Revival

Gastro-political-rock 'n' roll sass! Writer/actress Donna Jo Thorndale is Jewell Rae Jeffers, a celebrity chef, home economist, and host of the popular syndicated live cooking show, Tastes Like Home. Jewell's love of music, boxed cake mixes, and convicted felons inspired her favorite project, ALL CAKE, NO FILE, during which she bakes and serves guests of the California state prison system - all the while accompanied by Johnny Cash tribute band With A Bible And A Gun. This summer, Actors' Gang audiences have the chance to see her Amoeba Records® endorsed prison show - and to taste a different Jailbreak Cake every weekend. Fridays and Saturdays at 9 pm, June 11 through July 31; The Actors' Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City CA 90232. $25; 310-838-4262; www.TheActorsGang.com.

Distinguished English linguist Laurel Airica’s wRites of Passion is a scintillating selection of savory suites and activating excerpts from the true-life tale of Philomela Nightingale (her inner sELF) who takes the opposite journey through the Looking Glass into the mundane plane. Only by discovering the Secret Spells of the English Language, and encouraging humans to attune their language to the higher frequencies of natural harmonies – can she ever hope to find her way back hOMe again.

Airica shares her archetypal wRites of Passion in the elemental elfin tongue of rhythmic, rhyming, lyrical, light-woven verse — riddled with stunning punning, sparkling with the glitter of alliteration and spoken in sensuous, musical syllables. Audience members are left in no doubt that faeries are real; that they are living among us – disguised as ordinary humans; and that they have chosen to sacrifice their wings – to help all mortals transcend.

“.... for if our words so melt the heart
they start the Milk of Humankindness flowing –
so that every time we speak our mind we set another flower growing –
then I believe, before our very eyes, we Human Beings, like Butterflies,
will fully MetaMorphosize....”

© 1996 Laurel Airica – excerpt from wRites of Passion ...

PRODUCED BY: WordMagic Global®

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Paul Duddridge (www.paulduddridge.com)

Mature Content. Not Recommended for younger than age 15

If you thought Irish Dancers were all curly-haired cutie-pies with perfect posture – meet a scowling girl from London in this outrageous antidote to ‘Riverdance’.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with this uproarious one-woman comedy that asks what it means to be Irish, what it means if you don’t want to be, and what if you’re labeled an Irish Wannabe? London Irish writer-performer Máire Clerkin, who cut her teeth in the 80’s alternative comedy scene with an act called The Hairy Marys, relives her past with tales of the disappointing daughter of an Irish dancing-school mistress, ugly duckling syndrome, cultural confusion and a life dedicated to work avoidance.

‘…tale of identity crises and coming of age as an English-born Irish girl… at times poignant and at times hysterically funny’ Brooke Alberts, Folkworks

‘…glorious riffs of traditional Irish dance…animated impersonations and snapshot transitions in a world that Clerkin captures so meticulously’ Steven Leigh Morris, LA Weekly (Theater Pick)

The focal point of Clerkin's coming of age saga is her right elbow that drifts outward while performing Irish folk dances, a “bad arm” that her mother says is responsible for her placing poorly in so many competitions. The requisite of keeping both arms slammed into one's body emerges as a metaphoric constriction in a world that Clerkin captures so meticulously. Stephen Leigh Morris, LA Weekly

Playwright/Performer Máire Clerkin moved to California in 2003 from London. She is the founder of The Hairy Marys and Clerkinworks Irish Dance Theatre, both of which have toured the UK & Ireland extensively. Credits include Dancing on Dangerous Ground at Radio City Music Hall; Fennels, Flannels, Funnels at John Hegley; Centenary Knees Up at South Bank Centre; Unconnected Soundings at The Royal Opera House; Music Makers on BBC TV; and Revolver on BBC World Service. Clerkin has created five award-winning choreodramas for Irish Dance Academies since 2006. She directed Cadence Dance Theatre in Arizona (2004-05) and A Gaelic Gathering for the World City series at Disney Concert Hall in ‘07. In 2009, she was awarded a Durfee Foundation grant for an eight performance series of The Bad Arm at the Bang Theatre in Hollywood where it played to rave reviews and enthusiastic audiences. Now updated and staged for Santa Monica Playhouse, The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer arrives on the Westside in all its glory. Máire Clerkin is a teaching artist with the LA Music Center and Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Director Dan O’Connor is co-founder of Impro Theatre, (Top 10 Best Theatre of 2009, LA Weekly), co-director for Jane Austen UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and Sondheim UnScripted. Theatre credits include Improbable Theatre’s Lifegame (Off-Broadway), A Christmas Carol, Horatio, and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at A Noise Within (Dramalogue Award for Best Actor), Ferdinand in The Tempest at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Joey in The Homecoming at The New Conservatory in San Francisco. TV credits include Seinfeld, Campus Ladies, Malcolm in the Middle, and The Newz. O’Conner co-created the NBC/ION television improv comedy show World Cup Comedy. His TV directing credits include Sons and Daughters and Campus Ladies.

Produced by Heather Woodbury’s Fomenting Arts Unlimited Incorporated

A Play by Toni Press-Coffman about the majesty of love’s uniting bond,
from the earth, to the night sky, and far, far into the cosmos...

Science and spirit entwine when Kyle, a reserved young astronomer, and Zoe, his flamboyant, faithful soul mate, recklessly fall in love. When something as profoundly dark, random and chaotic as the night sky tears them apart, Kyle traces through his past as he struggles to reconnect to the world instead of retreating to the cosmos. Touch is a tender reminder that time and space are wondrous, miraculous healers, and that within even the most sheltered parts of the heart there exists a bright flash of hope.

“A gripping, heart-wrenching, tender drama whose scenes shift seamlessly, character to character, past to present.” —The New York Times

“A deeply touching play.”—The Miami Herald

WHO: Written by Toni Press-Coffman. Ms. Press-Coffman is a Bronx-born playwright who has authored more than 15 plays; they include “CHILDREN OF THE LAND”, “DEAN THE SUBLIME,” “THE FEAST,” and “TRUCKER RHAPSODY.” “TOUCH” was produced at the 2000 Humana Festival and later produced in 2003 at the Women’s Project.

Directed by Bryan Bellomo. Mr. Bellomo has performed in theatres throughout Los Angeles and New York. He is the former Artistic Director of The Sacred Fools Theater Company and was a producer/director of their long-running late-night comedy smash, “CRIME SCENE.” Acting highlights include: “VIEW OF THE DOME” (Garland Award, Best Comedy Ensemble); “WANT'S UNWISHED WORK” (LA Weekly Nom, Best Comedy Ensemble); “SHE LOVES ME” (Irene Ryan Nomination); “HENRY IV 1&2” (American Globe Theatre); “AS YOU LIKE IT” (Touchstone); and “DANCING AT LUGHNASA” (Michael). Film credits include the feature “ENEMY EMPIRE” and the shorts “BLOOD & WATER,” “WHITE SCREEN” and “AFTER HEAVEN FALLS.” Bellomo was named the 2009 Valedictorian of the prestigious two-year Meisner training program at the Joanne Baron / D.W. Brown studio. Following this production he will enter production on his original web series,” ROOMIES,” and begin pre-production to direct his first screenplay, “REBOUND.

Produced by Dig Theater Group (DTG) (www.digtheater.org) a not-for-profit theater ensemble that aims to combine true naturalism with sensitive theatricality. Founded in 2010 its mission is to produce new and classic works that lighten and embolden the spirit, revel in the poetry of language, and create theatrical experiences through distinct and human portraits.
DTG believes that theater is elevated to an art form through a relentless pursuit into text and craft, by exploring and sharing meaningful events, real emotions, honest behaviors, hidden cultures, and questioned philosophies. DTG commits to the reverent act of digging, digging, and digging deeper still. Plainly and simply, Dig Theater Group just digs theater and it is grown from, and nurtured and supported by, a community of those who also dig theater.

Theatre of NOTE presents William Shakespeare's TITUS ANDRONICUS, directed by Thomas Craig Elliott as the opener to their 28th season! It's been a long, hard road for the General Titus Andronicus as he brings his soldiers home - dead, alive and in pieces - to enjoy the rewards of honorable service. But, what do you do when the civilians you fought for disgrace you, elevate your enemies and subject you and your family to rape, murder and mutilation? What is left for you but madness... and revenge? "Extremities of grief would make men mad."

Return engagement of Criminal Defense Attorney Murray Meyer’s idiosyncratic travelogue through the criminal justice system. "IT’S CRIMINAL, The Comedy!(getting people off and other legal fantasies)" recounts Meyer’s courtroom adventures with needy, sometimes dangerous clients, loony judges, sexy DA’s, and even his own neuroses. A workshop performance of the play was chosen 2008 Hoopla Pick in the LA Weekly, which said, “More lawyers should do one-person shows.”
Written and performed by Murray Meyer & Directed by Laurel Ollstein.
A guest production at Santa Monica Playhouse produced by Pender Pine Productions.

Saturdays at 8 pm for five weeks, January 16 – February 13, 2010. All tickets $16; online at www.Plays411.com/ItsCriminal or by phone at 1-(323)-960-7780. Santa Monica Playhouse is located at 1211 Fourth Street (between Wilshire & Arizona) Santa Monica, CA 90401-1391.

The Fountain Theatre and Chitresh Das Dance Company present "Mehfil-e," a dynamic ‘Kathak’ classical dance and music series in an intimate setting. North Indian Kathak dance is characterized by lighting fast footwork and pirouettes, rhythmic interplay, and nuanced, graceful movements. No Kathak performance is complete without the rendition of a story - the sensual love between Lord Krishna and Radha, or the wrath of Lord Indra, god of rain and thunder. Second Sunday of every month at 7:30 pm: October 11; November 8; December 13, 2009; January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 14, December 12, 2010. The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles CA 90029 (Fountain at Normandie); $35; (323) 663-1525 or www.FountainTheatre.com.