Unique creative team back at Alliance Repertory
48 HOURS
Fans of theater in the round will be intrigued by an interactive
technique being implemented by the Alliance Repertory Company, one in
which the audience sits alongside the actors on the set.
Producing Director Scott Campbell believes environmental staging
is more interesting than the more passive experience of watching a
movie.
“In this type of theater, we want the audience to take a very
active role in viewing the story,” he said. “So if there is a bar
scene in a play, you could very well be sitting at the bar right next
to the actors.”
For example, in the present production, “The Hostage,” which
opened last weekend, the set is designed like a pub in Dublin,
Ireland in 1960. The pathway leading to the set has been decorated so
the public gains a sense of entering the pub, Campbell said.
This idea is not new to the 17-year-old company. It was tried by
the artistic minds running the company 10 years ago. The team is now
back with a few new names.
Kristen Cloke returned to the Alliance as artistic director a
little more than three years ago, and has won several Ovation awards.
Along with Cloke, Suzan Fellman came back and produced “A Night and
Her Stars.”
Campbell returned to the fold two years ago, and, with Fellman,
co-produced “Seduced.” Also returning was set designer Matthew
Jacobs, whose work received high critical acclaim in the early 1990s,
Campbell said.
Fresh to the crew is director Stephanie Shroyer.
“We’ve worked with her at another theater,” Campbell said. “She
has got a great reputation all over Los Angeles for environmental
staging.”
Getting the old group back together is pretty exciting, Campbell
said.
“We’ve gone away for 10 years and learned a lot and now we’re back
to see what we’ve learned and give it another go,” he said.
What makes the pot sweeter, Campbell added, is getting Ovation
award-winner Morlan Higgins to come aboard and star in “The Hostage.”
Campbell is eager to see these minds come together, because they
have been so successful individually.
“There is a lot of quality theater in town but this particular
style and the collaborative process I think is unique to Burbank and
Los Angeles. Especially at the 99-seat level.”
“The Hostage” is the kickoff production for the new season, a
season filled with provocative plays, Campbell said.
“For a play written in 1958, Brendan Behan’s modern classic is
awfully relevant to today’s times,” Campbell said. “It touches upon a
lot of the struggles we’re facing today, but does it with song, dance
and a lot of levity.”
Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m.
Sundays. The theater is at 3204 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank. Ticket
prices are $20, and can be reserved by calling (800) 595-4849.
SPECIAL EVENTS
‘A WORLD OF JAZZ’ BENEFITS CHILDREN
From swing to Latin to smooth, all forms of jazz will be perform
by 21 bands at the third annual Glendale Jazz Festival “A World of
Jazz” sponsored by the Glendale Kiwanis from noon to 11 p.m. today on the campus of Glendale Community College.
The event benefits the Glendale Kiwanis charities including
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Glendale Library Children’s Reading
Programs, Little League Baseball and Softball and others, said
Richard Slavett, event chairman and incoming president.
Tickets are $25 and $10 for students with identification. Children
under 12 are admitted free. Tickets after 7 p.m. are $15. Tickets for
admission and gourmet dinner are $60. There are still openings for
the two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., but requisite reservations
can be made by calling 734-3234.
BIG BAND MUSIC CONTINUES AT MOOSE LODGE
The Bobby Perino Orchestra is continuing its series “Big Band
Dancing at the Moose” from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Moose Lodge,
357 Arden Ave.
Guests can exhibit their ballroom and swing dancing skills to an
11-piece orchestra playing the standards from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Dance styles are East and West Coast swing, waltzes, foxtrots
and mixers. Latin dance styles include cha-cha, rumbas, mambos and
tangos.
Admission is $6. For information, call 240-1505.
PASADENA POPS OPENS
SUMMER SEASON AT DESCANSO
The Pasadena Pops Orchestra’s summer season begins at 7:30 p.m.
tonight at Descanso Gardens with a “Red, White and Blue” salute to
the Fourth of July, featuring music of the Andrew Sisters.
Then it’s a night of music “Fit for a King,” with highlights from
“The King and I” and Elvis, July 18 and 19, followed by a dance theme
on Aug. 15 and 16. “Beyond the Stars” is the topic Sept. 5 and 6 and
Cherish the Ladies, a non-subscription event, is Aug. 2.
Rachael Worby is music director and conductor.
For tickets, call (626) 792-7677.
PLAY DEALS WITH
SEARCH FOR ACCEPTANCE
The Arena Theater’s first production, “Props,” by contemporary
Armenian writer Aghasi Ayvazyan, has its final show at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at MGN Paradise Studios, 1631 Maria St., Burbank. Anahid
Aramouni Keshishian directs the play
The story deals with the ongoing search for meaning and acceptance
-- lucidly abandoning four figures on stage, forcing them to create
and live among newly established borders of thought. Through absurd,
yet earnest verbal explorations, the characters inspire an aura of
intensity as they search for their place in their infinite
surroundings.
Tickets are $20, and $15 for students with identification.
Tickets are available at Abril Bookstore at 243-4112, Sardarabad
bookstore at 500-0790, IBEN Printing at 246-5553, or by calling
517-9896 or 240-7080.
ON STAGE
CENTRE THEATRE
OFFERS ‘THE MUSIC MAN’
Real-life husband and wife, Bill Lewis and Charlotte Carpenter of
Burbank, are starring in Glendale Centre Theatre’s romantic musical
“The Music Man” by Meredith Willson.
Lewis is also directing the play about a fast-talking,
fly-by-night salesman who falls in love with River City’s no-nonsense
librarian. Lewis plays Harold Hill opposite Carpenter’s Marian Paroo.
“The Music Man” continues through July 12. Tickets range from $14
to $17.
“Cinderella” ends its run today. Showtime is at 11 a.m. Tickets
are $12, and $10 for children. For reservations, call 244-8481.
Glendale Centre Theatre is at 324 N. Orange St., Glendale.
THEATRE BANSHEE
PRODUCING ‘RED NOSES’
The laughs continue over at the Gene Bua Theatre in Burbank with
Peter Barnes’ “Red Noses” produced by Theatre Banshee.
Directed by Glendale resident Sean Branney, the play is known as
the funniest ever written about the Black Plague. It’s the tale of a
priest who decides to fight the plague’s suffering by becoming a
clown. He and his followers spread medieval mirth and merriment and
confront forces darker than the plague itself.
The company’s last production, “The Weir,” received awards last
year from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Backstage West, the Valley
Theatre League and received three L.A. Weekly Award nominations.
Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays
through July 13. The Gene Bua Theatre is at 3435 W. Magnolia Blvd.,
Burbank. Tickets are $15, and $12 for students, seniors and groups.
For reservations, call 628-0688.
COLONY’S ‘THE NERD’ WANDERS ONTO CENTER STAGE
The Colony Theatre Company is producing Larry Shue’s comedy “The
Nerd,” starring French Stewart from the TV show “Third Rock From the
Sun.”
Directing the play is David Rose who was also at the helm of the
Colony’s “Fuddy Meers,” and “The Man Who Came To Dinner.”
The story is about a former GI who finally meets the guy who saved
his life. The man, however, turns out to be a bumbling oaf with no
social sense, little intelligence and less tact.
Show times for are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m.
Sundays through July 6. Tickets range from $29 to $35 with discounts
for students and seniors. For reservations, call 558-7000. The Colony
makes its home at the Burbank Center Stage, 555 N. Third St.,
Burbank.
TRANSFORMATION IS THEME OF FOLK TALES AT VICTORY
Three companies have merged their expertise on a magical theater
experience for the whole family titled “When Tigers Smoked Long
Pipes,” continuing at 8 tonight at The Victory Theatre Center in
Burbank.
The collaboration is between The Victory Theatre, The Lodestone
Theatre Ensemble and The Orphans Theater Company.
Angela Kang of Orphans Theater Company, wrote the play, which is
receiving its world premiere at The Victory. Robert Shinso, who is
Lodestone Theatre Ensemble’s actor-director-technical expert, has
created the sets.
The production is a series of five Korean folk tales with the
common theme of transformation.
Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m.
Sundays through July 20. The Victory Theatre Center is at 3326 W.
Victory Blvd., Burbank. Tickets are $15, $13 for students, $11 each
for groups, and $5 for children accompanied by an adult. For
reservations, call 841-5421.
GLENDALE ACTOR IN ‘BACKWARDS AORTA’
Actor Michael Fairman of Glendale is appearing in “The Backwards
Aorta,” a one-act comedy about love destined and love lost, at the
Flight Theater at the Complex in Hollywood.
Fairman played Adlai Stevenson, the U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations, in the film “Thirteen Days,” about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“The Backwards Aorta” is written by Danny Lane and directed by
Robert D’Avanzo.
Show times are 8 tonight and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12 with
discounts for groups. The theater is at 6472 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Hollywood. For reservations, call (877) 407-7499.
ART EXHIBITS
PAINTINGS ON EXHIBIT AT WAX POETIC SALON
Under the title, “Maladies and Other Disappointments,” Chad Bell
is showing his most recent collection of oil paintings at Wax Poetic
Salon in Burbank.
The self-taught draftsman and sculptor, Bell was inspired by the
loose paint strokes of Lucian Freud’s later pieces and turned to
painting. He is also influenced by the works of Egon Schiele, Chuck
Close, and the dark sensibilities attributed to the folk of the
upper-Midwest.
The exhibit runs through Monday. Wax Poetic Salon, specializing in
skin care, waxing and massage, is also a boutique and art gallery. It
is at 3208 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
ARTISTS SHOW AT DESCANSO
“Impressions of Nature” by three artists are on display at the
Boddy House Gallery at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.
Fealing Lin, an award-winning watercolor artist, offers her work
of landscapes, cityscapes and florals.
Vicki D. Thomas, also a watercolor artist, shows paintings of the
snow-swept Sierras near Bishop in addition to showing limited edition
and giclee prints, hand-woven tapestries, hand-painted tea sets and
music boxes.
Anne Sears, a ceramic artist, displays hand-built porcelain and
stoneware pieces with the look of basketry, trays and vases with leaf
impressions and tree designs.
The exhibit continues through Thursday.
The Boddy House Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and
accessible by foot path or, in the afternoons, by tram. Admission is
free with admission to the Gardens.
Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Parking is free. Admission fees
are $5; $3 for seniors and students; $1 for children 5 to 12, and
free for members and children 5 and younger. For more information,
call 949-4200.
WOODTURNERS SHOW WORKS AT BRAND
The Glendale Woodturners Guild and the American Assn. of
Woodturners are combining in a wood-turning exhibit “Trees to
Treasures -- American Assn. of Woodturners Put a Lid on It” at Brand
Library Art Galleries in Glendale.
The Glendale Woodturners Guild, one of the largest and most
award-winning wood organizations in the United States, will present
more than 140 selected works by local turners.
The exhibit continues through July 5. Gallery hours are 1 to 9
p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 1 to 5 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. Admission to the galleries and reception are
free. Brand Art Galleries are in Brand Park at 1601 W. Mountain St.,
Glendale. For more information, call 548-2051.
A LITTLE JAZZ WITH DINNER
RESTAURANT OFFERS MUSIC FROM ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s
The Oceanview Bar and Grill offers live entertainment six nights a
week for diners.
Entertainers perform a combination of piano and jazz guitar
pieces, and some accompany with vocals. Musical selections include a
mix of music from the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s to opera to Celine Dion.
Some entertainers also perform their original pieces and invite
diners to sing along with them.
Jennifer Russell and Michael Gayle sing jazz while playing piano
and guitar from 7 to 10 tonight. Singing behind the piano the rest of
the week are Bill Howe on Monday; Travis Warren, Tuesday; Mary Ekler,
Wednesday; Alexandra Caselli, Thursday; and Bob Fetherolf, Friday.
The Oceanview Bar and Grill is at 3826 Ocean View Blvd. For more
information, call 248-2722.
JAX OFFERS SUPPER, JAZZ EVERY NIGHT
Jax Bar and Grill is a supper club offering live jazz every night
of the week.
Show times are 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 p.m. to
1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Happy Hour Jazz is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Tonight, the spotlight shines on Laurie Melan Quartet. Brian
Elliot and Friends performs Sunday. The schedule for the week is Bob
Christy Quartet on Monday; Danny Weinstein and Viva on Tuesday;
Harold Bennett on Wednesday, Jack Sheldon on Thursday; and Karen
Hernandez Trio on Friday.
Jax is at 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. For more information, call
500-1604.
* If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please call
JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or fax
them to 241-1975.