YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN EXTENDS through September 12, 2021
See review dated August 4, 2021
SCHEDULE Thursday, August 12, 7 PM Fridays, August 20, August 27, September 10, 7 PM Saturdays, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, 7 PM Sundays, August 15, August 22, August 29, September 5, September 12, 7 PM
Circles are now on sale and can be purchased at http//sierramadreplayhouse.org, or be calling 11 (626) 355-4318.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN by Carol Kaufman Segal
There is nothing like the joy of a wonderful musical with good performers, good music, and good for the whole family. I am pleased to announce the opening of You're A Good Man, Charley Brown being presented by the Sierre Madre Playhouse outdoors at the Sierra Madre Memorial Park, located at 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA. And isn't it wonderful to be able to watch a musical in person rather than watching it on zoom?!
This lively musical is presented without a plot, but more like a comic strip, which is what makes it more fun to watch, relax, and enjoy. A marvelous cast brings the comic characters to life. They include Hamilton Davis Weaver as Charlie Brown, Mary Zastrow as Lucy, Marcha Kia as Sally, Luke Sweeney as Schroeder, Alexander Mashikian as Snoopy, and Melvin Biteng as Linus.
One can't help but fall in love with each of the characters, who come alive by these wonderful actors who prove their talents as singers and dancers as well. You don't have to be a child to enjoy everything about this production.
The outdoor stage is perfect, the scenic design by Nick Santiago, and lighting design by Derek Jones. All of the performers really look like children in costumes by Shon Leblanc and wig designs by Diahann McCrary. The book, music. and lyrics are by Clark Gesner with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, additional dialogue by Michael Mayer, produced and directed by Charistian Lebano, Associate Producer Gary Lam, Musical Director Sean Paxton, and Choreographer Palmer Davis.
Seeing You're A Good Man, Charley Brown made for a wonderful evening of entertainment with safety protocols that were in effect and will remain in effect throughout the run of the production. Seating is in socially distanced circles, six feet apart, to accommodate parties of two, four, or six. This will primarily be lawn seating (please bring your own blankets), but there will also be circles designated for people who bring chairs. A limited number of lawn chairs will also be available to rent. They will remain in effect throughout the run which will end Sunday, August 29. All performances are at 7 PM Fridays through Sundays, dark on August 6 and August 23, with two additional runs Thursday August 12 and Thursday August 26.
Circles are now on sale and can be purchased at http://sierramadreplayhouse.org, or by callingCode Pink by Carol Kaufman Segal
I am pleased to be bringing you a review of Code Pink, a world premiere play written and directed by Adam Chambers and Jana Lee Hamblin with additional writing by The Cast. The production is being presented by Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood.
It is wonderful being able to attend live theatre again.
This is the company's first production since their shut down due to the coved pandemic. It is an unusual subject performed by a large and exceptionally powerful cast that includes, in alphabetic order, Bahasi Chapman, Nicole Craig, Britt Crisp, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, Sydney Jenkins, Matt Monaco, Ignacio Navarro, Bree Pavey, Lessie Pinto, Natasha Ranae Potts, Sarah Siverson, Sara Sommers, Vel Stacy.
The play features stories that take place in a twenty-four-hour period in a hospital maternity ward where almost anything can happen. The stories are focused on the lives of a variety of people - nurses, doctors, administrators, and patients - where we become all too aware that everyone has his or her own story. It is an exceptionally different and unusual look at the lives of these hard workers, performed by a very strong cast that brings realism to each character that they perform. You won't be too surprised to see some performers with tears in their eyes. And most interestingly, all of the people, and their stories, were inspired by real people and real stories.
The scenic design for Code Pink is by Madylin Sweeten Durrie, the lighting design is by Tor Brown and the sound design is by Travyz Catz. Marc Leclere is the Assistant Director, and Stage Managers include Calvin Picou and Gillo Gius. The graphic design is by Amanda Chambers. Producers for Loft Ensemble are Jennifer Brofer and Bree Pavey.
Performance schedules of Code Pink are Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM through August 15. General admission is PAY WHAT YOU WANT. Seats may be reserved online at www.loftensemble.org, or by phone at (818)452-3153. Loft Ensemble is located at 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.
Highly Recommended
WEST COAST JEWISH THEATRE'S MAGICAL MUSICAL MYSTERY FOLLIES EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 29 by Carol Kaufman Segal
My review of the West Coast Jewish Theatre's Magical Musical Mystery Follies is available on this blog dated May 6. If you are interested in being able to see this wonderful two-hour virtual show, it is available again if you did not get to see it when it was offered previously, or if you would enjoy watching it once again. You can now enjoy it every Saturday night through May 29, at 7:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time.
The show features a variety of entertainment with very talented performers, including singers, actors, musicians, writers, magicians, and even an orchestra that will keep you entertained for two hours. West Coast Jewish Theatre Director Howard Teichman directs the show (and also introduces the acts) The Associate Producer is Bill Froggatt. You can register online at http://wcit.org or call (312) 821-2449. The price of the ticket to obtain the link is $36.00 Those who register will be sent a Vimeo link to the show.
Until the West Coast Jewish Theatre and Howard Teichman can welcome you back to their theatre in person, in the meantime, there is Magical Musical Mystery Follies.
MAGICAL MUSICAL MYSTERY FOLLIES by Carol Kaufman Segal
The West Coast Jewish Theatre, under the direction of Howard Teichman, recently presented its Magical Musical Mystery Follies online. Audiences had the opportunity of watching a very entertaining show with a variety of talent, from musicians to singers, comedians, magicians, and actors.
Performers included vocalist Sarah Spiegal, known for songs from the past (30's and 40's), beautiful cantorial music by soloist Kimberly Haines, vocalist Melissa Brandzel singing songs from Broadway, and Bob Brandzel performing klezmer music, and also guest Cantor Marcelo Gindin
An excerpt from Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue was performed by Actors Richard Epcar and Ellyn Stern. Ruthie Lane sang more show tunes, Actor/Writer Shelly Kurtze performed an original piece he had written for the show about an issue facing the Jewish community. Comedy was performed by Sunda Croonquist, Magic Castle Magician Victor Benoun performed magic and illusions, and The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and Choir, performed under the direction of Dr. Noreen Green.
Magical Musical Mystery Follies, with Howard Teichman as host, was presented online on Saturdays April 24, May 1, and May 8. If you missed it when it was presented, you are in luck because it is going to be offered again online in the near future for View on Demand. Keep watching for it because you won't want to miss this two-hour offering of it when it returns.
Stories From the Violins of Hope by Carol Kaufman Segal
The Braid (formerly The Jewish Women’s Theatre) was scheduled to do a live production of Stories from the Violins of Hope last spring at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles Since they had to postpone performing the production live due to COVID, they made the decision to present a live performance of it on Zoom. It was a magnificent presentation, written by Lisa Rosenbaum, directed by Susan Morgenstern, and Ronda Spinak, Artistic Director and Producer.
With beautiful music performed throughout by five marvelous musicians from the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Amnon Weinstein tells the story about how he, along with his son Avshalom, began collecting and restoring the violins that survived the Holocaust.
Virtuoso violinist Niv Ashkenazi, plays the only violin from the Violins of Hope collection that is currently in the United States. The rest of the collection remains in Israel until live concerts can begin again. The violins that Amnon collected had survived concentration camps, ghettos, transport trains and the forests of Eastern Europe. The story is one that had to be told, as Amnon said.
Rick Zieff performed the role of Moshe, Amnon Weinstein's father, and Robert Trebor played Amnon Weinstein. Other members of the cast included Rosie Moss, Cliff Weisman, Andrew Fromer, Lisa Ann Grant, and A. J. Meijer.
I hope that when the pandemic is behind us, The Braid will have the opportunity to present this marvelous production in their theatre for those who did not get the opportunity to see it and for those who would, like me, wish to see it again.
