Gil Kaan - Page 19

Comedian/actress Sandra Bernhard will be enthralling her adoring audience with A DECADE OF MADNESS AND MAYHEM, a night of her standup comedy, October 8, 2021 at The Wallis. Renown for her outspokenness and outrageousness, the always very candid Sandra will speak her witty mind in her usual laughs-inducing act that only Sandra Bernhard can do. Had the chance to delve a little into Sandra’s always deliberating psyche.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment will west coast premiere playwright Sandy Rustin’s adaptation of Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay CLUE September 24, 2021. Prolific director Casey Hushion steers a cast of Jeff Skowron, Heather Ayers, Ted Barton, Mary Birdsong, Sarah Hollis, John Shartzer, Cassie Simone, Harrison White, Rachel McLaughlan, Michael Cavinder, and James Tolbert. Had the opportunity to learn some behind-the-scenes of CLUE and other productions Casey has worked on.

Laura Benanti, Tony Award winner and one of Broadway’s favorite leading ladies, will be debuting at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in their Cabaret Series September 23rd, 24th and 25th. Including songs from her self-titled CD in her set list, Laura will certainly wow the Samueli Theatre audience. Had the chance to throw out a few inquiries to the enchanting Ms. Benanti.

Coinciding with DREAMGIRLS 40th Anniversary, DREAMGIRLS’ original Effie Jennifer Holliday will perform her concert HERE’S TO LIFE at The Wallis October 9, 2021. Had the chance to chat with Jennifer of her current LIFE, her signature song, and her one-upping lockdown.

Songstress Therese Lee will debut her one-woman concert RIDING THE BUS TO THE RED CARPET at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s September 29, 2021. Therese and I have crossed paths many a time, in years past, working the Red Carpet. I grabbed the chance to catch up with my former co-reporter.

Crimson Square Theatre Company presents Laura Eason’s SEX WITH STRANGERS opening September 24th at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. This two-hander, directed by Benjamin Burt, features Cameron Meyer and Casey King as the titular STRANGERS. Had the chance to question Cameron on SEX WITH STRANGERS as well as her extensive Los Angeles theatre background.

Mark Wilding will finally world premiere his interrupted world premiere of OUR MAN IN SANTIAGO September 24, 2021 at Theatre West. Charlie Mount directs this satirical take on a political incident still relevant to today’s international climate. Had the chance to chat up Mark, the always working WGA Award-winning writer, on SANTIAGO, his Sophie’s Choice of television vs. theatre work, and his hand in creating Ellen’s Puppy and Grey’s camp scene.

Performance artist John Fleck will present four live, work-in-progress performances of his musical cabaret/special event it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE! at the Odyssey Theatre starting September 18th. Had the chance to chat up this infamous NEA FOUR artist on his creativity, his patience in the makeup chair and his creative history with David Schweizer.

The highly anticipated opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will finally be happening when the Academy Museum open its doors to the general public September 30, 2021. Located at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, the former site of the May Company Department store, the Academy Museum has added a spherical extension designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The 300,000 square foot Academy Museum houses more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space, offices, two movie theatres, and a 10,000 square foot grand lobby just named in honor of Sir Sidney Poitier. Had to chance to extract some preview details of the Academy Museum from Amy Homma, the Academy Museum’s Senior Director of Education and Public Engagement.

Blue13 Dance Company presents SHAADI, an interactive Indian wedding, on the private grounds and Victorian mansions of the Heritage Square Museum September 17th and 18th. The audience will participate in the celebratory nuptials partaking of provided drinks, music and a DJ. Had the chance to chat with Blue13’s Founder/artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel who choreographed these wedding festivities.

East West Players, in partnership with San Francisco’s EnActe Arts and New York City’s Hypokrit Productions, presents the virtual world premiere of Lavina Jadhwani’s THE SITAYANA (OR HOW TO MAKE AN EXIT) beginning September 25, 2021. Lavina’s updated, upending take on the Hindu epic The Ramayana recounts the story through Sita’s eyes, rather than Ram’s eyes as in the original. Audiences attending the livestreams will be given a choice to one of the three unique incarnations of Sita. Had the chance to pose a few questions to THE SITAYANA’s director Reena Dutt on her history with THE SITAYANA and what she’s been doing the last pandemic months to keep creatively sane.  

Multi-awarded cabaret singer Jeff Harnar will make his Feinstein’s at Vitello’s debut with his cabaret act I KNOW THINGS NOW: JEFF HARNAR SINGS SONDHEIM September 30, 2021. With a lengthy resume as an opening act. Jeff has played some of the biggest venues, including Carnegie Hall, all over the world. Had the chance to find out what THINGS Jeff KNOWS NOW.

Group Rep will be inaugurating their 2021 season with Neil Simon’s LONDON SUITE September 17, 2021. Got the chance to delve into some Group Rep history and future plans from their always busy, very handy artistic director Doug Haverty.

The highly anticipated, much delayed Los Angeles production of HAMILTON has finally opened to full houses of enthusiastic and appreciative audiences. London transplant Jamael Westman heads this cast currently at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre reprising his Olivier Award-nominated role of the titular Alexander Hamilton. Had the chance to chat with Jamael (pronounced ‘Ja-mel’) a few hours before he headed to the Pantages for his Wednesday evening performance.

The Skirball Cultural Center will house the Los Angeles debut exhibit of Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds opening October 7, 2021. Organized by the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Seattle, under license by ViacomCBS Consumer Products, this comprehensive exhibition will display costumes, props, scripts of the original Star Trek TV series, as well as its numerous reincarnations that successfully followed. Had the chance to get some inside scoop on this encompassing presentation - a Trekkie’s must-see - from Laura Mart, Skirball’s managing curator.

Kritzerland celebrates their eleventh anniversary of producing monthly shows with KRITZERLAND’s 115th September 12, 2021 at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s. Had the chance to talk to Robert Yacko, a Kritzerland staple on his long relationship with Kritzerland, as well as on fun stuff on his resume.

A bastion of underground and freaky performances and performers, the Cavern Club Theater has recently begun its schedule of live shows, with next up Kay Sedia in THE TACO CHRONICLES opening September 3, 2021. A familiar staple at the Cavern Club Theater entrance as well as on stage, is the ever-effervescent Mr. Dan, who will greet you, seat you and spout off witty safety messages pre-show. Had the chance to delve into Mr. Dan’s mind to see what makes him tick!

A working writer in stage, screen and newsprint, Gary Goldstein just had his first novel The Last Birthday Party published and available to all. Gary managed to carve out some time from prepping his upcoming Book Soup podcast to answer a few of my queries.

Samuel Garza Bernstein’s autobiographical THE SECRET WORLD OF DANNY LOPEZ opens September 10, 2021 at The Two Roads Theater. This one-man show comedically covers issues on religion, ethnicity, wealth, transient poverty, and gender nonconformity, all within sixty minutes. Had the chance to pepper Samuel with a few of my investigating questions.

The Broad Stage will west coast premiere the chamber opera BIRDS IN THE MOON September 1, 2021; outdoors on Santa Monica’s Lot 27. With music by Mark Grey and libretto by Júlia Canosa i Serra, Elkhanah Pulitzer directs Maria Elena Altany and Austin Spangler, backed by the Friction Quartet.