COVID-19 THEATER SERIES: International City Theatre and COVID-19 – An Interview with Caryn Desai


A talented and successful director with awards and nominations from LA Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Drama-Logue, Robby, Ovation, and NAACP, Caryn Desai is also the artistic director / producer for International City Theatre (ICT) in Long Beach. She has extensive experience in acting, directing, producing, and administration, as well as a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Other certificates in arts administration, marketing, and fundraising prepared her for running a successful non-profit organization dealing with arts and education. For over 20 years, she taught college classes at Long Beach City College and received the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2018, Caryn was named Distinguished Alumna from the College of the Arts at California State University, Long Beach. She was recently named “Enterprising Woman in the Arts” in Long Beach. Clearly, Caryn is a busy woman who likes to get things done. She took time from her busy schedule to interview in April 2020.


J. Thomas Miller, Hunter Berecochea, Josey Montana McCoy, Marisa Matthews, and Trevor Shor in “Life Could Be a Dream” (2018) – Photo by Tracey Roman

When and how did the International City Theatre first form? Were you involved from the beginning? 

Caryn Desai:  International City Theatre (ICT) started in 1985 on the campus of Long Beach City College under the 99-seat plan. The theater was founded by Shashin Desai, who was chair of the theater, film, and dance department at the time. I have been involved from the beginning – but not officially until 1990, when I became general manager. Shashin retired ten years ago, and the Board unanimously named me to lead. I’m now the artistic director and producer of ICT; in my free time, I also do some directing. In 1996, with the encouragement of then-Mayor Beverly O’Neill, ICT moved downtown to the beautiful Long Beach Performing Arts Center. We work with Actors Equity Association under the small professional theater contract.  Everyone is paid, both artists and crew. I’m proud to say that 2020 marks ICT’s thirty-fifth anniversary.

Lexi Ainsworth, Neil Larson, Angelo Custino, and Drew Carr in “To Kill a Mockingbird” (2002) – Photo by Shashin Desai

What are some of the most popular plays you’ve done? How about awards? 

CD: Over the years, ICT has received more than 400 professional awards including the LA Drama Critics Circle award for sustained excellence. In 2015, we also received the LADCC award for outstanding season. We have had many plays which were real people-pleasers. Some of ICT’s most popular plays have included Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and Life Could be a Dream. Both are from ICT’s 2019 season and broke 34 years of presale records.  Prior to 2019, some of our most popular shows included Backward in High Heels, To Kill a Mockingbird, Swinging on a Star, and Dinah Was. We try to select productions which are entertaining, intellectually stimulating, and fun.

Stephan Terry and Karole Foreman in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill”

When did you close the theater due to COVID-19? Were you in the middle of a run? 

CD: ICT was lucky enough to complete the run of our thirty-fifth anniversary season opener on March 8. ICT runs on a calendar year, so that was our first show of the season. Our offices were forced to close with little notice on Friday, March 13, along with everyone else in the County. The next show we planned, Daisy, was a California premiere we selected for its relevance and importance in this election year. We were supposed to start rehearsal April 7.  We’ve moved Daisy to the next slot for a June opening and bumped another show to our 2021 season.

Anna Aimee White as Ginger Rogers and Matt Bauer as Fred Astaire in “Backwards in High Heels” (2010) – Photo by Shashin Desai

How has COVID-19 impacted on your theater? 

CD: To date, ICT is facing lost revenue from one cancelled show so far. We don’t know if there will be future cancellations, and we don’t know how many patrons will want a refund. Right now, it’s hard to predict the impact this will have on season renewals. This is especially disheartening, since subscriptions are our bread and butter and have been up over the last six years.

ICT also has a very active and strong commitment to education. We have six programs for every demographic from age 4 to 104. Most programs are free, including a popular in-school program for third graders which I created at the request of the school district based on my 20 years as a college instructor. That program makes about 480 classroom visits annually. On the other end of the spectrum, ICT runs a Senior Program which provides tickets and transportation to low income seniors to keep them mentally and socially engaged. These are two of our six programs providing access, education, and inspiration to our community. This is a loss for our students, our community, and our teaching artists.

Sybyl Walker, Yvette Freeman as Dinah Washington, and Paul Avedisian in “Dinah Was” (2004) – Photo by Shashin Desai

Are you doing anything right now to keep your live theater going? Are you streaming? Do you have virtual meetings? Are you planning for your next show when the theater can reopen?

CD: ICT has reached out to the union for some flexibility in allowing possible streaming, and obviously affordability is an issue. We’re having discussions with teaching artists, and we may be able to have virtual classes for our Summer Youth Conservatory – or even our school programs. Currently, all meetings with the executive committee and the board are virtual. The staff is working remotely and communicate mostly by email and phone. The Daisy cast did a virtual read-through on their own. This is a challenging time for all of us, what with our poor artists and audiences isolated from each other and from the work that feeds our souls, brings us together, and helps us understand our shared humanity and the world in which we live. It’s painful for those of us who value and understand the importance of live theatre.

What do you think the impact of COVID-19 will be on live theater in general in Los Angeles? Do you foresee any permanent changes? 

CD:  I have to remain hopeful that this pause will motivate those who have the capacity to ensure the future of this most human art form to take action. It would be sad to see this battle we are in with a horrific virus win by losing a voice from any of our many diverse companies and artists.

What do you need right now to keep going forward? What would you like from the Theater public? 

CD: Right now, I need to stay strong, hold my small team together, and find a way through this. I hope the theatre public will stand by ICT and provide the support needed to survive and grow. That would be a victory over this foe and something to celebrate — the spirit, strength, passion, and commitment to art! That feels like America to me!

What are some of your future plans?

CD: ICT has a strategic plan outlining goals for the next three years, including greater investment and further development of this art form, increasing earned revenue, growth of our education programs, and ensuring accessibility to professional theatre for all. This was certainly not how we planned to celebrate our current milestone. ICT’s little team in the office has a motto:  “It’s never easy, but it’s important.”  We never anticipated it would be this hard!  Here’s to better days. Onward!


This article first appeared in LA Splash Worldwide.



Award-winning director Katharine Farmer Returns to the Rubicon

Carey Crim‘s west coast premiere Never Not Once plays at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura February 5 through 23 for a three week engagement only. Award winning British director Katharine Farmer will helm the production. In our conversation she talks about the play, her cast and just how enriching it is to work at the Rubicon.

Discuss the complexities of Never Not Once and your challenges as the director.

KF: Never Not Once is as complicated as you want it to be. It can simply be watched as a family drama, or it can trigger a conversation that is longer than the play itself about identity and whether we are more than the simple sum of the choices that we, and others, make. I hope that the play will give our audiences the option to think, and if we have all done our job correctly, audiences will feel compelled to care.

The central challenge to directing and staging the play has been to capture and convey the haunting humanity that definitely exists in the plot and its characters, but lives just as much between the words as it does within them.

What is the message of the play? How does it stand apart from other dramas about dysfunctional families?

KF: We are living in an era of self, but it is not obvious that this is making us any happier. Likewise, science is evermore confident that it is providing us with answers, but is it making us any smarter about which questions really matter?

The message of Never Not Once is that while trying to understand one’s self is the most natural thing in the world, a focus on “I” should not crowd out an understanding of “us”. This play certainly has it’s fair share of dysfunctionality but the concept of family is less of the problem and more of a solution.

Tell us about your cast and their dynamics.

KF: For everyone in the cast, this is their Rubicon debut!

Sydney Berk is playing Eleanor, the college student who wants to find her father. Sydney trained at LAMDA in the UK and has worked extensively with A Noise Within in LA. Her two mothers are played by Diahnna Nicole Baxter and Melanic Cruz. Diahnna co-created, co-wrote and starred in “SATACRACY 88,” the first web series to win an Emmy Award, and was nominated again the next year. Melanie had a recurring role in HBO’s Big Love and recently was seen on stage as Sara in Lucky Me at Theatre West in Nebraska. Our other two cast members are Issac Cruz, who was recently involved with the multi-theatre homeless support production of Homeward LA for the second consecutive year, and Michael Polak who’s theatre credits include The Illusion at North Coast Repertory Theatre and Doubt at International City Theatre.

Working with this fantastic cast has been a pleasure. They have always approached rehearsals with a focus, passion, and openness that really serves the play.

Two moms and a daughter searching for her father. Is it a lesbian couple or does that bring about a spoiler alert?

KF: A lesbian couple are at the centre of the play and yet the play is not about lesbianism. Allison and Nadine have created a truly loving home, thereby ticking the “nurture” box. Their daughter Eleanor feels the need to find her father to fully understand her genetic heritage, in order to tick the “nature” box. This need would be every bit as essential if her mother was in a heterosexual relationship. The lesbian relationship brings it greater clarity, intensity and poignancy. Separately I think that it will constitute progress for the LGBTQIA+ community when characters in drama are from that community without the plots of those dramas implying that their sexual orientation is all that defines them.

Talk about the other plays you have directed at the Rubicon. Do you have a favorite?

KF: Asking me what my favourite show is is like asking me to pick my favourite child: I have loved them all. I will always remember Last Train to Nibroc as my first professional directing experience. I will always be proud of South Pacific for the courage it took to put a twist on one of the great classics of musical theatre. But to answer your question, Gulf View Drive was my favorite, for its sense of closure for both the characters and the audience who’d followed May and Raleigh’s journey for three years.

You have won many awards. How does that make you feel about working at the Rubicon?

KF: Karyl Lynn Burns and James O’Neil are the best mentors that a young director could hope for and the Rubicon is so much more than just a venue. From the “Friends of Rubicon” to the staff and volunteers, Karyl Lynn and Jim have created a loving, caring and support structure for creatives of all ages and in my case, all nationalities. Rubicon is a shining example of excellence in regional theatre on a global scale. When it comes to awards, they are a much appreciated blessing that I would rather not dwell too much upon. My focus and priority is that my next audience will enjoy my next show.

Back to Never Not Once. Does the play come to the Rubicon intact or have there been changes since it premiered at Jeff Daniels’ theatre?

KF: I first read the play in 2016 and loved it since inception. We have made a few small changes to the script since its production at the Purple Rose Theatre, but it’s very much been a case of evolution not revolution. I have always been in awe of Carey Crim’s gift for natural dialogue and compared to other pieces of new writing that I have worked on, much fewer iterations have been required.

(photo credit: Craig Sugden)

Never Not Once plays at the Rubicon Theatre February 5 through 23. The Rubicon Theatre Company is located at 1006 E Main St Ventura, CA 93001

Guest Services: (805) 667-2900


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – January 27 – February 3, 2020


Theatrical, One-Person, Musicals, and Comedy shows, Music, Dance, and Cabaret now registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

For shows with a LemonMeter rating, visit our LemonMeter page.


Sugar Houses

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Looking for Leroy

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Cafe Vida

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The Andrews Brothers

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Taming the Lion

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Birthday Wish

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Uncle Vanya

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Matt & Ben

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The Secret Comedy of Women

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Our Man in Santiago

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Shades of War The play

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Melinda Doolittle – The Great American Soul Book

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The World is My Home: The Life of Paul Robeson

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A Good Day to Fly

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Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – September 30 – October 6, 2019

Theatrical shows, Film Festivals, Musicals, and Interactive/Immersive Escape Rooms NOW registered on the Better Lemons calendar!
For shows with a LemonMeter rating, visit our LemonMeter page.

Short & Sweet Film Festival

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Short & Sweet Hollywood Dance Festival

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Short & Sweet Hollywood Latino

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Short & Sweet Hollywood LGBTQ+ LIVE!

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Constantinople

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San Fernando Valley Master Chorale: Grand Finale – Popular Musical & Opera Show-stoppers

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The Abuelas

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The Art of Dining

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The Manitou House

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The Sunshine Boys

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A Christmas Carol

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Second City’s fourth annual “2019 Diversity in Comedy Festival”

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Silent Sky

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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

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Ravenswood Manor

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Dear Jerry Seinfeld

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What if: A Musical Parody

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Key Largo

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The Thanksgiving Play

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Sisters in Law

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The Legend of Little Girl Blue

FRANKENSTEIN – WORLD PREMIERE

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THE SÉANCE

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THE FUN HOUSE

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THE HEX ROOM

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THE PSYCH WARD

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PunkPlay

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Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL

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Fruition

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Matilda

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The Lion in Winter

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The Santaland Diaries

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Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – May 26 – June 2, 2019

Theatrical, Music, and Dance Performance shows registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

For more shows visit our Calendar. For shows with a LemonMeter rating, visit our LemonMeter page.

Jamba Juice: The Musical

“Boy meets girl. Strawberry meets smoothie. Mix it all together, then just add love. This is a millennial musical comedy that takes place in a Jamba Juice. This parody musical has not and will not be approved by the Jamba Juice Corp.
Use discount code LEMONSAREBETTER for $2 off regular priced tickets ($10 instead of $12)”

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DROUGHT

“’DOUGHT’ is a song-story for women. A musical battle cry. It is for the women that have been and the women to come. DROUGHT is a piece of art activism. Its aim as a piece is to challenge narratives in which women are subject to violence at the hands of male redemption, and how violence in our storytelling perpetuates violence in our culture…Using electronic music, digital landscapes and experimental prose we give voice to a voiceless character…Maybe it’s time we write our own mythology. It is time to end this Drought.”

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Grail Project

“Theatre Movement Bazaar continues its investigation into classic texts, this time inspired by the Arthur Legend and Grail Myth. Co-creators and company founders, Kronis + Alger, are joined by an ensemble of 9 actors to present this surprising and dynamic new work. GRAIL PROJECT guides us through the labyrinthine intrigues of Arthurian court life, then spins out into Perceval’s Quest for the Holy Grail and his Squire’s longing to be a knight. One of the most influential myths of the Western world is given a contemporary voice in this woven tapestry of original text, song, dance, humor, and expressive physicality.
2019 Ovation Award Winners for: Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Choreography.

Use discount code KNIGHT to get $3 off regular priced tickets (pay $12 instead of $15)”

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SEVEN

“Seven walks the line between reality and fairy tale.
In an archetypal journey to find hope and truth in a dark time, Seven incorporates seven views of the world today through the lens of an archetypal shapeshifter. The Shapeshifter morphs from Knight to Thief, to Princess, to Avenger, to Engineer and Witch. This one-woman show tackles the problems we all face with heart and a little bit of humor, from politics to bubble baths.”

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What Am I Even Doing?

“’What Am I Even Doing?’ is a world premiere solo show written and performed by Hollywood Fringe veteran Kelly Coughlin that is a confessional about your average existential crisis. Who hasn’t wondered ‘what am I doing with my life?’ ‘who am I?’ or ‘what now?’ Full of ups and downs, this comedic performance is relatable and heartfelt, taking patrons on a touching journey through figuring out adulthood and a life purpose that feels just out of our grasp. It will also examine some of the more “interesting” choices Coughlin has made along the way. And if you haven’t questioned your life choices, what are you even doing?”

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Living Between the Lines: When Every Tribe Isn’t Your Tribe

“Born on the Mason-Dixon line, growing up between the Reagan and Clinton administrations, exploring his own sexuality in a time well before anyone knew what #toxicmasculinity even was, and discovering his identity as a first generation Asian-American immigrant, songwriter/actor/writer Michael de Lara discovered a single, undeniable truth: “I don’t fit in with anybody.” “Living Between the Lines” is a one-man musical/cabaret about never fitting into any group scored and performed on a loop pedal and guitar, and told through four days in the 1990s.”

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Butcher Holler Here We Come

“Butcher Holler Here We Come is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning original performance that descends into the interior landscape of the male psyche-in-crisis.- *Told in near-to-total darkness, with the use of headlamps to illuminate the actors while they weave in and around the audience, the play invites a visceral, terrifying, and emotionally-wrought forging of manhood as it actively interrogates itself, against the backdrop forces of an un-anthropomorphic world.”

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Monkey Mind

“MONKEY MIND is a family rock musical about a bright, precocious teenage girl named Lacy. After Lacy’s mother dies unexpectedly, it leaves her and her father overwhelmed with grief and financial worries. Lacy tries to help him out of his depression by trying to win a singing contest. However, she is plagued by negative thoughts, her MONKEY MIND (played by characters who sing and dance around her on stage). A teacher tries to instill the practice of “staying in the now” and controlling her out of control mind. But not until thoughts of suicide nearly kill her does Lacy appreciate her teaching. Use discount code LEMON and get $5 tickets”

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Hamlet

“A gender-bending immersive experience…Welcome to the Coronation of your new King Claudius, but all is not well when a Dead Ghost Cries for Revenge. This 90min Hamlet is a thriller set in the glorious back garden of TeaPop in North Hollywood. Please wear comfortable footwear. This is a semi-immersive event in a nontraditional space. There will be a strobe feel and fog.”

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The Color Collective

“The Color Collective is a comedy variety show featuring diversity and inclusion in everything from music and dance to stand-up and sketch comedy. Winners of a 2018 Encore Award and a 2018 Audience Choice Award from Better Lemons, The Color Collective strives to be a show for all people, where we can tackle topics that typically aren’t (or can’t) be covered by others…If In Living Color and SNL had a love-child, it’d be The Color Collective – a fast-paced hour-long sketch/variety show, highlighting diverse – and hilarious – players from a wide spectrum of cultural backgrounds.”

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NINE WINNING ONE-ACTS

“The Group Rep presents Nine Winning One-Acts play festival, fresh world premiere short plays chosen from more than 250 entries from around the world. The event is co-produced by Belinda Howell and Helen O’Brien for the Group Rep. All nine plays will be performed as one program, twice a week for six weeks, running June 8 through July 14. Saturdays at 4:00 pm. Sundays at 7:00 pm. Running time: 2 hours with one intermission. Warnings: Mature subject matter – suicide, adultery, prop gun, etc.”

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Blindsided

“Suicide is a difficult subject to tackle on stage, but comedian and character performer Jeannette Rizzi faces it head-on in her acclaimed solo production, Blindsided…As raw as it is funny, Blindsided is a personal journey about how Rizzi — at the age of 17 — sees her life dive into a tailspin after the suicide of her best friend Katie. Despite being the daughter of a former monk and former nun (yes, really), Rizzi nonetheless struggles to find her spiritual and emotional compass, while facing off against her debilitating anxiety and depression. Proceeds from her Hollywood Fringe performances will be donated to Teen Line, a Los Angeles-based hotline where teens can reach out to trained teen volunteers for guidance and support. To date, Rizzi has helped raise over $10,000 for various mental health services and initiatives…Blindsided is a product of Jeannette’s commitment to live, as well as her pledge to helping others who battle with their own raison d’etre.”

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No Child Left Behind

“The year is 1992 and South Africa is changing. And with terrorist Nelson Mandela being released from prison, who can tell if it’s for the best. But for one History teacher who grew up during Apartheid, making it through the first day of the school year, and her all white class being racially desegregated, is all the history she needs for one day. *Show is FREE with ticket reservation!!!!”

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My Trans Wife

“This is a true story of transition, written by, and featuring, the two women who are living it: Mara a trans woman, lived as male most of her life. Mimi, a straight ciswoman, was raised in a traditional Catholic family. They met, fell in love and got married. And everything changed. For both of them. ‘My Trans Wife’ is a journey through the pain, joys and laughter of their relationship, as Mara struggles with her gender identity and Mimi struggles with letting go of long-held beliefs enough to acknowledge that she could love someone like Mara…Use discount code BL and get $2 off regular priced tickets…June 9 and June 14 performances are “pay what you can.” Ticket buyers for these two shows can set their own prices, although there is a suggested price of $12…[for]all ticket buyers, not just Better Lemons readers.

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Boxing Your Demons

“An immersive, participatory, dark comedy from Crooked Grin Productions (2x previous winner of both “Best of Fringe” and “Fringe Encore Award”) comes to the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June! Created by Fringe veteran Matt Soson, Boxing Your Demons is a surreal workout/wellness program led by health and fitness influencers Guy and Sheila Larpen (with their biggest fan / personal assistant, Peter) for an audience of twenty participants. Through a series of proprietary steps involving everything from cardio to smoothies, the Larpens show how to resolve and/or seal away the painful and complex conflicts of hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance inherent to modern American life in just 70 minutes!
This intimate, participatory workshop involves movement and speech from the performers and requests some physical participation from the audience in turn…Cute fitness attire, a smartphone, and personal chakra crystals recommended”

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A CABARET LINE Two Night Fundraiser for Group Rep 6/11 & 6/12

“The Group Rep presents A Cabaret Line, a Two Night Only! fun fundraiser cabaret show, directed and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, with music direction by Richard Allen, produced by Doug Haverty, June 11 and June 12 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California. A Cabaret Line features songs from The Great American Songbook, classic musical theatre, and rare songs from legendary flop shows performed in cabaret style by members of the Group Rep and special musical theatre guests including Kay Cole (original cast member Broadway’s A Chorus Line).”

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Macbeth

“Brace yourself for Shakespeare’s wicked and bloody tragedy coming this June. One fateful decision thrusts Macbeth, a Scottish general, and his wife into a world of shadows and horror that threatens to tear their marriage and lives to pieces. Explore the corruptive side of ambition, and the line between kingship and tyranny. We look forward to plunging you into their world of shadows and taking you on the Bard’s darkest of hell-rides.”

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Tabletop the Musical

“As part of our ‘Nerdy Theater’ series MB stage Creative Producers, David Evan Stolworthy and Jared Tyrel Pixler have begun work on the long term development of Tabletop (a new musical)…a universal story that is nothing short of a wish spell. …Karen runs the local game store where Eric and his friends have gathered every week for years to play their favorite tabletop roleplaying game. His childhood friends Luke (the paladin) and Valarie (the ranger), the group’s strategist and a regular tabletop game fanatic Ken (the wizard), and his little sister Sarah (the fighter) begin their next adventure in Vaelrun while Eric’s wife, Emily, who used to play the group’s druid, is pregnant and out “attending her grove”. Everything starts to change when Brandon, Valerie’s new boyfriend, joins the group. While these friends can’t seem to pull themselves away long enough to handle their real lives, Karen watches on and wishes for an escape. Tabletop explores the way we use games to disconnect from our own realities by following the weekly fantasy adventures of these five friends.”

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Monsters of Man: A Supernatural Anthology

“’No man chases evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks’ –Mary Shelley. Sometimes the things we fear are not always the creatures that go bump in the night. The Monsters of Man: A Supernatural Anthology combines an element of the every day with a splash of the supernatural. A journey through the stories and lives of individuals who will show that sometimes the most terrifying monsters of all are the ones we create ourselves.”

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CATHARSIS

“CATHARSIS is a solo performance created to process one’s personal journey towards self-recognition amidst the (de)stabilizing effects of adoption. The show broadly explores the dynamic relationship between healing, movement, and visibility as Megh negotiates what it means to take space and be vulnerable as a Black femme. Megh invites audiences to occupy her [head]space as she uses movement, poetry, and sound to remember her histories and create her future.”

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Free Concert on the Lawn: Bernie Pearl Blues Band with Barbara Morrison

“Rancho Los Cerritos is back with its popular free summer concert this summer, with music on the fourth Sunday of the month during July and August. The July 28th concert features The Bernie Pearl Blues Band with Barbara Morrison. The site opens at 5 p.m. for pre-concert picnicking. Concerts run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can bring blankets or lawn chairs. Pets are not allowed.”

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Free Concert on the Lawn: The Band of the California Battalion

“Rancho Los Cerritos is back with its popular free summer concert series, with music on the fourth Sunday of the month during July and August. The August 25th concert features The Band of the California Battalion. The site opens at 5 p.m. for pre-concert picnicking. Concerts run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can bring blankets or lawn chairs. Pets are not allowed. ”

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Horny! the Musical

“Satyrs and nymphs crash the party when a woman sprouts horns right before her high-society wedding. As the horns grow, so do new…feelings. An ancient tale for modern times. Celebrating positive female sexuality in ancient Greek theater tradition.”

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Cabaret Night at Little Fish Theatre

“A cabaret night where your favorite Little Fish Theatre Company Members sing and act their favorite musical theatre songs in a variety show that is sure to delight!”

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A Night Out by Harold Pinter

“Pinter’s early dark comedy about Albert, an introverted insurance firm employee still living with his co-dependent mother in South London…After his office buddies convince him to come to the firm’s office party, a dire case of mistaken identity will shift Albert’s life into a very disturbing direction. Originally written as a teleplay for B.B.C and Armchair Theater.”

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Naughty with a Band

“Celebrated actress and singer Pamela Shaw gets naughtier than ever with her fun, provocative, musically eclectic new show ‘Naughty with a Band.’ Direct from a critically acclaimed run in Australia, England, and the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, this Los Angeles premiere is a musical mélange of pop, blues, and rock with a live band. Conceived and created by Shaw, this extraordinarily funny and touching show captures her journey from being a well-bred New York child doing everything “right”, to stepping into her own power and freedom as a woman…Inspired by Matilda, Roald Dahl’s book…’Naughty with a Band’ delivers a mix of comedy, cabaret, dance, music, songs and poignancy from the irrepressible Shaw in a polished, professional and unflappable performance, rich in energy and sensuality…’Naughty with a Band’ was first performed as ‘Naughty for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’ in 2017. It played several festivals in Europe, had a month-long season at the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival 2018, and the first version debuted in December 2018 in Sydney. Naughty with a Band is just finishing up a month-long run as the inaugural production at the new Cobbstar Live club in Sydney.”

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“Hello America” The Riveting New Play

“’Hello America’ (Written by Brandon Rainey) is a riveting production that paints the picture of being a black man in America. These men take you on a hysterical but emotional journey of masculinity, spirituality, fatherhood, sexuality, love, lust & identity through the use of creative storytelling, monologue, audience interaction, film & music.”

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Bestseller

“A zany comic romp by internationally acclaimed playwright Peter Quilter (Glorious!, End of the Rainbow) about writers, how they write, the stories they tell and the secrets they keep. When three young novelists gather at an isolated cottage for a writer’s retreat, their hilarious books jump off the page and onto the stage.”

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Sucker Punch

“In the red corner: Leon Davidson – black British champ or Uncle Tom? In the blue corner: Troy Augustus – international powerhouse or naive cash cow? Having spent their youth in the same London boxing gym vying for the favoritism of an inspirational, foul-mouthed trainer, two former friends step into the ring and face up to who they are. By turns tender, shocking and funny, Sucker Punch asks if the right battles have been fought, let alone won. A SITE-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE. West Coast premiere.”

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It’s Personal: Los Angeles

“’It’s Personal’ is a collection of solo performances written and performed by the cast. Join us as we share truthful stories about Los Angeles and what it means to us! Every show, It’s Personal raises money for a local charity that is near & dear to our hearts. We are raising money for Inner-City Arts this month. Help us give back to our community! @itspersonalonstage Use discount code PersonalLemons and get $5 off regular priced tickets.”

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Ready Steady Yeti Go

“Rogue Machine’s 12th Season Begins in Association with the National New Play Network by presenting the Rolling World Premiere of David Jacobi’s ‘Ready Steady Yeti Go’…In the aftermath of a hate crime, 7th grader Goon befriends Carly, one of the victims. Their youthful romance blossoms. As the town organizes ‘The Assembly to End Racism Forever,’ the two must navigate the pitfalls of falling in love while dealing with the town’s prying eyes, especially being under the scrutiny of Wikipedia Jones, the crime-solving son of the Chief of Police. Bad parental advice and ill-informed gestures of kindness create a white guilt perfect storm, threatening to push the course of true love down a very rocky road. This ironic modern comedy takes place in the present. Unfortunately.”

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Extraordinary Aliens

“’Extraordinary Aliens: The Play’ is the incredible story of Fabianna – a foreign actress whose dream is to work in the United States. Unfortunately, dreams are a little harder to achieve once you have to worry about types of visas, deadlines, immigration fees and an attorney who seems more messed up than you. Fabianna will soon find that trouble are always around the corner – but she might find herself not completely alone along the way. The Play is based on true events”

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American Stranger the Musical

“American Stranger is the story of three siblings, two of whom are learning to understand the third who is transitioning from their brother to their sister, now known as Mary. Rejection and intolerance plagues Mary— from society and from her parents who have disowned her. However, it is the loss of her beloved girlfriend, Dionne, that haunts her the most. After Mary is taken in by her sisters in Hollywood, Brooke and Janet, she tries to pursue her artistic aspirations by selling her paintings on the streets. There, she befriends a homeless man named Jake and a transgender woman named Shannon. The streets of Hollywood become their backdrop as Mary slowly begins to understand more about herself and her new world. However, one night she is confronted by an intolerant and violent passerby. America’s growing cultural divide has made Mary a stranger in her own country. American Stranger features the acoustic versions of the songs of Laura Espinoza & Lunden Reign.”

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🍋


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – April 22 – 28, 2019

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

Greenwood 1964

“GREENWOOD 1964 is a powerful, educational two man one act show which takes us into an actual trip made by Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Two very great friends and once industry’s most successful sought after duo. Sidney Poitier the first Black to win an Academy Award for best actor and Harry Belafonte, activist and first music artist ever to sell a million copies in the US & England. The show takes place in Greenwood Mississippi 1964, a time in which Dr. King called it “The year of promise” due to the rise of racial tension versus the quest for social equality. This brilliantly crafted fictional debate between Mr. Poitier and Mr. Belafonte eloquently explores the individual approaches on how to achieve liberation for people of color. The action takes place inside of an attic “safe-house” in the racially charged segregated deep south of Mississippi. Both men have traveled down to drop a bundle of cash for relief funds and show moral support for the civil rights workers who have been killed trying to register black voters.”

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Sins

“Can we ever stop paying for the past? Can the person we want to ever escape the person we are now and were then? What price must be paid for not only our own crimes, but those of people close to us? Sins is a frank look at what we all deal with when we cannot overcome our own failings…This show includes prop guns, gunshots, and themes of gun violence. This show includes scenes of domestic violence, gun violence, and strong language.”

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Saving Cain

“A far-right, Pentecostal helicopter-mom struggles to keep her hell-raising son on the path of righteousness as he enters his first public school. When a powerful addiction takes over her son’s life, she must accept that you can’t save everyone, and that not every miracle can be left up to God.”

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Flights of Fancy

“Imagination or reality? Elegant stagecraft or just, well… Complications? Stephanie and her best friend Tommy are flying home together, but nothing is what it seems. As we are thrown back and forth between the rehearsals for a play Stephanie has written about her troubles and her increasingly turbulent flight home, we start to wonder: can we be saved through our art or is a crash landing inevitable? ”

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Women Beyond Borders

“Rubicon Theatre continues the company’s 21st “Coming of Age” season with the World Premiere of WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS, a play inspired by and loosely based on the remarkable journey of Lorraine Serena and a dynamic group of California-based artists who founded the non-profit Women Beyond Borders (WBB). Determined to “make art as if the world matters,” Serena and her friends fell upon the idea of box as metaphor: hope chest, treasure chest, womb, coffin, etc. They replicated a miniature wooden box no bigger than the size of a human heart and sent the boxes to curators and friends in other countries with the goal of encouraging dialogue, collaboration and community among women and honoring creativity. The founders of WBB were astonished at what came back to them – eloquent expressions of the enormous depth and variety, but also the universality, of women’s experiences throughout the world.”

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All in the Timing at North Coast Repertory Theatre

“Award-winning playwright David Ives, described by The New York Times as “wizardly, magical, funny, and original,” has penned six one-act comedies that examine various attempts at relationships and communication with hilarious results. Using inspired language and wordplay, Ives takes delight in pushing audiences’ smart buttons and teasing their brains. Join us for non-stop laughter and brilliant witticisms.”

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She Kills Monsters at North Coast Rep Theatre School

“A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of high schooler Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes stumbles upon Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.”

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John Denver Tribute at North Coast Repertory Theatre

“Jim Curry, returns to North Coast Repertory Theatre to perform the music of the late John Denver. The music “is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time,” says Mr. Curry. Join acclaimed performer Jim Curry for this tribute to the music of one of the most beloved singer/songwriters ever to grace the stage.”

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Tuesday Night Comics at North Coast Rep

“Tuesday Night Comics is arguably the funniest night of comedy in San Diego. Mark Christopher Lawrence taps into his extensive list of talented comedian friends and shares the North Coast Rep stage with them. The show is comprised of talent from all over the country with late-night television credits as well as credits from Comedy Central, HBO, SHOWTIME, ETC…RATED R ”

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Taken at Midnight at North Coast Repertory Theatre

“Based on true events in 1931 Berlin, a courageous mother resists the rising Nazi party in order to free her imprisoned son. This riveting drama explores the heroic battle of the weak against the powerful, the truth against the lies, and mothers against murderers. ”

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The Price

“In Arthur Miller’s riveting masterpiece, two estranged brothers must try to make peace with their past when they meet to dispose of their late father’s belongings.”

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Mamma Mia!

“East West Players presents an all-P.O.C. production of the beloved musical Mamma Mia! The magic of ABBA’s disco-era hits brings us to a Greek island paradise where a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads take a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!”

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Sunbathe in Darkness

“In the distant past of 2007, Casey writes fanfiction for the hit Alfie Wunderkid series of books. She writes really, really, really bad fanfiction. On purpose. The plot makes no sense, the characters are inconsistent, the dialogue is at the level of a second grader who swears, and… it’s hugely popular. As the fanfiction comes to life, what started out as a joke slowly morphs into a way for her to cope…with absentee parents, an overbearing sister, and having only one friend who, let’s just be honest, is a bit of a douche.”

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Masters of the Dark Realm

“Fantasy collides with reality when Force of Nature presents the world premiere of Thomas J. Misuraca’s ‘Masters of the Dark Realm.’ When a group of long-time friends end their fantasy role-playing game, Masters of the Dark Realm, they seek out new quests in the real world.
Will a tragedy bring them together to slay their dragons, or cause their fellowship to fall apart?”

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BLUE KISS

“An SAT tutoring session takes a shocking turn when the teacher realizes that his new student is not who she claimed to be, in this intense nerve-racking drama.”

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Treason

“A dark comedy on the danger and absurdity of American politics.
Taking inspiration from the family drama of Arthur Miller and the gallows humor of Martin McDonagh, TREASON explores the entitled toxicity of our current president and his surrounding culture without relying on recent headlines. Synopsis- On a ranch in Nevada, Grant Wilson rules a made-up nation through empty shows of power and ridiculous propaganda, with his family as his only subjects. When his son takes the mission too far and his daughter questions everything, Grant fights for control in the face of family, country, and reality.”

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Chrissy Meth ~ A Dance with the Devil and a Journey Back to Self

“Chrissy Meth is a solo show written & performed by Crystal Bush with direction & development by Jessica Lynn Johnson. It centers around a motherless child “Crystal” who grows up in the western suburbs of Chicago, she finds herself stumbling from one abusive relationship to the next, pushing her into a deep drug addiction. Somehow, from the depths, of being lost forever, she finds hope and begins to put the pieces back together. Through the use of song, multimedia, humor and multiple characters, she explores, questions and challenges beliefs and social mores surrounding identity, and self-esteem while showing that it’s never too late to comeback and find one’s self-worth. ”

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VIOLENCE: The Misadventures of Spike Spangle, Farmer

“Originally written and performed in 1986, this no-holds-barred satire of militarism and media manipulation tells the story of Spike Spangle, a down on his luck farmer who gets sucked into a whirlwind of celebrity and patriotism. He joins Superman on billionaire Max Enormous’ Celebrity Space Shuttle and a nefarious plot leads to the deification of Spike Spangle as an American hero.”

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Tap Dancing My Way To The Nuthouse

“A burgeoning neurotic evolves into a full-fledged tap dance, mime, story-telling, multimedia nutcase… Come watch the trip! Does insanity win?”

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Tales By Candlelight

“A collaborative storytelling experience, driven by scent; a parcel received in the mail with a unique story-based candle.”

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Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival: Defining Moments

“Four women writer-performers will perform their stories, excerpted from larger pieces. Karen. A. Clark in The Women. In this encore excerpt and through music, poetry and storytelling, Ms. Clark reflects on the women in her family, particularly her mother, who provided a “wow” factor. Barbara Cole in Surviving Chrysalis. One woman reconciles aging in her journey toward self-actualization in this funny excerpt. Bellina Logan in Confessions of a Mulatto Child. This excerpted piece chronicles a bi-racial child’s life with her acerbic English actor/mother and the deep bond they forged. Amy Milano in Dancing with Crazies. In this excerpt from her life experiences, one woman searches for a place to call home after being uprooted from place to place as a child. Anna Maria Horsford and Ted Lange host.”

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Ashton’s Audio Interview: Roger Bean writer and creator of “Life Could Be A Dream” and the cast at International City Theatre

SH-BOOM! Meet fledgling doo-wop singing group the Crooning Crabcakes as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time.* Enjoy this interview with Roger Bean writer and creator of “Life Could Be A Dream” at International City Theatre, running until Mar 10th. You can listen to this interview while commuting, while waiting in line at the grocery store or at an audition, backstage and even front of the stage. For tickets and more info Click here. *taken from the website

Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – January 28 – February 3, 2019

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

The Mountaintop

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the West End and Broadway play The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The Mountaintop is directed by Gregg T. Daniel, who recently staged A Raisin in the Sun at A Noise Within (Ovation Award nomination for Best Director) and Her Portmanteau at Boston Court.

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HEISENBERG

Rubicon Theatre Company opens the 2019 season with HEISENBERG by playwright SIMON STEPHENS, a quirky romance starring Ovation Award-winner FALINE ENGLAND and Emmy and L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award-winner JOE SPANO. Sweet, sexy and full of surprises, the story follows two strangers whose lives intersect in a bustling London train station.

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Life Could Be A Dream

SH-BOOM! Meet fledgling doo-wop singing group Denny and the Dreamers as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time. The ’60s doo-wop songs in this award-winning jukebox musical say it all: “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel,” “Stay,” “Unchained Melody,” “Lonely Teardrops” and “The Glory of Love.

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THE ELEPHANT MAN

Thursday Night Theater Club Presents A Classic True-life Tale in THE ELEPHANT MAN By Bernard Pomerance -LOS ANGELES (January 28, 2019) – Thursday Night Theatre Club is proud to present a classic true-life tale and heart wrenching story that depicts the best and the worst of humanity.

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Rabbit Hole

Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting perilously drifting apart. 2Cents Theatre Group begins its 2019 site-specific season with David Lindsay-Abaire’s stunning journey through grief, the search for comfort, and the rebirth of hope.

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Hype Man

A hip-hop trio – frontman, hype man and beat maker – is on the verge of making it big on national TV when a police shooting of a black teen shakes the band to its core, forcing them to confront questions of race, gender, privilege and when to use artistic expression as an act of social protest. Winner, 2018 Elliot Norton Award. Feb. 23 – April 14; Fridays @ 8 p.m. / Saturdays @ 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

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S.O.S.

The Wallis Studio Ensemble presents S.O.S., an original multi-media physical theatre work about love and resilience in times of crisis, directed by Madeleine Dahm, from Thursday, January 31 through Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Circle X Theatre (Please note: S.O.S. is not being performed at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, but at the Circle X Theatre in Atwater Village).

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THE POW AND THE GIRL

A new play based in part on true and personal experiences of writer Katrina Wood and her father British character actor Percy Herbert who was both in the Japanese POW camp and built the Bridge on the River Kwai and then went on to be cast in the movie with Alec Guinness at the start of his extensive film career.

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SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

In a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s struggling pie shop, Sweeney Todd plots revenge on the lecherous judge who wronged him and his family. In the seedy underbelly of 19th-century London, desperate times lead to diabolical schemes—and strange alliances.

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HELLO DOLLY

Tony Award®-winning Broadway legend Betty Buckley stars in HELLO, DOLLY! – the universally acclaimed smash that NPR calls “the best show of the year!” and the Los Angeles Times says “distills the mood-elevating properties of the American musical at its giddy best.

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Love is Another Country

Gonee (Dee Dee Stephens), a highly educated African American woman, is driven to the edge of sanity by the death of her brother, left lying on the ground for hours by the police who apparently killed him. When Gonee shoots a policeman in a maddened rage, she is imprisoned with no hope of release.

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Fighting Shadows with Richard Cabral – Special Engagement

The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts and Lineage Entertainment Group in association with Jami Gertz presents Fighting Shadows Written by Richard Cabral with Robert Egan Directed by Diane Rodriguez. Fighting Shadows is a passionate and poignant one-man show celebrating the power of human redemption and transformation.

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EVENTS OPENING THIS WEEK

CIRQUE MECHANICS: 42FT – A MENAGERIE OF MECHANICAL MARVELS@ Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University

October 16, 2018 7:30 pm

Thrills, laughs and excitement are on full display as Cirque Mechanics’ 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels transports audiences back to the timeless thrills of the big top circus ring. Deriving its name …read more


CHEMO BARBIE – MY LADY BITS JOURNEY THROUGH BREAST CANCER @ Santa Monica Playhouse, The Other Space

October 16, 2018 8:00 pm

“Uniquely funny” exclaims LA Beat. In 2016, Heather Keller, a healthy young vegan runner, was diagnosed with breast cancer and her life changed forever. This is her heartbreaking, inspiring and ultimately uplifting story. Winner …read more


THE BINGE FRINGE FESTIVAL OF FREE THEATRE (BFF) @ Santa Monica Playhouse The Main Stage

October 16, 2018 8:00 pm

Welcome to the Binge! Your new BFF! Two weeks of free theatre October 15 to 28, 2018 with encore performances through November 11! Santa Monica Group Theatre presents The BFF aka The BINGE Fringe Festival of Free …read more


A SPLINTERED SOUL @ International City Theatre

October 17, 2018 8:00 pm

A gripping drama about war refugees haunted by the death of their loved ones — and by memories of the things they had to do to survive. It’s 1947 in San Francisco, home to …read more


COST OF LIVING @ The Fountain Theatre

October 17, 2018 8:00 pm

In this gripping, unexpectedly funny Pulitzer Prize-winning play, John is a rich, quick-witted grad student who has cerebral palsy. Ani is an hilariously foul-mouthed quadriplegic. The people who help them, Jess and Eddie, have …read more


DEAR EVAN HANSEN @ Ahmanson Theatre

October 18, 2018 2:00 pm

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one …read more


DOWNTOWN LA FILM FESTIVAL @ Regal L.A. LIVE Cinemas

October 18, 2018 7:00 pm

Established in 2008, the festival has screened more 1,000 films, held more 200 events and partnered with more than 75 other profit and nonprofit business in DTLA. Our programming reflects downtown L.A.’s vibrant new …read more


SHORT+SWEET HOLLYWOOD @ Marilyn Monroe Theatre

October 18, 2018 7:00 pm

Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. People’s Choice Semifinalist short plays (audience favorites): Surprise.  Written by Mark Harvey Levine.  Directed by Luis Goyanes. Cast. Loren Lillian, Nathan Ondracek & Ryan Walsh. Peter is a psychic, but …read more


RADIANT VERMIN@ Odyssey Theatre

October 18, 2018 8:00 pm

The Los Angeles premiere of an outrageous comedy with a killer heart by acclaimed British playwright and provocateur Philip Ridley. In this viciously funny satire flecked with horror, Ollie and Jill want to tell …read more


WAITING FOR LEFTY BY CLIFFORD ODETS@ The Complex

October 18, 2018 8:00 pm

Expertly written in 1935 by Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty exposes a downtrodden group of Laborers fighting back against the backdrop of The Great Depression. Drama of tough times and tougher people desperate for …read more


THE LITTLE FOXES@ Antaeus Theatre at Kiki David Gindler Performing Arts Center

October 18, 2018 8:00 pm

Lillian Hellman’s provocative masterpiece continues to exert a captivating hold on American culture. Set in the Deep South of 1900, where women have scant options and men seem to hold all the power, Regina …read more


WE BANJO 3 @ Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University

October 19, 2018 8:00 pm

Pioneers of the innovative musical fusion style dubbed “Celtgrass,” We Banjo 3’s unique blend of the traditional Irish and authentic Americana genres has made them one of the music world’s most celebrated ensembles. With …read more


THE TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN @ Woodbury University Library

October 19, 2018 8:00 pm

“Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks….” It was the crime and trial and of the century! Two people savagely hatched to death in their own home in a quiet town …read more


FIGHTING SHADOWS @ The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts

October 19, 2018 8:00 pm

FIGHTING SHADOWS is the true story of one man’s search for love in a world meant for breaking, not bending. A brutal, truthful account of Emmy-nominated actor and star of FX’s Mayans M.C. Richard …read more


THE LITTLE FOXES@ UCLA James Bridges Theatre

October 19, 2018 8:00 pm

Lillian Hellman’s modern classic about a wealthy Southern family and the greed that tears them apart. Mamie Gummer (HBO’s True Detective, CW’s Emily Owens, M.D) stars as Regina Giddens, whose dying husband (Jared Harris, …read more


EDGAR ALLAN POE@ Generation DCD Studio

October 19, 2018 8:30 pm

Come celebrate All Hallows’ Eve at Force of Nature Productions with a dark evening of tales and mystery from the Master of the Macabre himself, Edgar Allan Poe. Poe returns to us from the …read more


SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS @ Theatre West

October 20, 2018 1:00 pm

Storybook Theatre’s fun filled version of this famous story has lots of singing, dancing, audience participation, and a funny witch with a handsome prince. The children in the audience become the seven dwarfs who …read more


FROM WHARF RATS TO LORDS OF THE DOCKS @ Theatre West

October 20, 2018 8:00 pm

Actor-playwright Ian Ruskin portrays the legendary union organizer Harry Bridges, capturing his passion, struggles and wicked sense of humor in this one-man play. This vivid dramatization brings to life the San Francisco labor leader …read more


STEAMBATH @ Odyssey Theatre

October 20, 2018 8:00 pm

What if God turned out to be a Puerto Rican steam bath attendant, assisted by a butler named Gottlieb? Renowned stand up comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez stars in a revival of Steambath, the …read more


QUACK @ Kirk Douglas Theatre

October 23, 2018 8:00 pm

Millions of women across America rely on Dr. Irving Baer and his daytime talk show to help them lose weight, manifest their destinies, and take their health into their own hands. Then, a take-down …read more


Ashton’s Audio Interview: The cast of “The Glass Menagerie” at International City Theatre

The iconic American classic that launched the career of American playwright Tennessee Williams, this autobiographical “memory play” captures the fragility and stifled yearning of characters clinging to hope against the harsh realities of a rapidly changing world. Confined to a tiny St. Louis apartment on the eve of World War II, the Wingfield family struggles to find beauty amid the rough circumstances that surround them.*
Enjoy this interview with the cast of “The Glass Menagerie” at International City Theatre, running until Sep 9th. You can listen to this interview while commuting, while waiting in line at the grocery store or at an audition, backstage and even front of the stage. For tickets and more info Click here. Continue reading Ashton’s Audio Interview: The cast of “The Glass Menagerie” at International City Theatre


Events Opening This Week

THE GLASS MENAGERIE @ International City Theatre

August 22, 2018 8:00 pm

The iconic American classic that launched the career of American playwright Tennessee Williams, this autobiographical “memory play” captures the fragility and stifled yearning of characters clinging to hope against the harsh realities of a …read more


A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE @ El Portal Theatre

August 23, 2018 7:30 pm

Thursday Night Theater Club presents Arthur Miller’s famed play, A View From The Bridge. When two of Eddie Carbone’s wife Beatrice’s cousins from Italy come to stay with them, their neice Catherine falls in …read more


THE MAN WHO SAVED EVERYTHING @ Theatre West

August 24, 2018 8:00 pm

Theatre West is thrilled to present the world premiere of Benjamin Scuglia’s “THE MAN WHO SAVED EVERYTHING” – Directed by Michael Van Duzer, produced by Ernest McDaniel and Garry Kluger. THE MAN WHO SAVED …read more


TURN OFF THE LIGHTS @ McCadden Place Theatre

August 24, 2018 8:00 pm

The McCallister family live in a modest house, in a nice neighborhood of Los Angeles. Charlotte and James have 4 grown up children. Daisy the selfie lover and Logan, the hopelessly in love kid; …read more


Now registered this week on the Better Lemons Calendar August 5 to August 12, 2018

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


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The Other Place


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THE WOMEN All-Star Staged Reading Fundraiser for D’Amor Center for Cancer Care & Group Rep
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“BLACK!”


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PARADISE – A Divine Bluegrass Musical Comedy


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Turn Off The Lights


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Infidel


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The Glass Menagerie


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One Slight Hitch


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