L.A.’s summer Shakespeare specializes in sexual jealousy but offers plenty of strong directorial gestures along the way, particularly those of Matt Walker in A Wither’s Tale. And why is South Pasadena’s Topdog/Underdog more moving than Hollywood’s? READ MORE.
Greater Expectations for L.A. Theater
by Don Shirley | August 18, 2010
We should maintain great expectations for our theaters above the 99-seat level. Witness Free Man of Color and the latest version of Great Expectations, the musical. READ MORE
What’ll the Times Think Of Next?
by Don Shirley | August 9, 2010
In separate Sunday articles, the Times has now summed up the current condition of six larger theaters and the sub-100-seat theater scene. When will we read a similar article about the rest of the L.A. theater scene? READ MORE
A New Play Harvest, an LA Times Shakespearean Drought
by Don Shirley | August 5, 2010
A bumper crop of new American plays in small theaters includes Justin Tanner’s and Del Shores’ latest, as well as Opus, Becky’s New Car, Four Places and Fabric. Meanwhile, the LA Times ignores even more close-to-home alfresco Shakespeare. READ MORE
The Drug Dealer of Inishmore, Songs and Dances
by Don Shirley | July 24, 2010
What’s it like to perform upside-down in the astonishing The Lieutenant of Inishmore? And a few impressions of Songs and Dances of Imaginary Lands. READ MORE
Does Equity Still Matter?
by Don Shirley | July 16, 2010
Producers, take credit for using Equity contracts. And here are a few postscripts to last week’s discussion about L.A. Times coverage. READ MORE.
Incredible Shrinking Coverage, Summer Shakespeare Shifts
by Don Shirley | July 8, 2010
The Los Angeles Times isn’t reviewing productions at some of LA County’s bigger theaters. Meanwhile, one summer Shakespeare tradition is suspended, while another is enlarged. READ MORE
The Fringe, the Ring, and Supernova
by Don Shirley | June 29, 2010
The Hollywood Fringe Festival was fun, but its scattershot programming didn’t bring much of anything new to LA theater. Let’s compare it to the Ring cycle — and to the kind of festival that might actually yield long-term benefits for our theatrical ecology. READ MORE
Figuring Out the Fringe
by Don Shirley | June 24, 2010
Flustered by the size of the Hollywood Fringe and the anonymity of so many of its participants? Here are a few guidelines and a few comments on non-Fringe shows as well. READ MORE.
On the Eve of the Fringe…
by Don Shirley | June 16, 2010
Can the Hollywood Fringe overcome L.A.’s geography and create a temporary theater district? READ MORE
