A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hamlet’

June 5, 2025June 5, 2025 Edward Hong

With the promise of Center Theatre Group‘s Hamlet (both adapted and directed by Robert O’Hara) being bold and daring for the new generation, it is odd to say that despite a very able and entertaining cast and some novel ideas, this production could do without the first half entirely and leave just the second half. And even then, it still doesn’t quite fulfill the promise of being bold or daring. Was it entertaining? Sure. Was it necessary? No.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Just Like Us’

April 20, 2025April 20, 2025 Edward Hong

Launching the 40th anniversary season of Latino Theater Company is Just Like Us, a rather timely play written by Karen Zacarías, inspired by a bestselling book by Helen Thorpe, and directed by Fidel Gomez.

News, Theatre

Latino Theater Company Announces 40th Anniversary Season

February 27, 2025February 28, 2025 Edward Hong

L.A.’s Latino Theater Company will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2025 with an ambitious, culturally diverse season of plays, tours and other events. Founded in 1985, Latino Theater Company has operated the City of Los Angeles-owned Los Angeles Theatre Center, housed in a former bank building in Downtown’s historic core, since 2006.

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.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Tacos LA Brooklyn’

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Edward Hong

Having its world premiere at the Latino Theater Company and produced in association with East West Players, Tacos LA Brooklyn is a vibrant love letter to downtown Los Angeles and its people that can be felt from the beginning to the end of this terrific play. Its strength lies in the fantastic world and the characters written by Joel Ulloa and directed with gusto and care by Fidel Gomez and is a piece of modern theatre that cannot be missed.