Four women. One truth. And the dangerous cost of carrying it. From left, Kallie Pong, Megan Sigler, Juliet Fischer and Rori Flynn . Photo courtesy of Shinshin Tsai . by MaryAnn DiPietro At Chance Theater, the stage becomes a crossroads of memory and consequence. In “The Messenger,” written by Jenny Connell Davis and directed by Katie Chidester, a nonlinear drama unfolds as the stories of four women, decades apart, speak into the same restless space. “Four interwoven monologue

A Musical That Dares You to Hear Women’s Voices From left, Mariah Martin, Arianna Nelson, Danielle Heaton and Mads Durbin. Photo courtesy of Ophelia's Jump Productions. By Shannon Cudd Ophelia's Jump Productions’ upcoming musical “In the Green” is a rarely produced show that will stimulate your brain and challenge you to think about a new subject matter.“ In the Green” tells the origin story of Hildegard von Bingen, a German Catholic Benedictine abbess and polymath during the

A riotous Renaissance comedy that’s rip-roaring fun. From left, Spike Pulice and Taras Wybaczynsky Jr. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad and Jon Infante. By Anne Reid The Curtis Theatre is about to be taken over by ruffs, tights, tap shoes and an avalanche of theatrical inside jokes as “Something Rotten!” takes the stage in a collaboration between Southgate Productions and the City of Brea. Set in the bustling world of Renaissance England, “Something Rotten!” centers on Nick an

When the Truth Won’t Stay Buried From Top Left: Feyara Bellefleur, Zion Aguilar, Lars Toler, Sophia Gonzalez. From Bottom Left: Jarid McCarthy, Josh Causley, Mae Montgomery, and Rosa Sandoval . Photo courtesy of Lizzy McCabe. By MaryAnn DiPietro Family reunions are rarely clean and simple, and in “Bug In Mouth Disease,” the sharp, dark yet funny new play making its world premiere, the secrets are undeniably messy. Produced by The Larking House, “Bug In Mouth Disease” arrives

A quiet, heartfelt love story and joyous musical journey. From left, Emma Laird and Morgan Hollingsworth . Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. by Anne Reid At a moment when the world feels increasingly fractured by grief, isolation and uncertainty, the musical “Once” arrives not as an escape from reality but as a gentle, deeply human response to it.  With a book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, “Once” is based on the Academy Award-winning f

Reimagining our founding document through four generations of extraordinary women Aubrey Saverino (Photo Courtesy of Doug Catiller) By Anne Reid The role of the Constitution today is being challenged like never before, so it seemed like the perfect time to focus on the document itself and examine the living context in which it resides in American life.  For director Katie Chidester, it is deeply personal and why she’s thrilled to direct the Tony-nominated and Pulitzer Prize-f

From left, Rose London, Kathleen Switzer, and Stacy Castiglione. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad. Tracy Letts’ 2008 masterpiece makes its...

From Left: Emma Magbanua, Naya Ramsey-Clarke, Kayley Stallings and Linda Bard. Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. History gets loud: the...

From Left: Magan Tran, Shelby Perlis, Emma Laird, Genevieve Kauper (Photo by Francis Gacad) Begins And Ends With ‘A’ Productions Unveils...

From Left: Darri Kristin, Amberlin Morse & Stacy Castiglione (Photo by Michael Serna) A blistering, steel-hearted tale hits the stage in...

Albert Park and Michelle Krusiec in “The Chinese Lady” at Chance Theater. Photos by Doug Catiller A Powerful, Poetic Play Based On The...

Friendship, Grief, and Growth-- Ten Years in the Telling By Harrison Tate-Pascua Ten years after its initial conception, The Larking...

From Left: Elijah Munck, Scott Roberts, Dyan Hobday-Smith, Rachel Williams and Kristin Cortines (Photo by Bella Chrastina and Amanda...

From Left: Matthew Hong-Jones and Kendall Sinclair (Photo by Michael Serna) Because Everyone Needs To See At Least One Chekhov Play  By...

From Left: Bruce Goodrich, Juliet Fischer (Photo by Doug Catiller) World premiere of Adam Szymkowicz’s dramedy examines issues of...

From Left: Front-Thomas McNeil, Middle-Caitlin Zinn, Back-Jake La Rosa, Lisa Stout “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Cabrillo Playhouse...

From Left: Eric Parmer, Stephanie Savić and Shelly Day (Photo by Kerrin Piché Serna) How a Creative Team Learned to Trust the Play, the...

Katie Perry Page as Carole King (Photo by Francis Gacad) The Inspiring True Story of Carole King’s Journey from Teenage Songwriter to...

From Left: Luc Clopton and Mario Houle (Photo by Doug Catiller) Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-Winning Composer Jonathan Larson’s...

From Left, Bottom: Kirsten Grace, Daniel Velazquez, Sarah Ledesma, Charlie Holloman, Carlos Flores. From Left, Middle: Morgan Dickinson,...