An Act of God (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{An Act of God starring Sean Hayes is now playing through March 13th at the Ahmanson Theatre}

By Ken Werther

In the early spring of 2015, An Act of God made his first of 76 appearances at Studio 54 on Broadway. He proceeded to hold forth through the early summer on matters of faith and folly to peals of raucous laughter. Audiences were more than a little surprised to discover that in a history-making metaphysical transformation, God looked an awful lot like four-time Emmy Award-winner Jim Parsons.

The magic and mirth will continue when God arrives onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre this month looking an awful lot like Will & Grace star and Emmy Award-winner Sean Hayes. I expect that a great many of us will be making our way downtown to sample God’s sense of humor on a myriad of issues, and to hear his version of familiar biblical stories. Rumor has it that he will also be delivering a new and improved set of Commandments, and who wants to miss that?

An Act of God is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello (The Normal Heart, Assassins). I’m fortunate to have met Joe all the way back in 1992 when he was in the original cast of Angels In America at the Mark Taper Forum, and this guy is the real deal. So let’s see … Sean Hayes, Joe Mantello, God … I’m there!

An Act of God is now on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre, click here for tickets and more information.

The Sound of Music! (LAArtsOnline.com)

The Sound of Music opens September 20 at the Ahmanson Theatre

The Sound of Music!

By Ken Werther
Photo Courtesy of Center Theatre Group

Now considered a classic and unarguably one of the world’s best loved musicals, The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in November, 1959 and ran well into 1963 for a total of 1443 performances. The last show written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, it starred Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel and won five Tony Awards including Best Musical (in a tie with Fiorello!) … and you certainly don’t need me to tell you that in 1965 it was made into a film which remains, to this day, the most successful movie musical in history. Little known fact that The Sound of Music was originally conceived as a play that would feature songs from the repertoire of the real-life Trapp Family Singers. But during the show’s development it became clear to the creators that the story would be better told with original music. Several of the songs in the show have become standards: “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and of course, “The Sound of Music.”

A lavish new production directed by three-time Tony Award-winner Jack O’Brien will be launching a North American tour at the Ahmanson Theatre this month. For several generations of folks who only know The Sound of Music as a movie, this will be an exciting opportunity to see how it all began.

The Sound of Music is running at the Ahmanson Theatre September 20 – October 31st.

Laughter is Good! (LAArtsOnline.com)

Immediate Family (Directed by Phylicia Rashad) plays at the Mark Taper Forum

Laughter is Good!

By Ken Werther
Graphics Courtesy of CTG

Back in 2007, Immediate Family by Paul Oakley Stovall had its West Coast premiere at LA’s venerable Celebration Theatre under a different title. Back then the play was called As Much As You Can. Eight years later, with a new title, what is not different is the level of comedy the show brings. If you’ve read other stories of mine here on LAArtsOnline.com you know I’m a big proponent of laughter. For me, the sound of 750 people laughing together cures a lot of chills.

Immediate Family takes us to the Bryant Family reunion where race, sexuality, religion, evolving ideas of marriage, long-held beliefs, and long-kept secrets collide, setting the scene for a hilarious family showdown. Lots of dysfunction — something we’ve all experienced! Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune said Immediate Family “… bursts with life …” and called it “a timely and important American play.” Add in “high stakes, fast-paced, and with rich comic characters” — what more could you ask for?

Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad will direct Immediate Family at the Mark Taper Forum. Did you see her work as an actress in Gem of the Ocean or her incredible direction of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone both at the Taper? In describing Ms. Rashad’s remarkable talents, all known superlatives have been used up. Remember, laughter is a good thing, so get on down to the Taper and have some fun.

“Immediate Family” plays the Mark Taper Forum April 22-June 7.