Michael Seel
Theatrical Producers League of Los Angeles (TPLLA), which began as an organization for theater companies that operated in spaces with fewer than 100 seats, has confirmed a merger with the group of midsize companies that was formerly known as Greater Los Angeles Theatre Producers’ League. According to the announcement, larger theaters will also be joining the newly formed organization shortly, although it had been stated at a June 17 TPLLA meeting that larger LA-area producing organization would not take part in any ensuing merger meetings. The largest of them all would be Center Theatre Group (CTG), and its managing director Edward L. Rada stated today that he had “received an initial — very preliminary — phone call about this several weeks ago,” and he’s “anxiously awaiting more information.” Meanwhile, in order to serve as an umbrella to handle common concerns within each organization, a new 501(c)(6) is being formed. At the June meeting, the issue of collective bargaining proved to be a potential sticking point separating the interests of the smaller theaters and the midsize companies. But “collective bargaining is not going to be the purview of the umbrella organization,” explains Trent Steelman, a member of the four-member transitional committee, and former executive director of the midsize Colony Theatre. “Each sub-group can take on the issue if they choose. At this time, the intimate [theater] level chooses to, the midsize [group] does not, as we are relatively satisfied with our individual agreements with Equity.” In a prepared statement, Michael Seel, board chair of TPLLA-Intimate comments, “It has been a long process, but for the first time in Los Angeles history, we are thrilled to be able to announce that a producers’ league has emerged that encompasses not just our thriving 99-seat-and-under community, but the entire theatrical landscape of Los Angeles theater”…Looking to next summer, dates are now set for the fifth annual Hollywood Fringe Festival — June 12-29, with previews running June 5-10. Registration opens Feb 1. A pre-Fringe meeting is scheduled for Sat, Dec 7 in the Asylum Lab at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood, “focused on improving our venue efforts in 2014”…
Taraji P. Henson
AROUND TOWN… Pasadena Playhouse continues its 2013-14 season with the premiere of Bernard Weinraub’s Above the Fold, focusing on the “intricacies and the sometimes dangerous aspects of the world of journalism,” helmed by Steven Robman, starring Academy Award and Emmy nominee Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), opening Feb 2. Developed within the Playhouse’s Hothouse series, the cast also features Kristi Johnson, Arye Gross, Kris Higgins, Mark Hildreth, Joe Massingill and Seamus Mulcahy…Cabrillo Music Theatre celebrates its 20th anniversary season with 1960s boy band songfest, Forever Plaid, created by Stuart Ross, helmed by original cast member Larry Raben, musical direction by Alby Potts, opening Jan 31 at Kavli Theare at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza…..In Burbank, Elvis’s Toenail by Irish playwright Fionnuala Kenny, helmed by Joe Banno and Sal Romeo, is extending through Dec 14 at Sidewalk Studio Theatre…And on a holiday note, Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks is hosting the return of Ovation-nominated Santasia — a multimedia comedy, wrought by Loser Kids Productions, opening tomorrow, Dec 6…
BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: Laura Benanti in Concert for Lincoln Center's American Songbook!
SHORT TAKES... Chris Isaacson’s Upright Cabaret is presenting 2008 Tony-winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy) in her LA concert debut, In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention – accompanied by music director Todd Almond — one night only at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, Jan 9… Classical Theatre Lab is presenting a free staged reading of A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen’s much-produced 1879 sojourn within one woman’s quest for personal liberation, helmed by Bruce Katzman, performing Dec 14 at Plummer Park’s Great Hall in West Hollywood.. Rogue Machine on Pico Blvd is presenting its recurring Around-the-Clock plays. A half-dozen writers gather to obtain their casts and themes tomorrow evening, then script through the early morning hours. Completed 10-minute plays, directors and actors gather Saturday morning (Dec 7), rehearse through the day, offering up their newly minted wares at 8 pm. Tracie Lockwood is the producer/facilitator…Over at Santa Monica Airport, Ruskin Group Theatre is hosting Susan Hayden’s monthly series, Library Girl, presenting Boulevard of Spoken Dramas this Sunday, featuring the works of Iris Berry, Dennis Cruz, Annette Cruz, Rich Ferguson, Caryle Archibeque, Richard Modiano and S.A. Griffin…
Kila Kitu
THE THING IS… “It’s kind of a skewed take at what happens when people go through a midlife crisis and how the traditional mores of the times kind of influence that. Originally, Sigrid asked me to play one of the roles. She wrote the part with me in mind. We did a reading of it in August. But as we got closer to the workshop, she was having trouble finding a director with the time frame that we have. The holidays are hard on peoples’ schedules. So, I offered to step up and take a stab at directing it, stepping back from being in it. I’ve been happy to do it. This is the fourth project I’ve done with Sigrid, including last year’s Harry and the Thief. This current play came from Sigrid’s own thoughts and feelings about approaching middle age herself. It also came from conversations she had about the origination of the ice cream sundae. This is how Sigrid’s mind works. We’ve been working on this for four weeks, including taking the Thanksgiving holiday off. It’s been a short process. We have a seven-member cast, but it always feels like there are more of us. Everything is stripped down and suggested, utilizing pieces we’ve found in the theater. The costumes are more indicated than realized. We’ve made cartoonish-looking cardboard cutouts of our props, which serve to represent the real thing. It all works for the story we are telling. The audience is going to have to suspend a little bit of disbelief. But they’ll find it is worth the effort.” — Kila Kitu is directing a workshop of Frilly, about “the soul-sucking suck of growing old, and growing up,” scripted by Sigrid Gilmer, produced in conjunction with LAb Works 2013, performing Dec 7, 8, 13, 15 at Skylight Theatre Complex in Hollywood.
Julio Martinez-produced and hosted Arts in Review (AIR) celebrates the best in LA-area theater and cabaret on KPFK Radio (90.7FM), Fridays (2-2:30 pm). On Dec 6, Arts in Review spotlights the making of the opera Invisible Cities, airing on KCET, as well as comics Maile Flanagan and Mo Collins.