Gil Kaan - Page 21

Mount Wilson Observatory will resume their SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS IN THE DOME series with two concerts – on August 1st presenting the world premiere Eric Tanguy's piece, 'Le Lys et la Lyre,' especially written for cellist Cécilia Tsan; and on September 5th featuring a jazz program with Lounge Art Ensemble. Set in the magnificent vaulted dome of Mount Wilson Observatory’s 100-inch telescope, each CONCERT will have two performances each.

Center Theatre Group, in association with UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, presents 32 ACRES, an outdoor soundwalk through Los Angeles State Historic Park, now through September 29, 2021 during park hours (8am through sunset). Got the chance to chat with 32 ACRES creator Marike Splint on this unique interactive theatrical experience.

Christina Aguilera slayed the packed 17,500-seat Hollywood Bowl audience with her amazing vocals and her emotion-filled songs for the first of her two nights performing with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. At the top of her game, Christina looked great and sounded fantastic!

After many online shows these past pandemic months, The Groundlings will present their first LIVE show GROUNDLINGS LIGHTS UP July 23, 2021.  Got the chance to pick the witty brain of Groundlings main company member Lisa Schurga on her life with The Groundlings.  

Brian Justin Crum, a former finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, brings his cabaret revue REVERIE live to the once-again opened Bourbon Room July 16th and 17th. Had the chance to ask Brian about REVERIE and some of his career highlights.

Kritzerland will resume its LIVE presentations at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s with KRITZERLAND’s 114th July 28, 2021. Bruce Kimmel, the mastermind behind (and front center) of Kritzerland made some time available between his creative multi-taskings to talk about Kritzerland and his various other accomplishments.

Ailema Sousa’s FORT HUACHUCA will be presented live on stage at the Zephyr Theater July 14th and 16th as part of the 2021 SheLA Summer Theater Festival. Fans of SheLA will have seen an online version of FORT HUACHUCA last year as part of their virtual 2020 SheLA Summer Theater Festival. Ailema found some time between her rehearsals to answer a few of my inquiries. 

estival Opera will be offering their first hybrid online/in person event since the pandemic restrictions loosened up - UN RAGGIO DI SPEME (RAY OF HOPE) July 11, 2021. Got the chance to chat with Festival Opera’s general director Zachary Gordin on Festival Opera’s upcoming season and staying sane during these safer-distanced times.

Prolific playwright Peter Coy has recently published his latest collection of his plays A House In The Country and Other Plays.  I had the chance to pick deeply into Peter’s brain on his works and past schooling.

The interrupted 2020 world premiere of Rosanna Gamson’s SUGAR HOUSES will re-open the REDCAT July 8, 2021 for four live performances. SUGAR HOUSES, RGWW’s re-imagining of Hansel & Gretel, will also live stream July 11th. We had the chance to update my interview with Rosanna after all these pandemic months.

Theatre 40 will be presenting a staged reading of Gary Kaskel’s ANOTHER GIN GAME starring Ed Asner and Ruta Lee with Donté Ashon Green July 18, 2021. I have the delightful pleasure of talking to Ed, not only on ANOTHER GIN GAME, but on highlights of his incredibly long-lasting acting career. When I tried to thank him for all the previous times he’s graciously posed for my camera and chatted with me at various charity events, he playfully deflected with, “But I’m a son of a bitch now!”

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents for one performance only ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY THE LINDA RONSTADT SONGBOOK July 25, 2021. The platinum singer/songwriter will demonstrate her take on some of Linda’s classic songs with her melodious vocals. Ann will be backed by Trey Henry on bass, MB Gordy on drums, and Linda's longtime guitarist and arranger, Bob Mann; with Billy Stritch musical directing. Ann found some time between fielding her many DIAL-A-DIVA requests to answer a few of my queries.

Loft Ensemble’s first live mainstage production since the lockdown of theatre CODE PINK will world premiere July 10, 2021. Co-written and co-directed by Adam Chambers and Jana Lee Hamblin, CODE PINK’s cast features:  Bahasi Chapman, Nicole Craig, Britt Crisp, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, Sydney Jenkins, Matt Monaco, Ignacio Navarro, Bree Pavey, Leesie Pinto, Natasha Ranae Potts, Sarah Siverson, Sarah Sommers and Vel Stacy. Adam, who is also Loft Ensemble’s co-artistic director, managed to find some time to answer a few of my queries amidst juggling Loft Ensemble responsibilities, daddy duties and band rehearsals.

Theatre 40 resumes their pandemic-interrupted production of Jack Rushen’s lauded TAMING THE LION, re-opening live, back onstage July 9, 2021. Melanie MacQueen directs the cast which includes Landon Beatty, Marie Broderick, Kevin Dulude, Jean Mackie, Sean Rose and Jeffrey Winner. Through the electromagnetic waves of the internet, Jack was most gracious to answer a few of my queries from the comfort of his home in Connecticut.

The prolific playwright and regular denizen of the Los Angeles theatre community Justin Tanner will world premiere his latest piece MINNESOTA for Rogue Machine online June 26, 2021, with a virtual reception to follow. Justin was most quick to respond to my questions on MINNESOTA and the L.A. theatre community.  

A highly-familiar actor on both screens, big and small; Wallace Shawn will be premiering two podcasts of his playwrighting prowess - THE DESIGNATED MOURNER beginning June 25, 2021; and GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS on July 9, 2021. André Gregory directs both audio six-parters with Larry Pine and Deborah Eisenberg joining Wallace in THE DESIGNATED MOURNER; and Jennifer Tilly, Julie Hagerty, and Emily Cass McDonnell joining Wallace in GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS.

The Wallis inaugurates their new pop-up performance space on the Promenade Terrace for live audiences with the world premiere of Tom Dugan’s TEVYE IN NEW YORK! June 23, 2021. Tom co-directs (with Michael Vale) his one-man show on the well-known musical theatre lead character of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Tom managed to find time amongst his many, many writing projects to answer a few of my enquiries.

Sandra Tsing Loh streams her 2015 comedic hit THE BITCH IS BACK for The Broad Stage, beginning June 23, 2021. This streaming performance of THE BITCH IS BACK recorded live will be complemented with added live talkbacks featuring special guests Marlo Thomas, Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, Melanie Mayron and JoBeth Williams. The ever-industrious Sandra made some time between frequent COVID-safe book-signing/lawn parties to answer a few of my queries.

Chalk Repertory Theatre launches their new audio play series CHALK LINES June 19, 2021. The series of five short plays can be accessed for free either to be experienced online or on location at each site with a mobile device. Chalk Rep’s artistic producing director Jennifer Chang directs the cast of Xan Churchwell, Gregg Daniel, Tonatiuh Elizarraraz, Veralyn Jones, Emily Kuroda and Emily Stout.

The Wallis commemorates Juneteenth with UNMASKED: A THEATRICAL CELEBRATION OF THE BLACK WOMEN’S LIBERATION premiering online June 19, 2021. This collection of short plays by Black female playwrights Dominique Morisseau, Jocelyn Bioh, Ngozi Anyanwu and Stacy Osei-Kuffour will be co-directed by Camille Jenkins and Kimberly Hébert. Camille took some time between her UNMASKED co-directing duties and her programming manager’s responsibilities for The Wallis to answer a few of my enquiries.