L.A. Theatre Scene — Page 2

Speaking of which Popular...did you figure out when you were planning on going to see Tick, Tick...Boom?

We should all try and arrange that on the same night. It'd be wild.

Is anyone familiar with the Rubicon Theatre? I wonder if there is any possibility that it will sell out?

ROMANCE at the TAPER FORUM is wonderful. I saw it a couple of weeks ago and loved it.

Who is doing tick tick boom?!

I saw Ms. Diaz as Susan in New York and she was wonderful (easily the best of the three). If you have the opportunity to see her, do not squander it!

Wow, that sounds like an incredible production!

That is the first negative thing I've heard about "Romance" actually. I am sorry that you didn't enjoy it.

I will be going on Friday. I just secured my HotTix. The ball is in your court Popular and YWIW???. Stalk away.

Well, get that restraining order ready.

Row E, all the way at the end (but for $20, who can argue).

Maybe we can get a drink before hand, or at intermission.

Popular, your turn.

Updated On: 11/8/05 at 07:20 PM

If you are going to be anywhere near the Ahmanson between now and then, I believe you can get the HotTix at the window.

I realize that's a long shot, but I figured I'll toss it out there.

YWIW, we will definitely meet up there. I think I am in Row D so you'll probably be right behind me.

Extreme side in the back row at the Taper really wouldn't be so bad.

Updated On: 11/8/05 at 08:44 PM

Current shows I give very high marks to:

MUSICALS:
The Wild Party, at the Hudson on Santa Monica Blvd.

DRAMA:
Equus, at East West Players, in Little Tokyo (Downtown)
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (saw it tonight and WOW!) at the Geffen in Westwood
Mother Courage, at the Boston Court, in Pasadena

COMEDY:
Bunbury, the best new comedy in town that I've seen, at The Road Theater in North Hollywood

Shows I'm seeing later this month:
MUSICALS
The King and I, at Musical Theater West in Long Beach
The Grand Tour, at the Colony in Burbank (reviewplays.com calls it the best local musical in ages)
The Drowsy Chaperone, at the Ahmanson, Downtown
+
And various assorted small theater comedies and dramas.

For 1/2 price tickets visit:

http://www.goldstarevents.com

or

http://lastagealliance.com/

And then click on LAStageTix.

The latter sometimes has a smaller service charge, the former often has a larger selection of events.

Note: My website, linked below, shows only musicals, not straight plays.

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 03:24 AM

I agree with you, QMAN...The Drowsy Chaperone is one of the best musicals I've ever seen.

Monkey, monkey, monkey...

---

I'm seeing Reckless on Sunday the 8th. 3 L.A. Times readers posted rave reviews of the show:
http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/292464,0,5465411,reviews.event?page=1

A good review also in Backstage West:
http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/la/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001658194

For some reason, the producers didn't submit this show to be considered for the Ovation Awards, so I'm paying for this one, though 1/2 price thanks to goldstarevents.com!

Seating in 99 (or fewer) seat theaters is usually (though not always) open seating, which would explain why there was no seat assignment.

Reckless has a very good website, worth checking out:
http://www.atwistedchristmas.com/

Lewis and Clark was well acted, and is worth seeing if only for the amazing set/lighting/projection/costume design. Some critics and audience members have found fault with its mix of history and politics. I liked it, but did find myself drifting at times.

For this show too, calendarlive is a good place to find reader reviews (mixed but mostly favorable for this Lewis and Clark).
http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/240649,0,2843969,reviews.event#reviews

Qman, if you have any questions about L.A. theater, please feel free to PM or email me! I saw over 200 shows in 2005, most of them in the L.A./Orange County and expect to see an equal number this year. Already booked for 16 in January, with quite a few more penciled in. And February looks to be even better!

Shows I'm seeing in January:

A Magic Christmas
American Idle
City of Angels
Do You Fear What I Fear?
Greetings
Jerusalem (2nd time)
Naked Deception
Reckless
String of Pearls
The Breakup Notebook (2nd time)
The Elephant Man
The Last Five Years
The Price
The Smell of the Kill
What I Heard About Iraq
What's My Line

Hope also to see:
Diva
Hamlet, The Artist Formerly Known as PRINCE of Denmark
Permanent Collection
Southern Baptist Sissies

Coming in February:

A Grand Night for Singing
A Man of No Importance
Barnum
Ben Franklin: Unplugged
Blood Wedding
Boston Marriage
Closer than Ever
Happy Days
If You Get to Bethlehem, You've Gone Too Far
Jesus’ Kid Brother
Never Gonna Dance
On the Verge
Over the River and Through the Woods
Sordid Lives
Sweeny Todd
The Cherry Orchard
The Glass Menagerie
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Italian In Me (February) 1 ticket
The Last Five Years
The Lion in Winter
and many more I'm sure.

L.A. Theater Is Alive And Well!

Updated On: 1/1/06 at 10:22 PM

Sweeney Todd is L.A.'s Asian theater company East West Players' musical for their 2005-2006 Season. Previously, they have mounted superb productions of Little Shop of Horrors (my favorite LSOH so far), Passion, Follies, A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Forum, And the World Goes Round, and Into the Woods, all of which I enjoyed thoroughly, plus these that I didn't see: Pacific Overtures, Merrily We Roll Along, and Cabaret. (They obviously have an affinity for Sondheim.)

East West Players 1994 production of SWEENEY TODD, which I saw, earned five Theatre LA Ovation Awards, five Drama-Logue Awards and a LA Weekly Theatre Award. At that time, they were in a kind of shabby 99 seat house on SM Blvd. Now, they have a beautiful and considerably larger Equity space in Little Tokyo, and their recent productions of Equus and Proof have given Asian American actors the opportunity for roles which they would probably never have gotten otherwise.

As you can tell, I'm a big fan of East West Players, and I look forward to Sweeney Todd, which will run from February 8 – March 5.
Sweeney Todd Website

From SteveN (don't forget the N)...
Les Spindle has just posted his January column of upcoming L.A. attractions at Theatremania.com.

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/7374

Well, I'm definitely looking forward to City of Angels, Earnest, and The Last Five Years. Lion in Winter too, if I have enough time. I'll probably skip The Good Body and Jay's show mainly because there are other things I'd rather see, but I loved Jay on Soap, so I'm sure it's a good show, and Broadway bound.

I can't find anything about an upcoming production of Proof, so please give details. I love the play and would enjoy seeing it in a new production.

Finally, re Sweeney, the New York production is hugely innovative, I've heard (small cast, the actors also being the orchestra). Seeing East West's production would give you a more traditional one to compare New York with, albeit with an all Asian American cast. If you can afford it, see both!