey,’ written and performed by Alma Collins. A woman recounts her generational relationship with her mother and grandmother and how being an ultimate caretaker for her mother both challenged and healed their role- reversal relationship. ‘Self-ish!,’ written and performed by Roxana Ortega. An ambitious Latina actor accepts the role of a lifetime when she decides to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s and in doing so she must face her ultimate fear: Will loving her mother mean losing her own dreams?! Her journey takes her through the world of elder care, the opera, and even Africa.”

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The Mayor’s Debate of Tranquility, Nebraska

“The forced civility at a small town Mayor’s debate shows cracks as the shallow and petty candidates dig deep on property taxes, parking meters, and cupcake flavors, cracks that begin to reveal a secret horror that has paralyzed the town.”

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PILOTLIGHTS, NIGHT ONE – The Tragedies

“Five LA writers complete five teleplays in a single week. The work is refined. The venue is set. The drinks are cold and the band is warm. Now we want to show you how The Bears roar.
Enter worlds of renegade substitute teachers, space colony child prodigies, slaughterhouse debutantes, the murder woods of Vermont, and the Wild West of Hollywood Hotels.”

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Crabbe and Goyle are Dead

“An absurd comedy exploring the existential crises happening off-stage during a very famous, and equally tumultuous, seven-year span at everyone’s favorite school of witchcraft and wizardry. Written by Kitty Keim.”

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Monique A. LeBleu/Event Editor and Contributor.

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