To Be, Or Not To Be, An Arts President

Comments (0) | Arts+Culture, Ben Carson, bernie sanders, bobby jindal, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, FDR, hillary clinton, Jeb Bush, marco rubio, mike huckabee, rand paul, Ted Cruz

Ryan David McRee
Senior Arts and Culture Editor

An analysis of what it means to be a political arts advocate and a look at our current candidates.

'Bent' Is That Nightmare You're Grateful You Had

Comments (0) | Bent, Center Theatre Group, Holocaust, homosexuality, Los Angeles, Mark Taper Forum, Martin Sherman, Moises Kaufman, music center, Nazi Germany, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Theater and Dance Editor

The cast of "Bent" at the Mark Taper Forum. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Everyone should see "Bent" at least once in their theatregoing careers... Although they may never want to go back.

Tommy Smith's 'Ghost Light' Is More Poetry Than Play

Comments (0) | American Falls, Deborah Puette, Echo Theater Company, Ghost Light, Los Angeles, Ryan David McRee, Ryan McRee, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Tommy Smith

Ryan David McRee
Theater and Dance Editor

Deborah Puette in "Ghost Light."

This companion piece provokes both fascinating and troubling questions about what we consider "theatre."

Antaeus's 'Picnic' Is The Hottest Show Of The Summer (Literally)

Comments (0) | Antaeus, arts, Cameron Watson, John DeMita, kansas, Los Angeles, NoHo, North Hollywood, picnic, Theater and Dance, Theatre, William Inge

Ryan David McRee
Theater and Dance Editor

"Deviled Eggs" cast in "Picnic" at Antaeus. Photo by Geoffrey Wade.

You can't go wrong with either cast in Cameron Watson's brilliant production of this William Inge classic.

Bethany Rooney Talks TV Directing And Women In The Industry

Comments (0) | 90210, Bethany Rooney, Brad Paisley, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Director, Film and TV, hollywood, Mark Harmon, Nashville, NCIS, One Tree Hill, Parenthood, St. Elsewhere, TV

Ryan David McRee
Theater Editor

Director Bethany Rooney talks the television industry's learning curve and working with Mark Harmon.

'August: Osage County' Is A Natural Tour De Force At The Theatricum Botanicum

Comments (0) | August: Osage County, Los Angeles, outdoor stage, Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Theater, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Theatricum Botanicum, Topanga, Tracy Letts, Will Geer

Ryan David McRee
Theater Editor

The cast of "August: Osage County" at the Theatricum Botanicum. Photo by Miriam Geer.

An outdoor setting provides an unexpectedly poetic enhancement of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

'The Glass Menagerie' Flounders At The Greenway Court Theatre

Comments (0) | Greenway Court Theatre, hollywood, Jack Heller, Los Angeles, Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Theater Editor

Brian Foyster and Kerry Knuppe. (Photo Credit Alfred Collar)

This "Menagerie" fails to capitalize on excellent source material.

Glory Struck's 'American Idiot' Is Not As Radical As It Wants To Be

Comments (0) | American Idiot, American Idiot LA, Glory Struck, Green Day, immersive theatre, LA Theatre, Los Angeles, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Topher Rhys, Vortex Warehouse, Warehouse Idiot

Ryan David McRee
Theater Editor

The cast of "American Idiot." (Photo by Ian Momil)

This warehouse production is great environmental theatre, but doesn't go far enough.

'Corktown '57' Revives The Irish Dramatic Voice

Comments (0) | Corktown, Ireland, Irish Drama, Los Angeles, Odyssey Theatre, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

John Ruby, Andrew Connolly and Nick Tate. (Photo by Ed Krieger)

"Corktown '57" is very close to being the next great Irish play.

Bad News For 'Newsies' At The Pantages

Comments (2) | Alan Menken, Broadway, Disney, hollywood, Los Angeles, musicals, Newsies, Pantages, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

The cast of 'Newsies' (Photo by Deen van Meer)

While the Disney adaptation is entertaining, no amount of production value can save its weak story.

'Pygmalion' At The Pasadena Playhouse Is A Modern Mythological Masterpiece

Comments (0) | George Bernard Shaw, Los Angeles theatre, My Fair Lady, pasadena playhouse, Pygmalion, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

Carolyn Ratteray, Lynn Milgrim, Paige Lindsey White, Alex Knox. (Photo by Jim Cox)

The original source material for "My Fair Lady" has never been more poignant.

Antaeus's 'Henry IV, Part I' Leaves Shakespeare Without A Leg To Stand On

Comments (0) | Anteaus Theatre Company, Gregory Itzin, Henry IV, Los Angeles, Los Angeles theatre, North Hollywood, Part I, Shakespeare, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

Gregory Itzin and Ramón de Ocampo. (Photo by Karianne Flaathen)

A classic example of how Shakespeare simply can't do it all on his own.

There Are Signs Of Greatness In Deaf West's 'American Buffalo'

Comments (0) | ALS, American Buffalo, American Sign Language, CSULA, David Mamet, Deaf West, Hard of Hearing, hearing-Impaired, Los Angeles, Los Angeles theatre, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

Troy Kotsur, Matthew Ryan Pest, and Paul Raci in "American Buffalo" (Photo by Noel Bass)

David Mamet's classic translates swearing into sign with magnificent ferocity.

'Billy Elliot' At La Mirada Sends Jolts To The Heart

Comments (1) | Billy Elliot, brian kite, la mirada, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, Los Angeles theatre, mitchell tobin, musical theatre, musicals, Theater and Dance, Theatre, vicki lewis

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

l to r: Vicki Lewis, Mitchell Tobin, Emily Frazier and Brooke Besikof. Photo by Michael Lamont.

"Billy Elliot" will really make you wish you had taken ballet lessons.

10 In 10 Words: The Greatest, Shortest Quotes In Literature

Comments (0) | Arts+Culture, famous quotes, literature, quotes, short quotes, writers

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

Photo by Philip Austin (Flickr, Creative Commons). Modified image by Gigi Gastevich.

These quotes can change your life - in ten words or less.

Everything Adds Up In 'Proof' At The Moth Theatre

Comments (0) | David Auburn, LA Theatre, Los Angeles, Moth Theatre, Proof, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Staff Writer

L to R: John Cirigliano, Amanda Brooks. Photo by Korbis Sarafyan.

A show about numbers, this play is far more than just academic.

'Into the Woods' Is A Fairytale Best Told On Stage Or On Screen?

Comments (0) | Chris Pine, Disney, Emily Blunt, Film, Into the Woods, James Lapine, Meryl Streep, movie musicals, MTR, Musical Theatre Repertory, musicals, Stephen Sondheim, Theater and Dance, Theatre, USC

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

The film proves that theatre experts and cinema experts can learn from each other.

A Hot Production Of A Tepid Play: ‘Blithe Spirit’ At The Ahmanson

Comments (0) | Ahmanson, Angela Lansbury, Center Theatre Group, CTG, ghosts, Noel Coward, Theater and Dance

Ryan David McRee
Staff Writer

Susan Louise O’Connor, Sandra Shipley, Charles Edwards, Angela Lansbury, Charlotte Parry and Simon Jones in “Blithe Spirit” (Pho

While the Ahmanson delivers a fabulous production, it isn't enough to save this weak script.

'Ubu The Sh*t' At CSULB Provides Drug-Induced Hilarity

Comments (0) | clowning, csulb, Four Clowns, Long Beach, Los Angeles, macbeth, Macbeth on Meth, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Ubu the Sh*t

Ryan David McRee
Staff Reporter

Tyler Bremer as Pa Ubu. (Courtesy of Four Clowns)

Finally, the Shakespearean adaptation we've all been waiting for: Macbeth on Meth.

La Jolla's 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' Is A Musical Theater Blessing

Comments (0) | Alan Menken, Broadway, Disney, la jolla, La Jolla Playhouse, musicals, san diego, San Diego theatre, Southern California, Southern California theatre, Stephen Schwartz, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Theater and Dance, Victor Hugo

Ryan David McRee
Staff Writer

Ciara Renée as Esmeralda with the cast of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (Kevin Berne/La Jolla Playhouse)

This Disney classic comes to life on stage.

'Cannibal! The Musical' Is Deliciously Fresh And Innovative

Comments (1) | Book of Mormon, Cannibal! The Musical, Coeurage Theatre Company, cult movies, Los Angeles, Lyric-Hyperion, Lyric-Hyperion Theatre & Cafe, matt stone, musicals, Silver Lake, South Park, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Trey parker

Ryan David McRee
Staff Writer

L to R: Jason Peter Kennedy, Scott Kruse, Peter Larney, Kurt Quinn, Travis Dixon, Joshua Hoover. Photo by Nardeep Khurmi.

South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone's vision is brought to life in an explosion of hilarious and ingenious theatrical energy.

25th Ovation Awards Proves Theatre Is Alive And Well In L.A.

Comments (0) | community, l.a., L.A. theatre, ovation awards, San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, scandal, Theater and Dance, Theatre, USC

Ryan David McRee, Elizabeth Mary Weir
Contributors

The L.A. Ovation Awards Logo. (@LaStageAlliance/Twitter)

Theatre, scandal, and competetive awards... what more could you ask for?

Brian C. Petti's 'Banshee' Has Not Yet Reached Full Potential

Comments (0) | Banshee, Brian C. Petti, hollywood, Irish, Los Angeles, Theater and Dance, Theatre, Theatre of NOTE

Ryan David McRee
Contributor

Bill Voorhees and Alysha Brady. Photo by Rebecca Sigl.

With some work, 'Banshee' could be a great play.

'Choir Boy' At The Geffen Playhouse Makes Its Unique Voice Heard

Comments (1) | choir, Choir Boy, Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, Music, spiritual, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Theater and Dance, Theatre

Ryan David McRee
Contributor

Jeremy Pope in 'Choir Boy.' Photo by Michael Lamont.

A spiritual theatrical experience. An emotionally charged performance.

'The Tempest' At A Noise Within Takes Its Audiences By Storm

Comments (0) | A Noise Within, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Shakespeare, The Tempest, Theater and Dance, Theatre, William Shakespeare

Ryan David McRee
Contributor

Deborah Strang as Prospero. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

The magic of theatrical storytelling brings Shakespeare's classic to life.

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To Be, Or Not To Be, An Arts President

'Bent' Is That Nightmare You're Grateful You Had

Tommy Smith's 'Ghost Light' Is More Poetry Than Play

Antaeus's 'Picnic' Is The Hottest Show Of The Summer (Literally)

Bethany Rooney Talks TV Directing And Women In The Industry

'August: Osage County' Is A Natural Tour De Force At The Theatricum Botanicum

'The Glass Menagerie' Flounders At The Greenway Court Theatre

Glory Struck's 'American Idiot' Is Not As Radical As It Wants To Be

'Corktown '57' Revives The Irish Dramatic Voice

Bad News For 'Newsies' At The Pantages

'Pygmalion' At The Pasadena Playhouse Is A Modern Mythological Masterpiece

Antaeus's 'Henry IV, Part I' Leaves Shakespeare Without A Leg To Stand On

There Are Signs Of Greatness In Deaf West's 'American Buffalo'

'Billy Elliot' At La Mirada Sends Jolts To The Heart

10 In 10 Words: The Greatest, Shortest Quotes In Literature

Everything Adds Up In 'Proof' At The Moth Theatre

'Into the Woods' Is A Fairytale Best Told On Stage Or On Screen?

A Hot Production Of A Tepid Play: ‘Blithe Spirit’ At The Ahmanson

'Ubu The Sh*t' At CSULB Provides Drug-Induced Hilarity

La Jolla's 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' Is A Musical Theater Blessing

'Cannibal! The Musical' Is Deliciously Fresh And Innovative

25th Ovation Awards Proves Theatre Is Alive And Well In L.A.

Brian C. Petti's 'Banshee' Has Not Yet Reached Full Potential

'Choir Boy' At The Geffen Playhouse Makes Its Unique Voice Heard

'The Tempest' At A Noise Within Takes Its Audiences By Storm

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