Wait Until Dark poster

Interview with Vanessa White of Classic Thriller WAIT UNTIL DARK at Theatre Palisades

Vanessa White as Suzy HendrixTheatre Palisades reopened their Pierson Playhouse for live theatre on August 27 with WAIT UNTIL DARK, a suspenseful 1966 Broadway thriller by Frederick Knott. But perhaps this classic tale is best known to audiences from the 1967 film starring Audrey Hepburn (who was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Actress), Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Jack Weston, Julie Herrod and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. In fact, in 2001 the film ranked #55 on the American Film Institute’s One Hundred Year… One Hundred Thrills list and its climatic scene is ranked tenth of Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments. Its popularity remains intact, with the play often performed on stages around the world.

Harry Roat bribes two con men, whom he renames Sgt. Carlino and Mike Talman, into doing his biding. (from left: Josh Paris, Manfred Hofer, Brett Chapin)
Photo credit: Joy Daunis

WAIT UNTIL DARK, is set in a 1967 Greenwich Village basement apartment where Susy Hendrix, a recently blind woman, is imperiled by a trio of strangers. Aided by her meddling young neighbor Gloria, Susie must fight for her life against these ruthless criminals, led by the sociopath Harry Roat, Jr. who has hired two con men in need of money (giving them the aliases of Mike Talman and Sgt. Carlino) to assist him in carrying out his mission to find a musical doll from Montreal hidden somewhere in her apartment that is more than just a toy.

But since Susy does not have the doll or know where it is, the men proceed to play a cat and mouse game with her to locate it – Roat for its valuable contents and the other two to get paid a hefty sum for assisting him. But when the trio attempts to convince Susy that the police need the doll as part of an investigation, and that her husband might be involved since he brought the doll across the Canadian border, Susie realizes these men are not who they say they are and her life is truly in danger every moment they are in her apartment.

Gloria spies on the van and phone booth outside Susy’s window.
Photo credit: Joy Daunis

As the tension builds, Gloria shows up with the doll! Susy then must figure out where to hide it as no doubt the men will soon return and search the place again, probably hurting her in the process. And after Gloria assists Susy by spying on the men through the kitchen window, Susie realizes her blindness might be the key to her escape! Thus, a suspenseful battle of wits begins, leading to a confrontation between the lady and the devil, culminating after darkness falls in this classic thriller’s chilling conclusion.

The WAIT UNTIL DARK cast
Photo credit: Joy Daunis

Directed by Tony Torrisi and produced by Martha Hunter and Sherman Wayne (who also designed the realistic set and lighting), the Theatre Palisades cast features Vanessa White as Susy Hendrix, Brett Chapin as Mike Talman, Manfred Hofer as Harry Roat, Josh Paris as Sgt. Carlino, Amanda Tugangui as Gloria, and Michael Wayne Osborn as Sam Hendrix, with each delivering a well-thought-out characterization. Perhaps since the cast had originally been scheduled to open the show in March 2020, no doubt the extra time to study lines and characterizations contributed to their deeper exploration and understanding of their roles.

Susy begins to wonder whether or not the men are telling her the truth.
Photo credit: Joy Daunis

I spoke with several of the actors after the performance, specifically to ask Vanessa White about her ability to so successfully inhabit a character without sight. She responded, “The most difficult part was not being able to look my fellow actors in the eye during our scenes together. But my reality is that I am legally blind without my glasses or contact lenses, which gives me personal insight in what it’s like to walk around your home when you cannot see things clearly.”  In fact, Vanessa’s movements were so specific, each time she walked the wall over to the bottom of the staircase, I saw her tap her foot there as Susy’s indicator on where she was. Same thing was true when she reached for the phone, often by grabbing the cord to lead her to the receiver.

Susy hatches a plan to get the con artists out of her house.
Photo credit: Joy Daunis

Act 1 contains a lot of exposition, and as such, can often get bogged down timewise. That seemed to be the case on the night I attended on opening weekend, with the stage often left empty for no apparent reason. But I am sure well-versed director Tony Torrisi will work with his actors on picking up their lines and movement to quicken the pace during future performances. And while the final confrontation between predator and prey requires us to believe it is performed in total darkness and usually has viewers gasping and jumping out of their seats, unfortunately Sherman Wayne’s dark lighting design did not allow us to see that moment happen. But if his idea was to let us experience Susy’s fearful surprise from a blind person’s perspective, he totally succeeded.

WAIT UNTIL DARK continues on Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm through October 3, 2021 at the Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Rd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Free on-site parking is available. Please note that masks must properly be worn while inside the theater, covering your nose and mouth, and proof of vaccination must be presented at the door for entrance. Tickets are $22 general admission, $20 seniors/students, available at 310-454-1970 or online at http://theatrepalisades.org/


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – May 6 – 12, 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.

Too Blunt!

“Your typical Midwestern-African American-Gay-Cat Loving-Sagittarian-Coming-of-Age Story in Los Angeles. A Black gay boy from Missouri shares his long and liberating journey to weight loss, dating in the gay-app era, while unpacking the complex intersectionality of race and sexual orientation– and the twisted heartbreak and humor that ensues.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Clementine

“CLEMENTINE celebrates the exhilaration of motherhood, balancing poetic passages with humorous detours into the modern realities of raising small children…[moving] forward and backward through time, exploring the pressures and the promises of parenthood. Unapologetically feminist and powerfully tender, CLEMENTINE studies a matriarchal family’s traditions, exploring the connection between generations through Wish’s lens as both a mother and a daughter…In this dynamic and often hilarious piece, April Wish has crafted a love letter to her daughter, Clementine, as well as to the little girl she used to be herself.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Institute for The Opposite of Longing

“Please enter the Opposite of Longing Chamber and state your primary symptom of longing. And where do you feel it in your body? And how much do you feel it on a scale of 1 to 10? And are you running out of time? The Institute for The Opposite of Longing can cure that thing deep in the pit of your body. But what happens when its owners and operators can’t let go of the little boy they had to give back? And can’t stop reenacting the day they packed his bags and watched him go. Or tucking him in at night or talking to his empty shoes or unpacking the bag of his things they keep hidden. What happens when these are the women who are responsible for curing that thing, that thing you feel deep in the pit of your body? Please enter the Opposite of Longing Chamber. We can help you. The process is simple.”

Share on social media.

The Institute for The Opposite of Longing

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Radicals

“’Radicals’ is a Bollywood Musical about a love story struggling to survive in the war-torn valleys of Kashmir, aimed at tackling Islamophobia and the trauma of warfare on civilians.”

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Siren Call

“The siren call is driving me to my end, like a ship to wreck on rocks”. Two frustrated actors accidentally kidnap their favorite movie star… or is it really her? What is identity in a world where myths are stronger than we dare think? A dramedy about identity and oneness, frustrated actors, classism, depression, myths and a quote by Albert Camus.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

LOVE, MADNESS, AND SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

“’Love, Madness and Somewhere in Between’ is a no holds barred glimpse into a mystical journey filled with love, pain, insanity, and redemption. Scattered along the way is a sprinkling of ironic comic commentary that can only come from a true survivor. “Jimmy” is not so much a hero but more a human being traversing an abusive childhood, a descent into alcoholism and finally plunging into a world of fantastical personifications which dwell amidst humanity’s darkest sins. Will closure, forgiveness, and healing come in the unlikely form of the “angel warriors” – patients on the pediatric cancer ward of Children’s Hospital? Does pure love, in fact, transform and redeem, or are some lives beyond salvation?”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Tattered Capes

“In ‘Tattered Capes,’ it’s Kevin and Stephanie Connolly’s fifth wedding anniversary, and Kevin has a night of celebration planned for them. Of course, this means he won’t be going out on his regular patrol of Metro City as his alter-ego, M-Pulse, the self-appointed Eminence of Electromagnetism. But things should be fine without him for one night, right? Wrong. One would think that there could be no secrets left between a husband and wife after five years of matrimonial bliss, but when a powerful supervillain’s attack interrupts Kevin and Stephanie’s date, a hero’s unmasking bears significant consequences for the Connollys…consequences that will resonate and redefine their relationship forever. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Squeeze My Cans

“A true journey in to and out of Scientology. ‘Moving, hilarious, heart-breaking and redemptive.’ Lets you experience for yourself how Scientology devours money and lives.’ -Chicago Reader ‘Schenkelberg easily switches characters and time periods with dizzying energy, that is both exhilarating and electrifying.’- Edge Media ‘At the top of the best performed, brilliantly written, elegantly directed one person shows I have ever seen.’- Buzz News”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Skylight

“On a bitterly cold London evening, schoolteacher Kyra Hollis receives an unexpected visit from her former lover, Tom Sergeant, a successful and charismatic restaurateur whose wife has recently died. As the evening progresses, the two attempt to rekindle their once passionate relationship only to find themselves locked in a dangerous battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desires. Can they find their way back to each other, or has the time for their tumultuous romance reached its end? ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Tigers Be Still

“’Tigers Be Still’ — a ferociously funny play from New Girl writer Kim Rosenstock — centers around the infinitely-trying-to-be-optimistic Sherry Wickman, who has earned her art therapy degree and promptly moved back in with her family. Matters take a turn for the better once she gets hired as a substitute art teacher. Now if only her mother would stop hiding upstairs, her sister would stop watching Top Gun from the couch, her petulant patient would do one of his assignments, her boss would leave his gun at home, and someone would catch the tiger that escaped from the local zoo, everything would be just perfect.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

CORINA, From Lap dance to Sundance

“Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your dream alive. CORINA: FROM LAP DANCE TO SUNDANCE is a one-woman show about finding purpose and direction to a life long dream in the least likely of places. A story of family, tradition, and perseverance.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Legends, Movement and Memories

“The performers include: Florence LaRue, an original member of The 5th Dimension, the pop group that so often dominated the charts in the 60s and 70s with their hit songs, will perform some of the award-winning singing group’s big hits. Freda Payne will perform an excerpt from her show Ella Fitzgerald, First Lady of Song, bringing to life the immortal Ella Fitzgerald and her revered career as an extraordinary jazz singer. Sheetal Gandhi in BAHU-Beti-Biwi (Daughter-inLaw, Daughter, Wife). A tour-de-force excerpt combining dance, stirring vocalization, and percussive text that glides between humorous portraiture and active resistance. Juli Kim shares two dance works. Five Drum Dance exemplifies Korean traditional music with a touch of Western influence. New Leaf, deeply rooted in Korean “Han,” symbolically unfolds the innocence of the new leaf when there is change in life.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Mama Metal

“This joyfully irreverent black comedy entwines issues of identity with pop culture icons to tell a truly unique mother-daughter story. Sterling Milburn’s mother is dying and Sterling is falling apart. She attempts to keep it together by rewriting the past with the help of two titans of the American theater and the world’s greatest heavy metal band — but Sterling’s mother refuses to follow the script. A love letter to those who shape our lives, hold us together and break our hearts.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Dancing to the Edge of a Cliff: One Woman’s Musical Mythological Journey toward Self-Acceptance

“Incorporating music, multimedia, humor, a touch of mythology, and embodying over twenty characters, Margaret whimsically puts her psyche on stage to explore her struggle with self-acceptance and her experience of two mental breakdowns. Margaret explores not only what outside influences molded her personality when she was growing up and as an adult, but also confronts two internal voices, representing the competing compulsions of artistry (Puella) and perfectionism (Miss Perfect). Realizing in the end that what she has been taught her whole life was right, doesn’t work for her.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Ride or Die: The Hip-Hop Musical

“Elliott and Michael are best friends. They’re of different temperaments. Elliott is boisterous and outgoing. Michael is more tentative and shy. One day, Elliott dies in an accident. He’s allowed to come back to earth, where he can only be seen by Michael. Elliott is tasked with finding Michael a new best friend. Only then will Elliott earn his angel wings and be allowed to ascend into Heaven. Michael wants to be friends with Ciara. Will Elliott be able to help Michael connect with Ciara, or will he mess things up for them all? Will Michael and Ciara ultimately become friends? Will Elliott earn his angel wings? The cast is unique in the fact that most of the performers are differently-abled: John JT Tucker Jr. (Elliott), has Down syndrome. He is the star of the A&E tv series Born This Way. Domonique Brown (Michael) has autism and recurs on the Netfiix series Atypical. He’s the nephew of Marvin Gaye. Spencer Harte (Ciara) has autism and also recurs on Atypical. The supporting players include Coby Bird who has autism and will be a regular on a Netflix series to be announced; and Caley Versfelt, who has Down syndrome.
The rest of the cast is neurotypical and includes Brendan McCay, Stanson Chung, Alexa Russo and Callie Ott.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Karaoke Saved My Life

“Scotty D, just a city boy from South Detroit, invites you on a Journey, showing you how karaoke saved his life, and how it can save yours, too. With stories, power ballads, big anthems, and cheesy pop, and a bit of bopping, we might even save the World. Don’t stop believing!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Fight Song!

“Texas. 1964. Following a deadly car crash, four cheerleaders navigate through the afterlife. Both Lucifer and God herself pay a visit, and High School drama turns into madness in this strange nightmare of a story – a never-ending fight song.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Fight or Flight

“Isaac Easton, a recently retired boxer, and his former sports manager open a gym together to help advance the popularity of female boxing. When their first female boxer gets into trouble only three weeks from the fight, they scramble to find a new fighter to train. Enter Zoey Jones, a young and shy fighter who has never fought in the professional circuit. Easton and Jones take a crash course in trusting and learning from each other over three weeks in preparation for the fight, and the two often butt heads. Can Jones pull out a win and save Easton’s reputation and gym? Through voice-overs and grueling workouts in preparation for the fight, this one-act play shows the audience how intimate a platonic relationship between a man and woman can be, the beauty of physical strength, and what happens when you are stuck in fight or flight mode.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Five Pieces of Paper: Stories My Hungarian Grandmother Refused to Tell Me and Other Family Tales

“Moti Buchboot, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, created this show in response to the 2017 Charlottesville riots. He reveals lessons learned from his Hungarian grandmother who began her life in a village in Hungary, survived the Holocaust, and eventually settled in a small town in Israel. Buchboot’s tale unfolds through storytelling, Yiddish song, puppetry, and baking.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Narcissist Next Door

“The power of positive thinking goes hilariously wrong when a new neighbor teaches two dispirited best friends an Ancient Peruvian Self Help Philosophy. Instead of their lives being transformed they end up held hostage by two inept kidnappers. ‘Be careful who you wish for’ has never been more appropriate.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

POCKETS

“Set in the fictional British-ish kingdom of Crumpeton, POCKETS spins the tale of Bellamina Crumbledunk, a noble preteen, who becomes a pickpocket to win the attention of her overextended mother, the Duchess. Bellamina’s misadventures take her into the underbelly of society, where she accidentally becomes the leader of a criminal uprising, but will she have the heart to sabotage her mother’s well-laid plans for Crumpet Day? #CheckYourPockets for tickets to this fast-paced, funny, and touching period piece to find out!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Straight White Men Trying to Woke

“Five short comedies exploring the middle age white male struggle to fit in during these confusing times.
FANDOM – navigating politics
POLITE RACISM – analyzing ethnicity
SUICIDE PACT – tolerating millennials
BRITTLE TROMBONE – contemplating economics
FANTASY FOOTBALL – grasping identity”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Girl From SchenectadyGirl From Schenectady

“Selected as an Honorable Mention for the Hollywood Fringe 2019 due to it’s cultural theme, “Girl From Schenectady” is a story about a 38-year-old Nigerian Woman from Schenectady New York who is still a Virgin. Her story begins with her Journey to finding True Love. However, her plan is to find Mr. Right and to lose her Virginity before she turns 40. The story takes place at the Airport, while Ayo is waiting for her next flight to take off, she describes the metaphoric places she has traveled to Find True Love. She takes the Audience on a ride to her past and her Nigerian family traditions, Culture, and Values. She struggles to break free from her Nigerian Generational Cycle, Parental Divorce, Failed Marriages and to keep history from repeating itself. Ayo also takes the Audience on her dating journey starting with a Nigerian Man. She also dates a Mexican Man, an Italian Man and an African American Man. After several attempts to finding True Love and Losing her virginity before 40, she goes on a self-discovery, and Lands in the last place she ever thought she would find True Love.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Dames at Sea

“Ruby gets off the bus from Utah with “nothing but tap shoes in her suitcase and a prayer in her heart.” As fate would have it, she is immediately cast in the chorus of a Broadway show. When the theatre is forced to close, Ruby’s songwriting sailor boyfriend persuades the Captain of his ship to allow the show to move on deck. Voila! Dames at sea! When the show’s lead gets seasick, Ruby may have to go on for her. Will Ruby come back a star? Do you need to ask? Dames at Sea at once pays affectionate homage to and sends up the optimistic early Broadway musicals of the 30s and 40s. It’s filled with songs, tap-dancing and romance from start to finish. It is suitable for general audiences.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Rory and the Devil

“During the height of The Troubles, in a rural pub on the border of Northern Ireland, Mary Friel, a barmaid, strives to maintain harmony amongst the men in her life. Ancestral legends and secrets are revisited and a cycle of violence is revealed: can they forgive injustice and cruelty from their past, or will the cycle continue? Enjoy a Guinness and whiskey as a group of actors take you to Neil Friel’s pub–a safe place for a good story–until it isn’t. In this bare-bones production of Rory and the Devil you can enjoy the best of what Irish storytelling has to offer.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Johnny ’81

“It’s 1981! The corpse of disco, the flames of punk, the plastic smell of new wave, and the balls of rock ‘n’ roll, all converge and merge on a seemingly peaceful street in West Hollywood, CA, along with the stories of a 12-year-old boy raised by a pill-popping single mother and the many gay men in their life…Against a backdrop of music, ‘JOHNNY ’81’ weaves together a collection of stories based on a 12-year-old boy’s experience of living in West Hollywood during the early 1980s. These semi-autobiographical tales bring to life the humor and drama of how a group of gay men became strange and amazing surrogate fathers to a pre-teen boy and his younger brother…’JOHNNY ’81’ is like spending the day listening to an old record album, or like being at a concert, with stories that make us reflect on our lives and the world we live in, or tales that make you just want to get up out of your seat and dance!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Bronco Billy – The Musical

“’Voice from the Village’…is based upon one of Los Angeles greatest playwrights, Lynn Manning and his in real time visit to Skid Row Studios on Monday, August 26, 2013 for an interview on “The Qumran Report”, hosted by Melvin Ishmael Johnson to talk about his life growing up in Watts and turning a tragic situation into an art form.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

If It Goes There

“It’s Saturday night, and Erik and Connor are looking to get laid. When they try their luck on a hook-up app, the night takes a turn they never expected and their true desires are revealed.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

A Time Traveler’s Guide to the Present

“When 85% of the world is afflicted with a mysterious case of ‘The Flake,’ one man volunteers to travel through space and time to stop it. ‘A Time Traveler’s Guide to the Present’ is a far-out, amped-up, one-man show about the hunt for human connection. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Scorpion and the Frog: a time-killer

“’The Scorpion and the Frog: a time-killer’ is a comic interpretation of the oft-told story/fable/allegory/whatchamawhoositz about a frog who agrees to take a scorpion across a river. Will the two make it to the other side of said river? Will they learn anything? Will they grow as [an] intelligent species? Will these questions entice you to actually leave your homes and see this play?”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Uprooted

“In ‘Uprooted,’ the creatures of Vanessa Boss’ inner world take you on the flight of her life! A disturbance triggers violent weather, endangering matriarch Elda, the elder tree, the voice of Vanessa’s wisdom. Elda leads Vanessa’s inner fantasy creatures on a journey to remind Vanessa of her strength, but 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’ll get to choose where home is. But is home a place or a feeling? Full of exciting adventure, triumph, and heartbreak, Vanessa frees herself from the restraints of her inner demons and proclaims her power to define her own fate. Uprooted is a young woman’s resilient story of growing into the strong, rooted woman she is meant to be. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

ORANGUTAN

“Orangutan is a haunting and absurd one-woman show about the mother of a brutish (slightly orange) would-be dictator, and the tribalism that’s tearing our country apart. Deutch’s provocative dark comedy was inspired by Bill Maher’s challenge to Donald Trump’s outrageous Obama “Birther” claims. Maher offered to donate five million dollars to the charity of Donald Trump’s choice if Trump produced a birth certificate that proved he was not half-ape. Trump’s lawyer responded: ‘Attached hereto is a copy of Mr. Trump’s birth certificate, demonstrating that he is the son of Fred Trump, not an Orangutan.’ Trump then sued Bill Maher for five million dollars…”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS

“In this new play, Neil, a mediocre musician, and Kurt Cobain wannabe, moves to Los Angeles to “make it” as a rockstar. Through the constant ups and downs of LA living, Neil struggles between pursuing his passions or taking the practical path in life. Should he keep chasing his dreams or stop? This 60-minute three-person show explores idealism vs. cynicism, the practicality of pursuing art in a capitalist society, and millennials’ struggle with mental health.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

NAKED MAN RISING

“Aren’t you tired of going to the theater and seeing the same old shit? Check out ‘Naked Man Rising,’ a crowd favorite from the Solo Creation Festival. We’re talking sold out, folk. This tale of revenge rips through the stage like a Grindhouse film and features a balls-to-the-wall performance by Canadian Wildman and naturalist Kyle Durack. Not for your Grandma…unless, she’s a badass. Winner of the Hollywood Fringe Scholarship for first-time Producers, Kyle is thrilled to bring ‘Naked Man Rising’ to the 2019 Fringe Festival. The writing is crisp and the play moves along at a deft pace. But the words are simply a vehicle for Kyle Durack’s powerful interpretation. The Canadian actor was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, and in this piece, he sheds his disability along with his clothes to reveal the inner strength concealed by a “weakened” body. ‘Naked Man Rising’ mixes humor and action. Durack uses his physicality well as he tells the story.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

HELL’S FINEST

“The cult of Abaddon has a problem. The Angel of the Abyss, the figure with which they worship, is demanding a new leader. But not just anybody will qualify. Only the darkest, most demented contestants stand a chance at obtaining total power. A sadist, a murderer, and a predator, all share one common goal: to become the leader of the finest cult, the Ascendants of Abaddon. There’s only one problem. In order to obtain this position, they must go up against each other in a riveting competition to impress the cult’s current leader: Adam. He’s spectacularly charming and possesses the uncanny ability to influence all those who cross his path. With secrets spilled and matches met, the three contestants grow more and more daring with their desperate attempts to gain total power. However, no matter what happens, no matter who lies and who cheats, Adam always calls the final shots.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Not Here Right Now

“The hilariously touching tale of a tall man in tight spaces, finding clarity and avoiding a quarter-life crisis in Southeast Asia, all while wearing strappy velcro sandals except to the wedding of the century. Tired of the monotony of New York City corporate life, Royce, an ambitious 20-something, trades in his promising media research career for a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia. In this live one-man show, Royce brings you on an 8-country adventure toward self-discovery. During ‘Not Here Right Now,’ audiences are treated to true stories and experiences of Royce’s inspiring journey from corporate citizen to world traveler. The original production of Not Here Right Now was successfully funded on Kickstarter thanks to the support of 165 people from around the world.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

IF TRUTH BE TOLD

“A raucous evening of comic stories, told by a woman who has seen a few things. Actress and humorist Jennifer Brown examines how the truth can play out in a variety of ways. What exactly is “the truth”? And when you are asked to tell the truth, whose truth do you stand in?”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Crack Whore, Bulimic, Girl-Next-Door

“A comedic romp through depression, eating disorders and self-loathing! Crack Whore, Bulimic, Girl-Next-Door is a one-act play chronicling one woman’s journey through her depression and bulimarexia. It is a painfully funny look at body image, addiction, and the obsession with fitting into society’s ideal of beauty and thinness. It is part poetry and prose, part sketch and part narrative with a few snappy dance numbers mixed in. Three actresses portray one woman in various stages of her eating disorder and crippling depression. They are joined by one male actor portraying various influences in her childhood development, teenage years and young adulthood. This autobiographical theatrical experience intimately exposes the perils of womanhood, the rawness of living through sexual trauma and culminates in discovering the inner strength to live comfortably in one’s own skin ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Mil Grus

“Previous Fringe award winners team up for this year’s Hollywood Fringe to create the First official Bouffon/Clown troupe “MIL GRUS” led by world-renowned physical theater artist Dean Evans of “Honeybuns” fame. Be prepared as this motley crew of miscreants crawl out of the gutter to make you question reality in the most exhilarating way. This timeless satire features improvised feats of physical and existential comedy that defy explanation and provoke unfettered, eery glee. Come see what’s behind the curtain, starting June 9, 2019, at The Mccadden Place Theatre”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Human Fountains

“As seen on America’s Got Talent (quarter-finalists) and countless television shows around the world! Prepare for a fountain show like you’ve never seen before! The Human Fountain’s hilarious choreographed water spitting routines will keep you laughing and thirsty for more. Always making a splash on stage, literally — the group has endless tricks up their sleeves (and in their mouths) giving you performances that are one-of-a-kind. Inspired by the world’s most famous fountains, the comedy group adds a human touch to give you one of the most unique experiences you’ve ever seen. They couldn’t be more excited to premiere their full-length show for Hollywood Fringe.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Les Mis-Cast

“Cast members from the National Tour of ‘Les Misérables’ (now at the Pantages Theatre through June 2) will perform in a very special cabaret concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and PAWS/LA. Patrons will support two great causes as they enjoy an intimate evening of cabaret-style performances. The evening will also feature a silent auction, allowing audience members to bid on items graciously donated by the Broadway community and local businesses.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Funeral Potatoes

“What would you do with only a month left to live? What would you look back on with nostalgia or regret? With laughter as the best medicine, Funeral Potatoes is a dark comedy about death and friendship, examining what makes it all worth it when you’ve spent your entire life planning for a future you won’t have.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Food Bowl Events: Food and Film

Food and Film – Somebody Feed Phil: Dublin

“Somebody Feed Phil: Dublin’ LA FOOD BOWL FEATURED EVENT. Join Phil Rosenthal, creator, writer and producer of the hit comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond” for a special screening of his Netflix hit ‘Somebody Feed Phil: Dublin’ and a conversation with Phil. This fantastic event will be teamed with none other than Nick Shipp (Upper West) who will be teaming the event with a specially curated Irish themed assortment of food! Specialty drinks provided…Screening with talk-back 75 mins. Nick Shipp Meal With Phil 75 minutes will be followed by a Q&A with Phil and Arena Cinelounge-Clamorhouse-LA Times-Phil Rosenthal event.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Food and Film – The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover

“NC-17 LA FOOD BOWL FEATURED EVENT MON. MAY 20 – The 1989 crime drama is arguably Peter Greenaway’s most famous (or infamous) film, which first shocked audiences at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and then on both sides of the Atlantic. A gang leader (Michael Gambon), accompanied by his wife (Helen Mirren) and his associates, entertains himself every night in a fancy restaurant that he has recently bought. Having tired of her sadistic, boorish husband, the wife finds herself a lover (Alan Howard) and makes love to him in the restaurant’s coziest places with the silent permission of the cook (Richard Bohringer). Sergio Corbia of Ciabatta Bar and Fabiolus Cafe crafts a specialty menu that complements Greenaway’s paradoxical comments on the relations between eating and sex, love and death.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

More about the L.A. Times Food Bowl:

The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special

“the 2nd annual trump family special original musical comedy’ parodies [the] First Family in “yuge” way. What if the First Family put on a live musical TV special – just like the Brady Bunch – starring Ice Princess Ivanka, her numbnut brothers, a still-not-caring Melania, and a host of ex’s and deplorables.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Princess Magic’s Trash Fire Time Revue

“A child’s birthday party takes an unexpected turn when the scheduled magician doesn’t show and the job is filled by a drunk and wayward vagrant. There are prizes. You should come. Use discount code BETTERLEMONS for 20% off their regular ticket price of $15”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

THE CHRISTIANS

“As their final show of Season 27, Actors Co-op Theatre Company is proud to present Lucas Hnath’s The Christians, directed by Thomas James O’Leary, produced by Carly Lopez. When the pastor of a megachurch unilaterally decides to enlighten his congregation with his own personal revelation, he is faced with doubt and dissension among his flock. Hnath’s Obie Award-winning play examines the schism in today’s church and the role of faith in America. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

StoryTime

“The Group Rep presents StoryTime, a story salon produced by Patricia Willson, featuring fresh, live personal stories as entertainment – – an evening of joy, sadness, and a touch of comedy on Sunday, May 12 at 7:00 pm, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, CA, at the edge of the NoHo Arts District.
Authors performing their stories include Vince Cefalu ‘Eyes of A Child,” Devon Curry ‘Mach Two,’ Jana DiMaggio ‘Conventional Wisdom,’ Rick Hall ‘Mom’s Home Cooking,’ Tripp Mills ‘A Rainbow God Box,’ Madeline Morgan ‘Salute to Storytellers,’ Candace Nicholas-Lippman ‘Don’t Get It Twisted, I Love My Mama,’ Lila Silvern ‘This Sperm is For You,’ Jonathan Leigh Solomon ‘Hello in There,’ Lan Tran ‘Overpolite, Shanghai’ed and Homeless in Vietnam,’ and Pat Willson ‘Momma.’ ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

SHAME OF THRONES: The Musical

“The Whitefire Theatre Musical Mondays is proud to present…the musical spoof SHAME OF THRONES: The Musical returns to L.A. for more hilarious re-imagining of the show’s backstabbing siblings, clever imps and dragon mamas, all set to an addictive rock score that’ll stick in your head (unless the king orders it off, natch)…Watch your favorite daring and most despised characters sing and dance towards epic plot twists and the coveted Iron Throne.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

AVENUE Q

“The Group Rep presents AVENUE Q…This fresh and unusual Tony-award winning musical is a coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters lament that as children, they were assured by their parents, and by Sesame Street, that they were ‘extraordinary’ and ‘could do anything’; but as adults, they have discovered, to their surprise, that in the real world their options are limited, and they are actually ordinary like everyone else. This quirky musical ranks 24th on the list of the longest running shows in Broadway history. Avenue Q is notable for the use of puppets, animated by unconcealed puppeteers. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

THE COLUMBINE PROJECT

“In remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, Loft Ensemble and the Whitefire Theatre are co-producing and reviving Paul Storiale’s award-winning drama The Columbine Project directed by Bree Pavey. An atemporal retelling of the events leading up to, during and following the April 20, 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, the play challenges what we think we know about the victims, families, teachers and the shooters themselves. Praised by LA theatre critics, survivors and families of the victims. The Columbine Project was created from direct correspondence with people involved in and affected by the event”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Let’s Write a Musical

“Let’s Write a Musical is an emotional rollercoaster ride of music, laughter, and tears. David Hamilton decides to write a musical after he is diagnosed with cancer. While the couple deals with the ups and downs of their cancer journey, so are the characters in the musical on a rollercoaster ride of mishaps and shenanigans.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Aristophanes’ THE BIRDS

“When the world has gone to the birds, the cuckoo is king. Two shiftless con men scheme to exploit the power of the birds by encouraging them to build a fortress in the sky, from where they can lord over mankind and Gods alike. Aristophanes’ classic comedy THE BIRDS is about corruption, weakness, and power; how easily people are exploited based on fear, ego and greed; and how even noble ideas may be corrupted if those who have power are irresponsible and/or selfish. (Sound like anything going on now? Hm? Too soon?) Or, as John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton said to an Anglican bishop, ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men…’”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Jordan Maverick, History Teacher

“Welcome to the school of hard Glocks. Jordan Maverick is one of the nation’s most highly-trained teachers – an excellent marksman, a black belt in Jujitsu, and an engaging History teacher. But when he transfers to one of the most dangerous schools in the country, he’ll face one of his biggest fears: co-teaching with the loose cannon Miss Pitts. Can they find a way to work together in time to solve the school’s problems? This favorite from Season 13 of Serial Killers at Sacred Fools returns as a complete production at this years Hollywood Fringe.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Come Back!

“’Every day’s a goddamn audition.’ Based on the ‘Serial Killers’ 2018 Playoffs winner, ‘COME BACK’ is the hilarious yet touching story of Edie and Petey Stevenson, an overbearing stage mother and her hapless son, attempting to stage a ‘comeback’ performance. One of three shows Sacred Fools is proud to present as part of this year’s Hollywood Fringe.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition

“Who is the best Drag Queen in the whole wide world? Now’s your chance to find out — at the first ever Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition. Millions of the best Drag performers from around the world applied, but only eight will compete, carefully chosen by a mysterious group of anonymous Drag Elders. ▪︎ The contestants are (in alphabetical order) Abhora (Miami, FL); Astrud Aurelia (Phoenix, AZ); Calypso Jeté (Los Angeles); Lyle (Los Angeles); Gigi Monroe (Juneau, AK); Kat Sass (Chicago, IL); Sabbyiana (Montebello, CA); and Aurora Sexton (Los Angeles). ▪︎ Judged upon the criteria of Presence, Energy, Nuance, Integrity, and Stunningness, this is a pageant for everyone — Drag Queens, Drag Kings, Trans Artists, Hyper Queens, Bio Queens, AFAB Queens — from first-timers to established pageant powerhouses. ▪︎ The celebrity guest host is Jackie Beat. The judges are (in alphabetical order) Nicole Byer, Jiggly Caliente, Landon Cider, Gia Gunn, Sharon Needles, Peppermint, and Willam.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

5 Women Wearing the Same Dress

“During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville, Tennessee estate, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings below. They are Frances, a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist; Mindy, the cheerful, wise-cracking lesbian sister of the groom; Georgeanne, whose heartbreak over her own failed marriage triggers outrageous behavior; Meredith, the bride’s younger sister whose precocious rebelliousness masks a dark secret; and Trisha, a jaded beauty whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher to whom there is more than meets the eye. As the afternoon wears on, these five very different women joyously discover a common bond in this wickedly funny, irreverent and touching celebration of the women’s spirit.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Hide Your Fires: Butoh Lady Macbeth

“’Hide Your Fires: Butoh Lady Macbeth’ brings the audience alongside the accursed spirit of Lady Macbeth to experience her nightmare of stifled ambition, unfulfilled desire, and ultimate loss. Telling the story solely through her perspective, this production fuses Japanese Butoh dance, movement, and various texts to take you inside the mind and body of one of Shakespeare’s most famous villains.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

?


Now Registered on the Better Lemons Calendar – April 29 – May 5, 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.

How I Became A Superhero

“…An ensemble comedy about a couple that leaves the world of online activism and leaps into the business of vigilante justice! Running at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival in June, this is a bright show for anyone who has ever dreamed about being amazing…a family friendly comedy that brings comic books to life, with comic book page sets, sound effects, and lights.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

SugarFree: Foster Care Cognitive Dissonance

“SugarFree Foster Care combines the difficult journey of foster youth through my perspective as both a social worker and foster child…interspersed [with] poetry, personal narrative, humor, and real-life experiences for a theater experience that tugs at the heartstrings of our greatest human needs in the midst of the social welfare system’s inadequacies.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Lend Me A Tenor

“Winner of 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards LEND ME A TENOR combines a chain-reaction of mistaken identity, plot twists, double entendres and the constant slamming of many doors to create one of the funniest farces to grace the American stage in the last 30 years. A sensation on Broadway and in London’s West End, LEND ME A TENOR pays homage to the madcap screwball comedies of the 1930’s, guaranteed to leave audiences howling hysterically with laughter and walking out the door with a warm smile. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

GEORGE.

“Told through the creation of his first three films, ‘George’ is the story of how a young man from Modesto, California became George Lucas. With each act following a different film, George will learn all of the skills that eventual led to the creation of ‘Star Wars.’ ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Raised By Wolves

“You learn to survive quick when you’re being dragged behind a team of sled dogs. A comedy about a girl and her dogsled team navigating the rocky terrain of growing up and her quest to become the alpha of her own pack. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Widows Anonymous

“In the circle that is Widows Anonymous, five characters come together to share stories, secrets and the brutal humor that is being a widow in modern times. As they discover, there is no short cut, no alternate route, and the only way out is through. Welcome to the front lines.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Bat Knight!

“The dynamic duo have finally made it to the Hollywood Fringe Festival! Little do Batman and Robin know, the Joker’s latest scheme will give them the ride of a lifetime. Race through the streets of Gotham with Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Superman, Alfred the Butler, and many more members of the Bat Family in this dark and hilarious interactive musical parody that puts you, the audience, in the middle of the action. Bring the whole family to battle The Joker, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, the Penguin, and the rest of the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery, and celebrate the Batman universe in this side splitting night of Bat-Mania! ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Olivia Wilde Does Not Survive The Apocalypse

“A hack director and a snooty actress stumble 300 years into the future. America has been taken over by a fascist government, which believes that entertainment is the key to control. As the only remaining people on earth with any artistic talent the director and actress are forced to put on a play. But if they fail to entertain the masses they will be executed on live television. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

TOBINCON

“Actor and comedian Tobin Mitnick sheds light on three con men that are using their style-savvy to manipulate a generation of young Americans through the unregulated Wild West that is the Internet. In its world premiere, one-man comedy TOBINCON dives into the grotesque and hilarious world of online grifters—the Body Prophet, the Rhetorical Bad Boy, and the Compassionologist—with sketch and stand-up, in order to show us that the game may have changed, but the players are all still here. But Mitnick also answers a lingering question: When you spend so much time rubbing shoulders with these types, will it rub off on you? In other words, can you con yourself? Only TOBINCON has the answers!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

CINDERELLA TOPSY TURVY – A Tender Gender Bender Romantic Musical Fairy Story for Pride 2019

“A Tender Gender Bender Romantic Musical Fairy Story. A delightful re-imagining of the classic Cinderella tale brings you upside-down casting – half original practices, half Gilbert and Sullivan, half just plain fun. Meet a handsome Prince, silly stepsisters, a befuddled king, and an out-of-the-box steampunk Fairygodmother. Added delights are the outrageously playful period costumes and the heart-warming romance that blooms with the assistance of a glass slipper, a feather duster, and a truly magical wand. A gentle prod at stereotypical gender roles, this light-hearted send-up is a hilarious twist on the classic tale.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

La Traviata

“Giuseppe Verdi and Librettist Francesco Maria Piave’s classic Italian opera based on the play La Dame aux Camélias adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas…Southern California native Christopher Job…makes his L.A. Opera debut. After a decade of work at the Metropolitan Opera, and making two appearances last season with the L.A. Phil.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Same Room

“’A dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity…’ Well, not quite. Thyma and Aspid find themselves trapped in a barren room with two locked doors, but where are they? What sets them free? And most importantly, what happens after this? ‘The Same Room’ explores human compassion in a new light and begs the question- What becomes of us when we refuse to heal?”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Lincoln 2020

“Like a lot of people today, campaign manager Tess Baker is sick of politics. She’s just about ready to throw in the when somebody wakes up a candidate she can work with – Abraham Lincoln. Will he be a good President in 2020 America? Will he even win? You decide! That’s right, the play has two endings and your vote counts!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Bunny the Elf LIVE!

“A Musical Theatre Nerd, forced by her family to give up her dreams, gets a real job in the real world… as a toy store Christmas elf. An uplifting coming of age comedy about finding where one’s talents, or lack thereof, fit in the world. Christi Pedigo’s YouTube sensation Bunny the Elf will be sharing her elfing journey LIVE! On stage! With new material and a special update on what’s next for Bunny.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

FEELING LUCKY

“A comedy about men and women straddling the elusive line between true love and a broken heart who discover that in the game of love what you see is not always what you get.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Victress Burlesque Presents: ShipwRACKed

“Introducing Victress, the L.A.-based comedy burlesque troupe, flipping traditional burlesque on its head with a character-fueled strip show. The premise is simple: Comedic monologues lead into cheeky choreographed dance numbers that will make your heart go pitter-pat. Their newest show, “ShipwRACKed,” premieres in a 5-show limited run as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. It’s a naughty’cal adventure stacked with quips, ships, n’ nips. Get ready for a burlesque show like you’ve never seen before.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

And Now It’s All This!

“A play about when John Lennon said the Beatles were bigger than Jesus and the fallout that ensued.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

A Walk in the Woods at North Coast Repertory Theatre

“What really goes on behind the scenes of tense arms negotiations between powerful nations? Set in the midst of the Cold War, Lee Blessing’s gripping play, A WALK IN THE WOODS, is especially relevant today. With talks seemingly at an impasse, the American and Soviet negotiators agree to meet informally while strolling through the peaceful forest. Their revealing and absorbing conversations, laced with warmth and humor, evolve through debate and discord, exploring unexpected and uncharted territory. Nominated for a Pulitzer and a Tony Award, Blessing’s dramatic comedy was inspired by historic conversations between negotiators Paul H. Nitze and Yuli A Kvitsinsky who left the official 1982 Geneva sessions for an unofficial “walk in the woods.” For those yearning for a more enlightened world, this play is shrewdly observant and resonates with the ring of political truth ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Impro Theatre’s Twilight Zone UnScripted at North Coast Rep

“From the darkest corners of reality, to the land of the unexplained – Impro Theatre’s Twilight Zone Unscripted pays homage to Rod Serling’s breakthrough sci-fi series “The Twilight Zone.” Enter the wondrous dimension of imagination, as completely improvised episodes are created with every performance.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown

“Based on the beloved comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles Schulz, this revue of songs and vignettes tells the story of some typical days in the life of Charlie Brown. From running after the school bus to spying the cute little red-haired girl at lunch, Charlie Brown deals with the fun and frustrations of life with his friends Lucy, Linus, and Schroeder; his kid sister Sally; and his faithful companion, Snoopy. With charm, wit, and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” is fun for all ages.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Chico’s Angels: Fly Chica Fly

“A live comedy production that parodies the 1976–1981 television series Charlie’s Angels. Three of LA’s favorite drag queens star in the title roles — Kay Sedia (Oscar Quintero), Chita Parol (Ray Garcia), and Frieda Laye (Danny Casillas). In this brand new episode written by Oscar Quintero and Kurt Koehler, young hopeful stewardesses are disappearing, and it’s up to Chico’s Angels to fly the “not-so-friendly skies.” Can the Angels solve the case? Fasten your seat belts, turbulence was never this spicy!”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW

“Young newlywed Melody has never been to a funeral – until her husband dies in a plane crash. Expected to instantly assume proper widowhood, Melody is left to wonder, what’s the right way to grieve? Fortunately, her mother-in-law is a professional. Widow, that is. Under her guidance, Melody must try her best to be a good little widow.An emotional comedy about loss and longing from Peabody Award-winning Writer/Producer of NBC’s Hit “This Is Us.” Bekah Brunstetter will be participating in a talk-back following the performance on Saturday, June 1st. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

ROOTS

“Theatre of NOTE continues its 2019 season with ROOTS:…four wonderfully strange world premiere short plays, written by four accomplished Theatre of NOTE-grown playwrights, which together usher audiences through the complexity of the human condition. A dark comedy for dark times unfolds at a wedding…in either a sitcom or just a disturbed mind (Deadpan). A one-night stand takes a Kafkaesque turn. Is this stranger the one? Or just something very strange (The Smell of Something to Eat)? A story of people who probably definitely love each other, as they encounter tectonic distress (Big Ones). Escaping Soviet Russia, a young woman goes on to found modern conservative philosophy before becoming the subject of her own musical theater production (Rand!). Everyone has their own journey, but we all start at our ROOTS. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Thank You For Loving Me

“August and Bobbie have been broken up for weeks. Bobbie comes back to the apartment she left to pick up the last of her things. Like a manic, time-jumping fever dream- they recreate all of their highs and lows of their relationship. Only, they have differing memories and perceptions of the events. ‘Thank You For Loving Me’ explores still loving someone yet knowing it is time to say goodbye.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Town Brawl

“Inspired by the outrageous stories found on Nextdoor.com, Town Brawl is your chance to witness petty and absurd neighborly drama being settled in a no holds barred town hall meeting. If you hate your neighbors you’ll love our show.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Daniel’s Husband

“Daniel and Mitchell are the perfect couple. What isn’t so perfect is that Daniel desperately longs to be married, but Mitchell doesn’t believe in it. When a life-altering event throws the couple into crisis, Mitchell must use the laws of his own heart to fight the rules of law. Michael McKeever’s funny, passionate and poignant play takes an unflinching look at how we choose to tie the knot — or not.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Bronco Billy – The Musical

“The country’s going crazy; partisan politics, civil rights threatened, technology exploding. That’s right, it’s 1979! Somewhere in America’s heartland, with more heart than sense, Bronco Billy struggles to keep his traveling Wild West show alive. But when Billy and his ragtag troupe of misfits meet Antoinette, a Manhattan heiress on-the-run, the ride gets even wilder as she turns Billy’s world upside down.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

The Taming of the Shrew

“Directed by Alicia Patterson and Rose Fliegel, the production’s focus will be less about the masculine versus feminine and more about the imposed imbalance of power…to directly confront these issues and start a discussion by engaging the audience with a comedic show which portrays how power politics affect the dynamics of a dysfunctional love story.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Horny-The Musical

“In Horny-The Musical, we meet Emily. Social-climbing as quickly as possible away from her embarrassingly bohemian mother into the arms of the most eligible bachelor and heir to the Smitt Family Wineries, Emily is the luckiest girl in the world…until she starts to grow horns right before the wedding. Her new social circles could never accept such a thing, so she must resolve the problem before her new fiance––not to mention her new mother-in-law––finds out. Knowing her mother’s sexually free nature, she wonders if its genetic and braces herself for the answer to the question: Who is my father? This simple question unleashes an avalanche of satyrs and nymphs from a different world…party-crashing her high-society wedding rehearsal and upending her carefully-constructed plans with wild debauchery and mayhem. If that weren’t enough, as prudish Emily’s horns continue to grow, so do new…feelings. ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Batter Up: My Brain on Baseball

“Brett Moore is totally enamored with baseball, and has been for 25 years. In that time, he’s memorized more about baseball than anyone with access to the Internet could possibly need to know. Come watch him perform his amazing feats of baseball memory that are unnecessary, stunning, and highly entertaining and wax poetic about his favorite obsession in a unique solo show that connects patrons and the performer through the love of our national pastime! ”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Sex With Strangers

“In ‘Sex With Strangers,’ failed novelist Olivia meets Ethan, a celebrated (and much younger) writer made famous by his sexcapade tell-all blog, at a snowbound bed and breakfast, and their mutual attraction quickly gets hot and heavy. As a weekend tryst develops into a long-term romance, their personal and professional lives collide. Ethan seeks legitimacy, dismissing his bad boy reputation as nothing more than an invented character. Olivia has her doubts, but craves for the literary fame Ethan can offer her. Ambition, identity and trust are in play when online personas clash with real world expectations in this smart, steamy take on modern love.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

Captivated: You

“A warehouse sits alone at the edge of Silverlake. The story within its walls has already caused the disappearance of a dozen women and a reporter hot on the trail. Now you have come to help the reporter’s friend find the truth.
Inside there may be danger. Inside there may be horror. But in the end, there will be one question for you to answer: Who is the actual monster here? Captivated is a modern retelling of the classic horror story Frankenstein. They Played Productions brings you this psychological-horror immersive production where you, the audience, become a character in a story based on the classic tale Frankenstein. YOUR decisions will matter. YOUR choices will lead to one of 45 different endings. YOU will decide who survives…and who dies.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

A Falling Star At Buzzard’s Roost

“A FALLING STAR AT BUZZARD’S ROOST follows hard-touring retro-Rockabilly band, MAUREEN & THE MERCURY 5, performing at a kitschy, Alabama Drive-Inn Diner (off-season). When Maureen plugs in her vintage Elvis mic, she triggers otherworldly powers from the famous “moon rock”, sending the band, their manager and even the diner owner back to the first days of Rock & Roll! The reluctant time-travelers find love and learn life lessons as they struggle to get back to present day — set to the music of Rockabilly Jump Swing Band Maureen & the Mercury 5 (aka M&M5) and Alt-Country Outlaws The Flutterbies.”

Share on social media.

Visit their Better Lemons Registered Calendar Page for ticket and show information.

?