Shari Barrett - Page 49

In her world premiere comedy COMING OUT KINKY: A GROWN-UP STORY, Jean Franzblau portrays some 20 characters in her sexual memoir adventure story for curious and open-minded adults to enjoy. She began writing the play in 2009, not knowing how she would ever be able to share it. Thanks to her collaboration with director Karen Aschenbach, Jean's complex journey and commitment to keeping it real is now onstage at the Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica.

First produced in 1939, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE by American playwright Joseph Kesselring is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from the 'Mayflower,' but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs. This classic play has been produced around the world and will continue to be done as long as audiences love to laugh at the outrageous situations and over-the-top characters, especially the eccentric, and frequently murderous and disturbed, family.

FAT PIG tells the story of Tom (Jonathan Bray), a young career guy who hits it off with Helen (Deidra Edwards), a bright, sexy woman who happens to be plus-sized. As he reluctantly finds himself falling in love, Tom's colleagues (Kirsten Kollender and Nick Stabile) are brutal in their assessment of his new love. LaBute probes our carb-counting, extreme makeover nation by asking tough questions. How much has our relentless pursuit of beauty turned us into an uglier species?

Adapted from two Anton Chekhov short stories, Man in a Case and About Love, MAN IN A CASE is a pair of haunting love stories - one of an officious, anti-social man and his involvement with an extroverted woman. The second, a tale of moral ambiguity in which the protagonist forgoes his love for a married woman. Though seemingly different, both are tales of fear trumping the pursuit of life's most promising possibilities, with Baryshnikov playing the two very different leading men.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE offers audiences a toe-tapping trip back to the golden age of musicals, and took Broadway by storm, winning five Tony Awards. It spoofs musical-comedy fanatics and the genre itself, as well as the extravagant musicals of the 1920s. Critics have called 'The Drowsy Chaperone' one of the wittiest, craziest shows ever to hit Broadway. It's all fluff and fun!

In FALSE SOLUTION, Anton Seligman (Daniel J. Travanti) is a renowned architect, working on his designs for a new Holocaust museum to be built in Poland. He encounters Linda Johansson (Amanda Saunders), a beautiful young intern and first-year architecture grad student, who challenges his conceptions. The tensions created by their differing ideas are complicated by their mutual attraction to each other:

Kentwood Players proudly presents Agatha Christie's 'THE HOLLOW' from May 16 to June 21, 2014 for a six-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm with Sunday matinees at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by George Kondreck.

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were found bludgeoned in their family home. Lizzie was arrested for murder and the trial date set for June 5, 1893. The trial lasted fourteen days, and caused a national sensation as it was the first public trial in the United States to be covered extensively by the media. Popular opinion was split on her innocence or guilt. Did she or didn't she do it? See BLOOD RELATIONS and decide for yourself.

The production is visually stunning, blending live actors, puppets and keenly choreographed movement that breathe life into everyday inanimate objects. The puppetry involves a huge range of ground-breaking techniques and variety of creations - from the smallest mechanical creatures to the huge god-like masks and limbs that represent Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Fairies.

Set in Poland circa 1890, WHITE MARRIAGE is a surreal and erotic coming-of-age fairytale that follows a young girl's poignant emergence into womanhood and frightened resistance to her impending marriage. Two sisters, sensitive Bianca (Kate Dalton) and precocious Pauline (Emily Goss), are on the verge of adulthood. Bianca is betrothed to Benjamin (Austin Rogers) and the preparations for her imminent wedding send the girls into a flurry of excitement and confusion.

Although a work of fiction, DOCTOR ANONYMOUS was inspired by a watershed moment in LGBT history when Dr. John E. Fryer, wearing a mask and using a voice-distorting microphone, declared himself a homosexual in front of the American Psychiatric Association's 1972 convention - leading to the decision to de-list homosexuality as a mental illness.

Every once in a while an extraordinary story and performer comes along where we can explore the human condition from a new perspective. Such a performer is Bailey Mason and such a show is !HOOKED which blends wacky yet real comedy with episodes of somber events from Bailey's life. She is a strong person who has experienced more than she would have wanted, but came out better for it in the end.

On the first Sunday of each month, Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records' presents a supper club musical cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in NoHo. Sunday, April 6, 2014, the group celebrated its two-year anniversary with THESE APRIL FOOLISH THINGS with not only foolish songs but ones having to do with Spring or the month of April in general.

The 9th longest-running off-Broadway musical of all time, ALTAR BOYZ is a foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy satire about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national 'Raise the Praise' tour during which they attempt to reduce the number of burdened souls in the theatre to zero by the end of the concert.

Certainly anyone who has worked in a corporation, and especially those who are so hooked into the online world via Twitter, will identify with the characters and situations in THE MEMORANDUM. And even though parts of it may go over your head politically, the clear message that corporations zap individuality will come through loud and clear.

When all the elements fall into place in perfect harmony, the resulting frivolity and laughter go far beyond the words on the page to reveal utter hysteria. Such is the case with Anglo-Franco Fusion Farce DON'T DRESS OF DINNER by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon, now onstage at Theatre Palisades through May 11.

John Denver was an environmentalist before it was fashionable and a man not afraid to sing about his deep love for the Earth and his wife. While few radio stations still play his music, his many albums sold millions of copies during his singing career from 1969-1997. Those of us in the audience on opening night were quick to join in singing, spreading Denver's joy and love throughout the theater.

How often have you wished you could have stopped the tragedy that befalls lovers in Shakespeare's plays? Playwright and producer Lloyd J. Schwartz, along with director Ted Lange, lovingly give you a chance to get to know these magnificent characters in the world premiere comedy CLASSIC COUPLES COUNSELING now onstage at the Secret Rose Theatre in NoHo. Their vision juxtaposes modern counseling with the timeless issues facing Shakespeare's classic couples.

Certainly those of us who frequent any Jewish deli in Los Angeles will recognize these characters. Playwright Sam Bobrick admits some of the events in the play's 12 sketches actually happened to him, some to his friends, and some to people he just happened to be sitting next to at lunch. After working in the entertainment business for over 50 years, he's not sure which is which.

Any of us who have engaged in online chatting knows that sex and obsession, indulged through an erotic relationship on the Internet, can lead to disappointing or explosive consequences. You only have to follow today's headlines about young girls bullied online who commit suicide just to escape the continuous taunting, with helpless parents unable to help or even unaware of the problem until it's too late. TALHOTBLOND certainly is a cautionary tale for the times in which we live.