MARQUEE MATTERS: Some choice theatrical offerings in Los Angeles
‘Marquee Matters’ is the new weekly column from Hollywood Soapbox. We’ll cover all the news from Broadway, off-Broadway and the rest of the theatrical world.
VOLUME TWO, ISSUE ONE
• For this column, we’re going to leave our familiar environs of New York City and focus on the thriving Los Angeles theater scene. We’re happy to report that Hollywood Soapbox is taking an editorial trip to the City of Angels in mid-January to experience and review some of these offerings.
Hey, Los Angeles readers, are there some shows we’re missing?
• One of the hardest L.A. tickets to snag is to I Love Lucy Live on Stage. If you’re a fan of Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel, this is a must-see experience. Essentially, audience members are invited to watch two “live” tapings of the I Love Lucy show.
When you visit the Desilu Studios, don’t expect just talking. This is a musical tribute, complete with sponsor commercials and the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra.
Currently, all tickets for the remainder of the run are sold out. However, great shows never die. Expect to see this one possibly extend beyond its Feb. 26 closing notice or maybe move theaters. The I Love Lucy brand is a popular one and audiences in Los Angeles are lapping up the hilarity. Maybe there’s a New York future in the works?
Click here for more information. The musical plays the Greenway Court Theatre at 544 North Fairfax Ave.
• Cirque du Soleil recently opened one of its tentpole properties at the world-famous Kodak Theatre. IRIS celebrates the film industry (very appropriate for Los Angeles) and has proved to be a hit with critics and audiences alike.
The show, which is set to run in L.A. for 10 years, is now a staple of Hollywood Boulevard. Performances run through the end of January and then will continue after a hiatus for the Academy Awards. Click here for more information.
• The dancing duo Casebolt and Smith are set to descend on Hollywood in January and February. They will bring their celebrated show, O(h), to The Actors Company Theatre at 916a Formosa. Tickets are a bargain at $22-$30.
The show should be both hilarious and thought-provoking. Casebolt and Smith not only perform their intricate dance moves, but also talk directly to the audience, explaining their decisions, their strengths and their misgivings. This one promises to be an original night at the theater with hilarious, instructive dance, courtesy of two exquisite performers.
Click here for more information.
• This is Los Angeles, so the stars aren’t too faraway. In January and February, audiences will be able to catch Kathleen Turner at the Geffen Playhouse in Red-Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins (click here) and Helen Hunt in David Cromer’s much-heralded revival of Our Town at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica (click here).
• There is plenty more happening on Los Angeles stages, and we’re happy to devote ‘Marquee Matters’ over the next couple weeks to the City of Angels. Stay tuned.
THEATRE TOP 5 OF THE WEEK:
This is a weekly feature of the ‘Marquee Matters’ column that will offer subjective top 5 lists on theatrical stories and trends.
Top 5 Shows We’re Most Excited About
5. The Road to Mecca at the American Airlines Theatre in New York City
4. Our Town at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica
3. Clybourne Park at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles
2. Red-Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins in Los Angeles
1. O(h) by Casebolt and Smith in Los Angeles
UPCOMING THEATRE ARTICLES:
In the coming days, expect to read the following on Hollywood Soapbox…
• Reviews of The Road to Mecca, Cirque du Soleil: IRIS, Red-Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Seminar and Lysistrata Jones
• Feature on The Phantom of the Opera
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
