From left: Mitch Ross (Hermann) and Elijah McNally (Justin) in "Rorschach" at Skylight Theatre Company (Photo by Tyson Lindo) “The play actually unfolds in front of you like an inkblot,” playwright Kelly Younger told LA Theatrix about "Rorschach" at Skylight Theatre Company. “That was always the dream, but seeing it actually happen takes my breath away. And when I hear that occasional gasp from the audience, I know it’s taking their breath away, too.” Who knew inkblots could

From left: Parvesh Cheena and Rachna Khatau in "Wives" at East West Players (Photo by Brian Hashimoto) First performed off-Broadway in 2019, “Wives” by Jaclyn Backhaus is a pastiche of stories focused on wives, mistresses, mothers and witches (in other words, most women), making a comedic case for an alternative to patriarchy. In East West Players’ coproduction of the play with Hypokrit Live Arts — continuing through Nov. 1 and engagingly directed by Arpita Mukherjee — fo

From left: Hailey Truong and Michael Deni in "Into the Woods" at South Coast Repertory (Photo by Scott Smeltzer) Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1986 classic “Into the Woods” endures not only because it retells fairytales for adults, but because of Sondheim’s ingenious, harmonic music and clever, evocative lyrics. South Coast Repertory’s current production — excellently directed by Peter Rothstein with an invested and talented cast — does the musical

From left: Glory Yepassis-Zembrou, Mundo Ballejos, Jake Wernecke, Sadie Jayne Kennedy, Marquise Neal and Brandon James Butorovich in the 2024-25 National Touring Production of “Dog Man: The Musical” (Photo by Jeremy Daniel) Most kids who have read the books in the “Dog Man” series by Dav Pilkey have likely never heard the author’s voice. But in the pre-show announcements, the kids are treated to the dulcet tones of the man himself, at which point my son turned to me and asked

What makes this film different is instead of hard facts and figures or suggestions for future policy, it explores the impact of fire on human life. Still from the documentary film "Playing with Fire: An Ecosexual Emergency" directed by Beth Stephens (left) and Annie Sprinkle (Courtesy of E.A.R.T.H. Lab SF) In the past two decades, California has been burning hot. Cal Fire's lists of the largest, deadliest and most destructive fires in the state’s history are now dominated by

Ensemble cast of "Wild Child" at Laguna Playhouse. From left: Mathew Fedorek, Davide Costa, Jacob Zelonky, Jennifer Noble, Salima Gangani, Chad Doreck, Amanda Angeles and Gabby Dahlen (Photo by Joan Marcus) The Breathe Project’s new musical “Wild Child” — with its book and lyrics by Dan Marshall and music by Julianne Wick Davis — is having its world premiere through Oct. 4 at the Laguna Playhouse, expertly directed by John Simpkins. While the play’s focus on teen trauma in a

Kevin Ortiz (Azteca Dancer 1) and Pollo (Azteca Dancer 2) in Latino Theater Company's "Antigone: In the Language of Kings" at the Getty Villa (Photo by Craig Schwartz Photography) The Getty Villa’s annual classic-play production in its outdoor amphitheater is usually an illuminating and inspiring experience, and this year’s show is no exception — in fact, it’s exceptional. The Latino Theater Company has transformed ancient-Greek playwright Sophocles’ pointed “Antigone” into a

Throughout the show, I repeatedly found myself saying, “What the f***?” between the vocal performances, aerial stunts, puppetry and scenic design. From left: Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski in "Water for Elephants" at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre (Photo by Matthew Murphy) Written by Rick Elice with music by PigPen Theatre Co., inspired by Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel and directed by Jessica Stone at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, the Tony Award-nominated musical “Water for

From left: Cara Mitsuko (Kate) and Jay Paulson (Tom) in "Enemy of the People" at Odyssey Theatre (Photo by Cooper Bates) Some stories remain relevant across centuries. Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 “An Enemy of the People” — portraying the incendiary intersection of politics, economics and personal interest — is one such play that forces us to question where we stand. Bart DeLorenzo’s new adaptation at the Odyssey Theatre brings home the play’s point in a vibrant, modern take. It also

In the heart of Long Beach’s Retro Row, the historic Art Theatre at 2025 E. Fourth St. hosted the inaugural Long Beach Film Festival the weekend of Aug. 29-30, following a launch party aboard the Queen Mary on Aug. 28. Posters of four feature films screened during the inaugural Long Beach Film Festival, Aug. 29-30, 2026. The festival was founded by local filmmakers to support independent cinema, connect artists with audiences and strengthen Long Beach as a destination for fil

Ntozake Shange’s 1976 Obie Award-winning choreopoem “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf,” directed by Desean K. Terry at The Last Acting Studio, follows several Black women as they share personal stories centered around love, heartbreak, trauma, identity, sexuality and survival. From left: Aliysa Shareef, Serenity Calhoun, Ryn Stafford, Sequoiah Blaire and Alise Willis in rehearsal for The Last Acting Studio's "for colored girls who have

Brian Yorke and Tom Kitt’s Tony Award-winning 2009 musical “Next to Normal” follows the Goodman family, who look like the perfect family from the outside, but peeling back layers reveals a family struggling with the grief of losing their son Gabe (Dillon Klena) and how that loss has affected each of them differently. From left: Jonny Perl (Dan), Sophia Roth (Natalie), Catriona Fray (Diana) and Dillon Klena (Gabe) in "Next to Normal" at Hudson Backstage Theatre. Photo by Rache

Bruna Fachetti in "The Hour of the Star" at Broadwater Black Box Theatre (Photo by James William) Bruna Fachetti’s “The Hour of the Star” — adapted from Brazilian author Clarice Lispector’s novella of the same name, translated by Benjamin Moser — enjoyed its world premiere recently at the Broadwater Black Box Theatre, well directed Alex Tietre. The story follows Macabéa, a poor young orphan who is practically invisible to the world around her. She moves through life without q

Scene from Brian Henson's "Puppet Up!" (Photo by Omar Gaieck) You don’t have to have grown up with “Sesame Street” or “The Muppet Show” to enjoy Brian Henson’s “Puppet Up!” — an improv show with puppets who do whatever the audience tells them with the help of their talented handlers. And I mean anything. A recent show at the Montalbán Theatre — where the show continues through next weekend — began with one puppet doing a crossword puzzle while getting a rather vigorous colono

From left: Jeff LeBeau and Tim Cummings in “Grangeville” at Ruskin Group Theatre (Photo by John Perrin Flynn) When Luke Skywalker crash-lands his X-wing on the planet Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back, the swamp he finds himself stuck in is dark, murky and constantly simmers with a tension that hints at dangers lurking beneath the surface. Viewed through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey (as the Star Wars films have been), Luke’s arrival on Dagobah is a retreat to

MTM Myrtle Beach 2026 Cast: Ingrid Cole, Nancy Slusser, Stacey Harris, and Anise Ritchie Though it’s been 25 years since Jeanie Linders’ “Menopause The Musical” first performed in a small theatre in Orlando, talking about “the change” in women’s lives is still such a whispered event that the show continues not only to entertain but inspire. Performing at Laguna Playhouse through this weekend, the well-polished musical features four women of a certain age who meet while shoppi

From left: Jalynn Steele, Jessica Crouch and Carly Sakolove in "Mamma Mia!" at the Ahmanson Theatre (Photo by Joan Marcus) For over 25 years, “Mamma Mia!” has rocked audiences around the world through the driving disco rhythms of ABBA's music, with a story by Catherine Johnson and songs by ABBA alum Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus, plus some by Stig Anderson. Center Theatre Group's current production at the Ahmanson Theatre fully delivers on the raucous spirit of this belove

Mandy Rubeli’s “Dinosaurs” at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival follows Claire (Hailey Hudson), who comes home to find an actual dinosaur inside her apartment. After calling her best friend Hayden (Devin Stone) for help, Claire begins to realize that the dinosaur may be connected to unhealed abuse she experienced when she was thirteen. As the story unfolds, Hayden, Claire and the dinosaur decide to track down and confront her abuser before the space-time continuum collaps

“White Elephant” at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival is a reading of a comedic mystery by Ryan Copple about a brother and sister who believe they have pulled off the perfect crime by murdering their mother to protect their inheritance. Things take a turn when the sister receives an unexpected gift: the murder weapon. From there, the story becomes less of a “whodunnit” and more of a “who knows it?” The set features eight chairs placed at either side of the stage. Christma

Scene from "Trickster" at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2026 “Trickster” by David Bridel is a creative mix of myths, stories, movement and music that explores the chaos, humor and mystery “the Trickster” brings into our lives. Performed by six actors and a live musician, the show uses shadows, physicality and imagination to create an experience that is funny, strange and engaging all at once. All the performers commit to the physicality and absurdity of the Trickster spirit. Thei