Gil Kaan - Page 16

Theatre 40’s next production of their current season - Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky - opens March 17, 2022.  Ann Hearn Tobolowsky directs the cast of Marie Broderick, Dalen Carson, Tammy Mora, Abigail Stewart and Amy Tolsky. I had the chance to throw out a couple of questions to Abigail.

Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights’ Arena join creative forces to present their second world premiere offering, Boni B. Alvarez’ APARTMENT LIVING opening March 12, 2022, live at the Skylight Theatre. Jon Lawrence Rivera directs the cast of Gabriel Leyva, Geri-Nikole Love, Charrell Mack,  Gigette Reyes, Andrew Russel and Rachel Sorsa. I had the opportunity to field a few queries to Boni on APARTMENT LIVING and his previous relationships with Skylight and Playwrights’ Arena.

24th Street Theatre and The Wallis world premieres Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Kenny’s RAPUNZEL ALONE March 5, 2022, with live performances alternating between 24th Street Theatre and The Wallis. I had the chance toss a few questions to Mike across the ocean on RAPUNZEL ALONE, as well as on his very lengthy resume of past plays.

Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) presents the third show of its 2021-2022 season live on stage, David Cale’s LILLIAN starring Nancy Travis. Previewing on March 3rd, LILLIAN opens March 5th at The New Vic in Santa Barbara. I had the chance to ask the ever-popular, always working television star about her theatrical beginnings and present stint as LILLIAN on the boards.

Heartbeat Opera’s tour of FIDELIO lands at The Broad Stage February 26th and 27th. Heartbeat’s artistic director Ethan Heard directs Beethoven’s 1814 masterpiece re-imagined and re-orchestrated for the era of Black Lives Matter. I had the chance to throw a few queries out to Ethan on his timely and unique project that he also adapted and co-wrote.

The Road Theatre Company returns to live performances with the world premiere of Bernardo Cubria’s THE PLAY YOU WANT March 1, 2022; the first of three plays performing in repertory. Michael John Garcés directs the cast of Peter Pasco, Chelsea Gonzalez, Natalie Llerena, Jonathan Nichols, Roland Ruiz, Christopher Larkin, Stewart J. Zully and Presciliana Esparolini. I had the chance to query Bernardo on THE PLAY YOU WANT and his other important upcoming projects.

Actor/ producer/ director/ singer/ performer Marisa Matthews will be inaugurating her monthly musical cabaret BROADWAY AT THE BOURBON ROOM February 21, 2022, at The Bourbon Room. Each cabaret (populated with Broadway’s latest talents) will have different themes, with opening night Give My Regards to Broadway. I had the chance to ask a few queries of Marisa on some of her history leading up to this show.

Playwright Jeremy O. Harris’s critically lauded SLAVE PLAY just opened February 16, 2022, at the Mark Taper Forum receiving a thunderous standing ovation. Before starting their previews, I had a nice long chat with Jonathan Higginbotham who’s reprising his role of Philip from the August Wilson Theatre production earlier this year.

The Geffen west coast premieres Paul Grellong’s POWER OF SAIL, already in previews. Weyni Mengesha directs the cast of Hugo Armstrong, Amy Brenneman, Bryan Cranston, Donna Simone Johnson, Tedra Millan, Seth Numrich and Brandon Scott. I had the chance to question Hugo, a familiar face on the Los Angeles theatre stages on being in POWER and his ongoing relationship with L.A. theatre.

The Groundlings main company member Matt Cook retakes The Groundlings stage in their first live sketch show of 2022 GROUNDLINGS PSYCHIC HOTLINE (already in previews). I had the chance to cultivate some answers from Matt on his Groundlings history, his non-Groundlings projects and his tomato growing.

Actor/playwright Steve Trzaska world premiere’s his CAMP GINGER for two Saturdays beginning February 26, 2022, at the Little Theater at the Actors Company. Directed by Joy Mamey, CAMP GINGER tells the semi-autobiographical experiences of Steve in summer for other red-headed kids. I had the chance to quiz Steve on his origins of CAMP GINGER.

Fountain Theatre will be premiering its four-part podcast NUMBERED DAYS on February 14th.  Two-time Emmy winner for Breaking Bad, Anna Gunn stars in this true account of playwright Corey Madden’s “numbered days” with her husband, composer Bruno Louchouarn. Corey Madden does double (or triple?) duty directing Anna as herself, as well as Tony Amendola, Jeanne Sakata and Jack Stehlin. This real-life love story is appropriately being released on Valentine’s Day.

Actors Co-op Theatre Company presents Scott McPherson’s multi-award-winning MARVIN’S ROOM opening February 18, 2022. Thomas James O'Leary directs a cast of Laura Esterman, Lee Guthrie, Mark Rosenthal and Jane MacIver. I had the chance to question Thomas on ROOM, his past directorial projects and his long run playing the titular Phantom.

A Los Angeles theatre community favorite Ryan O'Connor dons his directorial hat for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, opening at Greenway Court Theatre February 4th. I had the chance to question Ryan on A LITTLE behind-the-scenes of NIGHT MUSIC, his pandemic past times and his various ties with the L.A. theatre scene.

The Broad Stage presents Sacre by Circa Contemporary Circus for two performances February 4th and 5th.  Circa utilizes their ensemble of world-class acrobats for their unique interpretation of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.  I had the chance to ask Circa’s artistic director Yaron Lifschitz about a few behind-the-scenes details of Circa.

Playwright Mike Lew’s TEENAGE DICK will stream exclusively beginning February 3, 2022, at pasadenaplayhouse.org. Mike’s modernized take on Shakespeare’s RICHARD III, produced in association with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Huntington Theatre Company, was shot multi-camera during TEENAGE DICK‘s in-person run at Wooly Mammoth last fall. I got the chance to query Mike on his TEENAGE DICK, close collaborations and his sound advice for newbie writers.

Cinelounge Theatres and Cleopatra Records present a special screening of the 1963 fan-favorite Bye Bye Birdie, followed by an in-person Q&A with its star Ann-Margret February 14, 2022, at The Montalban. Those in attendance will also be treated to a sneak preview of a few songs from Ann-Margret’s upcoming release from Cleopatra Records, Born to Be Wild. I had a chance to chat with and re-interview (after twenty years) Ann-Margret on things Birdie, her USO stints, her latest CD, and, most important of all, how she defines sexy.

Theatre 40 world premieres John Strysik’s DEATH, WITH BENEFITS January 27, 2022. Jeff G. Rack directs this dark comedy cast of Susan Damante, Cheryl David, Kevin Dulude, Larry Eisenberg and Philip Sokoloff. I had the opportunity to interrogate John on the reasons behind his DEATH.

A familiar face on the screen, both big and small, writer/performer Danny Pudi will present his autobiographical film Running on Stellar’s streaming platform beginning January 22, 2022. Three South Asian-led arts organizations, Hypokrit Productions, East West Players, and EnActe Arts have collaborated on this exclusive presentation directed by HP Artistic Director Arpita Mukherjee. Had the chance to pepper Danny with a few spicy queries on what led up to his writing of Running.

We got a chance to chat with Melissa Jacques (who plays Jamie's mother Margaret) on her history with JAMIE, her first time working in Los Angeles and the decline of theatre etiquette.