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Thespian Thoughts: Hot Pants, Cold Feet

Planning a Wedding One Diasaster at a Time! – Judth Jones
Hello and welcome to Thespian Thoughts. I am your host Judith Jones, here to share with you, a guide to all the latest and greatest small theatre, going on in Los Angeles, California.

This week we are talking about  ‘Planning a wedding….one disaster at a time’, as I.O West in Hollywood presents the hilarious comedy “Hot Pants, Cold Feet”. This 2 man show is written and performed by Will Matthews and Cassandra Smith, who have devised a comical satire on modern wedding madness.

Matthews and Smith

They show their wonderful acting and comedic skills as they take on different characters, highlighting everything from ‘the awkward proposal’ to the cheesy wedding band audition, giving a fun insight into the way the bride and groom often have completely different perspectives when it comes to marriage. This young duo have energy, enthusiasm and fantastic comedic timing which definitely makes this one a Thespian Thoughts winner!

Now it’s time for Fabulous Fashion and this week it has to go to the fantastic little number Cassandra Smith wear when practicing her rendition of the ‘First Wedding dance’…..poledancing style!
And our Fantastic phrase of the week goes a little something like this,
“If you can’t say anything nice, say something fake”
“If you can’t say anything nice, say something fake”

Hot Pants, Cold Feet runs every Tuesday at I.O West, now through April 20th.
And remember,
“All the world’s a stage”
 Written & Performed by :Will Matthews and Cassandra Smith
Directed by Leonora Gershman Pitts

Theatre: IO West
6366 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywod 90028

Reservations www.matthewsandsmith.com
323 962 7560
Tuesdays 8pm, March 2nd-April 20th
$10 admission

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Thespian Thoughts: Wit

WIT is frank, honest and a dazzling life affirming play with wonderful, smart humour.

Thespian Thoughts was blown away at the Terrace Theatre in Hollywood, at what has to be the most incredible acting we’ve seen so far in LA. The Actors Co-op is staging the Pulitzer Prize winning drama, WIT, by Margaret Edison. An outstanding play, the story centres around Vivian Bearing, a professor of 17th Century poetry specializing in the Sonnets of John Donne. After being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, we see the bold journey she embarks on over the course of 12 months, confronting her life past and present. A play about cancer? I hear you all say. How drab? Absolutely not. WIT is frank, honest and a dazzling life affirming play with wonderful, smart humour. It was actually quite ironic how much the audience laughed during the course of 90 minutes, while looking at the set of a patient room in a Cancer hospital. For in essence, this is not a play about cancer, it is a story about a person finding grace for the first time.

A standing ovation was definitely in order for the actress, Nan McNamara’s outstanding portrayal of Vivian. She kept us all engaged, tackling the demanding language with ease and intense emotion. She carried the play with superb strength and brought me to tears by the end of the play.

Nan McNamara

Nan McNamara - after

And now it’s time for Fabulous Fashion. Of course, there is only so far fashion can go in the confines of a hospital room, however, this week Judith Jones really takes her hat off for Mcnamara’s devotion to her craft, as she actually has shaved her head to demonstrate with truth, Vivian’s cancer diagnosis. Not many people would do that in Hollywood, that’s for sure…! Good on you.

And Judith Jones’ phantastic phrase of the play
“Brevity is the soul of wit”

Judith cannot express enough, if there is any play to go and see this season, it has to be WIT!
Running now until March 28th at the Terrace Theatre in Hollywood.

WIT
Directed by Marianne Savell, Produced by David Scales

Featuring: Lori Berg, Beth Castle, Phil Crowley, Allison Freeman, Nan McNamara, Tawny Meres, Daniel J. Roberts, Kathryn Scott, and Preston Vanderslice

Set Designer: Gary Lee Reed
Costume Designer: Paula Higgins
Lighting Designer: James L Moody
Original Music: Joseph King Barkley
Stage Manager: Leticia Gonzalez

Actors Co-op Terrace Theatre,
1760 N. Gower S, Hollywood
For reservations call 323 462 8460, ext 300
Regular: $30
Seniors (60+) $25
Students w/ ID: $20

WIT

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Acting In Style
Episode 2
Title: Stylist Wendy Shaw Shares Basic Fashion Tips

Acting in Style host, Allison McNamara, enjoys fashion chatting with personal stylist Wendy Shaw at the trendy Theodore, in the Waterside Shopping Center in Marina del Rey, California. Assisting Allison is the beautiful actor, model, and host of Thespian Thoughts (www.ThespianThoughts.com), Judith Jones.

Acting in Style host Allison McNamara with Stylist Wendy Shaw

Stylist Wendy Shaw with Actor Judith Jones

And thank you Theodore and Andie, the store manager for your kindness.

Theodore - Marina Del Rey
General Information
310-578-5214
4734 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Shopping Price:
Mid Range
Shopping Genre:
Apparel and Accessories, Handbags, and Shoes

http://actorsentertainment.com/wp-content/videos/10_ThespianThoughts_6Degrees.flv

Six Degrees of Separation

We are all separated by six people in this world….

Hello and welcome to Thespian Thoughts. Your Thespian Thoughts reviewer, Judith Jones, shares with you a guide to all the latest and greatest small theatre going on in Los Angeles, California.

This episode, Judith takes you to the Westchester Playhouse, for The Kentwood Players rendition of ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ by John Guare. This witty tragicomedy, explores 20th century society, human relationships, and what really drives people: the desire for money, fame, social standing, comfort and a yearning for meaningful human connection. Guare bases the premise of the play around a young African Amercian man who gains access to the homes of upper class New Yorkers by pretending to be the son of Sydney Poitier. The play uses imaginative and intelligent scenes to create a picture of a fragmented society, exploring the simple fact that “everybody on this planet is separated by only six people. Six degrees of Separation…It’s a profound thought….How every person is a new door, opening into other worlds.”

A special mention has to go to the outstanding performance of Joanna Churgin, playing Ouisa Kitteredge, an Upper East Side Art Dealer, who drives the play with strength and compassion. We are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions and betrayal with Willie Daniels performance of Paul. The emotional ride he takes us through is compelling and has to be one of the most exceptional characters Ive seen on stage, throughout my theatre going days here in LA.

Fabulous Fashion: Judith shakes things up a little and gives the Fabulous Fashion award to the wonderful actor who definitely shows us that less is more. Yes, he dazzles us with full frontal, nudity when Paul is caught in an unsavoury situation. As you can guess, this is a family show so we can’t show you any pictures, but we do give a thumbs up to this man’s courageous acting chops. Well done!

Phantastic Phrase :
“Sleeping with you is like sleeping with a Salad with a bad dressing”
Six Degrees of Separation
Directed by Don Schlossman
Produced by Meredith M Sweeney & Jordan Bland
January 8th-February 13th 2010

SYNOPSIS
“Six Degrees of Separation” refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know, and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth. The term was popularized by playwright John Guare’s intriguing, insightful exploration of celebrity and the games we play to elevate our significance.

Westchester Playhouse
8301 Hindry Ave, LA CA 90045
(310) 645-5156
112 Seat Venue
www.kentwoodplayers.org

The Kentwood Players - Six Degrees of Separation

“All the World’s a Stage”

Enjoy following Danika Quinn and the Actors Entertainment camera inside Hollywood parties and events. Contact comments@actorsentertainment.com for information and prices for inside coverage of your next Hollywood event.

La Ronde de Lunch

Hollywood will eat you for lunch
La Ronde de Lunch has to be one of the most outstanding plays I’ve seen in Los Angeles so far. I was overwhelmingly excited at such creativity and incredible acting chops that went into this production presented by The Katselas Theatre Company, at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz.

La Ronde de Lunch is written by Peter Lefcourt (who is also the executive producer of Desperate Housewives). The play is a hilarious farce on the typical characters you find in the cut-throat world of Hollywood. The story pays homage to Arthur Schnitzler’s 1900 classic farce, La Ronde. However, director Terri Hanauer has put her own 21st century spin on ten agenda-driven diners interacting with each other at Tinseltown’s most pretentious and expensive restaurant, El Pueblo de Venezia. We see how these stereotypical characters, including an impatient Producer, a stern Studio Exec, the romantic realtor, an over the hill actress, an obsessed personal fitness instructor, an alcoholic writer, the lonely lawyer, the ADD agent and babbling bimbo, are all struggling to somehow get something out of the other. Through their movie dealings, negotiations, and shenanigans, we soon see how corrupt the town really is and how everyone wants to buy each other with sex, or in this case lunch! Every new lunch scene is introduced by an outburst of song and dance by the out of work actors, serving as waiters…..all going by the same name of Bruce. Oh, lunch in Hollywood is not a meal it is the ultimate power dance.
I was so impressed by the depth that the actors had taken to embody such wonderful personalities. I particularly loved the aggressive agent played by Joe Briggs. This guy could give Entourage’s Ari Gold a run for his money. The writer, played by Brynn Thaler,exuded such brilliance, with her martini loving andolive sucking tendancies! The whole cast was absolutely spectacular. This is definitely one you must must go and see! You will be laughing all the way home. And you may just end up sitting next to a member of the Desperate Housewives cast….

Runs until December 20th
Skylight Theatre … 99-seat theatre
1816 North Vermont Ave, Hollywood, CA 90027
310 358 9936
Fri & Sat 8pm, Sunday 7pm
General tickets $25, Students and Seniors $15
General Info : www.katselastheatre.org

The Skylight Theatre is the annex of the Beverly Hills Playhouse, one of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools.

La Ronde de Lunch
Written by Peter Lefcourt
Directed by Terri Hannauer
Adapted from the turn-of-the-20th Century Austrian playwright Arthur Schnitzler’s classic comedy, “Le Ronde.”

Cast:
Kathryn Harrold
Michael B. Silver
Kate Siegel
Joe Briggs
Gina Hecht
Brynn Thayer
Haley Strode
Robert Trebor
Fiona Gubelmann
Jay Huguley
Daniel Montgomery
Demetrius Keone Thomas
Amanda Kruger
Matt Austin
Clent Bowers

Thespian Thoughts

Reliable Small Theatre Suggestions

Title: Follow Your Dreams

Theatre:  Secret Rose Theatre

11246 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood 91601

http://www.secretrose.com/

Seats:  60 (49 twenty-two inch screening room style theatre seats

Run Dates: Through October 31^st.

Are you ready to follow your dreams?

Who would have thought a single room in a telemarketing firm could hold so much drama? Well, the transformed room in the Secret Rose Theatre is overloading with drama. We follow ten vivacious individuals, each harnessing hidden dreams, secret lives … and some damn good singing voices.

Follow Your Dreams is an original musical, written and produced by Laurie Stevens and Ronald Jacobs. It follows ten individuals from different walks of life, gathered together in one telemarketing room. Each tires their hardest to do the same one thing … sell the diet pill, “Flab U Less.” At the same time, each is strives to pursue their deepest passions so they will NEVER have to make another mundane sales call again.

We follow their individual desires as they influence each other through the comedies, dramas and tragedies of their lives. As the play moves forward, you begin to sympathize with what they are going through. The energy and passion of all ten actors never lagged and their enthusiasm was deeply inspiring and motivating. And, isn’t that what theatre’s all about in the end? Being moved. Through ten songs, a plethora of awesome outfits, some great lines, witty jokes, death, romance, and touching dialogue, Follow your dreams managed to move us emotionally.

A noteworthy mention goes to the beautiful voice of ‘Judy Ho’ who played the strikingly, aggressively sexy Tammy. With a pair of lungs like that, she is definitely going far. I was particularly touched by the sensitive and gripping actor, ‘Hector Hank’, whose portrayal of a struggling drug addict was emotional and incredibly realistic.

I particularly sympathized with “Dan Woren’s” character who had to rule over the combined quirky characters in the office. His performance was extremeley convincing. Poor man to supervise all those dreamers!

A must see for all those who work in Telemarketing. And, of course, for anyone who wants to be inspired to Follow Your Dreams. Which I believe is all of us.

Runs through October 31^st.

Secret Rose Theatre,

11246 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood 91601

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 2pm.

Reservations call: 866 811 4111

Or visit:

www.theatermania.com

www.plays411.com/followyourdreams

Thespian Thoughts

Reliable Small Theatre Suggestions

http://actorsentertainment.com/wp-content/videos/3_AE_TT_Its_Just_Sex.flv

Title: It’s Just Sex


Theatre: 
Two Roads Theater
4348 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA 91604


Seats:  60 seat theatre


Run Dates: Through November 8th (but may be extended)



Review:

Lust and Trust comes with a good dose of Thrust…. It’s About Sex
Want to know what to do when marriage life is turning a little boring? What happens if you are constantly being pressured by your partner? Or if your husband’s answer to every problem was Sex? Or how about if you were to catch your partner cheating on you…in your own house. With a hooker….

Sounding like you’re in a therapy session… ? Well, you might be surprised that all these issues are brought to light every weekend at The Two Roads Theatre in Studio City, presenting one of the most honest and original comedies I’ve seen about relationships, in a very long time. ‘It’s Just Sex’, directed and produced by Rick Shaw, is a hilarious and thought-provoking comedy about Marriage, Fidelity, Trust and Lust.

After the generous theatre’s offering of a complimentary glass of Wine, and chocolates….(to get us in the mood, perhaps…?!) , the scene opens with a Man getting all hot and frisky with a very attractive younger woman…but just as things are heating up, who is to walk into this steamy scene but none other than…..His Wife….ouch…
As the play progresses we follow the lives of three married couples, getting together for a relaxing evening, at none other, than the cheating husbands house, where his wife decides to take her revenge, and spice things up a little between each couples unsatisfied relationships.

As the liquor flows, games are played and secrets revealed. Trust is tested and boundaries are eventually broken, as reality gets swapped for Fantasy. Lets just say, a little exchanging of partners might just be the solution to spruce up your married life, or perhaps show you a deeper side of your partner you’ve never seen before….

All six actors had strong distinct character traits, and somehow beneath all their vices you could sympathize with each and every one. An extremely strong ensemble cast, quick, witty and all so positively charming to watch. It’s not often when absolutely all of the characters in the same play can manage to hold their own individually, but here, each one exuded a magnificent magnetic stage presence. I particularly thought Tommy Hinkley was wildly funny as the up-for anything, open minded writer-husband, Carl. His comedic timing was impeccable.

Jeff Gould, the comedic genius of a writer, had a style of quick wit comparable to any Oscar Wilde or Woody Allen I’ve ever read. He really banged out …(no pun intended), some killer lines, and I must admit, it take’s a lot to really get me laughing out loud in any play I go to, but by the end of this one, my cheeks were in pain (no pun intended again)from the laughter..

This play will not stop you laughing, blushing, and well, hits the hammer right on the head when it comes to exposing to us just what married couples go through when it comes to Fidelity, Lust and Trust within a relationship.

“Just go to keep it up”…..Sorry, I’m on a roll…..

“It’s Just Sex” A Comedy about Trust and Lust

Two Roads Theater
4348 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA 91604

Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7.30pm
$25 Fridays and Sundays
$30 Saturdays at the door

For Reservations Call 818 762 2282
www.nohoartsdistrict.com, www.theatermania.com (discounted tickets)