Tag: Odyssey Theatre


ASHTON’S AUDIO INTERVIEW: RON SOSSI

Ron Sossi is the Artistic Director of the Odyssey Theatre and also directed The Serpent. This interview discusses the play that explores the biblical Book of Genesis while comparing it to the modern experience.

Enjoy this interview!


COVID-19 Theater Series: Rogue Machine’s Journey Beyond Adversity – An Interview with John Perrin Flynn

Leading one of L.A.’s most prestigious theatre companies for twelve years, John Perrin Flynn has nurtured Rogue Machine from the seed of an idea into a group of over 300 artists with an impressive array of accolades and awards. Most recently, he helmed two epic productions, the American premiere of Tom Morton-Smith’s Oppenheimer and the west coast premiere of Mike Bartlett’s Earthquakes in London. John received the LA Weekly “Career Achievement Award,” just one of over one hundred awards during his tenure with the company. He was the executive producer and director of Lifetime’s award-winning series Strong Medicine and has produced two other series and 14 television movies or miniseries, including the Emmy nominated Burden of Proof. John took time from his busy schedule to interview in April 2020.

When did Rogue Machine First Begin? Were you involved from the start? Who/what/where was it founded?

John Perrin Flynn:  Our inaugural production was in 2008. The prior year, I had happened to read a new play by a young playwright who was looking for a director. The play was called Lost and Found and the playwright was John Pollono. As soon as I read it, I knew that I had to direct it. We ran it at the Lounge Theatre. Later that year, I directed the West Coast premiere of Craig Lucas’s Small Tragedy at the Odyssey Theatre. Afterwards, I was invited to pitch plays at a couple of local venues. By then, John Pollono was working on another new play. I had also begun to work with Henry Murray, developing his Tree Fall; and I quickly learned that none of the companies that I was approaching were interested in producing new work.

Cast of “Pocatello” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

I brought together three disparate groups: theater friends I had made during my time as a television producer; theater friends I had made doing the two plays I had recently directed; and theater friends from the time I was artistic director of Theater Exchange in North Hollywood. We all felt that there were already too many theaters in Los Angeles. At the same time, there seemed to be a need for one which would produce new work and the edgier kind of new work which was then coming out of Chicago, New York, and London. In early 2008, the opportunity to share the Theatre/Theater space on Pico Boulevard opened up and we decided to take the leap.

Ron Bottitta and Tucker Smallwood in “The Sunset Limited” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

How about a brief timeline of changes at they occurred?

JPF:  We began running our monthly salon “Rant and Rave,” which has continued to be one of our most popular programs. We converted a classroom at the space into a second smaller stage. Our programming for that stage brought us a great deal of attention. We opened Cormac McCarthy’s The Sunset Limited with Tucker Smallwood and Ron Bottitta. Stephanie Kerley Schwartz designed the small one-room urban apartment set that worked brilliantly. The show became an LA Times Critics’ Choice and ran for five months. We modified that set and opened John Pollono’s third play as a late-night show. It was Small Engine Repair, which ran for six months until we had to move it to open Joel Drake Johnson’s Four Places, for which we received our first Ovation Award for Best Production.

Small Engine Repair swept the Los Angeles Award season, winning best production and many other awards. Our fifth season brought us the long-running hit Dirty Filthy Love Story by Rob Mersola and our first collaborations with playwrights Samuel Hunter and Enda Walsh. The sixth season brought us Pollono’s Lost Girls and Kemp Powers’ One Night in Miami, which became our largest box office hit ever. It ended up having multiple productions around the world, including at the Donmar Warehouse in England. We closed that season with Christopher Shinn’s Dying City, which won us our second Ovation award for best production. The eighth season was an abbreviated season because rent increases forced us out – but not before we did our second Sam Hunter play, A Permanent Image. We moved to The Met Theatre in our ninth season and opened with a strong season of multi-award nominated productions, including Hunter’s Pocatello, and Greg Keller’s Honky and Dutch Masters.

Shari Gardner Desean, Kevin Terry, and Jelani Blunt in “Les Blancs” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

Our tenth season featured the first ever professional production of Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs in Los Angeles, as well as a collaboration with the Getty Villa of a modern-day refugee version of Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women.

We were forced to move once again during our twelfth season, but not before we produced the American premiere of Dionna Michelle Daniel’s American Saga: Gunshot Medley Part I. We moved to the Electric Lodge in Venice and in the fall, where we opened Tom Morton-Smith’s Oppenheimer and Joe Gifford’s Finks. We closed our latest season with the world premiere productions of Disposable Necessities by Neil McGowan (an LA Times Critics’ Choice) and Mike Bartlett’s Earthquakes in London.

Over the past few months, how has COVID-19 impacted your theater?

JPF:  We were fortunate that we had closed the twelfth season in early March. At that time, we weren’t sure if we would open again until July. Now we have no idea when theaters will be allowed to reopen and we don’t know what the final damage to the economy will be. Fundraising may be more difficult. We understand our existence is imperiled; but all of us, Rogue Machine’s Board and staff, are determined to survive. There is a proverb that “Adversity creates opportunity.” Many theaters are attempting to build an online audience during this period of isolation. We will be offering some programming as well.

Corey Dorris and Josh Zuckerman in “Dutch Masters” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

Are you doing anything right now to keep your live theater going? Are you streaming shows? Having virtual meetings? Are you planning for your next show when you reopen?

JPF:  We have most of our next season in place. We will open with a world premiere production of Justin Tanner’s Little Theatre, directed by Lisa James and starring Jennie O’Hara. We are also planning to produce the American premiere of Timothy Daly’s Man in the Attic, with French and Vanessa Stewart and Rob Nagle.

I am participating in weekly meetings with LA area artistic directors to see what we can do collectively, now and in the future, when theaters reopen.

John Pollono, Jon Bernthal, Josh Helman, and Michael Redfield in “Small Engine Repair” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

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

JPF:  I suspect that some organizations will not be able to survive this shutdown, particularly if they have leases and rent to pay. I think it might be a long time before things return to a semblance of how they were. Some people that were key to how intimate theatre operated may be forced to take up other careers.

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

JPF:  Funding. I am concerned about our employees. We have applied for the SBA paycheck protection loan, but the funding ran out before we were approved. If more funding is forthcoming, we will be able to offer some employment to the staff, all of whom have been laid off. I want our theater public to stay safe and come out of this healthy, and hungry for the common bonds that live theater encourages.

Joshua Bitton, Burl Moseley, and Jennifer Pollono in “Dirty Filthy Love Story” – Photo by John Perrin Flynn

What are some of your future plans?

JPF:  We plan to do some online programming, which includes a joint project called “Common Ground” with The Road Theatre. We may also stream some live readings and something with “Rant and Rave.” In addition to the plays that I mentioned, we are hoping to do another Samuel D. Hunter play; and we are reading a number of new plays during this forced hiatus.

This article first appeared in Splash Worldwide.


Ashton’s Audio Interview: Anthony Rutowicz

Actor, Anthony Rutowicz is best known for his work in Snowfall (2017), How to Fake it in America (2011), and WRNG in Studio City (2013). This interview discusses the characters he played in “The Serpent” at the Odyssey Theatre and the character’s internal struggles and challenges as they relate to this work of experimental theater that explores the biblical Book of Genesis while comparing it to the modern experience.

Enjoy this interview!


Ashton’s Audio Interview: Avery Dresel-Kurtz

Actor, Avery Dresel-Kurtz is best known for her work in Betrayed (2016), Mia (2014), and The Hierarchy (2012). This interview discusses the characters she played in “The Serpent” at the Odyssey Theatre and the character’s internal struggles and challenges as they relate to this work of experimental theater that explores the biblical Book of Genesis while comparing it to the modern experience.

Enjoy this interview!

 


Ashton’s Audio Interview: Riley Rose Critchlow and Terry Woodberry

Actress and Producer, Riley Rose Critchlow, is best known for her work in Anime Crimes Division (2017), Timeless (2016), and S.W.A.T. (2017). Actor, Terry Woodberry, is best known for his work in Dexter (2006), Medium (2005), and Numb3rs (2005). These interviews discuss the characters they played in “The Serpent” at the Odyssey Theatre and the character’s internal struggles and challenges as they relate to this work of experimental theater that explores the biblical Book of Genesis while comparing it to the modern experience.

Enjoy this interview!


Ashton’s Audio Interview: Ahkei Togun

Actor, Poet, and the 2016 Poetry Out Loud National Champion, Ahkei Togun. This interview discusses the characters he played in “The Serpent” at the Odyssey Theatre and the character’s internal struggles and challenges as they relate to this work of experimental theater that explores the biblical Book of Genesis while comparing it to the modern experience.

Enjoy this interview!

 


More L.A. Venue and Event Postponements, Updates, Cancellations, and Active Shows

Better Lemons has updated more shows in our calendar with any current postponements, updates, or cancelations due to coronavirus and concerns and actions towards the safety of theatre patrons where larger audiences are expected. Most venues are using directives by Governor Gavin Newsom and California Public Health and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announcements this week as a guide in implementing steps to accommodate for the greater public safety.

The following is a list of venues and shows that we have updated currently. This list includes shows and venues still currently open. Be sure to check with individual venues for any further potential updates or questions.

If you have tickets, please consider either donating your ticket or contacting the venue or show producer for information on available vouchers or rain checks for future shows.

If you have a show that needs updating, please log in and update your show accordingly. If you are postponing, do not delete your event and feel free to email us via our contact form should you need assistance with updating.

VENUES

[instagram url=https://twitter.com/fountaintheatre/status/1238326214432968706]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/2centstheatre/status/1238264899224186880]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheLAFPI/status/1238275167702470657]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/atticcollec_la/status/1238317682602082304]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/VictoryTheatre/status/1238525146077507584]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/roadtheatre/status/1238353573030711297]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheatreWest/status/1238565146361868293]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/StorybookTW/status/1238582821490315264]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/NewAmericanThtr/status/1238239957166231553]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/OpenFistTheatre/status/1238249980839841795]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/LaMiradaTheatre/status/1238220677347307520]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/Hergatory/status/1238350606395248645]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheAutry/status/1238242817538846720]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheBlankTheatre/status/1238572746688335875]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/actorscoop/status/1238534331582124032]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/OdysseyTheatre_/status/1238248420407750656]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/flattiretheatre/status/1238353695730995200]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/LALGBTCenter/status/1238245643619106817]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/LAWTF/status/1238602852970328065]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/thebroadstage/status/1238517586427404288]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/LOFTensemble/status/1238614837950910469]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/lilfishtheatre/status/1238622040053055488]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/groundlings/status/1238238411284197378]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/kentwoodplayers/status/1238642838612533253]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/SkyPilotTheatre/status/1238983628681408513]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/theroxy/status/1238267829951975424]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/ColonyTheatre/status/1238946584223604737]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/LA_Rockwell/status/1238515200481001473]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheWallisBH/status/1237892031814332416]

Dynasty Typewriter

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/UCLAFTVArchive/status/1237853761583775748]
[instagram url=https://twitter.com/TheAutry/status/1238589922761564161]
[instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rgqaxJyj5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]

SHOWS

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-really-awesome-improv-show/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/guntopia-at-the-roustabouts-theatre-co/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/hamlet-5/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/human-interest-story/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/in-my-minds-eye/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/what-rhymes-with-orange/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/our-man-in-santiago/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-velveteen-rabbit-2/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike-2/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/hitlers-tasters/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/show-me-a-hero/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/worst-case-scenario/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/mistakes-were-made-coulda-woulda-shoulda/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/found/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/poor-clare/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/rorschach-fest/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/death-and-other-girly-things/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/dirty-tricks-w-the-new-bad-boys-of-magic/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/improv-night/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/jelly-beans/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/la-fest-by-ensemble-studio-theatre-la/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-bindings/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-outsider-at-north-coast-repertory-theatre/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-pack/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/tmi-hollywood/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/senorita-julia-staged-reading/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/sex-addiction-love-in-the-21st-century-2/]

[instagram url=https://www.better-lemons.com/production/the-wild-party/]


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – February 25 – March 1, 2020

Musicals, Comedy, Cabaret, Immersive, Solo, Readings, Kid-friendly shows, and more now registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

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

The Serpent

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1232462545224491008]

LA Fest by Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1232462879040753665]

The Bindings

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1232465074201083904]

Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine’s

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1232467897261289473]

Soul Trek

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1232904092877574146]

Five Pieces of Paper: Stories my Hungarian grandmother refused to tell me and other family tales. A Love tribute to my Holocaust surviving grandmother

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234052355085275136]

Dohee Lee: MU/巫: 9 Goddesses

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234053463274860544]

Transcendients Community Celebration: Challenging Borders

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234054162310213634]

Beat Bugs JV at Theatre School @ North Coast Rep

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234056483236651008]

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234057544731103232]

The Colony Comedy Series – Hosted by Damon Williams

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234058818209943552]

Sex, Addiction & Love in the 21st Century at The Braid

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234060047807864833]

Sex, Addiction & Love in the 21st Century at dnj Gallery

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234194120345780224]

Man of God

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234060640840536065]

Aleichem Sholom! The wit and wisdom of Sholom Aleichem

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234061659968352256]

Show Up, Kids! Interactive Family Comedy

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234062153222631425]

Geronimo: Life on the Reservation

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234066246737547269]


Theresa Rebeck’s “Seminar”

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234333071723433985]

Orphée

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[instagram url=https://twitter.com/BetterLemons/status/1234378667062636544]

THE BEST OF SHOWS ON BETTER LEMONS IN 2019

Better Lemons had a fantastic year and we couldn’t have done it without the fantastic critics, publicists, and audience members who share their love of Los Angeles theater, by posting on Better Lemons and sharing their favorite shows and their reviews on social media.

We are especially grateful for all the Registered Critics who took their time this past year to rate shows they have reviewed to be included in our LemonMeter.

There were 1200 productions registered on Better Lemons in 2019! Out of those registered shows, over 600 received at least one review from a Critic and 201 were reviewed by Audience members. Out of these shows, we selected the winners that were most favored by Critics and/or Audiences.

Here is a list with all the Better Lemons SWEET productions of 2019:

The Better Lemons DoubleSWEET #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(33 shows out of 1200 productions received
a DoubleSWEET #LemonMeter rating
from audience and critics)

TALES FROM THE POWDER ROOM at the Whitefire Theatre
41 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

IF WE RUN at the Lounge Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

RAISED BY WOLVES at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
30 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

FERTILE: A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF PROCREATION currently at the Whitefire Theatre
27 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
8 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HOLLYWOODN’T at the Santa Monica Playhouse
20 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE BULLY PROBLEM at the Arena Theatre – Theatre of Arts
17 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
9 Critics reviews – 94% Sweet

THE NARCISSIST NEXT DOOR at the Complex Theatre
15 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

THE ELEPHANT MAN at the El Portal Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet
7 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

MONO/POLY at the Odyssey Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

MASTERS OF THE DARK REALM at the Actors Workout Studio
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

BUNNY THE ELF LIVE! currently at the Stages in Fullerton
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CRACK WHORE, BULIMIC, GIRL-NEXT-DOOR at the Complex Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

A BIT MUCH at the Lounge Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

(IM)PERFEKT at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

BLACKBOXING at the Complex Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

MIL GRUS at the McCadden Place Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TRANSFERENCE at The Broadwater
9 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SCRAPS at the Matrix Theatre
8 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
15 Critics reviews – 87% Sweet

SUPPORTIVE WHITE PARENTS at The Broadwater
8 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

ROMEO AND JULIET IN HELL at the Actors Workout Studio
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
8 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

FALLEN SAINTS: SALEM at the Actors Workout Studio
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
7 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SAVING CAIN at the Hudson Theatres
6 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

THE LAST CROISSANT at The Broadwater
5 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREYA’S LAST DANCE at the Hudson Theatres
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

OLIVIA WILDE DOES NOT SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE at the Complex Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

CLARISSANT at the Atwater Village Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 88% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CIRQUE DU GISELLE at the Assistance League Theater
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

BATTER UP: MY BRAIN ON BASEBALL at studio/stage
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

JOAN AND WHAT DID THEY SAY – AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at Theatre Unlimited (T.U. Studios)
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREASON at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

45 MILLIGRAMS at The Broadwater
3 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

The Better Lemons Audience #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(32 shows out of 1200 productions received
a minimum of 10 audience reviews
and have received a SWEET #LemonMeter rating by the Audience)

TALES FROM THE POWDER ROOM at the Whitefire Theatre
41 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

IF WE RUN at the Lounge Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

RAISED BY WOLVES at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
30 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

FERTILE: A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF PROCREATION currently at the Whitefire Theatre
27 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

AN EXCUSE TO BEHAVE BADLY at the Lounge Theatre
22 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

HOLLYWOODN’T at the Santa Monica Playhouse
20 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THE BULLY PROBLEM at the Arena Theatre – Theatre of Arts
17 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

TELENOVELA at the Actors Workout Studio
16 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

AMERICAN STRANGER THE MUSICAL at Studio C
16 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THE NARCISSIST NEXT DOOR at the Complex Theatre
15 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MONO/POLY at the Odyssey Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MASTERS OF THE DARK REALM at the Actors Workout Studio
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BUNNY THE ELF LIVE! currently at the Stages in Fullerton
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

CRACK WHORE, BULIMIC, GIRL-NEXT-DOOR Complex Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet

THE ELEPHANT MAN at the El Portal Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet

MANDY PICKS A HUSBAND at the Actors Company
13 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

A BIT MUCH at the Lounge Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

ASK A BLACK WOMAN at Studio C
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BIRTHDAY at the Actors Company
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

(IM)PERFEKT at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

LEAVING PRINCE CHARMING at the Lounge Theatre
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

ENERJOYCE…EVOLUTION OF A PISCES BABY BOOMER at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

YES. NO. MAYBE. at the Complex Theatre
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BECOMING PEACE: A ONE WOMAN DRAMEDY ABOUT POWER, CULTURE, VIOLENCE AND NONVIOLENCE at the Lounge Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

CAT SH!T CRAZY…FROM HOT MESS TO HOT MAMA IN FOUR SIMPLE CATS at the Whitefire Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

OCTOPI WALL STREET at the New American Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

EMBRACE LOVE FREE at the Santa Monica Playhouse
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BLACKBOXING at the Santa Monica Playhouse
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MIL GRUS at the McCadden Place Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

The Better Lemons Critics #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(92 shows out of 1200 productions received
a minimum of 10 critic reviews
and have received a SWEET #LemonMeter rating by the Critics)

DANIEL’S HUSBAND at The Fountain Theatre
26 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

WITCH at the Geffen Playhouse
21 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

HANDJOB by the Echo Theater Company
21 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at the Ahmanson Theatre
21 Critics reviews – 76% Sweet

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN by the Antaeus Theatre Company
20 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

SKINTIGHT at the Geffen Playhouse
19 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE by the Antaeus Theatre Company
19 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY at The Fountain Theatre
19 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS at the Ahmanson Theatre
18 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE at the Ahmanson Theatre
18 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

1776 THE MUSICAL at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
18 Critics reviews – 94% Sweet

BRONCO BILLY – THE MUSICAL at the Skylight Theatre Company
18 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

AN INSPECTOR CALLS at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
18 Critics reviews – 81% Sweet

DEADLY at the Sacred Fools Theater Company
18 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

ON BECKETT at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HELLO DOLLY at the Pantages Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

READY STEADY YETI GO at the Rogue Machine Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 82% Sweet

TOO MUCH SUN at the Odyssey Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 82% Sweet

SALVAGE at the Lounge Theatre
16 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

LOOT at the Odyssey Theatre
16 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

ANNE, A NEW PLAY at the Museum of Tolerance
16 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES at the Geffen Playhouse
16 Critics reviews – 84% Sweet

NICK DEAR’S FRANKENSTEIN at A Noise Within
16 Critics reviews – 78% Sweet

RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL at the Pasadena Playhouse
15 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

INDECENT at the Ahmanson Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
15 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

DANA H. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

EIGHT NIGHTS by the Antaeus Theatre Company
15 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

FALSETTOS at the Ahmanson Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

A KID LIKE JAKE by the IAMA Theatre Company
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

LACKAWANNA BLUES at the Mark Taper Forum
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

HYPE MAN at The Fountain Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

SCRAPS at the Matrix Theatre
15 critics reviews – 87% Sweet

OTHELLO at A Noise Within
15 Critics reviews – 80% Sweet

PARADISE at the Matrix Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

LINDA VISTA at the Mark Taper Forum
15 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

AUGUST WILSON’S JITNEY at the Mark Taper Forum
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

DIANA OF DOBSON’S by the Antaeus Theatre Company
14 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

MOBY DICK – REHEARSED at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
14 Critics reviews – 89% Sweet

THE SOLID LIFE OF SUGAR WATER by Deaf West Theatre
14 Critics reviews – 89% Sweet

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Pasadena Playhouse
14 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

TWO TRAINS RUNNING AT MATRIX at the Matrix Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

IN CIRCLES at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TWELFTH NIGHT at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

RAGTIME at the Chance Theater
13 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

WITNESS UGANDA at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

THE JOY WHEEL at the Ruskin Group Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE WOLVES by the Echo Theater Company
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

FAITH HEALER at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE NICETIES at the Geffen Playhouse
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

ARGONAUTIKA at A Noise Within
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE PRODUCERS at the Celebration Theatre @ The Lex
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

LIGHTS OUT: NAT “KING” COLE at the Geffen Playhouse
13 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

HAPPY DAYS at the Mark Taper Forum
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CANYON at theLos Angeles Theatre Center
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE VANDAL at the Chance Theater
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

DEATH OF A SALESMAN at the Ruskin Group Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

NANCY F***ING REAGAN at the Secret Rose Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

AMERICA ADJACENT at theSkylight Theatre Company
12 Critics reviews – 83% Sweet

DEFENDERS at The Broadwater
12 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

ANASTASIA at the Pantages Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

JULIUS WEEZER at the El Portal Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

ANDY WARHOL’S TOMATO at the Pacific Resident Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

BURIED CHILD at A Noise Within
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HERSHEY FELDER: A PARIS LOVE STORY at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

ANNA IN THE TROPICS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
11 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

THE GLASS MENAGERIE at A Noise Within
11 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

AT THE TABLE at The Road Theatre Company
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

MISS LILLY GETS BONED at the Rogue Machine Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

SISTERS IN LAW at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

THE GREAT LEAP at the Pasadena Playhouse
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at the Odyssey Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 86% Sweet

M. BUTTERFLY at the South Coast Repertory
11 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by The Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREYA’S LAST DANCE at the Hudson Theatres
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

DAMES AT SEA by the Sierra Madre Playhouse
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

NEVER IS NOW at the Skylight Theatre Company
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

THE NEW ONE at the Ahmanson Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

FRIENDS WITH GUNS at The Road Theatre Company
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL by 5 Star Theatricals
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

DISNEY’S FROZEN at the Pantages Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by the 24th STreet Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

SPECIAL at the Theatre of Note
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at the South Coast Repertory
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

FIFTEEN MEN IN A SMOKE-FILLED ROOM at Theatre 40
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

LOOSE KNIT by The Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 80% Sweet


Ashton’s Audio Interview: the cast of “Mono/Poly” at Odyssey Theatre

Two monogamous couples encounter a polyamorous triad at a costume party. The triad becomes entwined in the business and personal lives of the first two couples, forcing them to examine their long-held beliefs about love and marriage. Although sexually free, the members of the triad adhere to their own fairly rigid ethical code. Who’s moral now? Will the couples and the triad live happily ever after?*

Enjoy this interview with the cast of “Mono/Poly” at Odyssey Theatre, running until Nov 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 – 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 – September 23 – 29, 2019

Theatrical shows, Film Festivals, and Musicals NOW registered on the Better Lemons calendar!

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

Short & Sweet Film Festival

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The Outsider

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Operation Ajax

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Absolutely Halloween

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You Don’t Know My Life!

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Do Us Part

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The Surveillance Triogy

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Mono/Poly

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Cock

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Living After

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My Favorite Suicide

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(IM)PERFEKT

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LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE

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The Italian in Me

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Ashton’s Audio Interview: The cast of “In Circles” at Odyssey Theatre

“Papa Dozes, Mama Blows Her Noses.” That’s just one of the delightfully quirky musical numbers from this Obie award-winning musical romp adapted by composer Al Carmines from A Circular Play by Gertrude Stein.*

Enjoy this interview with the cast of “In Circles” at Odyssey Theatre, playing through Nov 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