The Dramaturg: 5 Theater Things Currently Making Me Happy

I feel like I’ve been kind of a bummer so far here at Bitter Lemons. All I’ve done is complain and pick fights. So, I apologize. It’s February. There’s no good sports on. I get cranky. Forgive me. But it’s like 80 degrees in Santa Monica today and I’m feeling jovial, so let’s turn things [...]

McNulty Blames Jason Alexander for Reprise’s Woes

Chuck is on a freakin’ roll! No, seriously, the man deserves some props for laying down some recent honest albeit uncomfortable truths. First there is this article over at the LA Times on the crumbling of the Regional Theatre model. Now he’s calling out Jason Alexander for his lack of leadership and how it has [...]

Lost Moon Radio Rising

Ran into a couple of the Moon Units last night at the Hollywood Fringe Town Hall, producer Monica Milkitas, Actor writer rapper, Lauren Flans and Musical Maestro Rich Raumberg. Congrats to Lost Moon Radio for getting the gig of house band at the LA Weekly Awards, they are also gearing up for a new show, [...]

My night at the Edwardian Ball: Absinthe, Top Hats and a Guy Playing the Electric Shovel

Very fun evening at the beautiful Belasco Theatre last night. Thanks to Karin and the producers for allowing me to participate. Also got to hang with the gang from EyeSpyLA. You’re on the blogroll now people! The theme was everything Edward Gorey and though I’m not familiar with the artist as much as I’d like to [...]

Lenin visits Los Angeles

So I saw this at the corner of 4th and La Brea yesterday so I had to stop and snap a couple of photos. Now I’m pretty sure that’s Stalin’s Lenin’s head, right? But as I got closer and inquired of the passing pedestrians what the hell it was I discovered that it just recently went [...]

McNulty on the State of Regional Theatre

Very very interesting article from Chuck over at the LA Times, mostly focused on the effects of the economy on the quality of theatre around the regions. Check out the full article here. Chuck does some excellent work here starting with what he sees as the crux: The problem in a nutshell is this: Established theaters [...]

The Script Doctor
  • Other Recent Articles

  • Open Fist seeks an experienced Costume Designer and Stage Manager

    Open Fist is seeking an experienced Costume Designer and an experiencedStage Manager for the west coast premiere of EARLY & OFTEN, a gangster-style political farce set in 1960s Chicago. The ideal candidate would have some good leads on 1960s era attire (cops, politicians, gangsters and their gals). Ron West (Second City, DeLEARious, The People vs. Friar Laurence, etc) is [...]

  • ABSOLUTE BLACK Extended Thru MARCH @ Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group

    ABSOLUTE BLACK Extended Thru MARCH @ Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood Contact Zombie Joe: 818-202-4120 Email: ZJU@charter.net {ABSOLUTE BLACK. Love. Lust. Betrayal. Murder!  Zombie Joe’s Underground’s world premiere production of Vanessa Cate’s 1940’s Film noir-inspired thriller, about a relentless private eye’s search for the killer of Hollywood’s leading lady and the psychological web of deceit he [...]

  • New Play by by Eduard Schmieder, about the life of Johannes Brahms and his great love, Clara Schumann

    For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Schmieder (310) 650-2789   My Music, My Love: A Reflection of the Romantic Era in One Act by Eduard Schmieder in Collaboration with Ellen Walker Rienstra Staged Reading of a One-Act Play Featuring Selected Music from the 19th Century My Music, My Love, a staged reading of a new one act play [...]

  • JOB AVAILABLE – DRAPERY / SCREEN INSTALL

    99 seat theatre in Hollywood has contractor job avail. for someone with scenery, rigging and drapery experience who can take our materials we have (30×60 duvatene) for wall coverings plus installation of large projector screen that we need to have manually roll up. Call ASAP (818) 640-4588

  • THE FALL TO EARTH: 78% – SWEET

    THE FALL TO EARTH: 78% – SWEET

    SWEET “Fall” is an earlier play; its hairpin turns feel less organic and therefore less credible. Nevertheless, the production offers an occasion for its predominantly female creative team, led by Larsen, Williams and co-producer Roxanne Hart, to unleash their vivid talents. Charlotte Stoudt – LA Times BITTER Unfortunately it was a disappointment: while the acting [...]

  • Theatre of NOTE is seeking Short Plays

    Theatre of NOTE is now accepting submissions for it’s annual Late Night 10-Minute Plays. The title of this year’s show, which is also the theme, is “…And They Were Never Heard From Again.” This Halloween oriented theme was selected is response to this year’s show going up in October. People are encouraged to create original [...]

  • Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in "The Jacksonian" at the Geffen Playhouse. Credit: Michael Lamont.

    THE JACKSONIAN: 76% – SWEET

    SWEET In the meantime, there are five wildly original performances to dazzle and darken your imagination. They’re an extreme group, but under Falls’ peerless guidance, they blend together in that unhinged Southern way that is Beth Henley’s specialty. Charles McNulty – LA Times BITTERSWEET A marvelous cast and moments of sidesplitting humor make for an [...]

  • Assistant Stage Manager Needed for THE COLOR PURPLE The Musical (West Hollywood)

    Currently hiring 2 ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS for the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of The Color Purple – The Musical opening at Celebration Theatre on March 9th. The production runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3:00pm and will potentially run through the end of May. Candidates must be available to start immediately. Celebration Theatre, [...]

  • Critique of the Week – Runner Up

    Critique of the Week – Runner Up

    I picked this one because of its incredibly layered context. OSWALD: THE ACTUAL INTERROGATION Earnest Kearney – Working Author For nearly a decade and a half, tucked away between Franklin and Hollywood Blvd the Write Act Repertory Company has been the “little engine that could” of L.A. Theater, staging upwards of a hundred productions while [...]

  • Critique of the Week- Runner Runner Up

    Critique of the Week- Runner Runner Up

    Bowing to the will of the people – or rather the LemonHead Nation – I’m going to add very brief descriptions of why I’ve chosen certain reviews for our “Critique of the Week” (COW) starting with this one. I picked this one because of its almost uncomfortably personal nature. BUDDHA: A FANTASTIC JOURNEY Clare Elfman – [...]

  • The Saturday Saying

    The Saturday Saying

    “The problem in a nutshell is this: Established theaters have by and large grown larger, public funding has become a monumental challenge and artistic directors have moved in an increasingly commercial direction, adopting a bottom-line mentality that has put publicity and profitability over bold and substantive choices.” Charles McNulty – from his article “Regional theater’s [...]

  • Robin Riker and Michael E. Knight in "The Cost of the Erection" at the Blank Theatre. Photo by Michael Geniac

    THE COST OF THE ERECTION: 60% – BITTERSWEET

    SWEET Now comes the provocatively titled “The Cost of the Erection,” a sly and sophisticated portrait of marital strife that combines the scintillating wit of a Noël Coward drawing-room comedy with the darker undercurrents of an Edward Albee drama. Director Daniel Henning’s stylish West Coast–premiere staging bristles with sardonic humor and startling character revelations. Les [...]

  • The Friday Feature

    The Friday Feature

    Edwardian Ball, 2011, supposedly a nice primer for the event that’s happening this Sunday night.

  • Adam Harrington, background, Kieren Van Den Blink and Sam Daly in "Mine." Credit: Chris A. Peterson.

    MINE: 67% – BITTERSWEET

    BITTERSWEET Brunstetter has a gift for pointing out the underlying, unspoken conversations that make seemingly casual exchanges so awkward. Often, both men are on the stage, or in the bed, when Annie is “really” with only one. But director Dep Kirkland possibly overdoes the pensive silences and uneasy glances; the production has a muted, hesitant [...]

  • First Hollywood Fringe Town Hall & Mixer Monday, Feb. 20, 7pm, at Open Fist

    First Hollywood Fringe Town Hall & Mixer Monday, Feb. 20, 7pm, at Open Fist

    I will be there and so should you. I’ve been hearing that the applications have been pouring in for the Third Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival and this is a great opportunity to hear what it’s all about as well as meet some of the peeps who will be partaking. Here’s the info from Master Fringe [...]

  • Let’s Get “Edwardian”

    Let’s Get “Edwardian”

    I’ve always had a fascination with these things. Something akin to my fascination with the Rennaissance Faire. Sounded cool, different, but I sure wouldn’t want my friends to find out that I went. I finally went to a Renn Faire. Glad I did. Now we have the return of the “Edwardian Ball”. Never been to [...]

  • All Recent Articles