Shari Barrett

9 to 5 the Musical was an enjoyably nostalgic experience for those of us who actually lived through working in mid-20th Century offices, albeit losing much humorous dialogue and lyrics due to the faulty sound system.

The West Coast premiere of Grangeville is staged to absolute perfection on all levels including the script, director, actors, and overall technical brilliance at the Ruskin Group Theatre.

Playwright Lauren Gunderson gives France’s Reign of Terror a riotous, sharp-tongued makeover with The Revolutionists, opening June 12 at International City Theatre. I spoke with director Jamie Torcellini about the play and why he thinks its message is so relevant today.

Told through a series of vignettes, Crossing Delancey examines Bubbie's belief in the old-world Jewish family custom of all young women needing to find a husband as soon as possible to settle down and raise a family against those of Isabel, a modern 1980s Jewish woman in New York City learning to stand on her own two feet. I spoke with Holly Sidell who is portraying Isabel in the current production at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills through June 21.

Along with the impeccable acting and Diana Wyenn's brilliant direction, the most striking element of the production is Randy Wong-Westbrooke’s scenic design which features a half-dome representation of a rocket engine.

Based on the adventures of Johnston McCully's legendary pulp hero, Armienta infuses his opera with the music and sounds of early-19th century Alta California, including flamenco, corrido, and mariachi, with all performed exquisitely by the 24-member POP Orchestra.

I spoke with Chicago born, Brooklyn-based director/choreographer Katie Spelman about her focus on the unique blend of fantasy, Golden Age musical style, and deep romantic themes of Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon she is helming at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Director Michael Michetti shares his vision for the production, what first drew him to it, and how elements of clowning are being used to highlight Ionesco’s surreal humor.

While harmonizing to perfection, Katis rules the piano with the sensitivity necessary to realistically perform King’s songs of self-awareness and the longing to find your place in the world, while Clews’ finger-picking expertise on guitar adds a real sense of introspective musical magic to Taylor’s.

Pablo Picasso’s obsession with his work often destroyed those he professed to love. Brilliantly incarnated by Tate in a challenging, powerfully intelligent study, Picasso passionately defends his reputation in an explosive, often disturbing voyage of self-revelation.

Director Celia Mandela Rivera shares her background in theatre, what drew her to directing this play, her vision for the characters and staging it in Little Fish's intimate new space and why she thinks its exploration of love, fidelity, and friendship remains as fresh and provocative today as when it first premiered.

The play takes place inside the home of Carlota and her three daughters where time seems to have stood still. But their cloistered world is suddenly shaken when the youngest daughter encounters a handsome stranger in town for his father’s funeral. It offers a sharp and often humorous critique of a moral code that suppresses desire in the name of respectability.

Astounding triple-threat talent is on display in big production numbers with attention-grabbing scenic elements by brilliant designers add to the artistic wonder of the entire production helmed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, choreographed by Janelle Dote Portman, with music direction by Marc Macalintal.

I spoke with Jason and Chuma about their involvement with the play, how they interpret their characters and the story, and what new insights they hope to audiences will gain.

Be ready to play your part to find out who can you trust and who wants to destroy The Liminary. Depending on the questions asked and information gathered via audience participation, the process and ending will be different at each of the performances.

Here's what playwright Paul Webb shared about the world premiere of Warsaw, a moving meditation on survival, forgiveness, and the invisible threads that bind our lives together.

We never get a sense of what draws these two women to each other (other than sex), or what they have in common other than auditioning for acting work. Nor do we witness them falling in love, which makes it difficult to care whether or not their relationship succeeds.

Olivia Dufault on her unconventional play, its genesis, why she decided to bring its world premiere to Los Angeles, and how she hopes audiences will react to what she calls a tale of “love, shame, and the human need for connection.”

Darilyn Burtley brings the essence of Tina Turner's stunning stage presence to life!

I spoke with Julie about creating the women in this play who are deeply spiritual people who were raised in the Baptist church and have been wounded by it.