DON GRIGWARE Picks The BEST PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES in LOS ANGELES THEATRE for 2015
There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2015 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed.
(alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed)
(artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories)
No set, costume, or technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.
BWW Reviews: LOVE AGAIN Premieres at Group Rep
It is refreshing in this day and age to see an attempt to create a new musical. With few exceptions, it appears to be a dying art. If not, we would not be witnessing a raft of old steady revivals on Broadway, off-Broadway and in regional venues across the globe. Doug Haverty and Adryan Russ, no strangers to successful musical ventures, have taken the topic of love and have created Love Again, a bold effort at showing the intermingling of different aspects of love with a semi-large cast. Under the steady hand of Kay Cole all manage to shine in one form or another and a lot of it works delightfully. There's much potential with some more work and readjustments to the book. Many of the songs are quite lovely, and love, in all of its shades and colors, is always a treat to experience. Love Again has its niche at Group rep in NoHo through June 28.
BWW Reviews: MICHELE LEE's First LA Cabaret a Smash at Catalina
On Sunday May 17 at Catalina Jazz Club renowned actress/singer Michele Lee made her Los Angeles cabaret debut. Why has it taken this long? She takes her one-woman show Catch the Light on the road regularly and recently played 54 Below in NYC, but has never played a club in her hometown of LA. Well, it's high time, and the packed house agreed as the four-piece orchestra played the Beatles' 'Michelle, my belle...' as Lee was introduced to thunderous applause. She made her way through the audience singing the powerhouse 'Feeling Good', and with a combination of incredible drive and energy, an uber strong vocal style and sheer sauciness and personal sass, Lee's conquest of the room was guaranteed.
Looking fabulous in black satin and sequins, she next essayed 'Nobody Does It Like Me' from her Broadway hit Seesaw. In the show she playe
The Group Rep Premieres LOVE AGAIN Musical Tonight
The Group Rep presents the world premiere musical Love Again, book by Doug Haverty, music by Adryan Russ, lyrics by Russ and Haverty, directed by Kay Cole, produced by Richard Alan Woody and Jon Cortez for The Group Rep, with musical direction by Richard Berent.
The Group Rep to Premiere LOVE AGAIN Musical This Summer
The Group Rep presents the world premiere musical Love Again, book by Doug Haverty, music by Adryan Russ, lyrics by Russ and Haverty, directed by Kay Cole, produced by Richard Alan Woody and Jon Cortez for The Group Rep, with musical direction by Richard Berent.
BWW Reviews: Group Rep Revives Early Albee
Early Albee is better than no Albee at all, but a recent look at his The American Dream, circa 1960, shows how he had not quite settled into a style of his own. Now onstage at Group rep in NoHo, the one-act belongs to the Theatre of the Absurd, and like any good vaudeville, pokes fun at just about everything from the instability of marriage to poor child rearing to abuse of the elderly. The American Dream in this case is a young stud (Andre Jack) with a muscle t-shirt who could be Mommy and Daddy's son but instead is a boy toy who may bring some joy to the faltering marriage bed but certainly not in the same way the American Dream envisions. Apart from belonging to the absurdist camp, the play reminded me of British farce where the language is inane and the actions about equal. The character American Dream is akin to Sloane in Entertaining Mr. Sloane without the evil slant. Here he is innocence personified; in Sloane, no. Albee protests fiercely against the idol rich, as Mommy, Daddy and Grandma all come from a well.to.do clan...and they are obviously squandering too much time and energy.
Rockin' With the Ages & The Pink Lady Extend THE BEAT GOES ON! Through November 25
ROCKIN' WITH THE AGES & THE PINK LADY have announced that their smash-hit, critically acclaimed, World Premiere production of THE BEAT GOES ON! A Musical Celebration of the Young at Heart, featuring musical direction by David O, and written, choreographed and directed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin is extending through Sunday, November 25 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.
BWW Reviews: Rockin' with the Ages' THE BEAT GOES ON! Has Hot Pink Written All Over It
The fourth show from Jackie Goldberg and Rockin' with the Ages The Beat Goes On! is by far their BEST, most slick and vibrant and totally indicative of Goldberg's great philosophy for all seniors to 'Get Up, Get Out and Get a Life!' It really MOVES! But you don't have to be a senior to enjoy the show. There's something for everyone from hip hop to rock and roll to 'Young at Heart'.
BWW Reviews: Slam Bang Go the FIRECRACKER FOLLIES
James Gray and his merry band of cuckoos led by Momma are back for a whole week this year in Firecracker Follies, the campy and irreverent salute to our nation's history. Eric Seppala - does some great meatless recipes, Kendall Rose, and Dena Drotar are joined by special guest tap dancer Rusty Frank @ the Cavern Club of Casita del Campo in Silverlake through Sunday July 3. There are sendups of Betsy Ross, Uncle Sam, Daniel Boone, Rosa Parks (guess who plays her?), Mrs. Lincoln, Wonder Woman (and no, Momma does NOT play her; you'll have to go and see the show to find out), Ben Franklin, Shirley Temple Black (well, she was an ambassador!), George Washington and his dancing cherries (see photo below), and a great Jackie O(nassis) with 60s fashion guru Oleg Cassini in tow, Davy Crockett, Marilyn Monroe (well, via the Kennedy boys she was almost patriotic), the Wright Brothers, FDR with Annie Warbucks, Amelia Earhart & Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan - SINGING! Momma does a patriotic sing-a-long, bakes cookies-and you'll get a chance to see the new classic 4th of July picnic fiasco (now on youtube) from last year. On opening night, there were tech problems that made the show even funnier, as Gray mimed all of Momma's crazed eating habits from the dvd. Dena Drotar does her great MM with 'Heatwave', Momma announces her candidacy for office with 'Motherhood' and there's even a fireworks display as the grand finale.
BWW Reviews: The Perry Lambert Show Winning Entertainment @ Sterling's
On Sunday March 13 actor/singer/impressionist Perry Lambert returned to Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's with The Perry Lambert Show. The one thing that people can say about Lambert, apart from the fact that he is multi-talented, is that he abounds with an infectious energy which keeps the show moving, moving, moving for 60 minutes with a varied mix of songs and stellar impressions. Having performed on cruise ships, Lambert has learned to deliver what pleases the crowd and deliver he does! It's one hell of a show with nonstop hilarity and laughs.
