DEL SHORES' GOOD WORKS

A couple of years ago.. in the nineteen eighties.. I met a new playwright from Texas. His stories set on the stage and later on film, came to life with a Texas twang and .. at once made the audience laugh really hard and at the same time see something ..perhaps.. of themselves,  that touched their hearts. . Touched our hearts.

Del Shores is a phenomenon and a pal.  Yesterday's reading of "DADDY'S DYIN' AND WHO'S GOT THE WILL" to the benefit of the Del Shores Foundation..   to directly benefit writers from Texas and to support the LBGT community was a good one. The cast is listed on the poster below.

There will be another big ass event coming up!  I apologize for the link clicking business. But most folks these days are okay with it. I guess.  

 See below for details.

LALGBT EVENT:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/36684/production/1243180?performanceId=11654211

 

 

Meanwhile..  I wanted to credit the cast who did yesterday's reading to a full house at The Matrix. (See above) The Theatre Community is one that celebrates with sequins at the Tonys and gives like anything in the trenches.

It was so much fun to see dear friends and to meet new folks at the reading and to promise Del that I'd do what I can to boost the upcoming screening of SORDID LIVES. It's a benefit coming up  here in Hollywood..   Mark your calendars, y'all!

Thursday

July 24, 2025  7PM. 

 

Parking at The Center on McCadden Place can be a challenge!  Arrive early or by  limo? 

Once inside, it's an oasis dedicated to art. 

Del and his family have been an important part of my life for a long time. If you don't know Del's plays or his films.. change that.  This work turns on deep feelings and that laughter that feels familiar for good reason: It's about family.

 

Margot Rose and Beverly Nero wrote the theme song for Sordid Lives,  the play. George Clinton arranged the music for the movie. 

All family folks. Hi Beverly!

Please pass this information along and for a special trip to Texas, please see this film!   Bring a hankie and recall  the joy we all shared with some now dearly departed old pals.

Tickets for Sordid Lives are a variety of prices.  

The gathering will be a celebration! 

Take a friend. 

Gay Pride!!. 

Heterosexuals are warmly welcomed.

Tell them onstagelosangeles sent  you for no discount whatsoever.  It's a benefit!

Michael Sheehan

directortv41@ yahoo. com

 

Bill Brochtrup White Rabbit Red Rabbit and then some

Make no mistake..

Nassim Soleimanpour's White Rabbit Red Rabbit is so deep with metaphor and stuff to challenge any actor that this time round the block with Bill Brochtrup is a performance that only  a handful of us got to enjoy. One shot.

Acting?  Is this acting?

By an odd conincidence, I see Cillian Murphy on Sixty Minutes talking about Oppenenheimer.. sort of.. and about acting. sort of .. and technique.. sort of and presence.. sort of and the magic. a word he does not use but is all over his Irish mug.. And.. as  Soleimanpour's play is about being more than acting because this is an assignment in following directions and authority and who's in charge and who makes choices and how to behave/react?  It's not exactly a play..It's not really acting.

I met Bill Brochtrup several years ago and have been impressed with his acting. especially his precinct receptionist on NYPD Blue and later on Criminal Minds as a psychiatrist. Two entirely different guys. Authentic.

With WRRR.. authenticity is  impossible to avoid. Bill is introduced and handed a manila envelope. This is the script.  The agreement is that all he knows is that it's a one shot experience: an experiment with an audience. Us. 

Having seen this show twice before.. I wanted to see Bill's version because he is an extraordinarily nice guy.  And..because I knew there were some 'interesting' lines in this show that were the antithesis of the man I know.. I wanted to see how he'd handle it.

Bill and Rabbits  June 15, 2025

The theme of the experience?  How do we deal with authority? Being told what to do? Choices to..... in Yoda's voice.. do or not do.. there is no try. 

There is 'do' and Bill filled the bill admirably.  

The beats and nuances of this 'experience' are varied and I learned that the exact same words read by one person change dramatically with another. 

In acting.. we strive to be in the moment and present the illusion of the first time. There is no illusion here.  It IS the first time and as Bill read the script.. cold.. for the first time.. he made choices that brought the theme to life. Together with the audience, Bill created the experience of a young playwright in  Iran... free associating and asking very personal questions with comments that create for the audience an intimate and at times silly. and at times grave situation.  

Moment by moment.

   I hope that those who have access to The Fountain Theatre and enjoy a surprise, . a laugh.. and moments of important questions.. personal questions.. discoveries and choices? Will go.

I hope that you will take a friend and go.  It won't be Bill on stage. But, whomever it is, rest assured that you will be poked and prodded and entertained and you will survive.  Most likely.. 

Take a carrot.

 White Rabbit Red Rabbit

by  Nassim Soleimanpour 

WHEN:

One more week
Through June 22:
• Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m.
• Sundays at 2 p.m.
Every Monday, the Fountain will roll out the names of the “rabbits” (performers) on their website and social media who are set to take the stage that week.

WHERE:
The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90029
(Fountain at Normandie)

TICKET PRICES:
$25 – $45:
• Premium Seating: $45
• Regular Seating: $40
• Seniors 65 or older: $35 (regular seating only)
• Students: $25 (valid ID required)
• Monday nights: Regular seating ($40) and Pay–What–You–Want (subject to availability)

PARKING:
• Secure, on-site parking: $5
• Street parking available in the neighborhood north of Fountain Ave.
• No parking after 6 p.m. on Mariposa or Alexandria Avenues south of Fountain Ave.
• Allow extra time to find street parking; make sure to read all parking signs

HOW:
FountainTheatre.com
(323) 663-1525