High Notes and Higher Hijinks
The hilarious two-act play, in a Ludwig manner, keeps on giving minute after minute, having the audience’s brain do a workout to catch up and stay engaged thanks to Dixon Fish’s bright yellow set design of Elena’s hotel suite, which is divided into two areas, with a living room and the bedroom. And in true vaudeville manner, a number of doors for everyone to come in and out, with tremendous slams. Props are always fun, and Duane McGregor had us join in the fun with different elements like a suitcase, a champagne bottle, and a hilarious bit with a grape that has to be seen.
Love, Lies, and Lukshen Kugel
Sarah (Katrina Michaels) is dating Chris Cringle (Benjamin Cole), and yes, like Santa… Things are going well, except that Sarah has not introduced Chris to her family after months of dating because he is not Jewish. Shabbat is happening at Sarah’s, and instead of facing the facts, she enlists Bob Schroeder’s (Sam Ashdown) histrionic services to buff out the tension with her brother Joel (Josh Cahn) and parents, Abe (Joel Polis) and Miriam (Jill Remez).
Ready to WOW amongst Tea, Acrobats, Reclaiming Roots, and Naughty Puppets.
Looking back, I think WOW, very pertinently, as I have lost count of how many of these festivals I have been to. From the very beginning at The La Jolla Playhouse campus, to Liberty Station, to The Shell, to UCSD. The celebration of artistry in its maximum expression.
Latino Theater Company Celebrates 41st Season with World Premiere: The Storyteller of East LA
The plot of this story, as the title says, is set in East Los Angeles, with Mercedes (Lucy Rodriguez), a 90-year-old woman with dementia. Her health is declining and practically bed-bound; her youngest daughter, Grace (Zilah Mendoza), is the caretaker with the help of day and nighttime caregivers. When the ICE raids become more frequent and closer, the night person quits, leaving Grace in a more stressful and frustrated state, considering moving Mercedes into an assisted facility.
“Real Women Have Curves” Returns to its Theatrical Origin and Home at Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights
Real Women Have Curves, by Josefina López, who wrote the piece at the tender age of 18 in the late eighties, was inspired by her own story, which has since morphed into a full-length movie starring America Ferrera in the early 2000s and a Broadway debut in 2025.
This year, the work comes back home to its origin and where it all began at Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights.
Loud Fridge Theatre Group Kicks Off “Loud Bridge” Program and Fourth Mainstage Season with
Airness by Chelsea Marcantel revolves around air guitar competitions, from local to national to international. I always mention on here that theatre is both memory and learning. I did not know that air guitar competitions were a thing. Like, a real thing. Now I do, lol.
“Matt & Ben” Delivers a Twisted, Self-Aware Satire of White Male Privilege
The plot takes place in Ben Affleck’s apartment as he (Alejandra Villanueva) is trying to do a screen adaptation of J.D. Salinger’s classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Matt (Maya Sofia Enciso) wants to help his best friend, but has other priorities like an important callback. In between silly exchanges and pizza eating, the script for Good Will Hunting falls from the ceiling. After they read it and see its golden potential, they get excited and decide to produce it. But what about the casting? Who is going to play Will Hunting?
Cygnet Theatre’s Production of The Lehman Trilogy
The story of three Bavarian Jewish brothers who came to Montgomery, Alabama, in the late 1800s with nothing and gradually built an empire that would last almost 200 years, ending in shattering fashion.
A running time of three hours and forty minutes with two intermissions, ‘Trilogy features Jacob Caltrider as Mayer Lehman; Steven Lone as Emmanuel Lehman; and Bruce Turk as Henry Lehman. Massini’s work is well-crafted, and each act covers important periods in history
Interviews From Another Zero: YouTube Edition
She talks about Broadway, Hollywood, films, TV sitcoms, and studying to become a Chaman. It was a lovely interview.
“The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” at Oceanside Theatre Company
Macedonio Guerra (Fredy Gomez Cruz) comes from a Puerto Rican family in Brooklyn. As a kid him and his two brothers watched wrestling on TV while mimicking the moves and playing with their action figures. He grows up to do the real thing as “The Mace”. The thing is, “Eko,” the promoter (Dallas McLaughlin), is a super white guy who only cares about money and winning money. Mace not only understands the business side of wrestling, but the art itself. Still, he is there to make the star Chad Deity (Wrekless Watson) continue to shine (and make that money).
Roustabouts’ Latest Production: “An Act of God”
The 100-minute, no intermission piece goes by at a fast, fun pace. I appreciated the combination of the original script, the declaration of their fandom for The Big Bang Theory/jingle included (for obvious reasons), the added local intro mentioning Sam is a Craig Noel Award winner, and the interaction with the audience. This last one is even more fun because each performance will be different depending on the vibe and audience reactions, as Sam uses it as a comedic sprinkle. I do not think I have seen a show that I have not liked with Ginn, as she brings the spark and oomph in the performance.
Shhhh, The Class has Begun
The Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute, written in 2002, is one of the earliest theatrical treatments of the horrendous event. As I said before, theatre is memory, and what better way to discuss than through the stage. Set on September 12 in a nice Manhattan loft, Ben (Aleksander D’Avignon) is sitting on the couch, speechless. The first scene, literally, visually, and createvely, starts with a bang as Ginger Chody’s lighting, mixed with contouring shadows and a bright orange, sets the mood, along with Jaden Guerrero’s sound, which, per usual, sets the mood in a precise and corresponding manner.
