Review: VALLEY OF THE HEART Recounts a Cross-Cultural Love Surviving World War II
For playwright, director and El Teatro Campesino founder Luis Valdez, who was born in Delano, CA as the second of ten children born to migrant farm worker parents who made a living picking whatever crop was in season, Cupertino will always be known for the rich land that once grew an abundance of crops and fruits trees during the time he lived in the area shortly after World War II. His latest play, the phenomenal VALLEY OF THE HEART at the Mark Taper Forum through December 9, 2018, uses California history as a jumping-off point to tell an important story about the fight to maintain dignity, identity, family and faith in the once-fertile farmland that is now known as the Silicon Valley.
Center Theatre Group Offers Spanish Language Open Captioning For VALLEY OF THE HEART
Center Theatre Group will offer Spanish-language translations of the 8 p.m. performance of Luis Valdez's "Valley of the Heart" on Friday, December 7 at the Mark Taper Forum. Each show will be performed in English with Spanish translations running simultaneously on open caption screens. Audience members wishing to view the open captions should request to be seated in the captioning area when purchasing tickets.
Luis Valdez's VALLEY OF THE HEART Opens At Taper
Currently in previews, Center Theatre Group's production of "Valley of the Heart" will open on November 7 at 8 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Written and directed by Luis Valdez ("Zoot Suit") and presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, the production will run through December 9, 2018.
Performances Begin For VALLEY OF THE HEART At Mark Taper Forum
Performances for Center Theatre Group's production of "Valley of the Heart" will begin on October 30 at the Mark Taper Forum. Written and directed by Luis Valdez ("Zoot Suit") and presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, the production will run through December 9, 2018. The opening will be on Wednesday, November 7 at 8 p.m.
Rehearsals Have Begun For Luis Valdez's VALLEY OF THE HEART At Taper
Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group's production of "Valley of the Heart," which is written and directed by Luis Valdez ("Zoot Suit"). Presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, the production will play at the Mark Taper Forum October 30 through December 9, 2018. The opening will be on Wednesday, November 7.
Cast Announced For Luis Valdez's VALLEY OF THE HEART At The Taper
Center Theatre Group has announced the cast for "Valley of the Heart," which is written and directed by Luis Valdez ("Zoot Suit"). Presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, the production will play at the Mark Taper Forum October 30 through December 9, 2018. The opening will be on Wednesday, November 7.
Dan Guerrero Honored With CASA 0101 Theater Brown & Out Inspiration Award
Dan Guerrero, the award-winning producer, director, writer and actor was honored for his activism and support of the LBGTQ+ community with the first ever CASA 0101 Theater Brown & Out Inspiration Award prior to Opening Night performance of CASA 0101 Theater's "Brown & Out IV" Play Festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ Latinexperience on Friday, February 9, 2018. The award was presented by Corky Dominguez, a director, writer and producer of "Brown & Out IV." Edward Padilla, President of CASA 0101 Theater, read a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, 53rd District of Los Angeles, for Dan Guerrero and then presented it to him on behalf of the Assemblymember.
Fundraising Campaign Launched To Save CASA 0101 Theater
Josefina Lopez, Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, CA announced today that CASA 0101 Theater is in danger of closing its doors. Lopez said, "I opened CASA over 15 years ago. I started CASA to create opportunities for actors and writers and artists. This is the kind of place that I wanted when I was a little girl. I thought this would be my way of giving back to my community in Boyle Heights. But, unfortunately we are on the brink of closing down because we can't pay our rent, so we need your financial support. If you believe in what were are doing, please support us now."
BWW 2017 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)
Dear Readers, it's been quite a year and, hopefully, we've come through it unscathed. God knows we've needed some shows to help us escape and others to make us think. But through it all we've had several shows that have proven to shine as some of the best of the year. Out of all the shows I was fortunate enough to see this year, I've selected a few that stood out. Here are those stand outs, a few honorable mentions and a few special mentions about which I just couldn't help myself but to mention in their own special way.
THE HOTEL PLAY Opens This Saturday
The Playwrights' Arena production of "The Hotel Play," written by seven female Los Angeles playwrights and directed and conceived by Playwrights' Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera will open this Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m. "The Hotel Play" will be presented in six different rooms and poolside at the Radisson Hotel Midtown at USC and will run through April 16, 2017. (Specific dates and times are below.) The world premiere marks the 25th anniversary of Playwrights' Arena.
BWW Review: Gripping Journey in GUARDS AT THE TAJ at ACT
I do love it, Dear Readers, when a show manages to thrill without the aid of elaborate sets or gimmicks. Where you can just immerse yourself in the words and performances. Such is the case with "Guards at the Taj" currently playing at ACT. That's not to say that the minimal set design from Brandon Estrella didn't work, it did. And there is one kind of unexpected prop that beautifully took over the stage at one point. But by then, we were so riveted by the stirring performances of the two actors in the show, even an elephant could have walked on stage I would have been focused on them.
2016 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards Winners Announced!
The 'large theater' productions of ACT Theatre's The Royale and The 5th Avenue Theatre's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying take top honors and the 'small theater' productions of ArtsWest's Death of a Salesman and Washington Ensemble Theatre's The Things Are Against Us take top honors - for most category wins!?
BWW 2016 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)
It's been a crazy year, Dear Readers. Lots of ups, lots of downs, and LOTS of emotions. And I'm not just talking about on stage. But let's not dwell on the bad things that may have happened in the world and focus on some of the amazing things Seattle theater companies gave us this past year, and let me tell you there were quite a few. So many in fact that in some categories I simply had to call out more than the usual Honorable Mentions as some performances just needed to be noted. You'll see what I mean especially when you get to the female categories as the ladies were certainly bringing it this year.
But let's get started shall we? Out of the myriad shows I saw this year in Seattle, here are the shows and performances that truly stood out to me.
BWW Review: Edgily Funny and Heartfelt MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT from WET
As you may know, Dear Readers, I recently criticized another currently running show for having shock for shock sake with not enough narrative. So when I see a title like "The Motherf**ker with the Hat", the current offering from Washington Ensemble Theatre, I get a little worried that I may be in for more of the same. And while the show may have more F bombs than you can shake a hat at and there is a very clear warning of language and nudity posted at the theater, the difference is this play just portrays an honest and real look at the lives of its characters and what results is a funny and heartfelt show where the "shock value" fades into the background in favor of a wonderfully developed and ever evolving story.