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Michael M. Landman-Karny
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Opera Review: RUSALKA (Pacific Opera Project at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge)
NYMPH LOADS Pacific Opera Project (POP) is staging the Los Angeles premiere of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka at the picturesque Descanso Gardens. This 1901 opera, one of the most renowned in the Czech repertoire, tells the haunting story of a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince. The libretto, penned by Jaroslav Kvapil,…
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Opera Review: INNOCENCE (San Francisco Opera)
THE CAPTIVATING INNOCENCE AT SAN FRANCISCO OPERA IS KAIJA SAARIAHO’S MASTERPIECE San Francisco Opera is offering the hauntingly beautiful U.S. premiere of Innocence, a contemporary opera that is destined to be a staple of the modern operatic repertoire. Composed by the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, the opera delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and…
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Opera Review: PARTENOPE (San Francisco Opera)
HANDEL MEETS GATSBY IN CHRISTOPHER ALDEN’S VIBRANT PRODUCTION OF PARTENOPE Baroque opera enthusiasts are in for a treat with San Francisco Opera‘s recent production of Handel’s comic opera, Partenope, which opened last weekend at War Memorial Opera House for five performances only. Composed in 1730 during a period of intense competition and innovation in London’s…
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Theater Review: JELLY’S LAST JAM (Pasadena Playhouse)
MUSIC, MEMORY AND MORTALITY: THE MAGIC OF JELLY’S LAST JAM In the resplendent realm of musical theatre, Jelly’s Last Jam has once again ascended to prominence. Recently produced as a concert version by Encores! in New York, Angelinos get an all-new full-out revival, now gracing the stage of the Pasadena Playhouse, where the show opened…
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Theater Review: THE SANDWICH MINISTRY (Skylight Theatre)
BUILDING BONDS OVER BREAD AND BUTTER In the evocative narrative of Miranda Rose Hall‘s The Sandwich Ministry, — which opened last Saturday at Skylight Theatre — the audience is invited to partake in a touching and contemplative journey through the lives of a trio of women, set within the humble confines of a church’s parish…
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Theater Review: MISALLIANCE (A Noise Within in Pasadena)
UNDERWEAR TYCOONS AND AERIAL INTRUSIONS: THE UNRAVELING COMEDY OF MISALLIANCE So, you stroll into the theater, right? You see this fancy conservatory set up, all English manor-style, and you think, “Oh, a nice, polite little comedy is about to unfold.” But hold your horses! George Bernard Shaw, that sly old fox, has other plans with…
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Opera Review: TURANDOT (Los Angeles Opera)
A NIGHT OF MAJESTY Giacomo Puccini‘s magnum opus Turandot was posthumously completed by his compatriot Franco Alfano. This opera, which premiered at La Scala in 1926 under the baton of Arturo Toscanini, signifies the swan song of the Italian operatic movement, a tradition tracing its roots back to the early baroque compositions of Peri and Monteverdi….
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Theater Review: GHOST WALTZ (Latino Theater Company at Los Angeles Theatre Center)
BRINGING BACK ROSAS’ BLOOM The inaugural presentation of the Latino Theater Company‘s 2024 season, Ghost Waltz stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to groundbreaking theatrical endeavors. Commissioned by the company, penned by local playwright Oliver Mayer and deftly helmed by director Alberto Barboza, this production transcends mere entertainment, serving as an enlightening exploration…
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Opera Review: ELĪNA GARANČA (Recital Tour at BroadStage)
On the auspicious evening of Friday, May 10, 2024, the audience at BroadStage in Santa Monica was graced with a recital of exceptional caliber, featuring the illustrious mezzo-soprano ElÄ«na GaranÄa, whose performance was augmented by the symphonic grandeur of a full orchestra. ElÄ«na GaranÄa, whose reputation as a preeminent mezzo-soprano in the classical music sphere is…
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Theater Review: GALILEE 34 (South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa)
A STUNNING WORLD PREMIERE, Galilee 34 blends the divine and profane in its exploration of early Christianity Eleanor Burgess, a prolific playwright whose works have graced numerous stages (The Niceties, Wife of a Salesman) and who has penned scripts for several television series (Perry Mason, Interview with the Vampire), offers us the world premiere of Galilee…
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Album Review: LAINIE KAZAN (Four Remastered Classic ’60s Albums: “Right Now!” [1966], “Lainie Kazan” [1966], “The Love Album” [1967], and “Love Is Lainie” [1968])
SHAZAM, KAZAN! So, have you heard? Lainie Kazan‘s 60s tunes are now just a click away on all those streaming sites. We’re talking the kind of songs that make you want to break out in a dramatic Broadway pose or croon under a streetlamp’”showtunes and the classics, you know? Now, before she starred in My…
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Book Review: CINEMA SPECULATION (Quentin Tarantino)
From Grindhouse to Greatness: Quentin Tarantino’s Ode to 70s Cinema Quentin Tarantino‘s latest foray into the book publishing realm, Cinema Speculation, is an electrifying odyssey that mirrors the dynamism and distinctive aesthetic panache of his acclaimed cinematic oeuvre. This tome emerges as a multifaceted homage to the cinema of the 1970s’”a decade not merely revered…
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Theater Review: JERSEY BOYS (La Mirada Theatre)
THE BOYS ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER In the never-ending array of jukebox musicals that have lit up Broadway’s vibrant landscape, Jersey Boys shines like a brilliant star. Premiering in 2005, this musical biography of The Four Seasons skillfully transcends the usual by-the-number plot, weaving a rich tapestry that intertwines their legendary hits with…
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Highly Recommended Opera Recital: ELĪNA GARANÄŒA (Tour at Santa Monica’s BroadStage)
ONE-NIGHT ONLY: ELĪNA GARANÄŒA RECITAL Mezzo-soprano ElÄ«na GaranÄa will be returning to Santa Monica’s BroadStage for a performance as part of their Celebrity Opera Recital series bringing noted opera talents to the BroadStage, offering local audiences an opportunity to experience high-caliber operatic performances.. The event will take place on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 7:30…
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Theater Review: PRELUDE TO A KISS, THE MUSICAL (World Premiere at South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa)
WITH A MAGICAL IMBALANCE, THIS KISS IS MORE LIKE A PECK In the world of theater, revivals and adaptations often serve as a bridge between eras, illuminating how the sensibilities of one time can resonate, or clash, with those of another. Craig Lucas‘s Prelude to a Kiss, originally developed as a 70-minute play commissioned by…
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Concert Review: PATTI LUPONE: A LIFE IN NOTES (Tour)
A LEGEND IN THE LIMELIGHT Patti LuPone’s Enchanting Evening at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion “Music holds a transformative power, the ability to encapsulate a moment in crystalline clarity,” proclaimed a visibly moved Patti LuPone, moments after her arrival on stage for her international tour stop at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to a resounding welcome, setting…
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Dance Review: WOOLF WORKS (American Ballet Theatre – North American Premiere)
WOOF! WOOLF WORKS WORKS! Virginia Woolf’s novels have had a profound impact on literature, inspiring adaptations in ballet and opera. These adaptations face the unique challenge of capturing the innovative narrative structures and exploration of inner lives that are central to Woolf’s work. Wayne McGregor‘s Woolf Works, originally choreographed for the Royal Ballet but now…
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Theater Review: FUNNY GIRL (National Tour)
KATERINA MCCRIMMON IS A BRIGHT NEW FUNNY GIRL BUT THE TOUR IS LIKE BUS-AND-TRUCK Funny Girl is a captivating musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a renowned comedienne and entertainer during the early 1900s. This production delves into her journey to fame, her tumultuous relationship with gambler Nick Arnstein, and her remarkable resilience…
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Concert Review: A BROADWAY BIRTHDAY: SONDHEIM, LLOYD WEBBER AND FRIENDS! (Segerstrom Concert Hall)
A BITTERSWEET BIRTHDAY In the luminous world of musical theater, two names stand as colossi, casting long shadows across Broadway and the global stage. Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, though walking parallel paths, have carved their legacies with distinct artistic chisels, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences and the annals of…
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Los Angeles Theater Review: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES (Pasadena Playhouse)
CULTURAL COMEDY GOLD, THIS PLAY REALLY IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES In a landscape where minority narratives often revolve around stereotypes of poverty and struggle, One of the Good Ones emerges as a refreshing portrayal of affluent Latiné experiences. Written by Gloria Calderón-Kellett, a Norman Lear protégée known for her work on the Netflix…
Theater Review: THE GREAT GATSBY (National Tour)
by Lynne Weiss | July 12, 2026
in Boston, TheaterOff-Broadway Review: PORTRAITS OF GAYS IN DESPAIR (HB Playwrights Theatre)
by Kevin Hautigan | July 11, 2026
in New York, TheaterOff-Broadway Review: GIULIA: THE POISON QUEEN OF PALERMO (PAC NYC)
by Gregory Fletcher | July 10, 2026
in New York, TheaterTheater Review: CRAZY FOR YOU (Goodspeed Opera House / East Haddam, CT)
by Rob Lester | July 10, 2026
in Regional, TheaterTheater Review: SUFFS (First National Tour)
by Emma S. Rund | July 9, 2026
in Chicago, Theater, Tours
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