Craig Schwartz

Review: THE PIANO LESSON at A Noise Within
by Evan Henerson - Oct 28, 2024

Barely six months since braving Wilson's KING HEDLEY II, the company and director Gregg T. Daniel are back an impactful - if leisurely – PIANO LESSON. Where HEDLEY was grim, this one is ghostly, rueful and full of music.

Photos: August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON At A Noise Within This Weekend
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 15, 2024

Currently in previews, “The Piano Lesson” — the fourth play in Wilson’s extraordinary 10-play “American Century Cycle,” the second to win a Pulitzer Prize, and the fifth in A Noise Within’s commitment to stage them all — opens at A Noise Within this weekend. See photos from the production below. 

Review: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH at A Noise Within
by Amanda Callas - Sep 23, 2024

The Skin of Our Teeth is an astonishing production of the classic play at A Noise Within through September 29th.  It is insatiably alive with sharp-fanged wit, whimsical thoughtfulness, and improbable wonder.  The Skin of Our Teeth is audaciously satirical, but also earnest its incandescent meditation on the eternal human cycle of apocalypse and overindulgence.

Photos: A Noise Within Presents Thornton Wilder's THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 13, 2024

A Noise Within opened its 2024-25 “True Grit” season last weekend with “The Skin of Our Teeth,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning, time-bending comic romp by Thornton Wilder that’s a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity. See photos from the production.

Review: MISALLIANCE at A Noise Within
by Amanda Callas - May 25, 2024

Misalliance is a delight, a breezy, witty, carefree period romp and delectable social satire set on the sprawling Surrey estate of underwear tycoon John Tartleton.

Photos: MISALLIANCE Opens This Weekend At A Noise Within In Pasadena
by A.A. Cristi - May 15, 2024

Eight marriage proposals and a plane crash, all in one afternoon. Now in previews, George Bernard Shaw’s high-flying comedy “Misalliance” opens this weekend at A Noise Within in a production directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. See photos from the production below.

Review: KING HEDLEY II at A Noise Within
by Evan Henerson - Apr 19, 2024

KING HEDLEY II is the eighth and quite possibly bleakest play of August Wilson’s Century Cycle. Pasadena’s A Noise Within is committed to producing the entire cycle, and ANW’s production, under the direction of frequent Wilson helmsman Gregg T. Daniel, wrestles with it valiantly.

Photos: KING HEDLEY II Opens This Weekend At A Noise Within
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 4, 2024

A new production of ‘King Hedley II, now in previews and opening this weekend at A Noise Within in Pasadena, continues the company’s commitment to August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” See photos of the production!

Mark Taper Forum Expected To Announce New Season in Coming Weeks
by Joshua Wright - Apr 1, 2024

Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum, which suspended all programming last summer amid an unsustainable producing model, is expected to announce a new season of programming in the coming weeks.

Photos: Ebony Repertory Theatre Presents Zora Howard's STEW
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 9, 2024

Ebony Repertory Theatre will present 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist Zora Howard’s STEW as its first production of 2024. See photos of the production.

Photos: First Look At Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET At A Noise Within
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 14, 2024

“Sweeney Todd,” the dark, brooding, yet sharply comic story of love, revenge and meat pies by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, opens this weekend at Pasadena’s A Noise Within. Check out photos of the production.

Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY at Ahmanson
by Evan Henerson - Dec 18, 2023

Lenz’s production is solid family stuff, a little bit cock-eyed, and easy on the treacle. Knowledge of the original movie is by no means a prerequisite to enjoyment of ACS: TM. If you’re craving certain iconic moments from the movie, rest assured you’ll find them, possibly even amped up or with a musical number built around them.

Review: DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL at Kirk Douglas Theatre
by Amanda Callas - Dec 9, 2023

Dog Man: The Musical is a fun, goofy musical romp running through January 7th at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. This bright, happy show is almost solely aimed at children, and what a wonderful thing that is.

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at A Noise Within
by Amanda Callas - Dec 7, 2023

Fresh and glorious to behold, with bold, impressive stagecraft and truly innovative and imaginative costume design.  There are frequent moments of awe and breathtaking sprinkles of magic.  Although it feels off to me in some of its performance and art direction choices, this is a remarkable and stunningly visual production.

Photos: A Noise Within's Beloved A CHRISTMAS CAROL Opens Sunday With New Surprises
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2023

A Noise Within’s delightfully festive, musically merry stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ returns this weekend, with 20 joy-filled performances continuing now through December 24. See photos from the production!

Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at A Noise Within
by Evan Henerson - Oct 23, 2023

Visually and acoustically, from performances to pacing, this DREAM directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott is so beautifully thought out and rendered that the Noise Within brain-trust should consider filming it for posterity.

Photos: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Opens This Weekend At A Noise Within
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 11, 2023

A delightful, yet deeply resonant, production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare opens this weekend at Pasadena's A Noise Within, with co-artistic directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott at the helm. Check out the photos from this enormously imaginative production below.

Review: THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS at The Getty Villa
by Andrew Child - Sep 8, 2023

The new seat cushions aren’t the only thing regulars of the Getty Villa’s annual theatre production are buzzing about this season (even though they are surprisingly comfortable and make the amphitheater a worthy place to sit for a few hours).

Tony Nominated Lyricist/Librettist Ellen Fitzhugh Passes Away
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 25, 2023

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of Emmy, Drama Desk, and Tony nominated lyricist and librettist, Ellen Fitzhugh.

Exclusive: First Look At OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD At Center Theatre Group
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 22, 2023

Named a New York Times Critics Pick, “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” by playwright Alexis Scheer, directed by Center Theatre Group Associate Artistic Director Lindsay Allbaugh, and produced in association with IAMA Theatre Company, comes to the Kirk Douglas Theatre from August 20 to September 17, 2023 with the press opening on August 27.  Get a first look at the production!