Fall Theater Preview
By Jana J. Monji 08/20/2008
“Vanities: A New Musical”
Friday – Sept. 28
Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
(626) 356-7529
PasadenaPlayhouse.org
David Kirshenbaum and Jack Heifner’s original “Vanities” musical had a long off-Broadway run. Based on Heifner’s play of the same name, this musical chronicles the lives of three Texas teens as they go from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to married women during the turbulent ’60s and ’70s.
“9 to 5: The Musical”
Sept. 3 – Oct. 19
Ahmanson Theatre
135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA
(213) 628-2772
CenterTheatreGroup.org
f you loved the movie or if you love Dolly Parton, you can’t miss this world premiere musical based on the 1980 movie, with a brand-new score written by the seven-time Grammy Award-winner.
“Inside Private Lives”
Sept. 7 – Oct. 19
Fremont Centre Theatre
1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena
(626) 441-5977
FremontCentreTheatre.com
Kristin Stone conceived of this play although segments are scripted, researched and written by various cast members and the play itself is different every night. Take a hysterical historical look into the private lives of cult leaders, celebs, sports figures and anyone who had more than their fair share of 15-minute fame.
“Be Like Water”
Sept. 11 – Oct. 12
David Henry Hwang Theatre
120 N. Judge John Aiso St., Little Tokyo
(213) 625-7000
www.EastWestPlayers.org
The world premiere of performance artist Dan Kwong’s first play about how the ghost of Bruce Lee teaches a martial arts fanatic tomboy the true meaning of strength in 1978 Chicago, five years after Lee’s death.
“Hamlet”
Sept. 20 – Dec. 7
A Noise Within
234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale
(818) 240-0910
ANoiseWithin.org
What could be timelier than a play about a prince pondering revenge and the resulting fall of a noble family to a foreign power? This production is part of a national initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest.
“The Sequence”
Oct. 11 – Nov. 9
Theatre @ Boston Court
70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena
(626) 683-6883
BostonCourt.org
What happens when a maverick rock-and-roll scientist and a methodical government scientist plodding through bureaucracy race to sequence the human genome? Paul Mullin’s world premiere play, directed by John Langs, makes this tortoise-and-hare race a thriller.
“The Joy Luck Club”
Nov. 6 – Dec. 7
David Henry Hwang Theatre
120 N. Judge John Aiso St., Little Tokyo
(213) 625-7000
EastWestPlayers.org
Sponsored by the Mark Taper Foundation, Susan Kim has adapted Amy Tan’s 1989 bestseller, also made into a 1993 film by the same name, in which Chinese-American women and their Chinese-born mothers attempt to bridge the generation gap.
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