Stephen Gifford News

Celebration Theatre presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, present the third and final show in its 2017 2018 season, CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Anthony Zediker and directed by Michael Matthews. CABARET will begin previews on Friday, May 25 at 8pm; will open on Friday, June 1 at 8pm, with tickets on sale through Sunday, July 15 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the fourth and final show of its 2017-2018 season, the Southern California premiere of RED SPEEDO, written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Joe Banno. RED SPEEDO will preview on Saturday, May 6 at 8pm; Sunday, May 7; Tuesday, May 8 at 8pm; Wednesday, May 9 at 8pm & Thursday, May 10 and will open on Friday, May 11 at 8pm and run through Sunday, July 1 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.  

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANYand Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the fourth and final show of its 2017-2018 season, the Southern California premiere of RED SPEEDO, written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Joe Banno. RED SPEEDO will preview on Saturday, May 6 at 8pm; Sunday, May 7;Tuesday, May 8 at 8pm; Wednesday, May 9 at 8pm & Thursday, May 10 and will open on Friday, May 11 at 8pm and run throughSunday, July 1 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Golden Globe winner Melanie Griffith can now be seen on stage playing pop culture's most famous cougar, Mrs. Robinson---the infamous 'mom of a certain age' who uses her predatory sexuality to seduce a recent college graduate into entering a torrid affair---in a new production of THE GRADUATE, which continues its just-extended engagement at the Laguna Playhouse through March 25, 2018 in Laguna Beach, CA. On paper, the role seems like a perfect fit for the now 60-year-old star who has demonstrated prior success in playing sultry, seductive women. But in this production, the results---like the dysfunctional relationships that criss-cross in this play---aren't as well-matched as you'd hope it would be.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

The West Coast Premiere of Edward Albee's Occupant marks the third production in the nonprofit's Inaugural Season, delving into the life of great American sculptor Louise Nevelson. Martha Hackett (Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, Star Trek: Voyager) and James Liebman (Rogue Machine, Skylight Theatre Company, Masters of Sex) will star in one of the last plays written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright, Edward Albee. Directed by Actors Co-op Artistic Chairperson Heather Chesley, Occupant will play a limited run, Now through March 4, 2018.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

Playwright Edward Albee is a master of fact vs. illusion. Think of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? or the later The Play About the Baby, where the plot and characters' game playing baffle the audience from beginning to end.The storyline of his much later play Occupant, now onstage in its West Coast premiere at the Garry Marshall Theatre through March 4, concerns a Man (James Liebman) conducting an interview with famous dead sculptress Louise Nevelson (Martha Hackett). This interview cannot possibly be taking place. Nevelson is dead (April 17, 1988). Yet, when you accept the premise - how can you avoid it except by walking out? - within this framework there are perhaps more real facts than in other Albee plays. The point of this real perspective of an artist? Nevelson and Albee had been close friends; he is paying homage to her and her hard-earned success.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE just announced the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray). Executive Director Ellen Richard comments, We are just thrilled to welcome Melanie Griffith to the Laguna Playhouse in one of the most iconic roles of all time Mrs. Robinson. Adds Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham. We have been trying to seduce Melanie to perform on our stage for quite some time. We are overjoyed that she has said yes and know our subscribers and audiences will be utterly mesmerized by her return to the stage under the inspired direction of Michael Matthews! THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21; will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm and perform through Sunday, March 18, 2018 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

The West Coast Premiere of Edward Albee's Occupant marks the third production in the nonprofit's Inaugural Season, delving into the life of great American sculptor Louise Nevelson. Martha Hackett (Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, Star Trek: Voyager) and James Liebman (Rogue Machine, Skylight Theatre Company, Masters of Sex) will star in one of the last plays written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright, Edward Albee. Directed by Actors Co-op Artistic Chairperson Heather Chesley, Occupant will play a limited run, February 2 through March 4, 2018.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

CAUGHT runs at Think Tank Gallery through December 10, and the critics are weighing in!

For a most wonderfully complete, immersive theatre/gallery experience; get yourself, and anyone you like, to Think Tank Gallery in Downtown L.A. to catch the Los Angeles premiere of Christopher Chen's Obie Award-winning CAUGHT. So easy to see why Chen won his 2016 Obie, with the substantial food for thought underneath all his witty observations.

The award-winning Firefly Theater and Films, in association with THINK TANK GALLERY and Vs. Theatre, will present the Los Angeles Premiere of the 2016 Obie-winner for playwriting, CAUGHT, by Christopher Chen.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE LION KING, SOMETHING ROTTEN and More!