BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Nan McNamara, an Award-Winning Actress, World Premiere Director, and Acting Instructor
This Spotlight focuses on Nan McNamara, an award-winning actress who I have seen in many productions at the Actors Co-op in Hollywood, perhaps most notably in the 2017 Ovation Award-winning '33 Variations' in which she played a journalist who was able to go back in time to interview Ludwig Von Beethoven (an outstanding performance by Bruce Ladd) about his work. But what happened to the world premiere production of Lee Blessing's 'A Body of Water' which Nan directed when Covid-19 shut down L.A. theaters?
Photo Flash: Actors Co-op Presents Lee Blessing's A BODY OF WATER
Actors Co-op's production of Lee Blessing's “A Body of Water” with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson, opened to a SOLD OUT house Friday night. The play runs now through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Lee Blessing's A BODY OF WATER is Coming To Actors Co-op in February
The Award-winning Actors Co-op Theatre Company will present 'A Body of Water' written by Lee Blessing with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson. The play will run February 7 through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Actors Co-op Extends ANNA KARENINA Through March 23rd
Actors Co-op extends its daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.
ANNA KARENINA Adds Matinees Due To Popular Demand
Actors Co-op adds two matinees of this daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.
BWW Review: It Is Easy To See Why ANNA KARENINA Is Rarely Revived
Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson, is a staggeringly ambitious project for any theatre. First of all, it is a period piece taking place in a foreign country, in this case Russia and belongs in the realm of literary classics, requiring or better suited to classically trained actors. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op's Crossley Theatre. Anna is directed intelligently by Heather Chesley and boasts a fine cast, but somehow lacks the stature that it deserves.
Actors Co-op Brings ANNA KARENINA To The Crossley Theatre
Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Todays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.
Actors Co-op Brings ANNA KARENINA To The Crossley Theatre
Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.
Stage Raw Announces Its 2017-2018 Theater Award Recipients
The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition included productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018. Stage Raw is a community funded professional journalism website that was created in response to the decline of arts coverage in local mainstream and alternative media.The Awards ceremony was held Monday night, August 20, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by Coeurage Theatre Company, and co-directed by Jer Adrianne Lelliott, Thaddeus Shafer and Lauren Ludwig. Winners notated in red below.
BWW Review: Actors Co-op Honors A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
If the laws are changed for convenience, who will object to money, favors or a higher position? When you think about it, the issue is timeless.
In the 16th century, King Henry VIII (Ian Michaels) divorced his wife Catherine, who could not give him a son, and married Anne Boleyn. He was excomunicated from the Catholic Church by the Pope of Rome. The Anglican Church resulted and Henry's power became supreme in England. Spain, who had conducted the Inquisition, looked upon England with disdain. Anyone under Henry's command, who had signed an oath accepting the changes, stood to benefit in convenient ways. For example, Master Richard Rich (Mitchell Lam Hau) moved up the ladder and betrayed his mentor and friend Sir Thomas More (Bruce Ladd), who had offered him sound advice about becoming a teacher and staying honest. Under oath, Rich lied about More, who was accused of treaso
Photo Flash: Actors Co-op Theatre Company's A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the 1962 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, directed by Thom Babbes, produced by Carly Lopez. This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII. A Man for All Seasons opens tonight, Friday, March 2 at 8:00 pm, and will run through Sunday, April 15 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower Street, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.
Actors Co-Op Theatre Company's A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Opens 3/2
Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) is proud to present the 1962 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, directed by Thom Babbes, produced by Carly Lopez. This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII.
Actors Co-Op production of 33 VARIATIONS Extends Through 3/26
Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce that the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE!, Stage Raw TOP TEN, Ovation Recommended), smash-hit, Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moises Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 26at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.
BWW Review: Brilliant Performances and Glorious Music Highlight 33 VARIATIONS at the Actors Co-Op in Hollywood
Often called the greatest set of variations ever written for keyboard, the 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120, commonly known as the Diabelli Variations, was written by Beethoven between 1819 and 1823, the time frame of his life which is examined in the play, told concurrently with a modern-day fictional story of college professor Dr. Katherine Brandt as she ventures to Bonn to complete her research on why the great composer chose to spend so much time working on such a second-rate piece of music. Along the way, we learn these two will give up nothing in order to reach their goals, even though both were suffering great medical challenges threatening to sidetrack their work. And, even though they're separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that might, even just for a moment, make time stand still.
Photo Flash: Passionate Play 33 VARIATIONS Takes Off in LA
Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the third show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of 33 VARIATIONS by Moisés Kaufman, choreography by Michelle Parrish and directed by Thomas James O'Leary (Next to Normal). 33 VARIATIONS will preview on Thursday, February 9 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 10 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 19 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.