Don Grigware - Page 14

Triple threat performer Jeffrey Scott Parsons made his LA Solo Cabaret debut Monday January 22 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with a sold out house. The show was entitled Comfy and took us back through the years beginning with a six-year old Parsons in Utah - yes, he was a farmboy and ... a Mormon, still is - who hated uncomfortable shirts and pants, calling them 'frickly', but had an early passion for sequins. We were treated to a home movie of his performance of 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' with his older sister and brother, two younger sisters scrambling around and his mother at the piano, referring to them all as the Mormon Von Trapp family. Indeed, this lad has a sense of humor and made an otherwise seriously reflective evening exceedingly enjoyable to watch, as he broke into tap at regular intervals.

Larry Eisenberg is the winner of this year's BroadwayWorld Award for Best Director of a Local Play, Lost in Yonkers, at Group Rep. He earned his MFA from CalArts, received a DramaLogue Award for the world premiere adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer's Stories for Children and has directed numerous productions at GRT. His favorites include Lost in Yonkers, Poor of New York, Trip to Bountiful, Over the River and Through the Woods and his original play, Nautilus, which was later turned into a feature film. He currently serves as one of the two Co-artistic Directors at The Group Rep. He is at present directing/rehearsing The Chinese Wall set to open January 26. Tell us about the background for the play.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, reinvents its theatre to present Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, as reimagined by the Chicago theatre hooligans The Hypocrites. This wacky beach party with flying beach balls, rubber duckies, ukuleles, banjos, plastic swimming pools, and a tiki bar brings the audience on stage for a night they won't forget. Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan is presented by Pasadena Playhouse in association with The Hypocrites. It is adapted and directed by Sean Graney; co-adapted by Kevin O'Donnell and with music direction by Andra Velis Simon. Cast member Dana Omar answers my questions belo

If you have ever gone on retreat or participated in a silent workshop like EST, the detail of Small Mouth Sounds will be of particular interest. If you have not, not to worry. The moment to moment dramedy makes total sense and is most definitely worth your time and money. Bess Wohl who wrote the successful Barcelona a couple of years back, has done it again. Small Mouth Sounds is at the core about people, the pain they experience and the efforts they make to deal with it. Now onstage for a mere three weeks at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Small Mouth Sounds doesn't say a heck of a lot, yet simultaneously says it all. Watching the six actors play off each other is one of the best features of this play. Each creates a character with a different problem. Some issues we recognize right away, others don't become obvious until later in the 110 minute piece performed without an intermission. Take Judy and Joan, for example. Judy (Charene Snow) and Joan (Socorro Santiago) are lesbian lovers. Judy h

If Aladdin is not really a Prince, how can he capture the Princess's heart? Well, he can suspend and float a magic carpet in mid-air and take her for a ride on it twice each evening - and that's a pretty tall order for a commoner - through March 31 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Based on the 1992 Disney animated film, Aladdin the Musical features a street urchin Aladdin (Adam Jacobs) in the fabricated Mideastern city of Agrabah, who hangs out with his buddies Babkak, Omar and Kassim (Zach Bencal, Philippe Arroyo, Mike Longo, respectively) and wastes his time in a life of crime by robbing from the rich in the marketplace, but ... ultima

Park (1963) was such a tremendous hit. Corie Banks Bratter (Stephanie Skewes) and Paul Bratter (Joshua Evans) are the adorable young newlyweds next-door, that everyone can relate to. Typical as well, they have day vs.night personalities.She is as sparkling, fun-loving and open-minded as he is sedate, serious and closed-in.They are different, but in the long run it does not get in the way.Today, sadly, they might actually divorce and never reconcile. After all, in this advanced technological age, a dissatisfied young couple may take their hopes and dreams and go shopping online for new, readily accessible partners. Round and round it goes. So, it is nice to look back and see two lovers really try to change or at least compromise in order to work things out. Simon's crisp dialogue and funny offbeat situations are certainly as timely as ever, and in GCT's sturdy production, the look and feel of the 60s are kept vibrantly alive thanks to a great cast and George Strattan's meticulous direction.

Playwright Bess Wohl whose Barcelona proved so controversial during its engagement at the Geffen Playhouse in 2016 has a new play Small Mouth Sounds opening at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica January 11. In our conversation Wohl discusses her play in depth. Tell us about Small Mouth Sounds and what stimulated you to write the play. What is its message?

Lythgoe means talent and for several years the family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, with a British panto, American style. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as this year's treat Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose and turns it into a highly imaginative show with pop music that will appeal to both children and their parents...but primarily to expose kids to an engaging theatrical experience. There's usually an actor or two in drag, and a villain ... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and BOO loudly at the villains. It begins first and foremost with an upbeat script by Kris Lythgoe, replete with silly lines and a lot of play.on.words. To put the younger audience into the spirit, apart from the screaming and booing, Beast masks are on sale and for the adult ladies, long-stemmed roses. This family show plays at the Pasadena Civic through December 24.

Mexican born and bred Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a painter of enormous reknown, but more than that...actually, a true renaissance woman, as she left her mark on art. politics. and other aspects of humanity. Most of her painting emanated from Mexican folk art, and her very best are self-portraits in which she remarkably conveys a profound sense of female suffering. Onstage at the Macha Theatre from September 9 with two extensions through December 10, Odalys Nanin's riveting tribute to Kahlo entitled Frida: Stroke of Passion played to sold-out houses and proved a captivating piece of artistry due to its fine acting as well as outstanding writing and direction. Most fans of Frida Kahlo (Nanin) have read abou

Actor Jonah Platt is a young man of many talents that include acting, singing, writing and directing. He is currently preparing to play the Lythgoe Family Panto of Beauty and the Beast to open Decmeber 13 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Tell us about the role you are playing in the Panto of Beauty and the Beast. I'm playing the Beast! He's the angry, hairy one. How are rehearsals going? Have you ever done Panto before? We haven't started yet, but I'm excited to get going. I've never done Panto before, but I've done a ton of improv so I'm excited to get to interact with our terrific audiences. What do you think makes Pa

Actress Peri Gilpin, best known as Roz on the now classic TV series Frasier, is currently preparing to open at the Pasadena Playhouse in a radio play of Miracle on 34th Street December 15. She took time out of her busy schedule to talk about her role in the play, her director Cameron Watson... and of course, Frasier. LET'S TALK ABOUT MIRACLE ON 34th STREET AND YOUR ROLE IN IT. I am playing Doris Walker in a Radio Play version of the 1947 film MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET at Pasadena Playhouse. The way the story was told has always struck me as very original. It's almost like a commercial for a sermon about a commercial for a department store. But, because it never denies that about itself it stays relevant, rooted in authenticity, and honest. It also feels so American. Doris is a very buttoned -up single Mom. She works as an EXPERT P.R.' ( public relations) person for Macy's department store. This working, single mom with a high powered job doesn't feel anachronistic if you are familiar with Katharine Hepburn or Maureen O'Hara, the original Doris Walker, movies, but by

I never feel let down when I attend An Evening of Classic Broadway at Rockwell Table and Stage. The singers are incredibly talented, led by lovely producer Dianne Fraser and delightful musical director Brad Ellis. Ellis narrates, introduces many of the guests and inserts delicious anecdotes about the performers and the music being played. This show on Tuesday November 28 was no exception. With Christmas only a few weeks away, Christmas music was expected. However, many were just as happy as the radio is inundated with holiday music. This is Broadway and what we got were some fabulous songs from shows both present and past.

Actor Bennett Saltzman is a new member of Group rep in NoHo, but has already played two leads in a row in the last two plays. He has been critically and publically praised for Lost in Yonkers and the current Midsummer Night's Dream. Saltzman talks about his young past and about his love for his craft. Tell us about yourself. Where you were born and grew up and how your love of theatre began.

others/directed by Des McAnuff/choreography by Sergio Trujillo/music supervision by Ron Melrose/La Jolla Playhouse, Mandell Weiss Theatre/extended through December 24 The world premiere musical SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical currently onstage at the Mandell Weiss Theatre of the La Jolla Playhouse, extended again through December 24, is a kaleidascope of fun and a feast for the eyes and ears for every Donna Summer fan. Born in 1948 LaDonna Adrian Gaines who eventually became the Queen of Disco used to skip high school classes in Boston Massachusetts and take the bus to New York to audition. She landed her first professional gig in the rock musical Hair and performed it in Munich where she created a sensation. Her hit song 'I Feel Love' brought her back to the US...and the rest is history.

Triple threat performer David Engel needs no introduction. He is one of the top 5 musical stars on local stages and has won multiple Ovation Awards in the process. He is currently preparing to open White Christmas for two weeks at Musical Theatre West (MTW) Saturday December 2. In our chat he tells us about the show and why MTW is so important to him. How many times have you done this role? What attracts you to it? This is my sixth time performing White Christmas. 10 years ago I toured with the

Something Rotten/book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell/music & lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick/directed by Casey Nicholaw/Ahmanson Theatre/through December 31 What if someone told you you get to see Pippin, The Producers, Book of Mormon and other great musicals all together in one show? Yes, Something Rotten which goes back in time to 16th century Renaissance, incorporates elements of all the great contemporary musicals under one roof. Now at the Ahmanson, Something Rotten is clever and a cure for what ails you, so don't miss it through December 31!

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a Shakesperean treasure as it unites reality with fantasy in a dreamlike manner that puts audience in a happy mood, perfect for the holidays at hand. Now onstage at Group rep in NoHo, the play is directed by classically trained actor/director Marc Singer, who creates a gratifying production onstage through December 31. This is an ambitious project for Group rep who normally do their best work with Neil

Remember the classic 1983 film in which little Ralphie Parker (Griffin Sanford) in a small town in Indiana in 1940 wants a BB gun and formulates an elaborate plan to get one from Santa Claus? 'You'll shoot your eye out!' everyone complains. The movie contains one of the funniest scenes on film where little Flick (Jude Gomez) gets his tongue frozen on the school flag pole. Now in a rare production of the adapted movie script by Philip Grecian, A Christmas Story is live onstage with a bevy of kids, 14 in fact, and a whole lot of quaint antics, meticulously directed by artistic director Christian Lebano, at SMP through December 31.

lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman/music by: Bill Cantos & Mari Falcone, Dave Grusin, Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand and Johnny Mandel/Geffen Playhouse/Gil Cates Theater/through December 17 When I first heard about the premise of Chasing Mem'ries, I thought, 'Oh no, a musical about death and grieving...and with a ghost on tap...spare us!' Well, sometimes first thoughts are terribly wrong. As it turns out Josh Ravetch's world premiere is a complete joy to watch. Ravetch skillfully directs, allowing the brilliant Tyne Daly plenty of space to pursue her journey as Victoria. Also starring Robert Forster as Franklin and Scott Kradolfer as their son Mason, this piece not only tugs at your heartstrings but will make you cherish every moment of living, through December 17 at the Gil Cates Theater of the Geffen Playhouse. Subtitled A Different Kind of Musical, ...Mem'ries is more a play with music in which the songs, some old, some new, generate the memories that Victoria experiences in the attic of her Connecticut home on the day of Franklin's memorial. With lyrics by the sensational Alan and Marilyn Bergman, it's hard to go wr

The famed Musical Theatre Guild performed a staged reading on November 12 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale of the musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Based on the 1988 film of the same name by Pedro Almodovar, the book for the musical is by Jeffrey Lane and the music by David Yazbek. When the show played in New York about 5 years ago, it was problematic. Mounted first at Lincoln Center it gradually moved to the Belasco and closed within a couple of months, due to critics and audience who claimed they found the plot difficult to follow.