Tag: morgan-wixson theatre


Spotlight Series: Meet Suzanne Mayes, a Native Angeleno Who Went from Future Astronaut to a Shining Star Onstage

This Spotlight focuses on Suzanne Mayes, who started out thinking she would pursue the stars as an astronaut and wound up shining onstage instead!

Shari Barrett (SB): What would you like readers to know about your theatrical background?

Suzanne Mayes (Suzanne): I am what many call a “Unicorn” in LA: a true native Angeleno.

(SB): I am also a native Angeleno, both born and raised here, and no one has ever called me “Unicorn.”  Not sure where that term came from as it must be new, but it certainly applies to me!

(Suzanne): It’s funny, because being a native Angeleno, I grew up in a city saturated by the industry, with kids who were child actors and the children of A-list celebrities, producers, and writers. But although I was active in school performances and loved singing (especially in choirs), pursuing acting as a career was the furthest thing from my mind.

I was a true Space Camp nerd who had dreams of becoming an astronaut. Interestingly enough – and perhaps the universe knew better than I did – I chose a college that was known for its sciences, but also, coincidentally, theatre: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. During my freshman year while I was a Midshipman in the Navy ROTC program (I was a hardcore Top Gun fan, what can I say…), I auditioned for a Scotch’n’Soda student-run theatre group production of Into the Woods and was cast as Cinderella’s Stepmother. One show by Sondheim and that was it. I was hooked.

I eventually dropped out of ROTC and performed in every single Scotch’n’Soda musical production made while I was there. A quick fun fact about Scotch’n’Soda: their alumni include Stephen Schwartz, who penned and directed an early draft of Pippin while still a student there!) My junior year, I was lucky enough to study abroad in the south of France, and had the privilege to study Voice under the international opera star, Marion Sylvestre, and sing with the adult chorale at the prestigious National Music Conservatory of Avignon.

After graduating from CMU with double degrees in Professional Writing and French, I wanted another adventure overseas, so I took a position teaching English to kids in Taipei, Taiwan. Apparently, they noticed during our teachers’ orientation that I loved to perform and sing, and the English school I worked for hired me to be a host for a live TV show on TVBS (their version of NBC) as a sort of “edutainment” section of the show. I sang with a dancing pig I had to introduce as “my special friend, Perry the Pig” on every episode. It was campy, hilarious, and so much fun! A few months later, I accepted an opportunity to be part of a musical tour for the Disney World of English products and travelled all over Taiwan, performing in gorgeous 2,000 seat theatres for little kids. It was such a special time.

I came home to Los Angeles the next year and put my theatre and singing aside. For ten whole years I pursued another path in Hollywood – first working for literary agents, then in development on movies such as Coach Carter and Dreamer and on TV shows like One Tree Hill and What I Like About You before working for one of the major studios, Universal Pictures. Somewhere in that chunk of time, a few of my Scotch’n’Soda theatre friends from college moved out to LA and we had the brilliant idea to put together a musical again, like the old days, and I played the role of Sally Brown in Snoopy The Musical!!! which I also produced as a fundraiser for Downtown Dog Rescue. I am so proud that our production raised thousands of dollars for the animal rescue, and that “fun reunion” of mine made some real magic happen.

And of course, once back on stage, I was hooked again. Theatre has a way of doing that to you! I dove headfirst into a lot of local community theatre and 99-seat Equity shows, including two back-to-back productions of Gypsy (both Richard Israel’s LA Weekly-nominated run and then as Dainty June in Conejo Players’ production in Thousand Oaks), High Street’s Seussical as Gertrude McFuzz, and Oklahoma as Gertie at The Met Theatre.

I even got to work with one of my theatre idols, the fabulous Kay Cole (as in the original Chorus Line as Maggie) in a new musical called Reunion at the (now defunct) NoHo Arts Center Theatre.

I then joined The Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks as a Company Member and participated in several productions a year, including their Dead Pilots Society”for which I was nominated for a Valley Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in the pilot Under Andrea written and directed by Emmy-winners Ken Levine and David Isaacs (known for some little tv shows called M*A*S*H and Cheers.) My last full musical run was playing Sarah in Company at The Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica.

(SB): I remember that production and loved the way in which Kristin Towers-Rowles directed it. Here’s  my review from March 2017 about that stellar production.

And just last year, I joined Group Rep Theatre in North Hollywood. But I have taken some time most recently to focus on my TV career, so my stage performances lately have been mostly smaller readings and on- night shows. The theatre, though, has always been where I feed my soul and find my family, and it is heart-breaking to see the impact of this pandemic on our theatre community.

(SB): What production(s) were you involved with when word went out it needed to immediately be either postponed or cancelled?

(Suzanne): As a newer member of Group Rep (GRT), I had been dipping my feet into play readings and one-night cabaret style performances, but my focus during the early part of this year was on TV’s pilot season, which for me means a lot of co-star auditions. So, I wasn’t in any of GRT’s mainstage productions at the time everything shut down. However, they did have their closing weekend of their dramatic play, In My Mind’s Eye and I am so glad I was able to see that gem of a show before everything went dark. But the other productions that were just revving up for rehearsals are all in limbo now.

I was fortunate to see a dear friend’s wonderful production of The Wild Party at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre for their final tech rehearsal and I was there when the cast stood on stage for bows and their board of directors came out to tell them all the sad news that they would not be opening that weekend. My heart broke for every single one of them who had poured their hearts and souls into their show that was ready to open the next day. I truly hope that they get their run when things start up again.

(SB): I was scheduled to see that production on opening night. Now I am also looking forward to seeing it when it can finally be brought back to the Morgan-Wixson stage. But what future productions on your schedule were affected by the shutdown?

(Suzanne): I was really looking forward to auditioning for Group Rep’s Spring / Summer musical production of Applause which is a show that is so rarely performed and has such fun music. I know our board has been in discussions about reworking the schedule, and I think there is a chance Applause may be pushed into 2021’s season, but I don’t know. And it’s so difficult now because none of us know when things will be open again; and once they are, will people be willing to go to the theatre? Is it going to be even harder to sell seats to shows? Will people be afraid to sit in a theatre audience after all this? I know every business and industry is having to re-think and re-plan their business models, and I think the world needs live theatre. But I don’t know how it’s going to happen for the smaller theatres who are struggling right now to stay afloat.

(SB): I wonder about that as well.  As a theatre reviewer, I am not sure when I will feel safe about sitting in a crowded theater unless I can wear a mask and be at least 6’ from any other person.  But for a small house, that will really cut into their ticket sales if they have to abide by those spacing restrictions, as well as provide masks and hand sanitizer for all patrons. And will the actors have to perform with face masks on, which I guess could work if they are doing Greek plays. It’s so up in the air right now, and I am doing my best to stay hopeful. But I don’t see how small theaters will be able to survive – and it scares me too.

(Suzanne): I truly hope we can weather this storm.

(SB): But for now, like all of us survivors in the theatre world, how are you keeping the Arts alive while at home by using social media or other online sites?

(Suzanne): I have done a few of the self-taped auditions and monologue challenges being presented by several casting directors who are taking the time to get to know fresh faces, which I think is really cool. Also, a small group of talented ladies from my theatre company have been meeting almost weekly on Zoom to do private readings of plays. It’s been a fun way to reconnect and to look at material we weren’t previously familiar with that are female-driven, hoping we discover an amazing gem that we can present to the theatre company down the road for a future season’s production. And then there is my regular weekly acting class, which has shifted to Zoom, so I have been keeping up with that group as well to keep my craft in shape and stay ready for when things pick back up again.

(SB): What thoughts would you like to share with the rest of the L.A. Theatre community while we are all leaving the Ghostlight on and promising to return back to the stage soon?

(Suzanne): Stay home if you are non-essential and have the ability to do so, and wash your hands often. I think there is this huge pressure to be super uber-productive as an actor right now, but honestly, we are in a pandemic – this is *not* normal life. It’s okay to feel icky and not have the energy to do the self-tapes and so forth. They are there if you want those activities and are someone who needs constant projects, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking the time to do what is best for *you* and to care for yourself. Please, please go easy on yourself. And be kind. We can all be kinder to our neighbors. Check in on those who are struggling. Please reach out to a friend if you yourself are struggling. To steal Sondheim’s words, “You are not alone. No one is alone.”

I am including some links to donate to some local theatres close to my heart. If you are able to donate, it would greatly help them out:

Save NoHo Theatres

The Whitefire Theatre

Morgan Wixson Theatre

And it you like you can follow me on Twitter and on Instagram and my cat would also like you to follow her on Instagram at PirateTheKittyCat.

Lastly, I send out a special thank you to all of our First Responders – especially all those in healthcare and those who are making sure we have food in our supermarkets, and to all the parents and teachers out there who are home-schooling their kids on top of everything else — you are all heroes!

This article first appeared on Broadway World.


Spotlight Series: Kristin Towers-Rowles – Award-Winning Director, Triple-Threat Actress, and Granddaughter of Screen Legend ‘Kathryn Grayson’

Today I spotlight Kristin Towers-Rowles, an Award-Winning Director, Triple-Threat Actress, and Granddaughter of Screen Legend Kathryn Grayson.

Shari Barrett (SB): What would you like readers to know about your own theatrical background?

Kristin Towers-Rowles (KTR): I am a born and raised LA Arts girl, and grew up in and around the Theatre and Film industry. Some families have Law Practices, Accounting Firms, Car Dealerships—my entire family is a Performing Arts family who has made their living for generations because of Film, TV, and Theatre.

My grandmother was MGM leading lady Kathryn Grayson, who starred in over 20 musicals in the Golden Age of Hollywood. (“Kiss Me, Kate,” “Showboat,” “Anchors Away.”) She also took over for Julie Andrews as Guinevere in “Camelot” on Broadway, and played the role on the 1st National Tour. My Grandfather, Johnny Johnston, starred in movies (“Rock Around The Clock,” “Unchained”), was a recording artist, and was on Broadway in “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.” My father, Robert Towers, starred in “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” and has played hundreds of character roles in Film, TV, and Theatre.

After attending Hollywood High Performing Arts, I went to AMDA in NYC and trained as an actress, singer, and dancer. Even after moving back to LA from NYC to focus on Film and TV. I never stopped doing theatre; in fact, it was truly all I cared about. Not only was it what I loved most but it was also where I found my chosen family. I was very active in L.A. theatre but also did 7 national tours, worked almost an entire year at Sierra Rep in Northern California, worked in Asia, Europe, on Cruise Ships. I was truly living the dream! I had an apartment I saw a few times a year that was little more than an expensive closet. I would come home, re-pack and be off again.

After sustaining a life-altering back injury on tour in 2002, I stopped performing for 7 years, got married and had 3 children, now all accomplished young artists in their own right. Since returning back to work as an actress, singer, and director in 2009, I have been very fortunate to be onstage playing incredible roles in musicals and straight plays. Since then, I’ve been splitting my time onstage with also being a director at the helm of many award-winning productions, both musicals, and straight plays.

As a woman in a field still dominated by men, it has been wonderful to have the many opportunities I have had to be on stage as an actress and to direct, and have often been employed doing both at the same time. For me, the two go hand-in-hand since I’m a better actress because of my 360-perspective as a director. My understanding of direction comes from being an actress and knowing, first hand, what actors need to hear. And, quite frankly, rarely having had a director that has known how to communicate what they want and how to get me there, I try to be that director to the actors with whom I work.

(SB): What production(s) were you involved with when word went out you needed to immediately postpone/cancel the show?

(KTR): We had just finished an insanely difficult tech week for Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party” at The Morgan-Wixson Theatre (MWT) in Santa Monica, which I directed. The entire production team, including Choreographer and Assistant Director, Michael Marchak, Musical Director, Daniel Koh, Stage Manager, Ryan Rowles, Producers Spencer Johnson, and Kristie Mattsson, and cast had been working ourselves sick to have a phenomenal show for opening night and we were more than ready. The show one of the toughest in the Contemporary Musical Theater canon and we had pulled no stops: gorgeous set design by Yelena Babinskaya, phenomenal lighting by Derek Jones, Jazz Age spectacular costumes by Ovation Award-winning Michael Mullen, Scenic Design by Orlando de la Paz, Props by Maggie Randolph, Intimacy Coordinator, Mia Schachter, a stage combat director, Amanda Newman–all designers new to the MWT–and we were excited our show was to be the flagship production for the new direction that theatre is moving in with more daring, broad, and diverse artistic choices. I have only directed one other show at The MWT before, “Company” in 2017, and was so elated to be back and entrusted with this rarely produced theatrical gem: a sexy, slick 20s musical for the 2020s. And everyone was ecstatic we would soon be opening.

(SB): How did you communicate the shutdown with your cast and production team?

(KTR): The President of the MWT Board, the wonderful Michael Heimos, along with a small group of invited friends and family, were present at our final dress rehearsal (for which we received a full standing ovation). Before that rehearsal, he chatted with our cast and team in a truthful and frank with us that the board was meeting that night to discuss the possibility of postponing the opening. This was March 12, [2020], and at this point, there was news every hour about new guidelines for public gatherings. Everything was changing all the time and the board wanted to make the correct call for everyone: the audiences, the cast, and in light of everyone’s safety.

At intermission, he told me the board had decided to halt the opening. I sat through the 2nd act with tears streaming down my face, watching the beautiful work we had all created, and then watching the audience jump to their feet at the curtain call. I wanted the audience to understand what they had just witnessed so I asked the President of the board to come up and tell the cast and the audience the news of our being postponed as I felt it would be better if we all heard this together to be able to support each other. Of course, everyone was in tears, the cast, the team, the audience, since we all were heartbroken that this incredible piece of theatre would have to wait. But mixed with that heartbreak was the feeling of joy for what we had all just experienced.

(SB):  Are plans in place to present that production at a future date, or is the cancellation permanent?

(KTR): At this time, The MWT still plans on opening our show when the bans are all lifted and it is safe to do so. However, they have an entire season that will most likely need to shift so we have no idea what any of that will look like. It is surreal to think that our sets, costumes, lights, props–everything is just sitting there, frozen in time… waiting. Just like a Ghostlight awaiting our return to the stage.

(SB): What future productions on your schedule are also affected by the shutdown?

(KTR): I was supposed to be directing the North Carolina and National Tour productions of “The Lost Virginity Tour (TLVT),” a play by Cricket Daniel. I directed the L.A. Premiere last year at the McCadden Theatre and it was picked up by Jeanie Linders, creator of “Menopause The Musical,” and I was brought on to direct. I’ve been told the show’s tour will have to wait until at least November. I had turned down other acting and directing work to do “TLVT,” but now that we are in this crisis, none of it would have happened anyway since all theaters are dark.

I’m still in shock. I wake up and it takes me hours sometimes to wrap my head around the devastation to my own work and the work of all my colleagues. All of us are out of work. All of our projects are shelved. Everyone I know is suffering a collective grief. And I know that everyone is out of work right now, no matter what field you are in. But the devastation to the Arts, a field that constantly has to beg for money to stay afloat as it normally is, is just absolutely unfathomable. I know that many theatres I’ve loved and called home are hanging on by a thread and some may not make it through this. It’s just unbearable.

(SB): How are you keeping the Arts alive while at home by using social media or other online sites?

(KTR): I am not very savvy at Zoom or any of the online platforms but I have been happily supporting others. I’m part of an LA Arts Collective having virtual think tanks and meetings to figure out ways to get our work online. But in all honesty, I don’t think theatre transfers well to being filmed and I don’t enjoy the idea of taking something meant to be experienced live and reducing it to a flat-screen. Just my opinion.

That’s where my grief really comes into play. My heart breaks because what we do, as performing artists and performing arts designers, is meant to be experienced in person, with others in attendance. It is a meeting of human beings all creating that moment together, either as the performer or as the audience member. It’s symbiotic and that cannot happen watching something on a screen.

(SB):  What thoughts would you like to share with the rest of the L.A. Theatre community while we are all leaving the ghost light on and promising to return back to the stage soon?

(KTR): As I said earlier, I was injured for seven years and was unable to work. It was hard, depressing, and felt like the end of the world. And then the seven years ended and I was back with my tribe; and for the last 11 years, I’ve been creating nonstop.

The LA Theatre Community has been through a lot and here we all are. We are the storytellers, the dreamers, the music makers, and the world is beige without the color we bring. We will get through this, and through our unique voices, we will be the ones to teach future generations about it. But in the meantime, stay safe, stay home, and wash your hands! Let’s make this end so we can all be back doing what makes our hearts sing.

This article first appeared on Broadway World.


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – February 10 – 16, 2020

Musicals, Comedy, Cabaret, Variety shows, and more now registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

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

For The Love of the Glove

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Hot Tragic Dead Thing

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FERTILE

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Law & Order: The Musical!

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Old Jews Telling Jokes

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The Wild Party

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Richard Lederer’s Presidents Tonight! at North Coast Repertory Theatre

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Matty: An Evening with Christy Mathewson

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Pan Am Returns

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The Swords of Sorrow- BURAI II

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Death and Other Girly Things

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AFTERGLOW

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Ain’t All So Grimm

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Jelly Beans

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Deconstructing Holly

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Show Me A Hero

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Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – October 28 – November 3, 2019

Theatrical shows, Musicals, Solo Shows, Panto, Live Radio Shows, Improv Sketch, and MORE, now registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

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

Legally Blonde

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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

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Nothing Ever Goes On Here

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Mamma Mia

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A Charlie Brown Christmas

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Waiting for Waiting for Godot

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Eight Nights

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Uncle Vanya

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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: A Live Musical Radio Show

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Chris Mann: From Gershwin to Gaga – A Holiday Special Celebrating the Legendary Tony Bennett

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A Christmas Carole King

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PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL: A PIRATES’ CHRISTMAS

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Saint Joan: Fundraiser celebrating the Downtown Women’s Center

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Mental Hell Sketch Show

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Musket and the Rat

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My Name is Mommy

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A Twisted Christmas Carol

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Anita Berber is dead

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StoryTime

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HOLLYWOODN’T

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Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – May 20 – 26, 2019

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

HISHI-KEN 〜 THE PATH OF SOUL TRANSCENDENCE〜

“The SAMURAI kills with his sword for the first time. His values broke away when he faced to the reality at the field of death.” What am I?” “Why do I take my sword for? ” ”What is 義/Gi？” He gets the greatest sword after struggling to over come his weakness, what is the greatest sword? This play asks us what is the true meaning of a life. The audience will experience his journey of becoming the real SAMURAI.”

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Near Dawn

“NEAR DAWN” is a 45-minute solo play inspired by a true event, with its details based on the tradition and history of rural China in the early 1980s.”

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The Last Croissant

“Imogen and Frederick have come to this national park on their 24th anniversary in a desperate attempt to rekindle their passion. Frederick, who is played by a femme-identifying actor, is looking forward to the perfect anniversary: hiking the park’s trails, wading in the lake, and, most importantly, tracking the whereabouts of a particular bird: the Dickinson Blue-Breasted Warbler. But for Imogen, who is played by a masc-identifying actor, the woods are an entirely undesirable and ultimately unromantic place to spend an anniversary. In the very same campsite, October has arrived for a family campout to find that no one else in her family has shown up. Rather than go home, she decides to use this time to tackle the personal demons she has been running from. Meanwhile, a pair of camp hosts, Mumbo & Jumbo, are working with Ranger Dave to find the party responsible for a string of apparent campsite robberies. A true ensemble play, The Last Croissant employs magical realism, clowning, and whimsy to tell the story of nine crowded campers who hope to find what they’re looking for in the woods. .”

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Waiting

“The world has become numb to unspeakable tragedies… but how does one stay numb when terror strikes so close to home? New Concepts Theatre Company brings a new story to the stage at the Lounge Theatre this June. Winners of last year’s Hollywood Encore Producers’ Award, playwright, Nicholas De Los Santos and producer, John Mulhern, are excited to announce WAITING as their next production, presented as part of the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Tickets go on sale, May 1st. Don’t miss a chance to see the world premiere of this ensemble theatre piece, which dives into the world’s new normal: mass casualty incidents.”

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The Circle Table

“The Circle Table” explores vignettes threading characters and relationships via FaceTime calls and asks: how does digital communication hamper or enhance love, family, depression, self-exploration and fulfillment?. A formerly dorky actor reconnects with a high school crush. A friend group falters when their pal goes to a different college. That pal is clinically depressed. An aspiring fashion blogger tries not to bum out her mother. A temporarily long-distance couple flubs FaceTime sex.”

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THE HUMAN[OID] EXPERIENCE

“To begin her first novel, a cynical writer must resist the temptation to fill the void left by the nonsensical death of her admired brother. However, her only writing apparatus is her indentured Humanoid—a personal robot stocked with Netflix, porn, and existential angst.”

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Moral Fixation (or Boys Will Be Boys)

“Moral Fixation is a dark comedy that tracks Caleb and Claire as they learn what it means to be sober, grown up people in a time when morals and ideals seem to be culturally taboo. When Claire discovers that Caleb dallied with sex workers in the past, she becomes fixated on the symbolism of his actions and struggles with whether or not they define his character. And it sure would be a lot less confusing if she didn’t have her own closeted skeletons. With the help of a relative and friends, they debate whether someone deserves to be judged by the actions of their past. A dark comedy with (a wounded) heart. Use discount code BTRLMN for 10% off regular ticket prices.”

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Dancing Lessons

“A socially awkward young man asks his neighbor, a Broadway dancer whose career has been sidelined by an injury, to teach him enough dance moves so he can survive an appearance at an awards dinner. What follows is a bumpy road of self-discovery in this sweetly witty and touching romantic comedy!”

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Happy Hour

“’HAPPY HOUR’ is an immersive sketch comedy in 60 minutes or less! A wild sketch show that takes the audience on a crazy roller coaster ride of hilarious ensemble sketches! Smelly yoga classes, clones, funeral cake, a bar dj and a roller coaster are just a few of the tricks that are up the sleeve of this show! ‘Happy Hour’ is the newest immersive sketch show from fringe veteran Nina Childs, who wrote, directed and produced the 2017 hit Fringe show, Hotcombs, Homegirls,and Homicides. This time the boundaries of the immersive elements have been pushed even further with several delights that you can taste, touch,hear and smell! See you at Happy Hour where the show is happening all around you!”

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Red, White, Black & Blue

“In ‘Drowning,’ recently retired Army Veteran Matthew struggles with integration back into society, the results of a recent job interview and the relationship with his little daughter, who his ex-wife is questioning whether to allow him to see or not. Will these events take him further down an approaching hole that has no escape?
‘Black n Blue’ see’s Tom struggling with the fallout of the most devastating event in his marriage, and whether the rift between him and his wife can be repaired. Is there any hope that their love is stronger than his pride.”

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The Masher

“Grace Jasmine’s new full-length black comedy throws the audience head-first into a surreal world of #MeToo “what ifs.” A female-centric play with a strong LGBTQ lead, The Masher explores the “new now”-a society where the rules of due process are gone, and something gruesome lies beneath the unassuming surface at a mundane factory job. Three totally different women, brought together by fate, discover a hidden malevolent secret and take justice into their own hands. The Masher uses grim humor to deliver an important message and explore a fantasy world that makes us ask questions about our own. What would we do to defend a friend, or a lover? How would we set wrongs right if every rule we took for granted was suddenly gone? The story ricochets between comedy and tragedy and drives home the importance of women protecting one another, and of knowing when to protect ourselves.”

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UPROOTED

“Buckle your seat belts as the creatures of Vanessa’s inner world take you on the flight of her life! A disturbance triggers violent weather in Vanessa’s inner world, endangering matriarch Elda, the elder tree, the voice of Vanessa’s wisdom. Elda leads Vanessa’s inner creatures on a journey to remind Vanessa of her strength. Uprooted eight times for her father’s career, Vanessa struggled to find the place she calls home. At five years old she embraced Hong Kong as her home where her family thrived on a magical adventure. But when her Dad accepts a job in Buffalo, NY, the home Vanessa knew disappears…Her mother’s depression weighs on Vanessa’s young heart as she faces unexpected turbulence at her middle school…Vanessa’s demons take control of the flight and her mind as she is moved again and again, facing bullies, saying unexpected goodbyes to friends, and hoping for the day to come where she’d get to choose where home is. But is home a place or a feeling?…Uprooted is a young woman’s resilient story of growing into the strong, rooted woman she is meant to be.”

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Internal

“When the zombie apocalypse hits, the truest danger will not come from outside.
From They Played Productions (creators of last year’s immersive hit “God: the Apologies Tour” and HFF16’s horror musical “Nothing Bad”) comes a brand-new immersive horror tale that you will experience entirely by yourself. Alone on the streets of Hollywood, you will face a darkness that may devour you whole. A darkness that will give you nowhere to turn as it’s all happening directly…to…you. Note: This is a horror immersive experience for a solo audience on the streets of Hollywood. It is intended for audiences 18+ only. Audiences will need to be able to listen to audio and traverse a sidewalk for 30-40 minutes for this particular production.”

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(mostly)musicals: BODY Language

“It’s time to FACE the music… (mostly)musicals is BACK on June 3, with Gregory Nabours at the piano, the open mic afterparty hosted by Mark Jacobson, and lots of awesome performers singing songs about anatomy! You’ll be HEAD over HEELS for returning favorites including Michael-Leon Wooley (B’way: LITTLE SHOP, film: THE PRINCESS & THE FROG, TV: “Grace & Frankie”), Amanda Kruger (UMPO Series at Rockwell), Bella Hicks (BRONCO BILLY world premiere), Cornelius Jones Jr (RAGTIME at Pasadena Playhouse), Erica Hanrahan-Ball (SWEENEY TODD at South Coast Repertory), James Olivas (UCLA’s STEEL PIER), Kelley Dorney (SINGING IN THE RAIN at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts), Kristina Weston (JERSEY BOYS), and Will Collyer – and open your HEART to exciting first-timers including Bryce Charles (RAGTIME at Pasadena Playhouse), Dino Nicandros (3-D Theatricals’ THE SECRET GARDEN), Kevin Bailey (B’way THE LION KING), Leslie Rubino (LIZZIE at Color and Light Theatre Ensemble), and Michael Noah Levine (FUGITIVE SONGS at 2Cents Theatre Group)! We will also feature a sneak peek at The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special featuring TV, film, and B’way star Mary Birdsong with writer Tor Hyams! Keep your EYES open and your EAR to the ground… we’ll have more to announce soon!”

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BACCALAUREATE

“… “Baccalaureate” is an autobiographical solo show focusing on one summer in the life of Saurabh Kikani, who at the age of 16 was invited to Oxford University to participate in a program for the world’s top high school students. He was also the shyest, most awkward teen in the world. Experiencing first love, bullies, and intense classes, he was in over his head. But a viewing of that summer’s hit movie, Mission:Impossible starring Tom Cruise, changed his life. Inspiring Saurabh and his nerdy friends to overcome their fears, they attempted to pull off the biggest “heist” they could conceive of – break curfew, escape out of Oxford, and take the Chunnel to spend a day in Paris. This is a coming-of-age story with jokes…and espionage.”

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Supportive White Parents

“When an Asian girl tells her parents that she doesn’t want to be a doctor anymore, she wishes on a shooting star for supportive white parents. Running time: 30 minutes.”

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The Ruffian on the Stair

“Sex. Murder. Goldfish. Set in 1964 London, this madcap gem by legendary playwright Joe Orton makes for a dangerous evening of naughty hilarity.”

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Jessie’s Messy Mind

“Jessie’s Messy Mind was created by artist, activist and mother, Jessie Knowles. It brings the audience inside the world of her experiences with bipolar and schizophrenia using authentic life stories, original music, humor and hope. You’ll follow Jessie as she searches for the truth about herself using the characters that makes up her inner experience, watch as Jessie goes through the rise and fall of hypo-manic love, listen as Jessie communicates with the voices in her head, and learn what really happens as she tries to express the thought process of an actual delusional state. With wild humor and enduring positivity, Jessie opens the door to a part of herself that most people still keep hidden. Jessie has struggled with the way our culture addresses and talks about mental health. She hopes that Jessie’s Messy Mind encourages people to change the way they look at their own journey and begin to talk about mental health in a new way.”

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SELFIE: Making It About Me / A Minnie Riperton Cabaret Revue

“SELFIE is first a cabaret revue of eclectic 70s chanteuse, Minnie Riperton’s, music (“Lovin’ You,” “Memory Lane”) that spans the genres of soul, funk, folk and rock. Second, it’s a celebration of the ego of singer/songwriter, Aisha Kasmir, and her fight to play any part she wants and be seen in a white-washed world. SELFIE takes you on a lighthearted, humorous and uplifting trip through self-discovery – self-doubt, self-destruction, self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-actualization.”

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45 Milligrams

“With a run time of only 25 minutes, 45 Milligrams is a hyper-short one act that symbolically examines anxiety and depression and the different ways we cope with trauma. The show centers on Joey and Denny, two roommates in a mental institution fixated on a terrifying and silent man who may or may not be real. With occasional input from their doctor, the two struggle to make sense of this mysterious third roommate through verbal sparring and physical violence. What results is a theatrical fever dream that ranges from absurdly comedic to deeply disturbing.”

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Book of Days

“Staged reading of a play by Lanford Wilson. Directed by Christian Lebano. Book of Days is about the people of a small Missouri town confronted by a violent death and forced to reconsider the truths they thought they knew. When the owner of the cheese plant dies mysteriously in a hunting accident, Ruth, his bookkeeper, suspects murder. Cast as Joan of Arc in a local production of Shaw’s St. Joan, Ruth takes on the attributes of her fictional character and launches into a one-woman campaign to see justice done.”

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Four Clowns Presents: Shakedown at the Dusty Spur!

“Winner of 7 Hollywood Fringe Awards, Four Clowns makes their triumphant return with Shakedown at the Dusty Spur! They’re dishing out their signature fare of physical comedy, this time with an old western twist. The Dusty Spur Saloon is in danger! The dastardly Dallas Devereaux is threatening to shut it down. Marybeth and Maybelline Maynard have no recourse but to hire a good ol’ fashioned gunslinger to help protect their bar. Will they succeed? Or will Dallas and his henchman be too formidable to foil? It’s a rootin’ tootin’ cowboy shootin’ romp of a show that will have you cheering the heroes, booing the villains, and laughing your chaps off! ”

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Tell Me About Your Daddy

“A modern Freud makes an irreverent analysis of ’The Gay’ (deconstructing four archetypes, tribalism, & internalized homophobia) while prescribing the need to label others as a way of self-identity–until his experiment spins wildly out of control! ‘Tell Me About Your Daddy’ follows the stories of the sweet and naïve Tim the Twink, ex-Mormon gogo boy Jared the Jock, the gregarious drag queen Luscious, and the secretive and affluent Sugar Daddy Don as they struggle with the notion that ‘you are worth only as much as what others think they can get from you’. Playful, thought-provoking and unapologetically sassy!!! Plus some penis jokes. A lot of penis jokes.”

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Public Domain: The Musical

“The characters of nearly every beloved animated movie musical (from “The Little Mermaid” to “The Lion King” to “Frozen”) have not always been under the same house of mouse: they began in fairy tales and stories from the public domain.
But what about the public domain characters who have never appeared in an animated movie? In “Public Domain: The Musical,” characters from the bottom of the barrel audition with original songs to show why they deserve to have their own time in the spotlight.”

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Loot

“A bank heist, a corpse and a crazy cast of characters. Joe Orton’s darkly comic masterpiece continues to shock and delight over five decades later. Two young friends, Hal and Dennis, rob a bank next to a funeral parlor… and what safer place to hide the money than in the coffin of Hal’s recently deceased Mum? But with the coffin full up, there’s no room for the corpse, which keeps reappearing at the most inopportune times — especially when the police inspector comes calling. Nothing is safe from Orton’s savage wit, whose targets include religion, social attitudes towards death, police brutality and corruption, and everything in between.”

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Challenge Accepted – a one man motivational musical

“[This] one-hour, family-friendly motivational musical stars its writer and director Carlos Heredia. The one-man show features a musician and actor who recounts his past successes and failures — including his transition to fatherhood and battle with depression — to evaluate where he is today. This toe-tapping family friendly musical is a motivational masterpiece that will talk to your soul, and leave you with a feeling that yes, it is possible. Challenge Accepted first premiered as a semi-staged reading in the 2019 Greensboro Fringe Festival, and has been performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC. ”

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CREDITORS BY AUGUST STRINDBERG

“Gustav befriends Adolph whom he really wishes to physiologically disassemble because Gustav has ulterior motives that unfold like a snake slowly eating its prey; it’s anything but a clean kill, though. Gustav claims he can help Adolph with some developing concerns growing worse in Adolph’s life because Gustav “was once as weak” as him, which solidifies the trust Adolph eventually finds in this stranger whom he now needs to put his life back in order as a real man would … What connects Gustav and Adolph … what originally peaked Gustav’s interest in this fragile man he doesn’t know? Tekla, Adolph’s current wife and Gustav’s ex-lover. In truth, this is one of the most toxic love triangles in all of modern theatre with enough strange notions of masculinity, femininity and gender expectations to make a modern audience nausea … Cynicism is salvation for Strindberg in Creditors, burning down the foundation and exposing our worst angels is how a cynic goes about reconstructing a soul from the ashes: plant a seed of doubt in the mind of a weak individual and watch it grow into a fatal existential crises, and then see how his or her lover feels about the beloved once bewitched by malevolence.”

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Lord of the Lies

“One man’s journey to the edge of the Flat Earth and back. James Kirkland is looking for the truth in a world saturated with lies. His curiosity about the nature of the cosmos has led him down many rabbit holes: through the looking glass of hallucinogens, inside an ayahuasca sex cult and deep into the muck and mire of Youtube conspiracy videos. But in his search for answers he only discovers more questions. Like: Can you become addicted to having your mind blown? If we are spinning at 1000 miles an hour why can’t we feel it? Where [in] hell was the damn curve? How do you date on the flat, still plane(t)? Can a person who ‘trusts no one’ find that love is out there? Familial relationships become strained to the point that, for James, the only way out of The Flat Earth that he finds himself on, is by pushing himself all the way to the edge. A one person show about one man who tries to save his very soul, before he succumbs to the LORD OF THE LIE.”

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Pit of Goblins

“A madcap multi-media solo show about Wayne, an optimistic serial killer who, in order to avoid capture by a local sheriff, must feed his victims to a pit of goblins in the woods. ”

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The Wedding Singer

“It’s 1985 and rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie vows to make every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. But as luck would have it, Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. With an electrifying pop score that pays loving homage to the 1980s, ‘The Wedding Singer’ takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer was the coolest guy in the room.”

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Keith Moon: The Real Me

“’Keith Moon: The Real Me’ explodes on the stage with the turmoil and excitement of the wildest drummer in rock and roll. A living legend during his lifetime, Keith Moon still stands as the pinnacle of rock-star extremism—both in life and music. The play explores the mind of Keith Moon, as he attempts to save himself from the unbearable burden of living up (or down) to his self-created legend of ‘Moon the Loon’. As Keith attempts to save himself, he takes the audience on a journey through his early struggles, his joining The Who, and their rise as one of the world’s greatest rock bands. By the show’s end, the audience intimately knows the man behind the myth—his acute vulnerability and insecurity, and his struggle to escape the ever-looming rock and roll crash landing.”

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Two Girls, One Mic

“Straight up stand-up from two of L.A.’s hottest comics, Tabitha Brownstone and Joy Gohring. Joy and Tabitha are two brilliant, gorgeous, and humble women who will share their comedic tales of life in Los Angeles, cats, dating, and traveling the world.”

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Combined Artform’s Pick of the Fringe

“Sixth smash year! Can’t decide which shows to see? Looking for expert advice to weed through the hundreds of shows at the Hollywood Fringe Festival? Are you looking to get experience of all this Fringe Madness, but don’t have the time? Check out Combined Artform’s Pick of the Fringe, to provide you with a taster show, featuring the best of the Fringe. Our experienced, independent judges see tons of productions across every genre then we choose, and present highlights from, 5 of the best shows at each of the Pick of the Fringe performances. Come see what all the buzz is about!”

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Movies at the Montalban

“The Montalbán, a theatre in Hollywood with a rich history, announces its June screening schedule for its popular Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán. In addition, the venue is also rolling out a new creative curation initiative: weekly themed ‘Binge Weeks’ for the rest of the season. The venue will also host pop-up screenings during holidays and special rooftop events between November and the first quarter of 2020. Rooftop screenings will run five nights per week—now scheduled most Wednesdays through Sundays—with double features screening on certain weekends. Doors open at 6:00pm and films start screening 10 minutes after sunset … The rooftop screening experience is meant to foster a date-night atmosphere so most nights are meant for guests who are 18-years of age or older….Posted screenings may be subject to rescheduling on certain occasions for special public or private events, so please always check the online calendar athttps://www.themontalban.com/rooftopmovies …Please be advised that access to the 4th floor roof is via an outside staircase ONLY. There is no ADA-compliant access (yet) since this 90+ year old theater does not have an elevator at this time.”

“Jawbreaker”

“Three of the most popular girls at Reagan High accidentally kill the prom queen with a jawbreaker when a kidnapping goes horribly wrong.”

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“500 Days of Summer” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her. ”

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“3 Idiotas” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“A group of friends embark on a fun adventure determined to find a college roommate who disappeared without a trace on graduation day. ”

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“The Noble Family” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Three spoiled children who are cut off from their family fortune and forced to do the unthinkable – get a job.”

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“No Manches Frida” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Zequi, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice before going to jail.”

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“Un Gallo Con Muchos Huevos” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Toto, a young chick born the run of the litter, rises to the occasion when a rancher threatens his home and his family.”

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“Frida” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“A biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work.”

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“Set It Off” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Desperation drives four inner-city women to bank robbery in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting each other.”

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“Do It Like An Hombre (Hazlo Como Hombre)” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Raúl, Eduardo and Santiago have led a happy and “straight” life since their childhood, until, one day, Santiago confesses to them that he is gay. ”

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“La Mission” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“A single-parent ex-con in a tough, minority neighborhood finds his personal values challenged when he discovers his son is gay.”

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“Billy Elliot” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“A talented young boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family. ”

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“Four Weddings and a Funeral” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.”

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“Bridesmaids” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride’s best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef. ”

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“Mamma Mia!” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA.”

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“West Side Story” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.” A multiple Oscar-winning classic contemporary (of the time) re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, directed by Robert Wise, with Broadway’s Jerome Robbins’ iconic award-winning choreography.

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“La La Land” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.” An homage to classic Hollywood musicals.

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“Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“A selfish prince is cursed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he learns to fall in love with a beautiful young woman he keeps prisoner. ”

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“Hairspray” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.”

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“The Hunt for Red October” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“In November 1984, the Soviet Union’s best submarine Captain in their newest sub violates orders and heads for the U.S. Is he trying to defect or to start a war? ”

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“Armageddon” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“After discovering that an asteroid the size of Texas is going to impact Earth in less than a month, N.A.S.A. recruits a misfit team of deep core drillers to save the planet.”

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“Top Gun” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

Feel the need for speed. “As students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.”

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“Tropic Thunder” Screening @ Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán

“Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying. ”

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Classic Movie Musicals Series at the Sierra Madre Playhouse

“During the run of its live stage musical ‘Dames at Sea,’ itself an homage to the optimistic movie musicals of the 1930s and 1940s, the Sierra Madre Playhouse will offer a series of screenings of classic movie musicals. The series is curated by Rich Procter, an expert in the history of American cinema and a Sierra Madre Playhouse board member. Prior to each screening, Mr. Procter will comment on an aspect of this glorious film genre, the American musical of the 30s and 40s, and cast members of Dames at Sea will sing a live musical number.”

42nd Street – Classic Movie Musicals Series at the Sierra Madre Playhouse

“[’42nd Street’ stars] Ruby Keeler, Warner Baxter, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers, Bebe Daniels, George Brent. Peggy’s rise from showgirl to star is the stuff of show business dreams. ’42nd Street’ is full of crowd-pleasing tap dances, popular musical theatre standards, and show-stopping ensemble production numbers.”

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🍋


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – February 3 – 10, 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.

Two Trains Running at Matrix

The team behind last year’s acclaimed Ovation, LADCC, and Stage Raw award-nominated production of August Wilson’s “King Hedley II” returns to the Matrix with another installment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s “American Century Cycle” the playwright’s decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. It’s 1969 in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where the regulars of Memphis Lee’s restaurant struggle to cope with the turbulence of a world that is rapidly changing around them.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: CHILDREN OF THE SUN

Maxim Gorky’s darkly comic play is set in Russia on the eve of the revolution. The country’s new middle class flounders about, philosophizing and flirting, blind to their impending annihilation. Protasov wants only to immerse himself in his experiments and is oblivious to the advances of the half-crazed widow and his best friend’s pursuit of his wife, let alone the cholera epidemic and the starving mob.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: GNIT

Meet Peter Gnit, a recklessly aspiring, self-deluded anti-hero. This twisted adaption of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt is a rollicking and cautionary tale that challenges what we think we know about this classic character. At this unique moment in U.S. history, the questions and problems raised are alive with relevance.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: SWIMMERS

Coyotes evading police. Billboards predicting the end of the world. It’s been a strange day at the office, and it’s only 9 a.m. Moving floor by floor from the basement to the roof, scenes between employees in a corporate office explore the angst-ridden relationships between those that people often take most advantage of: their coworkers.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

Young Proteus only has eyes for his hometown sweetheart, Julia. But one look at the beautiful Silvia on a trip to Milan changes everything. Now he’s smitten with his best friend’s lover and his sweetheart has no intention of going away quietly. Events spin out of control as romantic rivals face off in this wild comic tale.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: HOLY GHOSTS

Coleman Shedman arrives at the rural meeting house of a southern Pentecostal sect with a lawyer in tow, seeking to retrieve his runaway wife (and the possessions she has taken with her). But his wife, Nancy, is unwilling to forsake the love and protection of her new “husband,” the Reverend Obediah Buckhorn, and return to the brutal, hard-drinking Coleman. Rich with atmosphere and the feel of Southern rural life, the play blends humor and poignancy as it probes into the circumstances and stories of the various cult members.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: THE BUSYBODY

First performed in 1709, this brilliantly witty and fast-paced comedy follows the characters Miranda and Isabinda as they attempt to arrange marriages to the men they love. Meanwhile, the hapless “busy body” Marplot tries to help his friends, but his valiant efforts only succeed in leading them closer towards disaster.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Inspired by the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s stunning musical masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this moving study of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat, won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for an astounding 10 Tony Awards, including best musical.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: ROUGH MAGIC

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s action-adventure-fantasy conjures a mythical, magical meta-universe in which evil sorcerer Prospero steps out of the pages of Shakespeare’s The Tempest and threatens death and destruction in modern-day Manhattan. To combat this supernatural foe, a quartet of unlikely heroes (including a dramaturg with magical powers) will emerge from the ashes to save the city and its citizens from complete and utter destruction.

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USC School of Dramatic Arts presents: QUEEN MARGARET

Margaret of Anjou becomes the central character of her own story in this edit of William Shakespeare’s first tetralogy of history plays (Henry VI, Parts 1 -3; and Richard III). Intrigue, betrayal, romance and revenge play out as Margaret evolves from daughter to bride to queen to avenging warrior and grieving widow. Our BFA sophomores tell her tale of resilience, resolve and charisma.

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James and the Giant Peach

Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach features a wickedly tuneful score by the Tony & Academy Award-winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, The Greatest Showman)and a curiously quirky book by Timothy Allen McDonald…When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach and launches a journey of enormous proportions.

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Ada and the Engine

As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soul-mate, Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada envisions a whole new world where art and information converge – a world she might not live to see. A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest dreams of the future. Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant pre-tech romance heralding the computer age.

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Man Of God

A hidden discovery in a hotel bathroom changes the lives of four Korean American Christian girls on a mission trip to Thailand. Samantha is hurt that someone she trusted could betray her. Jen is worried about how this might affect her college applications. Kyung-Hwa thinks everyone should adjust their expectations. Mimi’s out for blood. Amid the neon lights and go-go bars in Bangkok, the girls plot revenge in this funny, feminist thriller.

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Venus in Fur

Thomas Novachek is a playwright/director looking for the perfect actress to play the lead in his adaptation of Leopold Sacher Mashoch’s novella, Venus in Furs. He hasn’t had much luck and is ready to call it a day when a very late arrival bursts into the room in a wave of chaos. This actress appears to be the worst of a bad lot. Despite his protestations, she manages to cajole him into letting her read and from that point on the night veers into titillating and uncharted territory where Thomas’ biases and desires are laid bare. Venus in Fur is about human relationships, gender power dynamics and the matrix of stereotypes and assumptions that root seeming subversions. Its dark comedy and sexually charged scenarios provide fertile soil for exploration of subconscious and culturally mired desires, motivations, and expectations.

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Othello

The Bard’s most intimate of family tragedies about the terrible force of love and the breakdown of a man who has everything—power, position, and passion—only to find his world decimated through intense mind games with his ensign. Prescient in its searing social commentary of prejudice, betrayal, and thwarted ambition, Shakespeare’s thunderous drama examines who we trust and the price we pay for choosing wrong.

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The Twins of GillyGate

We find our twins on the eve of their 18th birthday in the kingdom of GillyGate. One is set to take the throne while the other sits in her tower with only a dragon to keep her company. Unbeknownst to both, a prophecy is about to unfold much to the dismay of their uncle, Lord Grimbert, who will do anything to stop a woman from taking the throne with the help of his trusty talking high horse. A musical tale woven together by a misfit traveling ensemble, this show will take you back to the Ren Faire. Full of bawdy, drunken fun mixed with some good ol’ audience interaction, this show is fun for your whole family!…well maybe not your kids.

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The Chekhov Comedies

See Chekhov as you have never seen him before! Combine 5 short comedies, 25 characters, and 4 female actors, and you get 1 night of hilarity!

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Little Shop of Horror

For the misfits of Skid Row, life is full of broken dreams and dead ends. Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names “Audrey II” after his crush at the shop. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood … Featuring an electrifying early 1960s-style score from Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman.

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Canyon

In a backyard deep within a canyon during Labor Day weekend 2016 — before everything in America changed — we meet a newlywed couple and a Mexican father and son as they all try their best to find a better view. IAMA Theatre Company partners with the Latino Theater Company to present an immersive staging of this driving new play that takes a look at what happens when two families are rocked by an unpredictable accident that changes their lives forever. A look at gender, citizenship, and the costs of trying to live a conventional American life

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Too Much Sun

The West Coast premiere of the acclaimed off-Broadway hit by Nicky Silver (Broadway’s The Lyons). Celebrated actress Audrey Langham reaches her breaking point while rehearsing Medea in Chicago — walking off the stage, out of the production and into her married daughter’s summer house in Cape Cod, where her unexpected and unwelcome arrival sets off a chain of events alternately hilarious and harrowing.

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Phalaris’s Bull: Solving the Riddle of the Great Big World

Harvard-educated molecular biologist, visual artist and provocative visionary philosopher, Steven Friedman has the answers to life’s big questions. Using personal narrative, poetry, art, and science, he delivers a spell-binding performance reflecting his prismatic, transformative and deeply consoling vision of the world. Friedman offers a solution to the worlds pain based not on belief or faith but on logical rigor a philosophy starting from Kierkegaards story of an ancient torture device, Phalariss bull, that turns the terrible sounds of pain into music. To create is to enter Phalariss bull, and our pain becomes beauty.

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?


EVENTS OPENING THIS WEEK

THE TRAGEDY OF MEDUSA @ Son of Semele

January 16, 2019 8:00 pm

The romantic relationship between the goddess Athena and her human priestess, Medusa is complicated when the other gods find out and intervene. This nuanced and challenging retelling of the classical Medusa myth is poetic …read more

DEFINITION OF MAN @ Arena Theater

January 17, 2019 7:00 pm

A sexier, more violent Waiting for Godot, Definition of Man is a physicalized post-modern decreation myth. The one-act was created by Nikki Muller and Jason Rosario by synthesizing personal narratives, academic texts and Russian …read more

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN @ Antaeus Theatre at Kiki David Gindler Performing Arts Center

January 17, 2019 8:00 pm

Inspired by the real-life filming of the documentary Man of Aran, Olivier Award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy is set on the small Aran Island community of Inishmaan (Inis Meáin) off the Western Coast …read more

IT IS DONE @ Theatre 40

January 17, 2019 8:00 pm

Hank’s Bar is a roadside joint on a desolate highway in the middle of nowhere. Hank the barkeep (played by Kurtis Bedford) passes the time when he has no customers by perusing a porn …read more

DOUBLE DOUBLE – A MEDITATION ON MACBETH @ The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles

January 17, 2019 8:00 pm

Macbeth didn’t die on the battlefield of Dunsinane — he entered witness protection and was relocated to 1950s Los Angeles to sell insurance.  Double Double collides Macbeth with the classic film noir Double Indemnity, delivering …read more

GRAY PEOPLE (2019 EXTENSION)@ The Belfry Stage (Upstairs)

January 17, 2019 8:30 pm

Critics Lemonade: 100%
Audience Lemonade: 100%

Walter Kartman and Kyle Felts – Photo Credit: Carlos R. Hernandez Kyle Felts, Walter Kartman and Olivia Lemmon – Photo Credit: Carlos R. Hernandez…read more

BRILLIANT TRACES@ Lounge Theatre

January 18, 2019 8:00 pm

Rosannah Deluce has been driving for days. Her car dies in a snowbound corner of Alaska. In distress, she seeks shelter in the only nearby structure, an old barn that is the home of …read more

HOW TO PRODUCE A HOLLYWOOD FRINGE SHOW @ Studio C

January 19, 2019 1:00 pm

Excited about the thought of doing a show at HFF, but have concerns and questions? Get the answers to your questions and an overview of the Hollywood Fringe in this 3 hour workshop, taught …read more

LIZZIE @ Bootleg Theater

January 19, 2019 7:30 pm

Critics Lemonade: 100%

EXTENDED! LIZZIE will now bring the axe down at the Bootleg Theater Jan. 19-27, 2019 On a sweltering summer morning in 1892, in a small New England city, a prominent businessman and his wife were …read more

SHEENA EASTON@ Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

Grammy Award winning singer, recording artist and actress Sheena Easton is a versatile performer who is a top concert attraction around the world. Known for numerous hit songs, including “U Got the Look” with …read more

THE 39 STEPS @ Morgan-Wixson Theatre

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

Hitchcock meets hilarious in this fast-paced mystery/romantic comedy/adventure for everyone who loves the magic of theater. The Morgan-Wixson presents The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and based …read more

HIR @ Odyssey Theatre

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

A darkly funny, shockingly absurd and endlessly surprising vision of a world in transition by MacArthur genius Taylor Mac. Somewhere in the suburbs, Isaac has returned from Afghanistan with a dishonorable discharge, only to …read more

AN EVENING WITH JOHN WILKES BOOTH @ Theatre West

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865) was notable on several accounts. He was a successful and wealthy actor, and member of a celebrated show business family (son of Junius Brutus Booth and brother to Edwin and …read more

FAMILY SECRETS@ Jewish Women’s Theatre @ The Braid

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

Moving and funny show of stories exploring secrets only whispered about, until now! …read more

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE FINAL PROBLEM (OLD TIME RADIO STYLE) @ Long Beach Performing Arts Center (Beverly O’Neill Theatre)

January 19, 2019 8:00 pm

When Holmes and Moriarty face off at Reichbach, one or both must fall! In the last of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first run of Sherlock Holmes stories, he wanted a dramatic showdown between the super-sleuth …read more

CINDERELLA @ Santa Monica Playhouse

January 20, 2019 12:30 pm

The Los Angeles Times dubbed this Santa Monica Playhouse original family theatre musical  “An Enchanting Cinderella!…captivates its young audience, highlighted by fast pacing, fancy costuming and a lovely, unweepy Cinderella…she’s no slouch with a …read more

THE MARRIAGE ZONE @ Santa Monica Playhouse

January 20, 2019 3:00 pm

Critics Lemonade: 87%
Audience Lemonade: 100%

Cal and Beth are selling their home. They’re visited by Skip and Ellie, an engaged couple, very much in love who are eager to buy their first home. They’re joined by Mike and Liz, …read more

ALEICHEM SHOLOM! THE WIT AND WISDOM OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM @ Santa Monica Playhouse

January 20, 2019 3:30 pm

Critics Lemonade: 92%

Extended Once More! Take a journey through the life, loves and laughter of the world’s most beloved Yiddish humorist, as you are treated to an in-depth look at the foolish philosophers, philosophical fools, comical …read more

ROD SERLING’S STORIES FROM THE ZONE @ Theatre 40

January 21, 2019 8:00 pm

Rod Serling’s Stories from the Zone consists of stage adaptations of two classic episodes of his best-loved TV series. Mr. Garrity and the Graves: In the Old West circa 1890, a man and his …read more

WELL @ Lindhurst Theatre at Pepperdine University

January 22, 2019 7:30 pm

“This play is not about my mother and me,” begins Lisa Kron in this hilarious, moving story that combines the genres of solo performance and experimental theatre with the timeless story of mothers and …read more

BILL FRISELL “WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR” FEATURING PETRA HADEN, THOMAS MORGAN, & RUDY ROYSTON @ Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University

January 22, 2019 8:00 pm

With a career that has spanned more than 35 years, guitarist and composer Bill Frisell’s diverse catalog has been described as “the best recorded output …read more 


Now Registered This Week on the Better Lemons Calendar – October 14 through October 28, 2018

NEW! Theatrical shows, Musical Concerts, and Film Festivals 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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Events Opening This Week

CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL@ Geffen Playhouse

September 19, 2018 8:00 pm

Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) breathes new life into the greatest ghost story ever told. While the heart of A Christmas Carol is evergreen, Mays …read more

LA FILM FESTIVAL

September 20, 2018 4:00 pm

Taking place September 20-28, 2018, the LA Film Festival showcases compelling independent films, TV and episodic work from emerging storytellers, alongside filmmaker-driven studio titles. The Festival fosters valuable alliances and working relationships between independent artists …read more

UK UNDERDOG @ Zephyr Theatre

September 20, 2018 8:00 pm

Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (START) in association with Pacific Resident Theatre presents writer/performer Steve Spiro’s funny, refreshing and highly theatrical solo show, based on true events. A young Jewish boy in London transforms …read more

RAG HEAD @ The Complex

September 20, 2018 8:00 pm

After premiering in Los Angeles this past spring to a sold out run, Rag Head returns to the stage. The show explores Sikhs and xenophobia in a post 9/11 America. Inspired by actual events, …read more

BLOOD ROCK: THE MUSICAL @ Odyssey Theatre

September 20, 2018 8:00 pm

Described as “West Side Story with Vampires,” “Blood Rock: The Musical” To Make World Debut on Sept. 20 at The Odyssey Theater in West Los Angeles Beverly Hills, CA, SEPTEMBER 2018 – Described as …read more

THE OTHER PLACE@ Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center

September 21, 2018 8:00 pm

Juliana Smithton is a respected neurologist whose life has recently begun unraveling. Her husband is leaving her, her daughter has eloped with a much older man and even she’s beginning to question her own …read more

THE RESCUED @ The Road Theatre Company

September 21, 2018 8:00 pm

What happens to a human after being abused, forgotten, and living in a cage for years? Do we find the same compassion for them, that we might find for rescue animals? Follow six souls …read more

REVOCABLE TRUST @ Studio C

September 21, 2018 8:00 pm

Revocable Trust, a melodrama set in the America of 1953. A gentle young teacher, expecting a generous bequest from her deceased father, suddenly finds out she’s been disinherited. All the money she was counting …read more

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE @ Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center

September 21, 2018 8:00 pm

Presented by Studio C Performing Arts who brought SVCAC audiences ALL SHOOK UP last season. GIMMIE, GIMMIE THE TONY AWARD®-WINNER FOR BEST MUSICAL! Based on the 1967 Academy Award-winning film, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE takes …read more

ONE SLIGHT HITCH@ Point Loma Playhouse

September 22, 2018 8:00 pm

This Lewis Black (yes that Lewis Black) farce is making it’s San Diego premiere. It’s Courtney’s wedding day, and her mom, Delia, is making sure that everything is perfect. The groom is perfect, the dress is …read more

SHE LOVES ME @ Morgan-Wixson Theatre

September 22, 2018 8:00 pm

With a melodic and witty score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof) and a wonderful book by Joe Masteroff (Cabaret), She Loves Me is based on a play by Miklos …read more

OLD CLOWN WANTED @ Odyssey Theatre

September 22, 2018 8:00 pm

Three aging clowns compete for a job in an absurdly comic look at man’s fear of uselessness in society. Inspired by a 1970 Federico Fellini film, theater and circus arts are intertwined in this …read more

JIMMY WEBB WITH ASHLEY CAMPBELL: THE GLEN CAMPBELL YEARS @ Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University

September 22, 2018 8:00 pm

The legendary Grammy-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb (with cross-genre hits including “Wichita Lineman,” “MacArthur Park,” and “Highwayman”) shares songs and humorous behind-the-scenes stories. Webb is joined by rising star Ashley Campbell, daughter of his best friend …read more

ROPE @ Actors Co-op Crossley Theater

September 22, 2018 8:00 pm

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) presents the first show in its 27th Season with the thriller ROPE, written by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Ken Sawyer, …read more

FEI-FEI, PIANO @ Raitt Recital Hall at Pepperdine University

September 23, 2018 2:00 pm

Praised for her “bountiful gifts and passionate immersion into the music she touches” (Plain Dealer), Chinese pianist Fei-Fei is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and a top finalist at the Fourteenth …read more

FALLING @ Lindhurst Theatre at Pepperdine University

September 25, 2018 7:30 pm

Falling boldly explores the complicated reality of a family with an autistic young man. When a relative comes to visit, the entire family is thrown out of equilibrium. This production bravely speaks a truth …read more


Now registered this week on the Better Lemons Calendar August 13 to August 19, 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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YELLOW FACE


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What Happened When


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Longing Pinocchio


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All Night Long


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A View From The Bridge


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SHE LOVES ME


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Sell/Buy/Date


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SILENCE! The Musical


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AUDITION: 42nd Street

The Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s
YES (Youth Education/Entertainment Series)
announces auditions for
performers ages 10 through 18 for
the 23rd Annual Youth Musical

42nd Street

Music by Henry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin & Johnny Mercer
Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Produced by Special Arrangement with Music Theatre International
Directed by ANNE GESLING
Music Directed by DANIEL KOH and ANNE GESLING
Choreography by KRYSTAL COMBS
Produced by TRACY SALTZMAN and MIRIAM BILLINGTON

SYNOPSIS
The ultimate show-biz musical, 42ND STREET celebrates Broadway, Times Square, and the people who make the magic of musical theatre. Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, PA, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star?
The score is chock-full of Broadway standards, including “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me,” “Dames,” “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “Forty-Second Street.”
***Please note: this casting call is for our annual Youth Musical. Only performers ages 10 through 18 will be considered.***
AUDITION DATES
Saturday, August 25, from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m (Stage)
Sunday, August 26 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Stage)
No appointment needed. Actors only need to attend one day of auditions.
CALLBACKS on Wednesday, August 29 from 6:30 to 10:00 (Stage)
You will be notified by email if you will be needed for callbacks.
PREPARE
32 bars of a song (verse and chorus) from standard musical theatre (no pop or rock, which means no song written after 2000, no Disney songs). Accompanist is provided. You may bring your accompaniment on IPhone or IPad or the Android equivalent as we do have playback ability for those devices. Be prepared to dance.
LOCATION
Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Street parking available. Venice Family Clinic’s parking lot is available on weekends and on weekdays after 6 p.m. Do not park at our neighbors AAMCO/Viking Motors or SGI or you will be towed.
PERFORMANCE DATES
November 10 through December 15, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., including Thanksgiving weekend. Actors will also perform in the Geoffrey Awards the evening of December 16. Actors must be available for all performances. NON-NEGOTIABLE!!
REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES
Rehearsals begin Saturday, September 8 and are held Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Sundays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are strictly dedicated to dance. More than 2 conflicts on those days may result in an actor not being cast. Actors are not called for all rehearsals, only rehearsals where they are being used for a scene/dance. Rehearsals will be worked around children’s schedules as much as possible. As always, we consider homework a priority!
BRING
A picture (school picture or snapshot is fine), resume or list of shows done, and your conflicts for the rehearsal period. All conflicts MUST be submitted prior to callbacks. If additional conflicts arise after casting, it may result in an actor being replaced. Bring both jazz and tap shoes (if you tap).
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Male Roles
Julian March: 14-18, Baritone, a tough, frazzled, and tyrannical director. He is gruff but as the show progresses you see how Peggy’s charm touches him. Keeps his thoughts and feelings close to his chest. This is a strong acting role, and the role underpins the whole show.
Billy Lawlor: 14-18, Tenor, a leading man type, cheeky and charming with an eye for the ladies, excellent singer/dancer, tap a plus.
Bert Berry: Character baritone, half of the writing duo, must sing and move well and be able to play comedy with vaudeville timing.
Abner Dillon: Non-singing role, the producer of the show and Dorothy’s current boyfriend, pompous, throws his weight (and money) around.
Pat Denning: Baritone, Dorothy’s suave ex-vaudeville partner and the love of her life. He likes to stir up trouble. A little bit of a “player” but obviously really loves Dorothy.
Female Roles
Peggy Sawyer: 14-18, Alto/Soprano, extraordinary tap dancer who can sing like a Broadway leading lady and play the ingenue believably. At the beginning of the show we must see Peggy is nervous and quirky but eager and keen. As the show progresses, we see her talent shine through and her inner steel and strength of character to remain true to herself stand out.
Dorothy Brock: 14-18, Alto, a past-her-prime Broadway diva. Must possess a strong send of comic timing. While very selfish and mean to everyone at first, she comes to understand what’s really important in life after breaking her ankle and therefore unable to perform. The actress cast must be able to play age (40+).
Maggie Jones: 14-18, Character alto, half of the writing duo; must sing and move well and be able to play comedy with great warmth and charm, good dancer.
Anytime Annie: 14-18, Alto Belt, one of the girls in the “chorus;” must be a first rate tap dancer and natural comedienne.
Larraine, Phyllis: 12-18, Alto/Soprano, two other girls in the “chorus”, featured in “Go Into Your Dance” excellent singers/dancers (tap).
Male or Female Role
Andy Lee: 12-18, Non-singing role, the choreographer of the show, excellent tap dancer.
Ensemble
Ages 10 to 18, must sing and dance well. Strong tap skills recommended. The more you tap, the more you do. Great ensemble parts with lots of lines.
Musical Numbers
Audition: Ensemble (opening tap number)
Young & Healthy: Billy/Peggy
Shadow Waltz: Dorothy & Girls
Go Into Your Dance: Peggy, Maggie, Annie, Lorraine, Phyllis
You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me: Dorothy/Billy
Getting Out of Town: Ensemble
We’re In The Money: Peggy, Annie, Lorraine, Phyllis and Ensemble
Dames: Billy & Ensemble
Sunny Side to Every Situation: Annie, Lorraine, Phyllis and Ensemble
Lullaby of Broadway: Julian and Company
About A Quarter to Nine: Dorothy/Peggy
Shuffle Off to Buffalo: Peggy, Billy & Ensemble
42nd Street: Peggy, Billy & Ensemble
42nd Street Reprise: Julian
OTHER
Non-Equity, no pay.
Questions? Email director Anne Gesling at amgesling@yahoo.com