Theatre West opens two plays in limited engagement

Change in ISC's reading of Noel Coward's Private Lives

UPDATE: The staged reading of Noel Coward's Private Lives is on Sunday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m.--NOT TODAY, Sunday the 21, as previously reported.

In addition, management has moved ISC's reading next door, to The Lillian Theatre.

If you already purchased tickets, ISC states in their update that they will contact you and confirm the date change. If you haven't purchased tickets yet, now is your opportunity. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased through ISC's web site or by calling (818) 710-6306.

Private Lives
Sunday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m.

The Lillian Theater
1076 Lillian Way
Los Angeles, 90038

ISC Salon series continues, Porters of Hellsgate auditions, Fringe deadline approaches

I've been a bad, bad blogger. I've been away for 2 weeks! The good news is that it's mostly because there has been SO much going on in LA theatre. You want the scoop? Here it is:

The Porters of Hellsgate are holding auditions THIS AFTERNOON (read: Paddy's Day) for a few, select roles in their next project, Diety Clutch. This is an original production, written by Porters member Gus Krieger. If you think you can contact them in time, see their facebook page or email them at portersofhellsgate@gmail.com and let them know you're interested in auditioning.   If I've delivered this news far too late for you to get an audition time (and for that I apologize), you can always go and SEE the production, which will go up May 7-30th at the Lex Theatre in Hollywood.

The deadline for registering your project for the first annual (we hope) Hollywood Fringe Festival is April 1st. If you haven't gotten it together yet, you technically still could, but it will be tough. See http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/ for details or just take a look at what other people are doing.

The Indepedent Shakespeare Co. continues their inventive salon series with a reading of Noel Coward's comedy, Private Lives. This reading features ISC favorites David Melville, Bernadette Sullivan, Freddy Douglas, and Katherine Leigh.
When:   Sunday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Where:  The Elephant Theater
             6322 Santa Monica Boulevard
             Los Angeles, 90038
How much: Tickets: $20 / Purchase tickets on their web site or call (818) 710-6306.

Emperor's New Clothes opens today at Theatre West

Opening today, March 6th, Theatre West in association with STORYBOOK THEATRE presents The Emperor's New Clothes! This wonderful children's show will run every Saturday at 1pm thru July 10th.

Book and lyrics by Lloyd J. Schwartz and David Wechter
Music by Phil Orem
Directed by Lloyd Schwartz
Produced by Barbara Mallory Schwartz

In the classic story, The Emperor's New Clothes, there's plenty of adventure, laughs, songs and interactive fun. Cheer on the princess, laugh at the inept robbers as they make invisible clothes, march in the fashion parade and help warn the emperor that he's not wearing anything except his funny underwear!

Birthday parties are cheerfully accomodated and discounts are available for school field trips during the week.

For reservations, call 818-761-2203 or you can buy tickets online at https://theatrewest.secure.force.com/ticket/PatronTicket__PublicTicketEvent?eid=a0IA0000000fbkCMAQ

Italian American Reconciliation at Bravo Cucina

Photo from www.thepeoplestheater.com

Italian American Reconciliation

by John Patrick Shanley

Bravo Cucina

(1319 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica)

A production of The People's Theater

Date of reviewed performance: March 3, 2010

Cast

Aldo Scalicki - Elliot Schiff

Huey Maximilian Bonfigliano - Chad T. Wood

Teresa - Lori Stone

Aunt May - Amity Janow

Janice - Marisa Petroro

Throughout John Patrick Shanley's career, the award-winning writer has made his vision of urban romance a platform for many troubled and zany characters to patch up their love lives. Though there are some who think of Italian American Reconciliation as "Moonstruck"-lite, it has a soul and spirit all its own, summed up in the statement "a man's heart is difficult to know."

As lead characters we have two men, Huey (Chad T. Wood) and Aldo (Elliot Schiff), who are being tormented by Huey's ex-wife, Janice (Marisa Petroro). The play is presented as a folk tale, narrated by Aldo, who interacts with the audience as the show begins and then wraps things up at the end. The tale being told is of a scheme concocted by Huey (who's dressed like he wandered out of a Renaissance festival) to reconcile with Janice, despite her generally psychotic behavior. Still, he feels like a broken man who needs to right the wrongs of his marriage to become whole again. He drafts Aldo to go ahead of him and smooth the waters with Janice, but Aldo and Janice have a different sort of history that requires its own clarification. Aldo doesn't know it, but he too must make peace with Janice to have any hope of moving on with his life.

Elliot Schiff is charismatic and fun as the clever, chatty mama's boy. He has a touching moment in his scene with Janice, when the vulnerable little boy inside becomes very visible. Chad T. Wood does a nice job with the morose and desperate Huey, paralleling the character's changing attitude about life with his changing feelings on the "poet's" clothing.

While the story being told isn't so much "about" any of the female characters, they are integral because it is the women who define the men. Lori Stone is fantastic in her strong, animated take on Teresa.  Marisa Petroro's performance as the villainous Janice oozes with venom all while she remains so striking it's easy to believe Huey would have second thoughts on staying gone. Amity Janow is lovely in the role of neighborhood confidante and counsel-giver. She has an interesting moment in a scene with Teresa when she drips olive oil on her hands and rubs it in as lotion, then reaches for Teresa's hands and rubs the oil on her skin as well. It seems bizarre at first, but it is a comforting gesture that reveals itself to be the one thing all of the characters crave most: an act of kindness.

Italian American Reconcilation runs today, March 4th as well as March 10th and 11th (8:00pm). Admission ranges from $15-$20, payable with cash at the door or you can purchase tickets in advance at http://www.thepeoplestheater.com/The_Peoples_Theater/Advance_Tickets.html

Directed by Dana Koellner

Produced by Lori Stone

Light and Sound Support: Kevin Bertazzon

Dialect Coach: Kristine Lee Reiersgard