SCENE IN LA
BY
STEVE ZALL AND SID FISH
November 2013
Get ready for turkey day, and get ready for these amazing productions in our local venues as well, including:
OPENING
“The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies: The Last Hurrah!” Described by Follies Man Riff Markowitz as "the Follies Greatest Hits”, this edition will feature the best dance numbers and variety acts from years past, as well as three brilliant headliners. “I promise that our final season will be our most spectacular ever,” said Follies Man Riff Markowitz. “We are determined to go out with the same enthusiasm with which we began this adventure, so we’re putting everything we have into this good-bye season.” Lavish production numbers, a star-spangled finale and, through December 31, a special Yuletide celebration are all performed by a cast definitely old enough to remember the way it really was! Joining the Follies Man are three world-renowned guest stars and three remarkable variety acts:
November 1 through December 31, 2013 – Performing her very special Christmas show, Follies audience favorite and celebrated vocalist Susan Anton, along with hysterical ventriloquist Brad Cummings and his prehistoric sidekick, “Rex”.
January 7 through March 8, 2014 – Grammy-nominated recording star Maureen McGovern, along with dazzling high-tech juggler extraordinaire Rejean St. Jules … truly a showstopper.
March 11 through May 18, 2014 – Star of the new hit documentary film, Twenty Feet From Stardom, and making her Follies debut, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love of “He’s A Rebel” fame, along with America’s Got Talent comedian juggler Frank Olivier.
For the over three million Follies fans who have already attended a Follies performance who would like to see it one last time, or for those who have never attended but have been meaning to, it really is now or never! The Follies closes forever on May 18, 2014. Written and directed by Riff Markowitz, it runs November 1 through May 18 at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. For tickets call 760-327-0225 or visit www.psfollies.com.
“Legally Blonde the Musical” tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial. Written by Heather Hach, with music by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and directed by David F.M. Vaughn, it runs November 1 through November 3 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach. For tickets call 714-589-2770 or visit www.3dtshows.com.
“Seascape with Sharks and Dancer” Librarian/aspiring writer Ben (played by Lane Compton) has rescued a beautiful naked woman, Tracy (portrayed by Ri Versteegh) from the ocean and brought her to his decrepit Cape Cod beach house to recuperate. She claims to have been dancing in the ocean, not suicidal. The two couldn’t be more different. Ben is an island of calm. Tracy is volatile, moods spinning on a hair-trigger. Ben is immediately fascinated with her and falls for her. Tracy’s first impulse is to try to push him away. But two months later, she is still there. Then something happens that complicates matters and more seriously threatens any chance they have to stay together. Written by Don Nigro, and directed by Matt Doherty, it runs November 1 through December 15 at the Santa Monica Little Theater in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-622-4482 or visit www.theblackboxtheater.org.
“Titus Andronicus, A VAUDEVILLE” is a play for every schoolchild, who found the Bard a bit boring. This Vaudeville inspired Burlesque show won’t put you to sleep, but may encourage you to run away with the circus. Come see Shakespeare’s most gruesome and bloody play, told by a rag-tag group of old-time performers. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Alex Aves, it runs November 1 through November 17 at the Lab Theatre at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-455-3111 or visit titusvaudeville.bpt.me.
“Young Frankenstein” When Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein, he faces a dilemma. Does he continue to run from his family's tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather's mad experiments reanimating the dead and, in the process fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga? Written by Mel Brooks, with music by Corey B. Hirsch, and directed by Lauren Kadel, it runs November 1 through November 17 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-856-1999 or visit www.musical.org.
“Twelve Angry Men” unfolds in a New York City courtroom on a sweltering August evening in 1955 as a jury is filed into a deliberation room. They are tasked with determining the verdict in a murder case in which a young man is accused of killing his father and faces the death penalty if found guilty. These dozen nameless men find themselves in the role of potential executioner, but first they must face themselves, their biases, and their own sense of justice. What starts as an open-and-shut case soon twists into an edge of your seat drama as each juror begins to question how he should cast their vote. Written by Reginald Rose, and directed by Sheldon Epps, it runs November 5 through December 1 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
“Handball” A crumbling old neighborhood is about to undergo the first spasms of gentrification, as the local park is scheduled for refurbishment. The park is where Javier, a seriously competitive handball player, practices his sport with his protégé Ra-Ra, a teenaged thief. One wall of the handball court is the “R.I.P. wall”, with memorials written on it recording the passing of neighborhood characters as far back as seven decades ago. Javier is the wall’s self-appointed guardian. Ra-Ra has a crush on teen queen Lil-Lucy, who returns his regard but warns him of her involvement with an older, married man with the capacity to hurt him. Christopher and Laurie are a young married couple expecting a baby. Christopher wants to open a boutique hotel nearby and, desperate for funds, contacts Orlando, a wealthy young man with whom he had a fling in South America. Gee and Barry play dominoes regularly in the park. Barry sells dope and may do time for it. He seeks help from Panama, the neighborhood fixer and boss. Don’t cross Panama if you want to live. Panama is fiercely devoted to his dying wife, while simultaneously pursuing a particularly unwholesome relationship with a much younger woman. No good can come of it. The longtime neighborhood residents want things to stay as they are. But the city has its bulldozers ready to roll. As big changes appear imminent, what will happen to the people who live near the park? Written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld, and directed by Brenda Banda, it runs November 8 through December 15 at the Studio/Stage in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-620-5881 or visit www.urbantheatremovement.com.
“It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940's radio broadcast, set on the stage and auditorium of Studio A at WBFR in Manhattan, New York on Christmas Eve, 1946. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Luckily the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody, shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his community would be had he never been born. The production is appropriate for all age groups, so bring the entire family and enjoy this heart-warming holiday story together. Written by Joe Landry, and directed by Gypsy Foster, it runs November 8 through December 14 at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.
“A Perfect Likeness” Dodgson, a lecturer in Mathematics at Oxford University, is also an accomplished photographer. Sending Dickens a copy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, he invites Dickens for a portrait sitting. Dickens accepts. In 1866, photography is a long and laborious process, and these two literary icons have time to engage in witty conversation. Much is revealed about what others have speculated: Dickens has a secret mistress, Nelly Ternan; It’s been inferred that Dodgson’s friendship with young Alice Liddell and her sisters may be unsavory. They’re an odd couple: Dickens is bawdy and irreverent; Dodgson is religious and refined. What they have in common is that they are writers who have achieved international fame. That’s enough to bond the two men who may be kindred spirits after all. Written and directed by Daniel Rover Singer, it runs November 8 through December 22 at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. For tickets call 866-811-4111 or visit www.fremontcentretheatre.com.
“The Belle Aires” The Belle Aires is a captivating and hilarious story about the reuniting of three rival superstars of the Golden Era of Hollywood. Though unemployed, they live in the hearts and memories of loyal fans throughout the world. The three actresses join forces with a former casting agent to devise and ingenious plan to take them out of retirement and back into show business. The audience is transported on a fascinating journey into Old Hollywood, with its engaging twists and turns behind the scenes. Written by Maria Elena Cellino, and directed by Vinnie Torrente, it runs November 14 through December 8 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-508-4200 or visit www.elportaltheatre.com.
“God’s Gypsy” The world premiere of a bold, sexy, and humanizing portrait of Teresa of Avila, the 16th century mystic who became one of the most controversial reformers of the Catholic Church. This highly sensorial theater piece explores Teresa’s Jewish roots, her unconventional prayer life, her clashes with the Inquisition and her profound spirituality. Written by Coco Blignaut, based on the novel “Sister Teresa” by Bárbara Mujica, with music by Lili Haydn, and directed by Elina de Santos, it runs November 15 through January 12 at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 866-811-4111 or visit www.godsgypsy.com.
“¡Ser!” is a riveting personal narrative that examines a queer Latina’s strained relationship with each of her two homes: Los Angeles, and Buenos Aires. Spending years in both cities, she dreams of a pilgrimage to meet her soccer idol Diego Maradona and see him play. The back and forth migration of her upbringing, amidst major moments in Argentine history, leaves her with few role models save an over-sexed Argentinean English teacher and a mute that communicates via horn. Featuring live music and her own soccer skills, Karen delights in her zany journey to find community and love in pursuit of her ¡GOL! Written by Karen Anzoategui, with music by CAVA and Walter Miranda in collaboration with Louie Pérez of Los Lobos, and directed by Marcos Nájera, it runs November 16 through December 8 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 866-811-4111 or visit www.thelatc.org/2013/shows/ser.
“The Lion King” Experience the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING. Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you’ll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar®-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life”. Written by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with music by Elton John and Tim Rice, and directed by Julie Taymor, it runs November 20 through January 12 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 800-982-2787 or visit www.HollywoodPantages.com.
“Light Up The Sky” It’s opening night for the Boston tryout prior to Broadway of Peter Sloan’s first play. Producer, director, and star actress all gush around him while they have a round of drinks to toast his accomplishment. The performance that night feels rocky, however, and his associates viciously turn on him, with an older playwright and a production secretary the only friendly faces to be found. Then the reviews start to come out, heralding a glorious new voice in the American theatre. Peter will have the opportunity for some delicious payback. Written by Moss Hart, and directed by David McClendon, it runs November 21 through December 22 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Corova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.
“Pretty Chicas All in a Row” the Angels are hired to unravel the mystery of murdered contestants in the Miss Kumquat Pageant. Cecil Kumquat hires Chico’s Angels to find the killer and save his pageant. Kay and Chita go undercover as contestants all while trying not to stick out. Freida and Bossman find themselves posing as a reporter and cameraman. The Angels are determined to solve the crime, get their story, and take the crown! Written by Oscar Quintero and Kurt Koehler, and directed by Kurt Koehler, it runs November 21 through November 26 at the Cavern Club Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silverlake. For tickets or visit chicosangels.tix.com.
CONTINUING
“The Hebrew Hillbilly” a one woman musical which chronicles Ms Fisher's Hollywood odyssey that begins in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, Blues and Bar-b-cue. Growing up Jewish in the deep South with a flamboyant mother who frowned on her dating the local redneck boys, The Hebrew Hillbilly begins singing as a little girl and never stops. From her early years as a blonde bombshell, through her current incarnation as The Memphis Belle of L.A., Ms Fisher has been on a show business rollercoaster that slows down just long enough for her audience to climb on board this deeply personal, yet universally appealing and hilarious ride. Written by Shelley Fisher, with music by Shelley Fisher, Kenneth Hirsch, and Harold Payne, and directed by Rory Mitchell, it runs through November 3 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.
“When You Wish” tells the inspiring story of how a young dreamer became the Walt Disney who changed the world. The journey begins in 1906 with Walt as a six-year-old, drawing cartoons on the family toilet paper and concludes with his biggest dream of all, the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Roy Disney, Walt’s older brother and business partner, serves as the story’s narrator, taking us on a journey of struggle, heartache, and enormous triumph; including the opening and bankrupt closing of Laugh-0-Gram Studios in Kansas City; the formation of Disney Brothers Studios in Hollywood; the marriage of Walt and Lillian Disney; the departure of his best and closest animator Ub Iwerks; and the creation of a mouse named “Mickey” which ignited his career and the legacy that would forever be Walt Disney. Written by Dean McClure, with music by Dean McClure, and directed by Larry Raben, it runs through November 3 at the UCLA’s Freud Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-825-2101 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
“Play/Time” ix writers will be given a new prompt every week for six weeks. They’ll have less than a week to each write a full short play. A group of actors then has less than a week to rehearse all six and put them up on stage. While they’re rehearsing, the writers get new prompts and start working on the next batch for the actors to perform. Each week features different plays so every show is different! Written by Aaron Kozak, Anthony Rutowicz, Ben Atkinson, Gregory Crafts, Jacob Smith and Lee Pollero, and directed by Erin Scott, it runs through November 9 at the Belfry Stage Upstairs at the Crown in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-849-4039 or visit www.theatreunleashed.com.
“All I Want Is Magic” presents a dozen terrifically talented twentysomethings who are up-and-comers in the world of vocal music. The cast includes Jolee Blon, Kelly Britain, Kevin Ferris, Niousha Jafarian, Zach Kilian, Abigail Kochunas, Christian Maltez, Tahlia McCollum, Lauren Plaxco, Cynthia San Luis, George Steeves and Shiela Tejada. Music by Jeff Rizzo, with music by Jeff Rizzo, it runs through November 10 at the T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For tickets call 310-366-5505 or visit www.tix.com.
“Liquid Love” Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. “Liquid Love” features love songs performed by established vocal stars including Lucy Walsh (daughter of The Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh) on October 5 and October 19; Chad Doreck (from the reality TV series “Grease: You’re The One That I Want” (also the hunk from the recent production of “Fool For Love” at T.U. Studios) on October 26 and November 2; and Gloria Gifford (WB recording contract singer) on October 12 and November 9. If your idea of musical entertainment is great singers performing wonderful songs, these shows are for you. Music by Stuart Elster, with music by Stuart Elster, it runs through November 10 at the T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For tickets call 310-366-5505 or visit www.tix.com.
“4000 Miles” is the story of 91-year-old Vera, an old-world Leftie, and her 21-year-old grandson, Leo, a New Age hippie. After a cross-country trip, Leo surprises Vera at her New York apartment in the middle of the night with a backpack, a bike, no money and no direction in his life. She agrees to let him spend the night without telling his mom; a few weeks later, he’s still there. Written by Amy Herzog, and directed by David Emmes, it runs through November 17 at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
“Tender Napalm” Two young lovers struggle to reconcile their relationship in the face of disaster. As their individual coping mechanisms trigger each other's despair the young couple lives out the play in a series of wild fantasies, transcending time and space in a violent and sexually charged tapestry of what was, and what is to be. Written by Philip Ridley, and directed by Edward Edwards, it runs through November 26 at the Six 01 Studio in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-4410 or visit www.plays411.com/tendernapalm.
“A Good Grief” It’s another night in Grief Counseling, Room 103, and four strangers are struggling with their own steps in the grieving process. Stan (Denial), Ruth (Anger), Brenda (Depression), and Ray (Bargaining), are on a major collision course with each other's issues -- whether they like it or not – in this new dark comedy that may, eventually, lead to Acceptance. Written by Leslie Hardy, and directed by Jeffrey Wylie, it runs through December 1 at the Lounge Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7784 or visit www.plays411.com/grief.
“Moskva” On a hot spring afternoon, the Devil and his entourage, trailing fire and chaos in their wake, emerge from the shadows of the underworld and weave themselves into the absurd and brutal realities of today’s Moscow. They encounter lovers, mafia kingpins, drug-dealers, hit men, a crippled novelist, Pontius Pilate, Christ, and various bewildered apparatchiks of Putin’s Russia. Moskva is a contemporary, historical, and musical carnival, an homage to Bulgakov and to people everywhere struggling against the unjust and lunatic incursions of their governments. Warning: Contains Nudity. Written by Steven Leigh Morris, and directed by Frédérique Michel, it runs through December 15 at the City Garage, Building T1, Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-453-9939 or visit www.citygargage.org.
Don’t overeat and see a show as a treat!
