SCENE IN LA
BY
STEVE ZALL AND SID FISH
While enjoying those long lazy days filled with tons of fun in the sand and the sun, the barbeques and the parties, take some time to check out the hot new shows all around us, such as:
OPENING
“Moby Dick- Rehearsed” a theatre company in 1860 rehearses a production of its adaptation of Herman Melville’s 1851 novel “Moby Dick,” in which an obsessed captain and the crew of his New England whaling vessel, the Pequod, go on the hunt for whales and, in particular, the white whale Moby Dick, whom Captain Ahab regards as a personal sworn enemy. Ahab pursues Moby Dick with a vengeful intensity beyond that which he would pursue a human adversary. Written by Orson Welles, adapted from a novel by Herman Melville, and directed by Aliah Whitmore, it runs August 4 through August 28 at the Lyric Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 818-826-3609 or visit www.whitmoreeclectic.com.
“You Make Me Physically Ill” & “So Damned Heavenly Bound” Two plays for the price of one: "So Damned Heavenly Bound" (Patty Wonderly) Three sisters meet up and finally open up about each other on the night before their father's funeral. The eldest and youngest have been getting things ready to say their final good byes when the middle sister arrives and before the final goodbyes can be said, these three have some things to get off their chests; "You Make Me Physically Ill" (Roger Mathey) A boy is invited to meet the family of the woman of his dreams only to find that her father and ex-boyfriend have a tighter grip on her than he had expected. Written by Roger Mathey and Patty Wonderly and directed by Roger Mathey, it runs August 5 through September 10 at the Elephant Stage Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7770 or visit www.plays411.com/physicallyill.
“Counter Men” Love, war, and occasionally music break out in an L.A. restaurant as a waitress whose son is a marine serving in Iraq mothers the single customers who depend on her for food and emotional support. Examining the unsettled mood of the country and our military entanglements in the Mid-East, it is both poignant and prurient; a play punctuated by songs provided by the unemployed musician at the counter who uses his laptop as his orchestra. Written by Chuck Faerber and directed by Richard Kuhlman, it runs August 6 through August 27 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets call 323-960-5521 or visit www.plays411.com/counterman.
“DOLLS! - Not Your Usual Love Story” a cheerfully mysterious, unexpectedly amorous musical unveiling of the remarkable secret life of the dolls we left behind. Your favorite dolls of olde - the handsome Tin Soldier, the ephemeral Music Box Dancer, the ever-smiling Raggedy Girl, the cracked Porcelain Victoriana, the anatomically incorrect Fashion Doll and more bare their souls, and their startling private lives, for all to see. Written by Evelyn Rudie & Chris DeCarlo, music by E. Rudie with Matthew Wrather and directed by Chris DeCarlo, it runs August 6 through September 25 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-394-9779 or visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com.
“Vivien” an illuminating journey beyond Vivien Leigh's triumphs into the madness that tortured her all of her life, as she reflects on her tumultuous relationship with actor Laurence Olivier and her tragic battles with manic depression and tuberculosis. Leigh expresses her insecurities, despite winning two Oscars for her "Southern Belle" performances in "Gone with the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire”. Written by Rick Foster and directed by Elina de Santos, it runs August 12 through September 4 at the Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 855-585-5185 or visitwww.roguemachinetheatre.com.
“Next Window, Please” is a portrait of six intelligent, vivacious, outspoken, and financially strapped women who work in a bank. The delicate balance of their workday relationships is toppled with the news of a pending bank merger (complete with layoffs) and the infiltration of their environment by a handsome male junior executive. Instead of humbly accepting what fate dishes out, these women take matters into their own hands. Written by Doug Haverty and directed by Richard Alan Woody, it runs August 13 through September 17 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-700-4878 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.
“To the New Girl (from the former Mrs._____: Sound Advice for my Husband’s Wife or Mistress)” features ten different women, from all walks of life, giving advice to the 'other woman' (or man, in one case) on the proper care of their former mates. Each story explores infidelity from a unique angle: from a woman who discovers that she’s the not the only woman in her town willing to indulge her husband’s diapering fetish, to a women who’s loyal husband of 57 years, in the last stages of Alzheimer’s, develops a crush on a woman at his nursing home, to a televangelist’s wife who has figured out how to make her husband’s indiscretion with a man work out to her economic and emotional advantage. Written by Samantha Macher and directed by Jeanette D. Farr, it runs August 13 through September 8 at the T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.skypilottheatre.com.
“Beau Jeste” Convinced that her parents won’t approve of her gentile boyfriend, an eager-to-please daughter hires an actor to play the man of her mother’s dreams (not just a doctor; a surgeon!) until she can work up the nerve to tell them the truth. But when her parents fall in love with her new beau, can she remember not to do the same? Written by James Sherman and directed by Martin Lang, it runs August 18 through September 24 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-244-8481 or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.
“Fairy Tale Theatre: 18 & Over” Remember learning your lessons from stories read to you by teachers and parents? Well grownups need lessons too, from sex to relationships to financial stability to parking regulations. Join Percy Ruthford as he brings to life a collection of fairy tales and fables with morals for adults in this one-man show plus puppeteers and special guest stars. Performed once a month on August 18, September 15, and October 20, 2011. Written by J. Michael Feldman and directed by Annie McVey, it runs through October 20 at the Acme Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-525-0202 or visit www.fairytaletheatre2011.com.
“Passion” a light opera that charts a love triangle in 1863 Italy between a handsome army captain, his beautiful mistress, and the plain and sickly cousin of the regiment's colonel. Created and scored by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, and directed by Marco Gomez, it runs August 19 through September 11 at the Met Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-4443 or visit www.plays411.com/passion.
“The Yeomen of the Guard” Col. Fairfax, an admired military hero, has been falsely condemned to die for the practice of sorcery. To prevent his estate from going to his accuser, Fairfax contrives to marry a stranger, street singer Elsie Maynard, before his execution. Meanwhile, Sergeant Meryll and his daughter Phoebe plot to have Fairfax escape by disguising him as Phoebe’s brother Leonard. But, Wilfred the head jailer schemes to his own advantage by pretending to have slain Fairfax during an escape attempt. Written by W.S. Gilbert, music by Arthur Sullivan and directed by Eugene Hutchins, it runs August 19 through September 24 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
“Ennio” No celebrity or public figure is safe from the hilarious and theatrically magical imagination of ENNIO! Ennio Marchetto is the original transformation artist, revolutionizing the art of origami into a performance that is nothing short of comic genius. Marchetto uses his dynamic physical comedy and ingenious paper costumes to magically morph into parodies of over 50 favorite superstars and personalities. Written by Ennio Marchetto and directed by Sosthen Hennekam, it runs August 23 through August 28 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visitwww.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
“Private Lives” Two divorcés meet up again quite by accident while on their second honeymoons, with brand-new spouses in tow. Fireworks fly as their reunion reveals just how quickly romance – and rivalry – can be rekindled. Written by Noel Coward and directed by Luke Yankee, it runs August 26 through September 18 at the International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visitwww.internationalcitytheatre.org.
CONTINUING
“Chico’s Angels: Love Boat Chicas” When one of Charo's back-up dancers is shot mid-performance, Charo realizes she was the intended target. She hires Chico's Angels to find the wannabe-assassin and save her ocean-going career. Kay goes undercover as Charo with Chita in tow as her choreographer/manager. Frieda joins the crew as the new Cruise director, and Bossman provides undercover backup as a bartender. The Angels discover almost everyone onboard has a motive for killing Charo. They also discover themselves being entranced by the Love Boats charm as Kay risks blowing her cover to be with her dance partner, Dickardo, while Frieda finds herself inexplicably drawn to retiree passenger, Ruth Bliss, and Chita tries to resist the hypnotic effect of the combination of Bossman, a full moon and a bottle of tequila. REVIEW: With uproariously funny dialogue and without a dull moment, this show is anything but a 'drag' - it's definitely a must see! Written by Oscar Quintero and Kurt Koehler and directed by Kurt Koehler, it runs through August 7 at the Cavern Club Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silverlake. For tickets visit www.chicosangels.com.
“Watson: The Last Great Tale of the Legendary Sherlock Holmes” The story of a good man trapped in the shadow of a great man, this show is a funny, moving and theatrically innovative take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s heroes and villains. Written by Jaime Robledo, music by Ryan Johnson and directed by Jaime Robledo, it runs through August 20 at the Sacred Fools Theater in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-281-8337 or visit www.sacredfools.org.
“Tweaked” In a story of love, redemption, and dysfunction, two young women make a pact to kick their addiction to crystal meth and pursue family and creative lives away from the world in which they have found themselves. Written by Paul Shoulberg and directed by Sean Riley, it runs through August 21 at the Meta Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-7773 or visit www.plays411.com/tweaked.
“Gospel According to First Squad” On the brink of civilization in Eastern Afghanistan, deep in the deadly Korengal Valley, the men of First Squad walk the tightrope between boredom and terror every day. In a valley lit by firestorms of chaos, courage can be proven by a casual walk to the burn-shitter. As First Squad navigates the human terrain, winning hearts and minds from the Taliban, a new addition to their team threatens their mission, the populace, and their dreams of home. Written by Tom Burmester and directed by Danika Sudik, it runs through August 27 at the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets visit www.latensemble.com.
“Only Make Believe - The 2011 Pageant of the Masters” showcases the creative expressions of artists such as Sandow Birk and Salvador Dali who devoted themselves to conjuring everything from Victorian historical fantasies to illustrations for fairytales beginning “once upon a time”. The show is an internationally acclaimed production of tableaux vivants – “living pictures” where live actors are placed on 3D reproductions of the original art to recreate the full effect the artist was trying to convey. Written by Dan Duling and directed by Diane Challis Davy, it runs through August 31 at the Laguna Arts Festival in the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949- 497-6582 or visitwww.PageantTickets.com.
Summertime summertime sum-sum-summertime summertime! Enjoy!!
