ONE JEWISH BOY OPENS THE SEASON FOR THE ECHO

The West Coast Premiere of Stephen Laughton's ONE JEWISH BOY  opens at the Echo Theatre  in the Atwater Village Complex. It's a two hander (I love to sound theatre hip) featuring Alex and Jesse (Sharae Foxie and Zeke Goodman) Jesse,, the Nice Jewish Boy and Alex, for whom he has fallen...  big time. These two Brits struggle with falling into and out of love and parenthood and politics. 

Sharae Foxie and Zeke Goodman
Photo by Cooper Bates

 By happenstance, sitting next to  two gorgeous French Hookers and eavesdropping on an after the play chat has informed and supported what I am about to say about this show.  

First, (they were not really French Hookers) the reverse chronology of the text makes us do some personal work to 'get it' that we initially meet the couple well into their connecton and then work our way back to how it all began and where it may or may not wind up.  

 Slipping into and out of time and space, our challenge is to keep up with the story.  From a dear pal, I was reminded of  the term 'quibble.'.. My quibble with director, Chris Field's choices which has the actors almost immediately rolling at fever pitch. With opening night adrenalin  .. the story fueledd with women's issues, racial issues and religios bias,  the play bursts onto Justin Huen's essentially practical set that explodes now and then with the gritty physicality of the play,. The energy peaks   early. Nuance and examination of the relatiolnship between Alex and Jesse, with its underlying tension...  which was. I think. the point..  with  two really wonderful actors / characters, might be more effective with moments of nuance. Both Alex and Jesse  cry for help.  Alex, the beautiful  mixed race woman voices frustrations, as does Jesse: a nice Jewish kid from safe and comfortable North London. Will the connection survive with the arrival of a baby boy?

Of course, the issues are real and the business of what happens to women of color vis a vis the trials of the virtual disembowelment of Jews at this particular time in England  are painted in broad strokes. The intimacies of two human beings entwined but still with issues cannot help but boil up. The business of their becoming parents factors in.. What to do?

It's an excellent script and the American actors, according to a brief chat with Mr. Laughton, was reported that they nailed the accents and the attitudes he intended.  My quibble is with nuance.  My prediction is that as the production settles, that nuance may be more in evidence and welcome.

See this show for its excellent work on the stage in the tradition of The Echo Theatgre Company's continuing contribution to important theatre in Los Angeles.  The art of it keeps our spirits alive in this time of crisis. 

Ron Sossi, the guiding light of The Odyssey Theatre has died. Condolences to every one of us who knew him and supported his life's work.

Crew:

The creative team for One Jewish Boy includes scenic designer Justin Huen, lighting and sound designer Matthew Richter, and costume designer Dianne K Graebner. The assistant director is Natalya Nielsen and the production stage manager is Bianca Rickheim. Chris Fields, Kelly Beech, Marie Bland and Hilary Oglesby produce for the Echo Theater Company.

 

Echo Theater Company presents the West Coast premiere of One Jewish Boy, a funny, biting, bittersweet story about two young people in love who are faced with the world’s unpredictable cruelty. Jesse, a nice Jewish boy from North London, falls hopelessly for Alex, a young woman of mixed race. Navigating any relationship is difficult enough. What happens when you factor in politics and rising prejudices?

WHO:
• Written by Stephen Laughton
• Directed by Chris Fields
• Starring Sharae Foxie and Zeke Goodman
• Presented by The Echo Theater Company, Chris Fields artistic director

WHEN:
March 19 through April 28
• Previews: March 19–March 21: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.
• Performances: March 22–April 28: Fridays and Mondays at 8 p.m. / Saturdays at 7 p.m. / Sundays at 4 p.m. plus three Thursdays at 8 p.m.: April 10, April 17, April 24

WHERE:
Echo Theater Company
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

PARKING:
FREE in the Atwater Crossing (AXT) lot one block south of the theater.

TICKET PRICES:
• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: $38
• Thursdays: $20
• Mondays and Previews: Pay–What–You–Want

HOW:
www.EchoTheaterCompany.com
(747) 350-8066

 

 

ROGUE ARTISTS ENSEMBLE AT HERITAGE SQUARE!

 

One thing that Rogue Artists Ensemble consistently does  is to surprise their audience with extraordinary ideas.  "Schlitzie: Alive and Inside" by Eric Fagundes is no exception. 

Director Nikki DiLoreto has gathered an interesting ensemble cast and found a home.. briefly, for now.. at the beautiful Heritage Square nestled just off The Arroyo Seco Parkway (aka the Pasadena Freeway). 

The unique style of Rogue Ensemble turns on developing ideas and then finding unique settings for each production. It's not your sit down in a numbered seat and wait for the house lights to dim situation.  It's immersive and .. to me.. what theatre needs to advance as an art form.

 1n 1932 MGM released Tod Browning's "Freaks".  A bizarre story of unusual talents that traveled, ovent with Circuses and Carnivals in the early 20th Century  Bowning used actual side show performers in his quirky film  that included the real  life Schlitzie,. Schlitzie was a microcephalic man, who found a home in the Side Show, supported by kind colleagues  with whom he bonds,. 

Schlitzie is always ready to do 'his act." .. 

Rogue Artists has re-created the atosphere and style of the early 20th Century that will pique the memories of folks who may recall the "Step Right Up Ladies and Gents!  See the  Side Show.  It's a trip.

The beautiful old church at the far end of Heritage Square features a huge vaulted sanctuary which may be the culprit leading to issues with understanding some of dialogue. Ideally,  the pace will pick up as the show gets on its feet.  It's a work in progress.
. The physical business of movements, especially the two dedicated puppeteers  who bring to life the Schlitzie character, are challenged with long crosses from time to time.  

To quote a friend, the story of the journey of this kind and loveable  character is  "sweet", effortlessly evoking the empathy we have for him.  

It's a short run at Heritage Square, but for experimental theatre lovers, this is a must see experience.   Wear comfortable shoes and bring a cushion to sit on if .. like me. you have a tender tush.

The dedicated ensemble cast includes Carlos Chavez, Patricia Ann Eyerman, James Ian, Tane Kawasaki, Ishika Muchhal, Madeleine Shallan, Mak Shealy, and Mark McLain Wilson. 

The artistic team includes Stephanie O’Neill (Producing Ensemble Member & Production Manager), Estela Garcia (Puppet Director), Elena Flores (Costume Designer), Dillon Nelson (Scenic Designer), Rebecca Bonebrake (Lighting Designer), M. Glenn Schuster (Sound Designer), Ellen Warkentine (Composer), Brittaney Talbot (Shadow Puppet Designer), Jacob Surovsky (Puppet Designer), and Michael Dougherty (Disability Consultant).

 

Schlitzie: Alive and Inside 

by Eric Fagundes

Rogue Artists Ensemble

WHO:

• written by Eric Fagundes

• directed by Nikki DiLoreto

• Schlitzie: Alive and Inside is made possible in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency; the Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation; and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

• Produced by Rogue Artists Ensemble

 

WHEN:

• Previews: March 13-20, 2025

• Opening: March 21, 2025

• Performances through March 30, 2025

• 8pm Mondays-Saturdays, 7pm Sundays 

WHERE:

Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St, Los Angeles, CA 90031 

HOW:

• $36-$55

• Visit  www.rogueartists.org/

MORE INFORMATION:

www.rogueartists.org 

• Rogue Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rogueartists

• Rogue Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rogueartists.bsky.social 

• Rogue Instagram: http://instagram.com/rogue_artists

OTHER:

Rogue Artists Ensemble creates Hyper-theater: original, immersive, multi-dimensional experiences that celebrate the complexity and diversity of Los Angeles. Collaboration, Design, Inclusivity and Access are at the core of all our work. Rogue is the only company on the west coast dedicated to the creation of original theater spectacles with puppetry, mask and physical performance telling stories intended for adult audiences.

 

 

 

 

GHOST ROAD PRESENTS THE UNRAVELING AT THE BROADWATER

 

THE UNRAVELING   

Ann Noble and Ensemble Photo Austin Crowley

 

Conceived and Directed by Katharine Noon, Ghost Road invites us to take Homer's epic poem The Odyssey: splash in current culture with on line gaming while Circe is up to old tricks with Odysseus on the controller and up comes a 'pop culture' take on an old, old story.  So much fun!

Susan ( Powerful Ann Noble) is a hard line college professor bent on awakening students to the foundations of learning the classics. It ain't easy.. toss in an on line romance between  Felix (Kelvin Morales) and Penelope (Camila Rozo) as they scrimmage with one old video game and then a new one and the stage is set.  Attempting to expand on the narrative is not easy.   However,  Ghost Road's ensemble creation presents an amazing and funny and poignant piece of Theatre that pretty much defies description.  The actors are all spot on. the wonderful set by David Offner is expensive and almost constantly in motion to reveal one  spectacular effect after another.. Okay.. some are a little corny..but still.  great.. The wide stage of the Broadwater  mostly works for this deliberately ensemble piece. Christine Breihan and Adam Dlugolecki's choreography is intricate. The final effect including movement and technology is Pure Magic!  

For folks who recall the Cohen Brothers'  "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"? references to some of the challenges that Odysseus conquers will find the 'video game'  version familiar..  

I love to be invited to participate in this kind of energy. To the producer's credit!! There s No Curtain Speech. the audience enters. We absorb the set.. Circe's  impressive loom  dominates stage left..  Is Circe weaving the story?  There's a chronoloy involvng an 'incideent' that remains a mystery. 

The fully engaged dedication of every member of the ensemble works to create wonderful special effects. 

Subtle harmonies from the women of the chorus (Christine Breihan, Liz Eldridge & Raven Pinkston) and the well coordinated efforts of the entire ensemble:  all are impressive.

For students who waded through The Golden Bough and The Odyssey  or saw the Cohen Brothers' film..  it will be a blast. 

For others, , it's Theatre with a Big T!

Parking for the theatre can be a challenge.. and the sidewalks up Lillian Way toward Santa Monica Boulevard are literally very dangerous.  Come early and have a care.

It's so much fun to  join an enthusiastic audience, wide eyed at innovative and  evocative Theatre.   It is, at once:

 Phantasmagorical and Fun!

 Cast

Ann Noble:  Susan, 

Kelvin Morales:  Felix, 

Camila Rozo: Pen

Chorus
Christine Breihan
Liz Eldridge
Raven Pinkston

Ensemble
Ronnie Clark
Sika Lonner
Brian Weir

CREATIVE TEAM

Conceived and Directed 

by Katharine Noon

Music Composed by Liz Eldridge
Movement Direction by Christine Breihan and Adam Dlugolecki
Lighting Design by Brandon Baruch
Scenic Design by David Offner
Sound Design by Cricket Myers
Costume Design by Adriana Lambarri
Prop Design by Cate Chapman
Puppet Designer Emory Royston
Associate Puppet Designer Jack Pullman
Technical Direction by Brad Bentz 

Intimacy Coordination by Carly DW Bones
Stage Management by Sam Pribyl
Produced by Mark Seldis, with assistance from Jen Kays
Music Production & Sound Engineering by Scott Cornish

 

Devised in workshop by Christine Breihan, Ronnie Clark, Liz Eldridge, Jen Kays, Sika Lonner, Kelvin Morales, Katharine Noon, Raven Pinkerton, Camila Rozo, Mark Seldis, and Brian Weir

The Broadwater Mainstage

1078 Lillian Way, 

Hollywood 90038

Tickets and information:

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?preseason=g

Sat March 8 8pm OPENING

Sun March 9 3pm

Mon March 10 8pm

Thurs March 13 8pm

Sat March 15 8pm

Sun March 16 3pm

Mon March 17 8pm

Thurs March 20 8pm

Sat March 22 8pm

Sun March 23 3pm

Mon March 24 8pm

Thurs March 27 8pm

Fri March 28 8pm

Sat March 29 8pm

Sun March 30 3pm CLOSING

 

OPEN FIST ROCKS BAT BOY at Tehe OPEN FIST BIG OLD BARN

What happens when a spunky little LA theatre company discovers a funky musical from the late 20th Century first produced at The Actors Gang and then off to Bright Lights Big City in 2001 to high acclaim?  A morality tale? Broad characters and a big reveal waiting at the end?

Pat Towne directs.  That he directed Zappa's "Joe's Garage" is great credit!

It's a cast of thousands and an ambitious take on a 1992 super market tabloid feature story. . Bizarre?  You  said it!.

 A doubled edged take on life in a small West Virginia town ..slightly dated with fear and religion bubbling up as we progress with live accompaniment by Sean Paxton. 

   

Grace Soens, Bethany Koulias, Amir Levi,
Ben Raanan and Ensemble
Photo by John Dlugolecki

A terrific set by Brad Bentz becomes sundry and effective locations including the forest primevil  with an encounter with Pan (Amir Levi)  and a merry band of critters who take stage with a gratuitous  orgy rocking out to make Bat Boy (Ben Raanan) feel less like a freak and unite him with the girl of his dreams, Shelley Parker  (Bethany Koulias) *uh oh..* But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Whatever excited Tim Robbins and The Actors Gang to embrace this bizarre creative prompt is a gift.  Why do it? Because we can! It's an ambitious story and presented with broad strokes ..the subtext of which is a little fuzzy.  Why Doc Parker  (Scott Mosenson) does what he does is a bit vague.. uh oh.. and the final reveal is a little like Hamlet Act Five   Scene Two (I had to look it up..) 

Raanan as the titular  Bat Boy  succeeds with panache.   On Bentz's heavy wooden set, he scampers like Gollum in search of his Precious and brings the tabloid critter to life.   He is a quick study!

There are mysteries lurking in the plot that really don't matter that much. Why a tiny West Virginia  town is stirred by fear turns on religion.. a good goad..and the result is mixed emotions: Christian Charity? Fear of the Unholy/unknown? This we learn in the prequel as we approach the finale. I really liked the shadow play. 

The rag tag chorus over does the unique West Virginia accent, but it works..It's broad and amplfied by musical numbers. The really wonderful choreography is by Jennifer Maples.

The reputation of the play is wide spread and the opportunity to see what can happen with a splashy tabloid story expanded  creatively rocks at THE OPEN FIST. I recommend it.  It ain't Broadway! and appropriately so: less than slick and full of "let's put on a show!" heart. Mickey and Judy in the Open Fist's barn!

The entire cast is on board to  sell it and the audience is down with every number.

Well hidden upstage is The Band!  Excellent!

Mike Flick - Bass

Jim Miller -Drums

Sean Paxton - Keyboards

Kevin Tiernan - Guitar

Lights by Brandon Baruch are wonderful. 

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
CAST
BAT BOY: Ben Raanan
MEREDITH PARKER: Robyn Roth
DR.THOMAS PARKER Scott Mosenson *
SHELLEY PARKER: Bethany Koulias *
SHERIFF REYNOLDS::  Michael Lanahan *
RICK TAYLOR: Ethen Remez-Cott
RON TAYLOR: Isaac Council
RUTHIE TAYLOR: Sandra Kate Burck
MRS TAYLOR: Rebecca Larsen*
MAGGIE: Beth Robbins
REVEREND HIGHTOWER:Chima Rok
PAN:  Amir Levi *
LORRAINE: Grace Soens
BUD: Hutchins Foster
NED: Ziare Rene
DAISY: Carmella Jenkins

Crew:

Choreography by Jennifer Maples
Music Direction by Sean Paxtonscenic Scenic designer Brad Bentz; 

Lighting designer Brandon Baruch; 

Sound designer Christopher Moscatiello Mixer Alex Hix; 

Costume designer Michael Mullen; 

Graphic designer D. Morris. 

Produced byAmanda Weier and Christian Lebano co-produce for Open Fist Theatre Company. 

The production stage manager is John Dimitri.

Publicity for Theatre Lucy Pollak

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
STORY & BOOK BY
KEYTHE FARLEY& BRIAN
FLEMMING  MUSIC & LYRICS BY LAURENCE O'KEEFE

Directed by Pat Towne

Presented by Open Fist Theatre Company

Martha Demson, artistic director
 
WHEN:
• Previews: Feb. 22 through Feb. 28
• Performances: March 1 through April 6:
• Click here to view the performance schedule, which varies throughout the run.

WHERE:
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
• FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.

TICKETS:
• Previews: Pay–What–You–Will starting at $10
• Performances: $26–$45

HOW:
www.openfist.org
(323) 882-6912