Audrey Liebross - Page 8

In Coyote Stageworks' superb production of ART, a plain white painting that contains a bit of texture, and possibly, a few almost invisible tints, serves as the catalyst for three middle-aged men to examine their friendship.The expressions of emotion, whether through the writer's words or through the actors' inflections, body-language, physical altercations, and yelling back and forth, are so natural that I forgot that these gentlemen were acting. They are so convincing that it is almost painful in spots to watch them attempt to destroy each other.

Theatergoers at the Fox Performing Arts Center (Fox PAC) in Riverside, California, had the pleasure of watching the hilarious FORBIDDEN BROADWAY revue. The audience laughed uproariously at the onstage antics, which consist of skewering Broadway's musical hits and stars.

Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), in Rancho Mirage, and its artistic director Ron Celona, have scored another coup with I AM MY OWN WIFE, the slightly fictionalized story of German gay rights activist and antique collector Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Actor Vince Gatton brings her to life, along with more than thirty other characters, in a brilliant one-person show that I consider a must-see.

Desert Rose Playhouse, in Rancho Mirage, is currently presenting COCK, an intelligent and moving comic drama. It is sensitively directed (by artistic director Jim Strait), and performed superbly by a first-rate cast. COCK is a drama that is likely to interest both the LGBT community (Desert Rose's core constituency) and straight theatergoers. Its theme about identity is universal.I consider it a must-see.

CLUE THE MUSICAL, as interpreted by director Lance Phillips-Martinez and music director Joel Baker, Desert Theatreworks' production is a great deal of family-friendly fun. Mr. Phillips-Martinez and Ashley Hernandez (who also plays the multiply-widowed Mrs. Peacock) have provided superb choreography. Add an excellent cast, a terrific musician (Brian Alec Thom), and the twist of giving the audience the opportunity to solve the murder, the result is a highly enjoyable 95 minutes.

Desert Ensemble Theatre (DETC), in Palm Springs, is presenting ENDANGERED SPECIES, a richly layered work written by founder and producing artistic director Tony Padilla. Mr. Padilla directs a fine ensemble cast that does justice to the difficult material in this unsettling play.

The side-splitting parody known as FORBIDDEN BROADWAY comes to the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, California, for two shows only on Saturday, March 12, 2016. BWW interviews the producer, John Freedson.

The national tour of THE PRODUCERS, the Mel Brooks musical farce,is a hilarious production.The Tony-award winning musical, which originally starred Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, ran from 2001 to 2007 on Broadway. The touring production is hilariously funny and will play several nearby venues in the next few weeks.

Palm Springs' Desert Ensemble Theatre Company (DETC) has scored a coup with its production of Caryl Churchill's 2002 four-character, two actor play, A NUMBER. Ms. Churchill, a British playwright whom dramatist Tony Kushner calls 'the greatest living English language playwright,' provides an exceptional script. Additionally, the two actors deliver superb performances, filled with nuance. The combination creates an extraordinary evening of theatre.

Neil Simon's autobiographical play, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR, as presented by Desert Theatreworks (DTW), provides a side-splitting few hours of theatre. The play is based on the mayhem in the writers' room of Sid Caesar's YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS. Director Lance Phillips-Martinez does a fine job of directing an excellent cast.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY's national tour tour shot over to the Fox Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Riverside for a single performance on January 27th, after a run at the Pantages. The top-notch cast delivered a hilarious night of theatre at the Fox, with fabulous dancing and singing.

THE PRODUCERS touring company will play two performances at Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 14, 2016. BWW interviewed David Johnson, who plays Max Bialystock.

CVRep has undertaken something new -- a medium-sized musical comedy with a four-piece orchestra. The result of its production of A CLASS ACT, the story of A CHORUS LINE's lyricist, is an enjoyable evening of theatre, with fabulous dancing.

Desert Rose Playhouse succeeds spectacularly in its 2016 Gay Heritage play: Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART ONE: MILLENIUM APPROACHES. Director Jim Strait superbly stages the iconic show about the challenges of being gay in the 1980's. The cast and design are excellent. The production is a must-see.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY became a screwball Broadway musical comedy in 2014, written by Woody Allen (adapted from his film) and directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman. The production, which consists of songs adapted from those popular in the Roaring Twenties, was nominated for six Tony awards. The BULLETS national tour will stop at Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center for one show on the evening of Wednesday, January 27, 2016. BWW spoke to Jemma Jane, who plays Olive.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, in Rancho Mirage, will present Tony Kushner's award winning play, ANGELS IN AMERICA, Part 1- MILLENNIUM APPROACHES, as its 2016 Gay Heritage production. Jim Strait directs the ensemble cast. The play will run for six weeks, from January 15, 2016 through February 21, 2016.

Desert Theatreworks's new version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is touching and funny. Director Lance Phillips-Martinez adapted the Charles Dickens novella by using Dickens' words for narration and dialog. He also selected period Christmas carols, sung primarily by the chorus,The clever staging, the use of a combination musical chorus and Greek chorus (the latter narrates early parts of the story), the costumes, the make-up, the imaginative sound and lighting, the elements of humor, and, of course, the acting all contribute to the success of this top-notch production.

Desert Rose Playhouse's production of A QUEER CAROL, by Joe Godfrey, is well-acted and funny, A QUEER CAROL is a modern take on the classic Dickens tale, with Scrooge as a talented interior designer and Marley as his late business and life partner.

Rancho Mirage's CVRep is premiering George Eastman's dramedy, HAPPY HOUR. Director Ron Celona, veteran actor Gavin MacLeod, and Los Angeles-based actor John Hawkinson do justice to Mr. Eastman's sensitive and intelligent play about a son's worries over his aging father's safety. The result is another must-see production at CVRep.

Desert Theatreworks, in Palm Desert California, has mounted a top-notch production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. The acting is Broadway-quality, and the sets and costuming are also superb.