Gil Kaan - Page 11

Adding to their already extensive line-up of impro shows, The Groundlings will be presenting A Night of Family for one-night only December 5, 2022. This show features Main Company member Annie Sertich with three Groundlings alumni Tim Bagley, Michael Hitchcock and Mindy Sterling. I got a chance to pick Annie's creative mind, a long-time Groundling.

The Groundlings brand new Friday/Saturday holiday show Groundlings Cozy Winter Cabin opens December 2, 2022. Chris Eckert directs Main Company members Sam Desurra, Chris Kleckner, Laird Macintosh, Karen Maruyama, Jessica Pohly, Jay Renshaw and Annie Sertich. Jessica very pleasantly surprised me with her quick responses to my queries.

The Geffen Playhouse is world premiering mentalist Vinny DePonto’s latest show Mindplay. The run (already started) plays through December 18, 2022. I got the chance to chat with Vinny’s long-time collaborator director Andrew Neisler.

Clyde’s, the latest work of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, just opened at the Mark Taper Forum November 15, 2022. Clyde’s centers around a truck stop (Clyde’s) staffed by rehabilitating ex-cons. Kate Whoriskey directs the cast of Kevin Kenerly, Tamberla Perry, Reza Salazar, Nedra Snipes and Garrett Young. Reza managed to squeeze out some time in between rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.

Next up at Theatre 40, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner opening November 17, 2022. Cate Caplin directs the cast of: Larry Eisenberg, Diana Angelina, Abigail Stewart, Marc Antonio Pritchett, Fred Dawson, Crystal Jackson, Patty Lewis, Jenn Robbins and David Hunt Stafford. The very busy Cate managed to find some time between rehearsals and pre-production to answer a few of my queries.

East West Players conclude their 56th season with Prince Gomolvilas’ The Brothers Paranormal opening November 20, 2022 (with previews beginning November 17th).  Jeff Lui directs the cast of David Huynh, Roy Vongtama, Tamika Simpkins, Jasper Louis, Emily Kuroda and Pearrie Hammie. Prince found some time before his lunch to answer a few of my queries.

The national tour of Aaron Sorkin’s reimagining of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has settled in at the Pantages, running through November 27, 2022. Bartlett Sher directs a stellar cast led by Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch. In one of the pivotal roles, Melanie Moore (as Scout Finch) breaks the fourth wall periodically to also act as narrator to this classic story. I had the opportunity to feed a few queries to Melanie.

Broadway pianist/ composer/ all-around host Seth Rudetsky returns to The Wallis with his signature concert series, this time with Tony Award winner Lillias White November 3, 2022. The always working Seth managed to spare a few moments to answer some of my queries.

Invincible – the Musical world premieres November 30, 2022, at The Wallis (with previews beginning November 22nd). Tiffany Nichole Greene directs this reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet weaving in the catalogue of hit songs of Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. I managed to catch Bradley Bredeweg, the book author of Invincible, between his multi-tasking of juggling multiple commitments.

The latest edition of Mama G’s Horror Camp returns to The Bourbon Room Halloween weekend. Chadd McMillan and Nathan Moore co-direct the large cast of Broadway and Los Angeles Theatre triple threats. I had the chance to chat with Frankie Grande, who’s lighted stages on both the opposite coasts.

Playwright Danny Robins’ 2:22 – A Ghost Story will have its U.S. premiere November 4, 2022 (with previews starting October 29th) at the Center Theater Group’s Ahmanson. Matthew Dunster directs the cast of four: Constance Wu, Anna Camp, Adam Rothenberg, and Finn Wittrock.  I persuaded  Finn to chat about 2:22, as well as reminisce on some of his career highlights.

Next up at Laguna Playhouse, Love Among the Ruins world premieres October 30, 2022 (with previews starting October 26th). Michael Arabian directs the stellar cast of JoBeth Williams and Peter Strauss in this adaptation of the 1975 ABC Theatre Presentation that starred Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier. Peter graciously found some time between rehearsals and his orange farm to answer a few of my queries.

Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran John Rubinstein performs in his first one-man show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at Theatre West opening October 22, 2022. This world premiere (co-produced in association with New Los Angeles Repertory Company) is directed by Peter Ellenstein. John carved out some time to answer a few of my queries.

The earlier run of Jeff Gould’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Divorce is being restarted at the ‘still unnamed theatre.’ Already opened, Marc Antonio Pritchett directs Divorce through November 20, 2022. Jeff managed to spare some time between writing and touch-up rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.

Mark Morris and Ethan Iverson join creative forces for the world premiere of The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach October 20, 2022 at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. The Mark Morris Dance Group (costumed in Isaac Mizrahi) will be accompanied by their MMDG Music Ensemble (led by Ethan) with lead vocals by Broadway star Marcy Harriell. Ethan found some time between rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.

The Geffen Playhouse west coast premieres the Stephen Daldry production of four-time Tony Award winner The Heritance October 16, 2022 (already in previews). Mike Donahue directs the all-out cast of Bill Brochtrup, Tantoo Cardinal, Juan Castano, Jay Donnell, Israel Erron Ford, August Gray Gall, Adam Kantor, Eddie Lopez, Kasey Mahaffy, Miguel Pinzon, Avi Roque, Bradley James Tejeda and Tuc Watkins. Tuc carved out some time from his rehearsals to chat about this Matthew López production, as well as, some of his career highlights.

Jonathan Larson’s RENT is currently in residence at The Hollywood Majestic. Cupcake Theatre Company’s Brayden Hade directs this Pulitzer and Tony Award winner with a double cast. I had the chance to chat up ‘Benny’ cast member Nikk Alcaraz on his Angel Dumott Schunard and his Practical Peculiarities.

Next up for Broadway At The Bourbon Room, their Halloween Bash October 21, 2022; at, of course, The Bourbon Room.  I had the opportunity to chat with Broadway At The Bourbon Room’ s newly appointed associate director Tianna Louise Cohen.

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner’s re-imagined The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe has opened at the Mark Taper Forum to audience and critics’ raves. Leigh Silverman directs this one-woman show starring Saturday Night Live’s Cecily Strong. I got to chat with Leigh while she was making her way home amidst the hustle and bustle of the New York City streets.

Teri Hatcher returns to the theatrical spotlight as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family opening October 14, 2022, at the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. Kirsten Chandler directs this creepy, spooky, mysterious and kooky regional premiere. I had the opportunity to ask Teri about her Morticia, as well as a few highlights of her prolific career.