Los Angeles Theater Reviews

BWW Reviews: Doma Goes to XANADU for Fulfillment of Love and Art

Now at Doma Theatre, the current production of Xanadu is not quite up to their Jekyll & Hyde, but satisfying nonetheless, and certainly with enough colorfully entertaining qualities to make it worth your while as a respite from the end of summer heat. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Anthony Skordi is Cautious Yet Focused in ONASSIS World Premiere at Stella Adler Theatre

Suave, charming, ego maniac Aristotle Onassis comes to vivid life through the brilliantly modulated, cautiously executed and intensely focused performance of Anthony Skordi on the stage of the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. With a sharp eye to his every move, director Bruce Katzman stages the world premiere of Onassis with impeccable detail, now through October 21. (more...)

BWW Reviews: OC's 3D Theatricals Presents Enjoyable Berlin Revue I LOVE A PIANO

Orange County-based 3D Theatrical's surprisingly ebullient new production of the Irving Berlin musical revue I LOVE PIANO--now performing through September 23 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton before it moves to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, September 28-30--is buoyed by its composer's indelible contributions to the Great American Songbook. Despite a paper-thin yet serviceable storyline, the show is redeemed by a six-member song-and-dance ensemble that will wow you with one beautifully-rendered musical performance after another. This heartwarming yet briskly peppy musical revue is definitely worth your time. (more...)

BWW Reviews: West Coast Premiere of THE BOOK OF MORMON Finally Blesses Southern California

Arguably the most anticipated Broadway musical to ever hit the road in recent decades, the worship-worthy comedy THE BOOK OF MORMON--whose first national tour is now cheerfully spreading its gospel at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 25--certainly lives up to its massive box office draw, critical and audience acclaim, and, of course, its cart-full of nine well-earned Tony Award wins, including one for Best Musical. A giddy, crass, and surprisingly heart-felt stage show full of winking cynicism, this truly genius creation is, hands down, the best, most thoroughly entertaining musical comedy to ever be mounted on a stage for quite some time. It's rude, crude, and shamelessly offensive... and you're going to adore every single minute of it. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Megahit BOOK OF MORMON Will Rule LA 'til November 25 at the Pantages

With a stellar touring cast and astounding direction from Broadway directors Casey Nicholaw, who has also choreographed brilliantly, and Trey Parker, who also wrote the book, music and lyrics with partners Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, Book of Mormon is irresistible heaven at the Pantages through November 25, but buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Kritzerland's Second Birthday Show a Smash at Sterling's

On Saturday September 8, Kritzerland live performance concerts turned two years old and Bruce Kimmel celebrated the event with a potpourri of The Songs That Got Away at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Kritzerland's newest monthly home base. Assisting Kimmel were regulars Dennis Kyle, Juliana Hansen, Jane Noseworthy, Lisa Livesay, joined this time by Kevin Symons, 13 year-old Jenna Rosen and sisters Sami and Sarah Staitman. There was not one guest star, not two, not three... but five, yes five and all exceptional talents: Back to the Future's favorite mom and TV's favorite Caroline in the City Lea Thompson, showboy Jason Graae and representing Ruthless, LA's 1993 runaway musical hit: Joan Ryan, Rita McKenzie and Lindsay Ridgeway. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Jane Kean Shines at the Colony

With a career encompassing Broadway, TV and film, veteran comic actress Jane Kean is best known for playing Trixie Norton in the hour-long color, musical version of the Honeymooners series (1966-70). Kean presented her one-woman show onstage at the Colony Saturday September 8. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Third Street Theatre's FULL MONTY Has Got the Goods

The Full Monty/book by Terrence McNally/music & lyrics by David Yazbek/choreography by John Todd/directed by Richard Israel/Third Street Theatre/through October 14 (more...)

BWW Reviews: Robert Marra Puts Riveting Spin on WORLD GOES 'ROUND at Actors Co-Op

The World Goes 'Round/music by John Kander/lyrics by Fred Ebb/originally conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman & David Thompson/re-envisioned by Robert Marra/Actors Co-Op at Crossley Theatre, Hollywood/directed & choreographed by Robert Marra/through October 14 (more...)

BWW Reviews: Playwrights' Arena Presents Scintillating HELEN at Getty Villa

Jon Lawrence Rivera's brisk staging, making generous use of the vast stage area, Nick Salamone's quirkily funny Hollywoodesque yet faithful adaptation, and a splendidly fun-loving cast make for this unique theatrical evening now through September 29. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Ilene Graff Brings End of Summer Delight to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal

On Sunday August 26, singer/actress Ilene Graff brought her heavenly show First You Dream to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to a packed house of ardent fans and celebrated LA friends. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Athol Fugard Brings a Touch of Class to the Fountain with The Blue Iris

The Blue Iris/by Athol Fugard/directed by Stephen Sachs/Fountain Theatre/through September 16 (will not extend) (more...)

BWW Reviews: Farm Boy Closes Triumphantly at the Matrix

Farm Boy/by Michael Morpurgo/adapted by Daniel Buckroyd/directed by David Fofi/Matrix Theatre/closed August 26 (more...)

BWW Reviews: I Caligula a Mixed Bag at the Secret Rose in NoHo

I, Caligula An Insanity Musical/book and lyrics by Kai Cofer/music and orchestrations by Cody Gillette/partially based on Caligula by Albert Camus/directed by Kai Cofer/Secret Rose Theatre/closed August 26 (more...)

BWW Reviews: International City Theatre's GHOST-WRITER

Is he or isn't he? That is the question of utmost importance in Michael Hollinger's GHOST-WRITER, especially since the "he" to whom the question refers is acclaimed novelist Franklin Woolsey (Leland Crooke) who happens to be dead. (more...)

BWW Reviews: SOC Puts on Undeniably Charming MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Shakespeare Orange County closes out its summer season with a sparkling production of Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING that time travels its characters to Messina, Italy in the 1920's. There amid the sultry Mediterranean breeze, Jazz Age music, and stylish flapper frocks, Cupid and his henchmen and women conspire to ensure that love prevails using any tactics necessary. And therein lies the fun. (more...)

BWW Reviews: RED, Starring Jonathan Groff and Alfred Molina, Revels in Taper Premiere

If you've noticed an increase in seismic activity in the LA basin lately, the epicenter can be clearly be traced to the main stage at the Mark Taper Forum, where the powerful production of John Logan's "Red" opened August 12th to thunderous applause and an instantaneous standing ovation. (more...)

BWW Reviews: BLAME IT ON BECKETT - Colony's Hilarious Homage to Theatre

With a fine cast and outstanding direction from Andrew Barnicle, Blame It On Beckett makes hilarious waves at the Colony through September 2. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Falcon's GRONHOLM METHOD - A Surprisingly Ingenious Hit

Now on the Falcon stage with a vibrant cast and skillful direction from BT McNicholl, The Gronholm Method wins over its audience not with its message, but rather with its grand theatricality. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Coeurage Theatre's ASSASSINS Hits Its Mark

Coeurage Theatre Company's ASSASSINS is dark, funny, and often unsettling, but it hits its mark in surreal solidarity by meeting the demands of the provocative material head-on. (more...)

BWW Reviews: LDTE Offers Magically Gritty ELMINA'S KITCHEN

Gritty reality is mixed with just enough voodoo/black magic and unique cultural humor to make for a very absorbing and enjoyable evening of theatre as presented by the Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble (LDTE) at the Lost Studio. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Logan's Tony-Winning RED Fascinates at Mark Taper Forum

Many plays with an art theme have been written over the past decades, chief among them Yasmina Reza's Art, which shows the positive and negative effects of art on everyday life, but in John Logan's Red, it is the artist (Mark Rothko) himself who holds court, and the audience shares his space with him for two hours. This intimate exposure is awe-inspiring as lyrically expressed by John Logan, and is fiercely conveyed by Alfred Molina as Rothko and Jonathan Groff as Ken his 'employee' on the Taper stage through September 9. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Sterling's Welcomes Cortes Alexander and Swell Party

Actor/singer Cortes Alexander debuted his delightful Swell Party at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal on Monday August 13. What a uniquely fun evening of anecdote and song! Alexander worked with Liza Minnelli in Liza at the Palace, but she met him years before when his group The Tonics had a regular gig in NYC. (more...)

BWW Reviews: High-Energy MEMPHIS Tour Says 'Hock-a-doo!' to L.A.

While overly melodramatic and a bit cliched, MEMPHIS--the winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Musical now performing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through August 12--is, overall, a rousing, electrically-charged show that rightfully triumphs because of its slick production values and its incredible, top-notch cast. If you want to hear some honest-to-goodness, kick-ass singing, then you must see this show... NOW! (more...)

BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Salutes Burt Bacharach

Who was one of the most prolific singers of romantic pop in the 60s/70s/80s? And who created the little gems she sang? If you answered Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach, you win today's prize. Well, ...on Sunday, August 5 Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland paid tribute to the musical genius that is Burt Bacharach - most songs with lyrics by Hal David - @ Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. With a splendid group of singers that included Kim Huber, Danny Gurwin, Dennis Kyle, Jane Noseworthy, Daisy Eagan and Lisa Livesay...and Mr. Kimmel as congenial host, the evening was the 24th Kritzerland show, and most definitely one of its finest. (more...)