Louise Thompson News

Cafe Nordo has come to be known in town for their sumptuous meals and fun, frothy and fascinating shows but this time they've outdone themselves with "The Champagne Widow". With a book by Opal Peachey and Music by Annastasia Workman and Lyrics by Peachey, Workman as well as director Billie Wildrick, this wholly new and original work goes beyond their usual good time and adds heartbreak and even a bit of an education, not only about the creation of Champagnes but the unsung women responsible for many of the great achievements in Champagne.

Cafe Nordo will present The Champagne Widow playing June 7th- 30th at Nordo's Culinarium in historic Pioneer Square. Written by Opal Peachey, composed by Annastasia Workman and directed by Billie Wildrick (Annie, The 5thAvenue) The Champagne Widow will be set in the underground caves of France, where Champagne's most luxurious bottles of bubbles come to life and sing the stories of the women who made them famous.

SMOKED! At Cafe Nordo is an immersion dinner theater experience into the Wild West. From smoking guns to smoked oxtail chili, this show delivers an authentic western feel. From the moment you walk into the door, you are part of the show's atmosphere. With good guys to root for, bad guys to boo and plenty of stiff drinks, Cafe Nordo delivers an evening of fun.

It makes sense that Strawberry Theater Workshop would put on a production of Eugene Ionesco's 'Rhinoceros' right now. Ionesco's allegorical post-WWII production was far from ambiguous when it came to political stance. Directed by Jess K. Smith, this modern adaptation both soared and, at times stumbled from its approach to cultural relevancy.

July might have just begun, but let me tell you things are in full swing here in Sonoma, CA.  Just recently at Transcendence Theatre Company we started a new show, closed the first show with a bang, actively participated in volunteering opportunities, and joined in our local 4th of July celebrations.  But I'll let some of our Transcendence resident artists go into more detail about their personal favorite activities of these past well-lived days.

The New Black Fest, a theater organization celebrating provocative storytelling, music and discussion from the African Diaspora, is proud to announce The New Black Fest at The Lark.

Bravo Media will air the UK hit series 'Made in Chelsea: NYC' Sundays at 12pm ET/PT beginning today, November 16 with two back-to-back hour-long episodes.

Bravo Media will air the UK hit series 'Made in Chelsea: NYC' Sundays at 12pm ET/PT beginning November 16 with two back-to-back hour-long episodes.

The 2011 Garland Award recipients were announced today, honoring the best of Los Angeles theatre. Under the voting system each Garland winner was named on at least three critics' 'Best of 2010' lists. Each critic listed up to five nominees for each category except performance, up to 10 nominees for performance in musical productions and 10 for straight plays. Here are the critics' lists, minus the winners. The critics who voted are Jeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Holder, Eric Marchese, Dany Margolies, Dink O'Neal, Melinda Schupmann, Madeleine Shaner, Les Spindle, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. Back Stage thanks them, as we hope you will when you see them this year, for their perpetual devotion to Southland theater large and small.

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that with this extension of YELLOW, Shores' favorite David Steen will be joining the cast as Bobby Westmoreland and now, his plays have appeared on LA stages for over eight collective years!

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that with this extension of YELLOW, Shores' has now had his plays on LA stages for collectively eight years!

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that with this extension of YELLOW, Shores' favorite David Steen will be joining the cast as Bobby Westmoreland and now, his plays have appeared on LA stages for over eight collective years!

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that the smash-hit, critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE; LA Weekly GO!; Backstage CRITIC'S PICK) world premiere production of YELLOW, written and directed by Del Shores (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores is EXTENDING thru SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 at the Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that with this extension of YELLOW, Shores' has now had his plays on LA stages for collectively eight years!

JD3atrical Productions presents Del Shores first new play in over seven years, the world premiere of YELLOW, written and directed by Del Shores (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores.

JD3atrical Productions will be presenting Del Shores' first new play in over seven years, the world premiere of Yellow, written and directed by Del Shores' (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores. Yellow will begin previews on Friday, May 29 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 11 at 8pm and run thru Sunday, July 25 at the Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

JD3atrical Productions is thrilled to announce that the smash-hit, critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE; LA Weekly GO!; Backstage CRITIC'S PICK) world premiere production of YELLOW, written and directed by Del Shores (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores is EXTENDING thru SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 at the Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

JD3atrical Productions presents Del Shores first new play in over seven years, the world premiere of YELLOW, written and directed by Del Shores (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores.

JD3atrical Productions presents Del Shores first new play in over seven years, the world premiere of YELLOW, written and directed by Del Shores (The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Southern Baptist Sissies, Sordid Lives) and produced by Louise Beard, Emerson Collins, Jason Dottley and Del Shores.