BWW Feature: Quarantine Mystery Chiller Theater Presents Saturday Night Online EpisodesJune 21, 2020Quarantine Mystery Chiller Theater presents Episode 13, an online reading of 'Backstage Murder' written and directed by Kelly Brighton and produced by Jeff LaGreca, on Saturday, June 20 at 7pm. The story centers on the much hated, Artistic Director of The West Hollywood Theatre Company, Finishing The Hat, who is found murdered. Was it his Board of Directors? Join the fun by tuning in to find out! The episode also features a commercial parody written by Amanda Conlon, and a Gruesome Lady segment written by Jeff LaGreca.
BWW Review: Torrance Theatre Company Presents Entertaining Comedy SLOW FOOD in Play-At-Home Online SeriesJune 15, 2020Torrance Theatre Company newest venture, PLAY-AT-HOME, presents a series of free online theatrical experiences, each designed to entertain audiences during the stay-at-home orders. On Sunday, June 14 at 6pm, I tuned in and really enjoyed SLOW FOOD, playwright Wendy MacLeod's tender comedy that delves deeply into what we hunger for, be it food, attention or love. The 90-minute play centers on Irene and Peter (Cindy Shields and Glenn Kelman) who just want to have a nice meal out while celebrating their anniversary in Palm Springs. But their highly neurotic waiter, Stephen (Daniel Tennant), prefers to talk rather than bring them their food or drinks.
Feature: Daniel Sugimoto Musical Marathon to Benefit The Innocence Project on 6/14June 13, 2020Daniel Sugimoto promises, 'I CAN'T STOP PLAYING UNTIL WE REACH THE GOAL!!!'
Join me for my first ever Live Stream Musical Marathon! I am playing to raise money for The Innocence Project, with the goal of raising $1,000, donating 50% of all proceeds directly. Since this is a large goal I am planning to play until the dollar amount is reached, only stopping to use bathroom or snack mildly. Even if this is a charity event I am preparing over 50 songs to play; original and covers. Tune in throughout the day and you won't be disappointed.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Jon Lawrence Rivera, Co-Founder of Playwrights' Arena, Dedicated to Producing Original Works for Adventurous MindsJune 11, 2020This Spotlight focuses on Jon Lawrence Rivera, co-founder of Playwrights' Arena with Steve Tyler in 1992 during the LA Riots. At the time, and for at least two decades, we were the only theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing new works for the stage written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights to be enjoyed by adventurous minds. I first discovered Playwrights' Arena when their 2017 production of Bloodletting was selected to be presented during Center Theatre Group's 2018 Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Elmira Rahim Who Began Her Acting Career in Iran, Trained at USC, and Created the ELAN EnsembleJune 10, 2020This Spotlight focuses on Elmira Rahim who began her acting career in Iran, trained at USC, and created the ELAN Ensemble whose inaugural production, How We're Different From Animals, was the recipient of Best Adaptation at Stage Raw Theater Awards in 2019 as well as nominated in multiple categories including Best Production at Stage Raw Theater Awards and LA Drama Critics Circle Awards. But like so many others, this year's production of a modern adaptation of Trojan Women with A Noise Within had to be postponed until theaters can safely open again.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Cate Caplin, A Multiple Award-Winning Producer, Director and ChoreographerJune 8, 2020This Spotlight focuses on Cate Caplin, a multiple award-winning producer, director and choreographer whose talents have ignited productions on television, in films, music videos, commercials, and in theatrical venues worldwide. But of course, her busy schedule was put on hold with the rest of the world, just as she was beginning to direct and choreograph a musical very close to her heart.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet John Wuchte, a Talented Actor/Director/Writer/Composer and Tribal Acting Theater CreatorJune 5, 2020This Spotlight focuses on John Wuchte, a talented actor/director/writer/composer and amazing Tribal Acting theater creator, who I first met during last year's Hollywood Fringe Festival when I attended his masterful musical production Scarlett Fever which told the true story of the great search to find an actress to portray Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind in 1939. The production utilized John's unique style of performance, which he calls Tribal Acting; a combination of movement, gesture, song and dance, all accompanied by live percussion. And I was hooked!
BWW Interview: Meet Jon Peterson, Executive Artistic Director/Founder of P3 Theatre Roulette, on Presenting THE LARAMIE PROJECT Online 6/1May 31, 2020Jon Peterson, Executive Artistic Director/Founder of P3 Theatre Roulette, is presenting a virtual reading of Moisés Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theatre Project's masterful play THE LARAMIE PROJECT, on Monday, June 1 at 7pm at https://p3theatre.biz/p3-theatre-roulette. The online presentation features Emily Abeles, Guillermo Alonso, Alden Bettencourt, Kara Brouelette, Elizabeth Curtin, Christy Mauro-Cohen, Jodi Marks, Philip McBride and Jeremy Saje, each of whom will be reading from their individual a?oesafe at homea?? locations. For more information, please call (714) 689-8116.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Daniel Sugimoto, a Talented Entertainer Who Found Himself Stuck at Sea When COVID-19 Forced Ports to CloseMay 30, 2020This Spotlight focuses on the super-talented Daniel Sugimoto who I first met at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe 'Best In Cabaret' show Thenardier's Inn by CAC Studios, I knew I would be following his progress as one of the finest musical theater progenies I had ever met. Not only is he a triple threat onstage as well as a brilliant musical director, his skill with composing musical numbers that movingly tell a story imbues each of his characters with deep-felt heart and soul through his incredible imagination and understanding of human nature. But 2020 has certainly proven to be a challenge since Daniel was entertaining at sea in mid-March when COVID-19 forced worldwide ports to close.
BWW Review: CLOSE AND FAR AWAY Presented Online in Skylight Theatre Company's New Web Reading SeriesMay 29, 2020Inspired by an artistic community of theatre makers in response to the need to take live theater online during this time of social distancing, Skylight Theatre Company created its new Web Reading Series beginning on March 26, 2020, bringing together some of LA's most talented writers, directors and actors for weekly presentations of uplifting works, written specifically for this medium. a?oeCLOSE AND FAR AWAYa?? written by Cory Hinkle and directed by Elina de Santos, featuring Melissa Paladino and Jennifer Pollono as two old friends who reconnect via Zoom during quarantine, was performed live on Thursday, May 28.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Julia Buis, an L.A. Actor Who Traveled the World Entertaining Before Settling in Hamburg, GermanyMay 28, 2020With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Julia Buis, an L.A. actor who traveled the world entertaining before settling in Hamburg, Germany.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Mike Blaha, Fringe Management Co-FounderMay 27, 2020This Spotlight focuses on Mike Blaha, Co-Founder of Fringe Management, a company that has produced an incredible assortment of shows for both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Hollywood Fringe Festival. Listen in as he shares his insights on how the Coronavirus pandemic has affected both this year, especially since the shutdown occurred just as the Edinburgh event had begun.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Eloise Coopersmith, Creator of the “Home for Mom” Web SeriesMay 26, 2020This Spotlight focuses on Eloise Coopersmith, creator of the a?oeHome for Moma?? web series which focuses on elder care and grief in a residential care facility. And with the Coronavirus pandemic hitting this type of facility the hardest, the subject matter about finding a safe place for our elders is even more relevant to families now than when filming began.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Michael Leoni, the Playwright, Bi-Coastal Director, and Co-Founder of The 11:11 in WeHoMay 25, 2020With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Michael Leoni, a playwright, bi-coastal director, and co-founder of The 11:11 in WeHo whose productions have brilliantly focused attention on the pitfalls of modern society, especially in the entertainment industry.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Kathleen Rubin Whose Musical Theatre Background Led Her to The Angel City Chorale and Directing on L.A. StagesMay 23, 2020With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Kathleen Rubin whose musical theatre background led her to The Angel City Chorale and directing on Los Angeles stages.
BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Kristy Edmunds, Executive and Artistic Director of UCLA's Center for the Art of PerformanceMay 22, 2020With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Kristy Edmunds, Executive and Artistic Director of UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance.