CHEKHOV BEFORE THE MASTERPIECES A lean, lucid revival reveals Ivanov as an early, electric study of burnout, longing, and emotional paralysis Zachary Desmond, Paul Niebank, Casey Worthington…
SAY HIS NAME"AND HOLD ON A neon-charged national tour delivers irreverent spectacle, sharp performances, and just enough heart to make the afterlife feel alive Any doubts that the Netherworl…
Film and theater are two art forms that play a significant role in the meaning of human existence. For centuries, these two forms have shaped our thoughts, emotions, and worldview. Although …
FROM SANTO DOMINGO TO STATE DEPARTMENT An ambitious portrait of Julissa Reynoso's rise spans continents, though its cool staging keeps emotion at a distance At The Public Theater, the world …
A SMALL SHOP WITH A BIG HEART A delightful, tender surprise arrives at the Ahmanson"and quietly wins you over Sometimes the most unassuming shows sneak up and steal your heart. Kim's Conveni…
There is a specific kind of magic that happens in a historic venue like the Plaza Theatre, but this past Sunday, the most compelling magic wasn't the stagecraft"it was the heart and authenti…
LOVE LANGUAGES A cabaret performance in Vienna's smallest opera house In Vienna, there's the Staatsoper (very large, very elegant, very impressive, opened in 1869) and the Volksoper (not qui…
BIG CAST, BIG LAUGHS, BIG HEART AÂ joyful Morgan-Wixson production proves this classic still delivers the goods Community theatre rarely aims this big"or lands this charmingly. The Morgan…
A FEMINIST REFRAME Peculiar Works Project's ambitious reimagining offers striking ideas but struggles to make its case with uneven execution Alessandra Lopez There's an ancient folktale of a…
PHILOSOPHY, FARCE, AND ART UNDER SIEGE Witkiewicz's dense, absurdist text sparks to life" until unnecessary asides break the spell Gus Thomas and Venice Averyheart Theatre does not get much …
Nowadays, we live in a world where everyone spends more and more time looking at their phones, and as a result, we are increasingly moving away from live and personal experiences. Theater is…
Playwright-Performer Richard Chang Turns Reductionism Into Multiculturalism Years ago, while riding the subway, playwright Richard Chang witnessed passengers snickering at a Chinese battery …
OLD HOLLYWOOD, QUEER LONELINESS, AND A LEGEND'S FINAL ACT A well-acted and atmospheric production brings James Whale's twilight years to vivid life Jason M. Blackwell, Donald Currie, Francin…
CIVILITY ON THE BRINK OF CHAOS Jack Heller's polished production reveals Pinter's menace, even if it could use a bit more disorder First, a joke: "How many Harold Pinters does it take to cha…
CAN ANYONE SAVE THIS MUSICAL? A committed cast and strong vocals can't overcome a rushed, softened adaptation that drains the story's power In their mission statement, Chromolume Theatre is …
FOLKLORE, GHOSTS, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE DEAD Matthew C. Yee's wildly ambitious world premiere dazzles, even as its larger shape remains elusive Death, and coming to terms with it, have been …
A HANDSOME, AMBITIOUS REVENGE MUSICAL TAKES SHAPE Strong design and performances elevate Dumas' tale, even as tonal shifts occasionally blur its focus The York Theatre's ambitious world prem…
HOME IS WHERE THE HORROR IS A boarding house of quiet menace and killer detail Writer/director Marja-Lewis Ryan is back, and her latest show arrives at The Electric Lodge in Venice with a ki…
TWO STEVES WITH LOVE, TWO TRIBUTES, ONE SUPREMELY SATISFYING WEEK From Schwartz to Sondheim, Callaway revisits rich collaborations with warmth, wit, and deeply felt interpretation Once upon …
GETTING OLDER NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD A richly satisfying Maltby and Shire revue finds warmth, wit, and wisdom in growing older Lynne Wintersteller, Sally Wilfert, Allyson Kaye Daniel While it…
CHICAGO IS EVEN HOTTER IN THE DESERT Desert Theatricals just wrapped up their run of Chicago at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, and if you weren't there this past weekend, you truly missed o…
LORNA LUFT LETS LOOSE LUSTILY AND WITH LOVE A veteran performer pushes through rough patches with grit, gratitude, and plenty of show-biz heart There's plenty of energy and goodwill going ba…
BAD MOOD? BALANCHINE WILL FIX THAT American Contemporary Ballet's twin masterpieces turn live strings into a reset button for the soul Two string duos. Two ballets. Both pairs similar in str…
A REIMAGINED BUTTERFLY WHERE REALITY MEETS FANTASY What is it about Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly (1904) that lures audiences back year after year, especially in the United States? Mada…
READY FOR HER CLOSE-UP IN PALM SPRINGS Palm Canyon Theatre's Sunset Blvd. finds a commanding Norma Desmond and a powerful ensemble Se Layne Although Andrew Lloyd Webber turned Billy Wilder's…