Archive for 2012
The LA Weekly Asks: What Fantasy Show Would You Put on with Unlimited Money?
Great article over at the LA Weekly conducted by Steven Leigh Morris as he reaches out to seven LA Artistic Directors to ask the very intriguing question: What Fantasy Production Would You Put on if You Had Unlimited Money? The answers may surprise you. My favorite is Playwrights Arena’s Jon Lawrence Rivera’s response: “I’ve had [...]
![Newsflash: Theatre Producers Make Historic Vote to Form Los Angeles League [UPDATED]](http://losangeles.bitter-lemons.com/files/2012/05/theatre-celebration-100x100.jpg)
Newsflash: Theatre Producers Make Historic Vote to Form Los Angeles League [UPDATED]
At least that’s what I’m hearing from some of my peeps who went to the LA Stage Alliance event at the Kirk Douglas Theatre last night. Over 75 producers from the 99 Seat Theatre Community showed up and though it sounded like the process was a little on the clunky side, thanks to the moderating [...]
Critique of the Week
This review was brought to my attention before I even read it as something quite “effusive”. It is that. And a quite extraordinary example of a truly jubilant theatre review just lettin’ it rip. THE TURN OF THE SCREW Brian Sonia-Wallace – LA Theatre Review Horror, by nature, is a theatrical genre because to be [...]
OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET (THEATRE 68): 90% – SWEET
SWEET When Our Lady comes to its conclusion, you realize that you’ve just witnessed an exorcism of sorts. Some of the characters come away transformed; others continue trudging down the same path they’ve followed for years. Kurt Gardner – Blog Critics SWEET All of this makes for a rich and engaging ensemble piece, despite the [...]
Even Shakespeare couldn’t have written this one: The Struggle for the Future of LA Theatre
Many of you may be aware of the LA Stage Alliance-hosted talks on the 99 Seat Plan that have been occurring over the last few months or so. There are a couple of primers on the whole dillio here, here and here. Some of you may not be aware of what’s been going on. Some of you may simply not [...]
CRESCENT CITY: A HYPEROPERA: 80% – SWEET
BITTERSWEET Welcome to Crescent City, a “hyper-opera” which opened at Atwater Crossing last weekend. Equal parts opera, avant-garde, art installation and phantasmagoria, the result, if you can handle it, is a jaw-dropping, perplexing, exciting, numbing, fun, challenging, watchable, incoherent, exasperating, noteworthy, and exciting theatrical experience the likes of which you may never see again. Tony [...]
MOON OVER BUFFALO (GROUP REP): 100% – SWEET
SWEET MOON OVER BUFFALO is truly a night (or afternoon) of fun and frolic. Great script, fabulous actors and a completely enjoyable experience. Isn’t that what the theatre is supposed to be. Have a great time! Cathy Wayne – NoHoArtsDistrict SWEET Moon over Buffalo features hilarity and hijinks as it celebrates the theatrical world. Mary [...]
MY ROMANTIC HISTORY
MY ROMANTIC HISTORY June 28th – July 29th, 2012 Thurs & Sat 8PM and Sunday 6PM US Premiere Debuts in Los Angeles A Profane Comedy by D.C. Jackson Winner of the 2010 Edinburgh Scotsman Fringe First Award Directed by Alejandro Romero Founding Director Chick Vennera “If you haven’t met someone by the time you [...]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Theatricum Botanicum brings back its signature production, an audience favorite with a set design unrivaled by any other theater – because it’s the real thing. The most magical outdoor setting in Los Angeles is once again transformed into an enchanted forest inhabited by lovers both fairy and human. Shakespeare conjures a world of wonder, magic [...]
Measure for Measure
Justice has never been hipper than when Theatricum Botanicum presents Measure for Measure, re-setting the Bard’s dark comedy in California during the turbulent ‘60s. Sex, liberation and the death penalty are just some of the themes explored, which makes it a perfect fit for the volatile heyday of protest and social change. Director Ellen Geer [...]
An “Open” Letter from Terrence McFarland, CEO at LA Stage Alliance (that they never sent to us but we’re re-posting anyway)
Probably should have done this earlier – printed this “open” letter – but somehow the timing seems right now. Not sure why they didn’t send this “open” letter to us to help reach out to the smaller theatre community (it’s kinda our “constituency”, gents? Hellooo?), but they didn’t. Nevertheless,with this incredibly important May 20 producers’ [...]
OUT THERE ON FRIED MEAT RIDGE RD.: 75% – SWEET
BITTERSWEET If these characters interacted this way as a spontaneous exercise in your improv class, you’d feel that something special had happened. You might think it was good enough to stage. But to someone not already in love with it, or who hadn’t smoked a joint right before the show, Fried Meat sustains interest more [...]
Building Legitimacy – By Rick Culbertson
Again, LA Theatre Producer, Rick Culbertson, has allowed us to re-publish his clarion call to the LA Theatre producers out there, urging them to all go to the final LA Stage Talks Meeting on the 99 Seat Producers Question. The meeting is happening Sunday, May 20 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. I will have a [...]
SOPHIA
SOPHIA April 27 – May 20, 2012 Thursday, Friday, Sat. 8PM (May 20th – Sunday 5PM) WEST COAST MUSICAL PREMIERE By Playwright Michael Antin Directed by Derrel Maury SOPHIA is a comedic musical playing to the changing times of the 60’s, featuring strong, independent women as a predecessor to Mary (Tyler-Moore) Richards and [...]
FINDING THE BURNETT HEART
FINDING THE BURNETT HEART April 19th – May 27th, 2012 Thursday, Friday, Sat. 8PM – Sunday 3PM and 7PM A NEW ORIGINAL PLAY. Family love is messy, clinging, and of an annoying and repetitive pattern…Like a bad wallpaper! For sixteen-year old Tyler Burnett, it’s hard enough just being a teenager, without being suddenly forced to [...]
6 CHARACTERS LOOKING FOR AN AUTHOR
SIX CHARACTERS LOOKING FOR AN AUTHOR June 15th – July 21st, 2012 Friday and Saturday 8:00PM Original play by Luigi Pirandello New Version by David Harrower Directed by Douglas Matranga Six Characters in Search of an Author created Luigi Pirandello’s international reputation in the 1920s and is still the play by which he is [...]
GLENNIE and MAPLE BREAKUP
GLENNIE & MAPLE BREAK UP June 14th – June 24th, 2012 Thurs & Fri 8:30PM & Sunday 2:00PM The World Premiere Opens At The Hollywood Fringe Festival Written & Directed by Paul Hoan Zeidler Glennie is recovering from an abusive relationship and fights episodes of deep depression. Maple loves to be supportive of her, [...]
GEEKS! The Musical
GEEKS! THE MUSICAL! June 9th – July 8th , 2012 Friday 8PM and Saturday & Sunday 7:30PM The World Premiere Musical Smash Hit Returns Be square, be there! “Entertaining…charming – and frighteningly realistic!” – LifeInLA.com “GEEKS’ is a cleverly written musical…Fun show!” - KPCC RADIO “All the makings of a fun, campy Play” – EDGE [...]
DOOMSDAY CABARET: A Rock Musical Of Apocalyptic Proportions
DOOMSDAY CABARET: A Rock Musical Of Apocalyptic Proportions June 9th – June 23rd, 2012 Thurs 8PM & Fri & Sat 11:00PM & Sunday 3:00PM Also Sat. June 9 & 23 at 3PM and Wed, June 20 – 8PM The World Premiere Opens At The Hollywood Fringe Festival Music, Book and Lyrics by Michael Shaw Fisher [...]
OUR LADY OF 121st STREET
OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET May 10th – June 10, 2012 Thursday, Friday, Sat. 8PM A Dark Comedy By Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis Directed by Joe Palese Produced by Ronnie Marmo It is the story of a group of acquaintances, reunited by the death of their old teacher, a nun by the name [...]
JERSEY SHOREsical: A Frickin’ Rock Opera
JERSEY SHOREsical: A Frickin’ Rock Opera April 11th – May 30th, 2012 – Extension to be Announced Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00PM Book, Music and Lyrics by Daniel Franzese & Hanna Lopatin Starring TONY WINNER Daisy Eagan Also featuring Jessie Buttafuoco (daughter of Joe & MaryJo Buttafuoco) WINNER “BEST ENSEMBLE” NEW YORK FRINGE FEST 2011 CRITIC’S [...]
THE TURN OF THE SCREW (VISCERAL COMPANY): 91% – SWEET
SWEET A splendid production that is very well directed by Dan Spurgeon, written by Jeffrey Hatcher, and based on a classic ghost story by Henry James, The Turn of The Screw defies all theories that excellent theater productions cannot be done in small black-box facilities. Randall Gray – The California Theatre Critic SWEET But it’s [...]
The Friday Feature
Quick, quirky, but kind of effective. The trailer for New American Theatre’s Bedfellows playing at the McCadden Place Theatre through June 2, 2012.
THE CRUCIBLE
THE CRUCIBLE June 8th – July 14th, 2012 Thursday, Friday, Sat. 8PM & Sunday 7PM (Preview – June 7th – 8PM) By Playwright Arthur Miller Directed by Bill Voorhees Based on historical people and real events, Miller’s drama is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria. In the rigid theocracy of Salem, rumors [...]
The Thursday Thought
Flash mob on a Copenhagen Metro. Classic. Hey, if the “unwashed” won’t come to us, guess we’ll have to bring it to ‘em.
Bitter Lemons Contributor Jay McAdams Touted as one of LA’s “Most Interesting People 2012″ by LA Weekly
Not BECAUSE he’s a Bitter Lemons contributor – obviously – though I’m sure it was a crucial component in the voting for LA Weekly’s Most Interesting People 2012 List. You can read the whole list here. Actually, anyone who knows Jay McAdams knows that he has always been Jay McAdams long before he became OUR [...]
THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM
Press Contact: Judith Borne (310) 305-7888 or judith@borneidentities.com Award winning Rogue Machine stages TONY AWARD nominee Enda Walsh’s THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM Opening June 9, 2012 with reception to follow Saturdays at 5pm, Sundays at 7pm, and Mondays at 8pm(no performance Monday, June 25th) Los Angeles, CA – Receiving honors two years in a row with aBEST PRODUCTION Award, most recently from Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, [...]
FESTIVAL THEATRE USA
For Immediate Release Please May 15, 2012 Media Contact: Margo Upham Margo4pr@aol.com JOHN 10:10 AT HOLLYWOOD FRINGE TO BE FIRST PRODUCTION OF NEW FESTIVAL THEATRE USA (LOS ANGELES, CA) Festival Theatre USA has announced that John 10:10, a new one act play, will receive its world premiere at the upcoming, third annual Hollywood Fringe Festival. [...]
Confessions of the World’s Worst Missionary at the Fringe
Confessions of the World’s Worst Missionary comes to Artworks Theatre for the Hollywood Fringe Festival Written and Performed by Lina Alfinito Directed by Andrea Adnoff LOS ANGELES, Calif- Writer and solo performer Lina Alfinito will be presenting “Confessions of the World’s Worst Missionary” at the Hollywood Fringe Festival June 10-18 at Artworks Studio A. A [...]