Says Ilana Turner of her play O REJANE: "One day, magically, my dear family friend Willie told me about her grandmother. Willie’s grandmother, Réjane, was the subject of the Toulouse-Lautrec print that was hanging on Willie’s wall. Having spent my childhood wanting to leap into Toulouse-Lautrec paintings, I was immediately intrigued." --BY DEBORAH KLUGMAN
A hidden secret treasure of the local scene, Musical Theatre Guild for over 15 years has unearthed obscure, neglected or forgotten musicals, or ones that were never successful enough in New York to make it to Los Angeles. . . Of course, there’s always a catch. In a most resourceful compliance with the Equity Staged Reading code, each of these usually quite challenging extravaganzas is rehearsed within 25 hours, primarily over a long weekend preceding the performance. BY MYRON MEISEL
Stage Raw is throwing a "thank you" party! Skylight Theatre, Dec. 22, 7 - 10 p.m. Snacks and libation, live music and short readings by John Fleck, Sharon Lawrence, Suzanne Lummis, Alan Mandell, Vanessa Claire Stewart and French Stewart -- to celebrate our (almost) full year of of existence. Come by and say hello! For more info, hit the "Discover More" tab below.
Lovell Estell III was jaded when it came to magic acts. Then he saw Albie Selznick's autobiographical magic act "Smoke and Mirrors." It's effect struck him "like an angry mule's kick," when he came to realize that the show had tapped long-dormant childhood memories. "Smoke and Mirrors" is back with a new director, David Schweizer, and our critic went to re-visit the show, and its magician.
