A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular’

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 Edward Hong

This will be my first time reviewing a production of Rogue Artists Ensemble and in advance, I was told to expect “hyper-theater,” a form of theater that utilizes original, immersive, multi-dimensional experiences to tell their stories. With the partnership of Los Angeles LGBT Center, Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular certainly lived up to this art form while also being a fascinating play that is all parts ambitious, messy as hell, unapologetic, and heartfelt.

Reviews, Theatre1 Comment

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Brothers Size’

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Edward Hong

With The Brothers Size now performing at the Geffen Playhouse, this production kicks off the inaugural season of Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney whose play (that he also wrote) currently celebrates its 20th anniversary in the intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Clue’

August 1, 2024August 2, 2024 Edward Hong

I was today’s years old in learning that the staged version of the cult classic 1985 movie Clue has only really been around for seven years or so as the ridiculously over the top film seemed like the perfect material to be adapted into stage well before that.

Theatre

‘Crazy Talented Asians’ Returns to East West Players!

July 26, 2024August 8, 2024 Edward Hong

East West Players, in partnership with AJ Rafael, is thrilled to announce the return of Crazy Talented Asians. This variety benefit show will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at East West Players’ David Henry Hwang Theater, just in time for Nisei Week and the 140th Anniversary of Little Tokyo, as well as the arrival of the theatre’s new artistic director Lily Tung Crystal. There’s going to be a (apologies in advance) craaaazy amount of talented Asians so definitely don’t miss out on this event!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Bauhaus Project, Part I & II’

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Edward Hong

When I was first informed that the world premiere of Open Fist Theatre Company‘s The Bauhaus Project would consist of two parts that would total a span of almost four hours, ambitious was the first word I had in mind, particularly for a 99-seat theatre company.

News, Theatre

Celebrating ’24 Hours for Palestine: A Moon Will Rise from Darkness’

July 13, 2024July 15, 2024 Edward Hong

On July 20 and 21, Golden Thread Productions will present an incredible 24-hour online event featuring 100+ global artists & activists with back-to-back presentations, performances, and discussions building solidarity in the global movement for a free Palestine.

Music, Theatre

‘Forever Flamenco’ Returns to the Fountain Theatre

July 11, 2024July 13, 2024 Josephine Chang

For all you theatre and flamenco lovers, The Fountain Theatre’s beloved Forever Flamenco series returns, paying homage to series founder Deborah Culver Lawlor with four blow-out performances in August.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Unbroken Blossoms’

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 Edward Hong

There is a sense of tragedy to acknowledge that whenever there is progress made with any given historically underrepresented community in the United States, history always finds a way to repeat itself. Are we doomed to keep repeating that cycle? Such is the question presented in the East West Players production of Unbroken Blossoms, a world premiere play written by Philip W. Chung and directed by Jeff Liu.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Tiny Father’

June 24, 2024June 25, 2024 Edward Hong

The Geffen Playhouse production of Tiny Father is an interesting play as it boasts an impressive array of talent with the playwright Mike Lew and his frequent theatre director collaborator & Tony Award-nominated Moritz von Stuelpnagel.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Handala’

June 23, 2024June 23, 2024 Edward Hong

I’m going to cut to the chase but Handala, a 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival scholarship recipient, may be one of the most important theatre works of our generation. This solo performance show is not only a celebration of Palestine but it does something that is so badly needed right now: to give humanity and soul to the Palestinian people while loudly declaring that there must be freedom and liberation.

Television, Theatre

The 2024 Tony Awards Winners

June 17, 2024 Rissa Lavilla

The 77th annual Tony Awards premiered last night on June 16, 2024 at Lincoln’s Center David H. Koch Theater, hosted by Ariana DeBose. What a night full of performances from Broadway’s hottest shows this season and first time Tony award nominees and winners!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘A Strange Loop’

June 6, 2024June 7, 2024 Edward Hong

I’m always wary when there’s any production lauded with so much critical praise and attention that I lower my expectations significantly, especially when they come straight from Broadway (I can’t help it, I’m fiercely proud of my local Los Angeles theatre community and the talents they offer).

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘I Sell Windows’

May 30, 2024June 7, 2024 Edward Hong

I want to say this right from the start that I am not a particular fan of the solo performance format whatsoever as most of them tend to overly indulge in the identity aspect without any ounce of humor or ability to tell a story. Yet I understand the need for such a format because it is the simplest and easiest format to mount in the theatre world while still being able to showcase an actor’s ability.

Theatre

Black Playwrights Gathering in Los Angeles Centers Joy and Connection

May 22, 2024May 25, 2024 Edward Hong

Fostering and nurturing diverse voices in the arts in a meaningful way is still difficult to come by so when I see initiatives that does just that in a grand manner, I take notice. One particular initiative is from artEquity as they have invited over 100 Black playwrights from across the US to come together on Juneteenth in Los Angeles.

Scholarship, Theatre

‘Handala: A Celebration of Palestine’ to Premiere at the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 Edward Hong

I’ve done press coverage for the Hollywood Fringe Festival in the past before but rarely do I do press releases for upcoming performances. With Handala, an exception had to be made because not only is it a much needed celebration of Palestine but it is also a 2024 Hollywood Fringe Scholarship recipient that signifies the program’s goal of expanding and diversifying the body of work being presented at Fringe.

Movies, Theatre

‘Wicked’ Official Trailer Asks the Question: Are People Born Wicked?

May 16, 2024November 25, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Director Jon M. Chu has always been amazing at bringing musicals to life on the big screen. With the release of the new Wicked trailer, it seems he may have done it again!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘American Mariachi’

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 Edward Hong

There’s always been a persistent belief that if you want to watch good theatre, it’s all in New York. This particular narrow-minded belief has always been annoying to me because Los Angeles is a unique entity that is thoroughly distinct in all its rich and fantastic ways with so many astounding global majority talent to tell its stories. Such was on my mind after watching American Mariachi at the Latino Theater Company, the second out of the three consecutive plays the company is launching for their 2024 season.

Movies, Theatre

New ‘Wicked’ Featurette Spotlights Jon M. Chu’s Passion Project

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 Mike Manalo

Something has changed within him. Something is not the same. It’s because Crazy Rich Asians director, Jon M. Chu has now officially fulfilled his dream of bringing his passion project to life — Wicked!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Ghost Waltz’

May 4, 2024May 9, 2024 Edward Hong

You can consider yourself fortunate when you watch good theatre that has meaningful diversity. But it’s not often that you come across a piece that enthralls you completely from beginning to end that when it’s over, you immediately wish for it to be seen all over the country, in both big and small theatres alike.

Podcasts, Theatre

‘Innocent When You Dream’ is Newest Audio Theatre Recording from L.A. Theatre Works

April 16, 2024April 16, 2024 Edward Hong

L.A. Theatre Works has released an audio theater recording of Innocent When You Dream by Ken Narasaki. The newest addition to the company’s Civil Liberties podcast series, Innocent When You Dream is now available for digital download for $4.99 at latw.org.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Kairos’

April 9, 2024April 10, 2024 Edward Hong

My biggest and most immediate takeaway after watching the world premiere of Kairos at East West Players is that I wish more stories were told in this particular manner, despite the genre or the size of the cast.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘King Hedley II’

April 9, 2024April 12, 2024 Edward Hong

It is always a pleasure to review any productions at A Noise Within because more often than not, they constantly deliver bold works of art from all aspects in the creative department. This is to be the case once again for King Hedley II, an incredible rendition of August Wilson’s ninth play in his ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle series.

Theatre

‘Mix-Mix: The Filipino Adventures of a German Jewish Boy’ to Open Next Month in L.A.

April 2, 2024April 3, 2024 Edward Hong

Latino Theater Company and Playwrights’ Arena present the world premiere of an epic World War II odyssey inspired by an astonishing, little-known true story.