There is something special about Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa. The moment I walked through its colorful, luxurious lobby I felt a calm come over me, like I was suddenly on a carefree vacation. This feeling magnified as I walked past a flowing stream and serene garden courtyard.
The first time I saw Andy Garcia was in The Untouchables. I was mesmerized by his acting and powerful on-screen presence. I made a note to myself that he was a young actor destined to become a major movie star and, indeed, he has. With dozens of movie credits going back to 1984, there are too many to list.
The Mischief Theatre production of "The Play That Goes Wrong," written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, could be subtitled Laurel & Hardy meet the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges with a sprinkling of the comic antics of Max Sennett and Charlie Chaplin, who before “talkies,” entertained film-going audiences with his hilarious slapstick routines.
Theatre Review Is it a book? Is it a film? Is it a play? Is it a musical? Is it “Jersey Boys?” Is it “Guys & Dolls?” Is it “West Side Story?” Well, my friends, if this production was a stew, it would be a dash of this, a little bit of that, and a drop or two of schmaltz* …
Once thought of as the domain of cultural elitists, opera has garnered a more universal audience, perhaps because of the accessible Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD annual broadcasts, featuring a series of ten outstanding productions, simulcast to movie theaters on Saturday afternoons — truly live from the stage of the Gotham’s Met.
When the National Touring Company of a play that won six Tony Awards last year goes on the road, one invariably wonders if the Los Angeles production will get the same caliber of performances as those presented on Broadway. Please don’t worry as this production of “Dear Evan Hansen,” with book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, 15 songs with music and lyrics by the award-winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who won an Oscar for “La La Land,” has travelled exceedingly well.
There are opening nights, and then there are Opening Nights! There are musical reviews, and then there are Musical Reviews! There are outstanding talented ensembles, and then there are Outstanding Talented Ensembles! There are enthusiastic audiences, and then there are Enthusiastic Audiences! There are long, standing ovations, and then there are Long, Standing Ovations!
An old man lay awkwardly sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat."
