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ARTICLE
by Joel Beers, OC Weekly
[ Link
to OC Weekly ]
January 5, 2012
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Side Story will play at the Chance from July 6 - August 12 |
If the Mayan long-form calendar is right (and,
obviously, any civilization that hit its peak 1,000 years ago was right about
everything . . .) the world ends Dec. 21. Good thing we've got sexualized puppets,
Orson Welles, Richard M. Nixon, a homoerotic Abe Lincoln and the guillotine on
local stages to get us through the next 350 days.
BOOM
A dark comedy set at the end of civilization,
as white people have long known it, featuring a journalism student and a gay
scientist as the last two people on the face of the planet.
At the Chance Theater,
www.chancetheater.com.
Sept. 21-Oct. 21.
WEST SIDE STORY
No, the world isn't pleading for yet another production of this groundbreaking
(for 1950) musical, but the Chance has demonstrated an undeniable ability to
make musicals sing in recent years. (Honorable mention at the Chance: Reborning,
a creepy-sounding dark comedy about a guy who sculpts baby dolls, April 20-May
20.) Chance Theater, www.chancetheater.com. June 29-Aug. 5.
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ARTICLE
by Les Spindle, Back Stage
[ Link
to Back Stage ]
January 30, 2012
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A scene from Jerry Springer: The Opera,
which received eight LADCC nominations |
The nominees and special award recipients for the 43rd annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, honoring distinguished achievements in L.A. theater during 2011, were announced on Monday. Ebony Repertory Theatre Company's revival of Lorraine Hansbury's classic drama " A Raisin in the Sun," currently restaged at the Kirk Douglas Theatre with one lead role recast, and the Chance Theater's Southern California premiere of "Jerry Springer: The Opera" both lead the nominations with a total of eight each.
Other shows receiving several nominations are the Odyssey Theatre-Evidence Room co-production of Len Jenkin's noir-inspired "Margo Veil" with five, and the zany world premiere tuner "Re-Animator the Musical" with four. Leading production companies were Center Theatre Group, which netted 10 nods, for shows at its Ahmanson and Kirk Douglas Theatres and the Mark Taper Forum. Eight nominations each went to Ebony Repertory Theatre, Chance Theater, and Rogue Machine. Geffen Playhouse received seven.
The awards ceremony is set for Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within (3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena), the classical repertory theatre company.
The show will be hosted by actor-singer Jason Graae, who received LADCC's 2007 Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theater, and actor Lesli Margherita, a nominee this year for "Kiss Me, Kate." Additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.
Production
“9 Circles,” Alicia Adams and Jessica Hanna, Bootleg Theater
“Blackbird,” Rogue Machine, Theatre/Theater
“House of the Rising Son,” Ensemble Studio Theatre—LA, Atwater Village Theatre
“Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
“Margo Veil,” The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Evidence Room, Odyssey Theatre
“Re-Animator: The Musical,” Dean Schramm & Stuart Gordon, Steve Allen Theater
“Small Engine Repair,” Rogue Machine, Theatre/Theater
“The Cripple of Inishmaan,” Center Theatre Group and Druid and Atlantic Theater Company, Kirk Douglas Theatre
“Way to Heaven, Ron Sossi, Odyssey Theatre
Direction
Trevor Biship, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Andrew Block, “Small Engine Repair,” Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater
Sean Branney, “The Crucible,” Theatre Banshee
Bart DeLorenzo, “Margo Veil,” The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Evidence Room at the Odyssey Theatre
Phylicia Rashad, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Ebony Repertory Theatre at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
Music Direction
Gregory Nabours, “Falsettos,” Third Street Theatre
Michael Paternostro, “Kiss Me, Kate,” Reprise Theatre Company at Freud Playhouse
Gerald Sternbach, “The Robber Bridegroom,” International City Theatre
Mike Wilkins, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Choreography
Karole Armitage, “Hair,” Broadway/L.A. at the Pantages Theatre
Andy Blankenbuehler, “Bring It On: The Musical,” Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Todd Nielsen, “The Robber Bridegroom,” International City Theatre
Kelly Todd, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Musical Score
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Amanda Green, and Tom Kitt, “Bring It On: The Musical,” Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Mark Nutter, “Re-Animator: The Musical,” Steve Allen Theater
Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, “Shrek the Musical,” DreamWorks Theatricals, Neal Street Productions, and Broadway/L.A. at the Pantages Theatre
Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Ensemble Performance
“A Raisin in the Sun,” Ebony Repertory Theatre at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
“Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
“Margo Veil,” The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Evidence Room at the Odyssey Theatre
“The Cripple of Inishmaan,” Center Theatre Group and Druid and Atlantic Theater Company at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
“The Crucible,” Theatre Banshee
Lighting Design
Patrice Besombes, “Iris,” Cirque du Soleil at Kodak Theatre
Paule Constable, “Les Misérables,” Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Jeremy Pivnick, “House of the Rising Son,” Ensemble Studio Theatre—LA at the Atwater Village Theatre
Brian S. Shevelenko, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Sound Design
Mikhail Fiksel, “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” Geffen Playhouse
Casey Long, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Chance Theater
Adam Phalen, “9 Circles,” Bootleg Theater
John Zalewski, “Margo Veil,” The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Evidence Room at the Odyssey Theatre
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ARTICLE
by Back Stage
[ Link
to Back Stage ]
March 1, 2012
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A
scene from Jerry Springer: The Opera,
which received five Garland Awards |
In 1998, Back Stage for the first time honored Southern California’s best theater actors, directors, writers, and designers. Fourteen years later, the Los Angeles–area theater scene is the nation’s most prolific—and Back Stage continues its tradition of singling out the best of the best. Among the 15th annual Garland Award winners are artists who are well-known to theatergoers across the country and others who have just begun to make their mark on Southland stages. Back Stage is proud to present the full list of Garland recipients here and to introduce our readers to one winner who epitomizes everything that’s great about the world of 99-Seat theater in L.A.: actor-playwright John Pollono, whose play “Small Engine Repair” has earned three Garlands.
This year’s recipients were chosen by our devoted L.A. theater critics—Jeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Michael Holder, Amy Lyons, Eric Marchese, Dink O’Neal, David C. Nichols, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. The selection process was overseen by Les Spindle, Back Stage Editorial Associate, L.A. Theater.
Back Stage congratulates the winners and looks
forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating all the important work that
takes place night after night in one of the world’s greatest theater towns.
Production
“The Cripple of Inishmaan," Center Theatre Group and Druid
and Atlantic Theater Company at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
“God of Carnage," Center
Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott
Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the
Ahmanson Theatre
“Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance Theater
“Small
Engine Repair," Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater
Musical Score
Amanda Green (lyrics),Tom Kitt (music), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (music and lyrics), “Bring
It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Stewart
Lee (lyrics) and Richard Thomas(music and lyrics), “Jerry Springer: The
Opera," The Chance Theater
David Lindsay-Abaire (lyrics) and Jeannine Tesori
(music), “Shrek the Musical," DreamWorks Theatricals, Neal Street
Productions, and Broadway/LA at the Pantages Theatre
Direction
Trevor Biship, “Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance Theater
Sean
Branney, “The Crucible," Theatre Banshee at The Banshee
Gates McFadden, “House
of Gold," Ensemble Studio Theatre–Los Angeles at the Atwater Village
Theatre
Michael Michetti, “House of the Rising Son," Ensemble Studio
Theatre–Los Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre
Matthew Warchus, “God
of Carnage," Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers,
Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert
Organization at the Ahmanson Theatre
Musical Direction
Christy Crowl, “Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse
Eric Heinly, “A Christmas Westside Story," Troubadour Theater Company
at the Falcon Theatre
David O, “The Cradle Will Rock," Blank Theatre
Company at the Stella Adler Theatre
Dave Pepin, “Bring It On: The Musical," Center
Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Mike Wilkins, “Jerry Springer: The
Opera," The Chance Theater
Sound Design
Mikhail Fiksel, “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," Geffen Playhouse
Casey Long, “Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance Theater
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ARTICLE
by Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
[ Link
to StageSceneLA ]
September 10, 2012
The Scenies are StageSceneLA’s way of recognizing the breadth and depth of talent in Southern California theater, along with pointing a spotlight on performers, directors, designers, etc., whose work deserves to be made known to the theatrical community at large.
StageSceneLA received well over 1000 review requests between the dates of September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012. Of these productions, 267 were selected for review.
This year’s Scenies are based on scores recorded at the time of each review and are presented to productions and artists receiving the highest scores. In cases of double-cast roles or understudy performances, only those actors whose work I saw and reviewed are eligible for a Scenie.
Given the amount and level of talent in the Southern California theater scene, no limit is placed on the number of Scenies presented each year.
(Below is a list of the awards that Chance Theater received. To view a full list, click here.)
Production of the Year, Musical
West Side Story
Director of the Year, Individual Production
Oanh Nguyen, West Side Story
Choreographer of the Year, Individual Production
Kelly Todd, West Side Story
Best Production, Musical
ROOMS: A Rock Romance
Best Direction of a Musical
Patrick Pearson, ROOMS: A Rock Romance
Best Ensemble Cast Performance (Major Role in a Musical)
Chelsea Baldree, Gasper Spinosa, Keaton Williams, Gina Velez, Robert Wallace, West Side Story
Best Ensemble Cast Performance (Featured Role in a Musical)
Brian Alexander, Patrick Birman, Joe Buford, Israel Cortez, Rebecca Fondiler, Makenzie Gomez, Danielle Green, Michael Grenie, Danny Marin, Nicki Miller, Frank Minano, Elena Murray, Anthony Obnial, Eric Michael Parker, Eric Ronquillo, Kellie Spill, Amanda Sylvia, Jackson Tobiska, Tasha Tormey, Alex Uriostegui
West Side Story
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Casey Long and Jennifer Ruckman in Reborning
Photo by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio
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Best Duo Performance, Musical
Melinda Porto and Robert Wallace, ROOMS: A Rock Romance
Outstanding Production, Drama
Reborning
Outstanding Direction of a Drama
Oanh Nguyen, Reborning
Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress, Drama
Jennifer Ruckman, Reborning
Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor, Drama
Casey Long, Reborning
Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor, Comedy-Drama
Scott Dare, UP
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Actress, Drama
Karen Webster, Reborning
Best Musical Direction
Robyn Wallace, ROOMS: A Rock Romance and West Side Story
Best Scenic Design
Bradley Kaye, UP and West Side Story
Joe Holbrook, ROOMS: A Rock Romance
Oustanding Costume Design
Anthony Tran, West Side Story
Outstanding Scenic Design
Bruce Goodrich, Reborning
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ARTICLE
by LA Stage Alliance
[ Link
to LA Stage Alliance ]
September 11, 2012
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Robert Wallace and Melinda Porto in
ROOMS: A Rock Romance
Photo by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio
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Nominees for the 2012 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced Tuesday evening at the Renberg Theatre inside the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. The 2012 Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles. The curtain will rise at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit www.LASTAGEOvations.com.
Founded in 1989, the LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theater awards in Los Angeles. For the 2011-2012 voting season, there are a grand total of 191 nominations for 77 productions, presented by 50 companies. There were 400 total productions registered from 173 companies. Of those productions registered, 79 were Ovation Recommended, identified during their runs as scoring in the top quarter of all productions in the Overall Production categories.
Voters are Los Angeles theater professionals who are chosen each season by the Ovation Awards Review Committee (through an application process). The list of nominees is determined by a tabulation of scores conducted by the entertainment accounting firm Green Hasson Janks. This year’s Ovation Award eligibility period ran from September 1, 2011 through August 28, 2012.
LA STAGE Alliance is dedicated to building awareness, appreciation and support for the performing arts in Greater Los Angeles through community building, collaborative marketing/audience development, professional development to strengthen the sector, and advocacy. Providing access to the performing arts for patrons and access to information and resources for organizations has been the mission of the Alliance for over 35 years. The Alliance connects artists and arts administrators from over 500 groups annually in a six county region with opportunities to engage, inspire, educate and entertain over four million households that engage with the arts in our community. The Alliance engenders a stronger and more connected creative Los Angeles.
LA STAGE Alliance programs are sponsored, in part, by Actors’ Equity, the Angell Foundation, Arts Council for Long Beach, the Biller Family Foundation, California Arts Council, California Community Foundation, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division, City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Goldstar, James Irvine Foundation, Andrew Mellon Foundation, Los Angeles County Supervisors through the LA County Arts Commission, MusiCares/Grammy Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, SDC, The Shubert Foundation, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Matt Shakman
HEY, MORGAN!
Black Dahlia Theatre
Michael Matthews
THE COLOR PURPLE: A MUSICAL
Celebration Theatre
William Selby
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2
Musical Theatre West
Rick Sparks
I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE
Rockahn, LLC
Patrick Pearson
ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE
Chance Theater
BEST SCENIC DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATER)
Tom Buderwitz
SLOW DANCE IN MIDTOWN
Bella Vita Entertainment
Tom Buderwitz
THE MANY MISTRESSES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA
Joel Daavid
DEATHTRAP
LA Gay & Lesbian Center
Haley Ho
THE ELEPHANT MAN
Mechanicals Theatre Group
Desma Murphy
THE WATER‘S EDGE
Road Theatre Company
Tom Buderwitz
PEACE IN OUR TIME
The Antaeus Company
Joe Holbrook
ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE
The Chance Theater
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