Regional NewsThe Los Angeles Theatre Digest: April 16–22Michael Harney of OITNB premiers his new play, two world premieres, plus openings and closings on the West Coast.
By
Patrick Pizzolorusso
April 21, 2017
Thrones: The Musical Parody Extended Again Royal Mile Entertainment has announced another extension of their Game Of Thrones musical parody, written by Chris Grace, Zach Reino, Al Samuels, Nick Semar, and Dan Wessels. Over the course of 90 minutes, a group of friends acts out highlights from all six seasons of the show before the season finale. The parody, directed by John Flynn, is now running through May 21 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre (6539 Santa Monica Blvd). For more information, visit ThronesMusical.com.
A Noise Within’s 25th Anniversary Gala A Noise Within is celebrating 25 years of classic theatre April 29 at the California Club. The event will also celebrate key partnerships with The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, and Verbum Dei High School. All three organizations will be presented with inaugural awards. For information about the event and A Noise Within, visit ANoiseWithin.org.
Independent Shakespeare Company Adds New Board Member Halle Stanford has been elected to the board of the Independent Shakespeare Company. She is currently the Vice President of Children’s Entertainment for the Jim Henson Company. Stanford is a nine-time Emmy award-nominated children’s television producer. She has produced some of the most well known properties for Jim Henson and Netflix, including Julie Andrews’ Julie’s Greenroom. It is the goal that her expertise will help strengthen the ISC’s family outreach programs throughout Los Angeles.
World Premieres Come To Los Angeles
Jacob Sidney and Susan Denaker
Steven Georges
The International City Theatre, located in Long Beach, is preparing to open the world premiere of Thomas Gibbons’ Uncanney Valley. Caryn Desai will direct a cast that feataures Susan Denaker and Jacob Sidney. Uncanney Valley explores the moment when fascination over A.I. turns to revulsion and will run April 21-May 7. For more information, visitICTLongBeach.org.
IAMA Theatre Company, recently awarded a grant from Shonda Rhimes, will present the world premiere of Species Native To California this May. Written by Dorothy Fortenberry and based on Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard, the play tells the story of an economically hard hit wine-country estate and pits white progressives against undocumented citizens as they all scramble to save their home. Directed byEli Gonda, the production runs from May 13–June 11 at the Atwater Village Theatre. For more information, visit AMATheatre.com.
Echo Theatre Announces Playwrights Studio Echo Theatre Company has announced the creation of a training center for playwrights called the Playwrights Studio. The six-week courses start in May and are aimed at giving playwrights, actors, and directors help in developing new works. Boni B. Alvarez and Erik Patterson will each teach a course helping artists develop their writing skills and work towards a finished draft of a play. For more information, visit EchoTheaterCompany.com
Coming soon to the Los Angeles area:
Michael Harney
Ed Krieger
The Awful Grace of God Written by Michael Harney Directed by Mark Kemble and featuring Curtis Belz, Oscar Best, Joseph Bongiovanni, Marie Broderick, Tim DeZarn, Amelia Jackson-Gray, Rebecca Lidvan, Daniel Litz, Marshall McCabe, Agatha Nowicki, Bechir Sylvain, Janine Venable, Ilia Volok, James Harvey Ward, and Johnny Whitworth April 21–May 28 The Actors Company The Other Space 916A No. Formosa Ave in Los Angeles The world premiere of Michael Harney’s six one-act plays, which explore different aspects of humanity. From how we deal with loss, suffering in the face of great adversity, addiction, and the power of love to triumph over all obstacles. Visit plays411.com.
Middletown Written by Will Eno Directed by Trevor Biship and featuring Lola Kelly, James McHale, Ahmed Brooks, Ned Liebl, Robert Foran, Karen Webster, Karen O’Hanlon, and Marissa LeDoux April 21–May 21 Chance Theater Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center 5522 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Newcomer Mary Swanson just wants to settle down and enjoy her life. She soon learns not all is what it seems as Middletown is ordinary on the outside but hiding a dark mystery just underneath. Visit ChanceTheater.com.
The Foreigner Written by Larry Shue Directed by Sarah Gurfield April 22–May 20 Santa Monica Rep Miles Memorial Playhouse 1130 Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica Set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, a shy Englishman named Charlie roots out hidden secrets among fellow guests who assume he doesn’t speak or understand English. Visit SantaMonicaRep.org.
Arch Duke Written by Rajiv Joseph Directed by Giovanna Sardelli and Featuring Josiah Bania, Joanne McGee, Ramiz Monsef, Patrick Page, Stephen Stocking, and Todd Weeks April 25–June 4 Center Theatre Group Mark Taper Forum 135 N. Grand Ave in Los Angeles Three men with nothing to lose in 1914 set down a path that will ignite a world and help shape a century. Visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.
Closing soon in the Los Angeles area:
The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) Written by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor Directed by Jerry Kernion and featuring Zehra Fazal, Marc Ginsburg, and Mark Jacobson Through April 23 Falcon Theatre 4252 Riverside Drive in Burbank A high energy race through the history of comedy as we know it today, from Shakespeare to Chaplin. The same creative minds behind The Complete Works of William Shakespeare set their irreverent sights on comedy. Visit FalconTheatre.com.
Still Life Written by Alexander Dinelaris Directed by Michael Peretzian and featuring Jonathan Bray, Lea Coco, Frank Collison, Alexandra Hellquist, Nardeep Khurmi, Laurie Okin, Jennifer Sorenson, Tania Verafield, and Susan Wilder Through April 23 Rogue Machine MET Theatre 1089 N. Oxford Ave in Los Angeles An exploration of loss and the search for the fire within to move on and create a life afterwards. Visit RogueMachineTheatre.net.
