Gil Kaan - Page 12

Next up at the Garry Marshall Theatre, Lori Marshall and Joseph Leo Bwarie’s Cindy & The Disco Ball opening October 7, 2022. Joe co-directs (with Christine Lakin) the cast of Christopher Baker, Jasiana Caraballo, Malynda Hale, Hayden Kharrazi and Abigail Kate Thomas.

Jason Graae brings his Graaetest (not a typo!) Hits – The Sequel to the El Portal October 21, 2022, accompanied by musical director Gerald Sternbach. I got a chance to catch up with Jerry after years of path-crossing at benefits and concerts.

Nathan Frizzell's Queer Radio Hour, the Halloween Edition plays for one-night-only October 12th at Dynasty Typewriter. Tom DeTrinis directs this old radio show spoof with a cast of Joe Conti, Drew Droege, Nathan Frizzell, Tommy Hobson, Mitch Silpa, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, David Tran, and drag legend Sherry Vine. I got the chance to toss out a few questions to Nathan in between his Zoom rehearsals.

The west coast premiere of David Goldyn’s Daddy Issues opens on October 14, 2022, at the Complex in Hollywood.  David directs the cast of Hannah Battersby, Jonathan Fishman, Noa Lev–Ari, Sherry Michaels, Josh Nadler, James Seifert, Pamela Shaw and Solly Werner.

A descendant of Motown royalty, Karla Gordy Bristol will present Motown: Celebrating The Music, The Magic, The Love  October 1, 2022. This world premiere, created, produced and directed by Karla, will feature a panel and show that includes: Shelly Berger, Janie Bradford, Duke Fakir, William Goldstein, Iris Gordy, Brian Holland, Brenda Holloway, Thelma Houston, Miller London, Scherrie, Lynda  & Susaye (Former Ladies of The Supremes), Martha Reeves, Paul Riser, Claudette Robinson, Smokey Robinson and Otis Williams. Pat Harvey acts as master of ceremonies, with Shadoe Stevens announcing and Patrice Rushen as panel moderator. Karla managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.

The Groundlings latest Friday/Saturday night show LARRY GROUNDLINGS DDS opens September 30, 2022 (with previews already started). Deanna Oliver directs Lyric Lewis the hilarious cast of Alex Bonifer, Lauren Burns, Sam DeSurra, Julian Gant, Lyric Lewis, Emily Pendergast, Jay Renshaw and Leonard Robinson. I managed to catch a few moments with Lyric between her writing, clowning and mom-ing.

Cherry Poppins presents their one-nighter XOXO Euphoria Girl – A Burlesque Musical Parody September 26, 2022, at The Bourbon Room. The team of Alli Miller-Fisher, Chadd McMillan and Sarah Haworth-Hodges direct this Burlesque musical parody mashup set to chart-topping music with the cast of: Ty Deran, Kristyn Evelyn, Everjohn Feliciano, Bianca Gisselle, Emma Hunton,  Carly Jibson, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Meredith Lim, Alli Miller-Fisher, Matthew Scott Montgomery, Shelly Regner, Sarah Wines, Lauren Avon and Brin Hamblin. Emma managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.

David Ives’ All In The Timing opens October 14, 2022, at The Zephyr Theatre. This production, a true family affair, pairs a director and his spouse Michael Yavnieli and Tania Gonzalez, as well as, for the first time, father and son acting on stage together – Patrick Warburton and Talon Warburton. Other cast members include Taylor Behrens, Meadow Clare, Mark Haan, Bill Butts, Maram Kamal and Melodie Shih. Talon managed to carve out some of his multi-tasking time to answer a few of my queries.

Next up at East West Players, playwright Inda Craig-Galván’s The Great Jheri Curl Debate opening September 17 (with previews beginning September 15). Scarlett Kim directs the cast of Julanne Chidi Hill, Ryun Yu, Ray Baker, Mildred Marie Langford and Bruce A. Lemon Jr. I got the chance to pepper Julanne, a frequent player in the Los Angeles theatre scene, with a few queries on Jheri Curl and her productive career.

What do Madonna, Michael Jackson and Stephen Sondheim have in common? Choreographer extraordinaire Vincent Paterson! Vincent new book Icons and Instincts: Choreographing and Directing Entertainment’s Biggest Stars has just been released and Vincent will be appearing at Book Soup September 23, 2022, to sign copies of it.

Next up at Theatre 40, Norm Foster’s A Clean Brush world premieres September 23, 2022. Howard Storm directs the cast of Mandy Fason, Susan Priver, Michael Kerr and James Lemire. I got the chance to pepper Norm (a.k.a. the Canadian Neil Simon) on this world premiere and his extensive resume of 67 plays.

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000's DRAG: The Musical returns to Los Angeles at The Bourbon Room beginning September 23, 2022. Spencer Liff choreographs and directs the cast of Alaska with JuJubee, Jackie Cox, Jan Sport, Joey McIntrye, Nick Adams, Lagoona Bloo, Aria B. Cassadine and Alysha Deslorieux. Alaska managed to find some time for my queries in between promoting her book My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska? just released last year, and getting ready for her promotional tour for her latest album Red 4 Filth.

Like the proverbial phoenix, Theatre 68 has risen from its pandemic ashes to reclaim their Lankershim theatre space, now re-christened Theatre 68 Arts Complex. Inaugurating this newly re-modelled theatre, will be the reprise of Ronnie Marmo’s very successful I’m Not A Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce opening September 17, 2022. I got the chance to throw out a few queries to Ronnie, the always multitasking producer/actor/director/producer.

A popular Southern California figure for many years as your friendly TV weatherman, Fritz Coleman will be bringing his latest stand-up comedy show to the El Portal stage October 16, 2022 for two performances he’ll also taping. Fritz managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries on Unassisted Living and his long career.

Playwright, screenwriter and television writer Jessica Goldberg reunites with The Echo Theatre Company for the world premiere of her Babe opening September 17, 2022. Chris Fields directs the cast of Wylie Anderson, Julie Dretzin and Sal Viscuso. Jessica was most gracious in discussing Babe, her long relationship with Echo and her productive writing process.

Next up at the Antaeus Theatre Company the Los Angeles premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody September 16, 2022 (with previews beginning September 11th). Jennifer Chang directs the cast of Anne Gee Byrd, Dawn Didawick, Lisa Sanaye Dring, Cherish Monique Duke, Nicole Erb, Harry Groener, Alberto Isaac, Antonio Jaramillo and Gerard Joseph. I got the chance to finally interview Anne after all these years of seeing her wow her audiences on the Los Angeles stages.

Next up at The Ahmanson, the Los Angeles premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s reimagined, Tony Award winning Oklahoma! opening September 15, 2022. I got a chance to toss out a few questions to the very game Barbara Walsh who plays Aunt Eller.

Center Theatre Group’s co-artistic director playwright Luis Alfaro curates and leads CTG’s L.A. Writers’ Workshop Festival taking place over the course of two weekends, September 9-11 and September 16-18, 2022 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. I had the chance to obtain a few answers from this very busy, multi-tasking man.

The always working Carolyn Hennesy has finally found some time to mount the L.A. boards again. Carolyn takes on the co-title role of Mehitabel in Dan Gilvezan’s The Secret World of Archy & Mehitabel opening September 10, 2022 at the Whitefire Theatre. Moosie Drier directs the cast of Bill Chott, Richard Horvitz, Kelly Stables, the playwright himself and Carolyn.

The next show up for The Groundlings is their one-nighter Support Group August 29, 2022. I got a chance to chat with Emily Pendergast, one of the very funny Main Company cast members.