Bart Braverman News

Indio's Desert Theatreworks continues their strong 2018/19 season with a stylish production of Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE NILE. Smartly dressed characters with distinct, larger-than-life personalities, come together in the early 1940's onboard an Egyptian riverboat. One of them gets shot through the head, and the remainder of the show deals with the characters figuring out whodunnit.

West Coast Jewish Theatre has announced the second production of its 2015-16 season, the internationally acclaimed comedy Romance.com by Hindi Brooks. Directed by WCJT Artistic Director Howard Teichman, the show opens tonight, October 10 at 8pm at the Pico Playhouse in West Los Angeles. The engagement will run through November 15.

 West Coast Jewish Theatre has announced the second production of its 2015-16 season, the internationally acclaimed comedy Romance.com by Hindi Brooks. Directed by WCJT Artistic Director Howard Teichman, there will be two preview performances on October 8 and 9 with opening set for Saturday, October 10 at 8pm at the Pico Playhouse in West Los Angeles. The engagement will run through November 15.

Chuck Faerber's world premiere Counter Men, now onstage at the Whitefire Theatre, is peculiarly intriguing with a 14-character cast and just about as many plotlines. On the plus side, it's entertaining - to a point - with a mostly wonderful ensemble. On the negative side, its big picture gets bogged down by too many unnecessary stories. It can work in a soap on TV, but not on a tiny stage.The setting? The rump section of a diner-like restaurant in Glendale - great realistic set design by Davis Campbell - where an odd assortment of men hang out daily: an actor, a screenwriter, and a musician are among the brood. This is a suburb of Hollywood, after all, so it's not unusual for show biz folks to find a second home where they can dish the dirt, kind of like Dupars in Studio City. There are a couple of waitresses who know the men quite well, so, for the most part, what we see is a big extended family, except of course, for those making quick entrances/exits to and from the restroom, one of whom is branded a terrorist. A couple of the men are vets and have conflicting opinions with the younger guys about the war in Iraq. Mackie (Paul Haitkin) has a macho streak and brags about picking up women and videotaping his sexual trysts with them. Carl (Bart Braverman) has some serious issues with cancer. Joyelle (Marion Ramsey), the older and motherly waitress, has a son in Iraq and is in a constant state of anxiety for his safety. Ludy (Vanessa Herrera), the younger waitress, with a black eye and bruises on her arms, is clearly having some problems at home. Teo, a homeless filipino musician, who uses one of the booths to sleep in as well as a studio in which to compose, is attracted to Sackie (Naila Browne), a gal from Glendale's Water and Power, but he's timid about taking the first step to meet her. One of Mackie's conquests, Sheila, a real estate tycoon, gives up the business and eventually becomes a nun (Anna Nicholas). The stories go on and on, endlessly.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Chuck Faerber's world premiere Counter Men, now onstage at the Whitefire Theatre, is peculiarly intriguing with a 14-character cast and just about as many plotlines. On the plus side, it's entertaining - to a point - with a mostly wonderful ensemble. On the negative side, its big picture gets bogged down by too many unnecessary stories. It can work in a soap on TV, but not on a tiny stage.The setting? The rump section of a diner-like restaurant in Glendale - great realistic set design by Davis Campbell - where an odd assortment of men hang out daily: an actor, a screenwriter, and a musician are among the brood. This is a suburb of Hollywood, after all, so it's not unusual for show biz folks to find a second home where they can dish the dirt, kind of like Dupars in Studio City. There are a couple of waitresses who know the men quite well, so, for the most part, what we see is a big extended family, except of course, for those making quick entrances/exits to and from the restroom, one of whom is branded a terrorist. A couple of the men are vets and have conflicting opinions with the younger guys about the war in Iraq. Mackie (Paul Haitkin) has a macho streak and brags about picking up women and videotaping his sexual trysts with them. Carl (Bart Braverman) has some serious issues with cancer. Joyelle (Marion Ramsey), the older and motherly waitress, has a son in Iraq and is in a constant state of anxiety for his safety. Ludy (Vanessa Herrera), the younger waitress, with a black eye and bruises on her arms, is clearly having some problems at home. Teo, a homeless filipino musician, who uses one of the booths to sleep in as well as a studio in which to compose, is attracted to Sackie (Naila Browne), a gal from Glendale's Water and Power, but he's timid about taking the first step to meet her. One of Mackie's conquests, Sheila, a real estate tycoon, gives up the business and eventually becomes a nun (Anna Nicholas). The stories go on and on, endlessly.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Bris Productions' JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and original star Bryan Fogel, is closing Sunday, FEBRUARY 13 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave. in West Hollywood!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the return of JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and original star Bryan Fogel, is EXTENDING AGAIN and MUST CLOSE on Sunday, FEBRUARY 13 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave. in West Hollywood!

JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and original star Bryan Fogel, will close on Sunday, January 2 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave. in West Hollywood!

SPIN A DREIDEL! We're EXTENDING! AGAIN! ONE LAST TIME! AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the return of JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and original star Bryan Fogel, is EXTENDING through Sunday, November 14 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave. in West Hollywood!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the critically-acclaimed, smash-hit comedy JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and star Bryan Fogel, is returning to Los Angeles with a new production, new staging, and revised script that was created for its wildly successful 3-year Off-Broadway run!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the return of JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and original star Bryan Fogel, is EXTENDING through Sunday, November 14 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave. in West Hollywood!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the critically-acclaimed, smash-hit comedy JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and star Bryan Fogel, is returning to Los Angeles with a new production, new staging, and revised script that was created for its wildly successful 3-year Off-Broadway run!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the critically-acclaimed, smash-hit comedy JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and star Bryan Fogel, is returning to Los Angeles with a new production, new staging, and revised script that was created for its wildly successful 3-year Off-Broadway run!

Bris Productions is thrilled to announce that that the critically-acclaimed, smash-hit comedy JEWTOPIA, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson and directed for the first time by it's co-writer and star Bryan Fogel, is returning to Los Angeles with a new production, new staging, and revised script that was created for its wildly successful 3-year Off-Broadway run!