Theater Digest - June 12, 2024
Updated thoughts on A Strange Loop at the Ahmanson, and new thoughts on Reefer Madness in L.A.
Hello theater lovers! I’m Katie, and I see a lot of theater! Currently, I’m seeing 0-2 shows a week, depending on my schedule. My apologies for the long delay since the last issue, but I’m seeing a lot in the coming weeks, so I’ll be sending out at least one more missive in June!
Since this newsletter is geared towards people in the entertainment industry, there's a good chance I won't like a show that you or someone you know was involved in. I'm sure that you/your friend put a lot of effort into your/their work! I've been in a few shows, I know how much work goes into putting on a show. But just as you're entitled to dislike TV shows your friends worked on, I'm allowed to dislike theater you/your friends may have worked on. I try not to be vindictive, but I also do make it clear when I don't think a show is worth the price of a ticket or the time spent watching it.
I won't be writing much/any synopsis in these blurbs, but feel free to check out other reviews for synopses! Or just check out other reviews in general! Keep theater journalism alive & well!
Worth seeing:
A Strange Loop at the Ahmanson [LA]. I saw this show in December 2021 at Woolly Mammoth, and loved it then, though I thought the understudy who was on for the lead when I saw it was mismatched for the role. Malachi McCaskill, who plays Usher here, is great, and the ensemble of Thoughts supporting him are really exceptional. It’s a masterful piece of writing, which starts out fresh and zingy, packed to the brim with jokes, before changing tone pretty abruptly, and it won’t be for everyone, but I really enjoy seeing it, and it’s an undeniably great work of art. Many of the lyrics are a mile a minute, so I do recommend listening to the cast recording at least once before seeing the show, so you can be fully immersed while seeing it live!
Closes June 30 in LA.
Six on Broadway [NY] and on the West End [London]. Read my thoughts on it here!
Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Excalibur [Vegas]. Read my thoughts on it here!
Magic Mike Live in Las Vegas and London [Vegas/London]. Read my thoughts on it here!
A Mixed Bag:
Cabaret on the West End [London] and on Broadway [NY]. Read my thoughts on the West End production here.
Jelly’s Last Jam at the Pasadena Playhouse [LA]. Read my thoughts on it here, or my full review for Stage Raw here.
Closes June 23 in Los Angeles.
Back to the Future on the West End [London] and on Broadway [NY]. Read my thoughts on it here!
Mad Apple at New York New York [Vegas]. Read my thoughts on it here!
Hadestown on tour and on Broadway [NY]. Read my thoughts on it here!
& Juliet on Broadway [NY]. Read my thoughts on it from when I saw it in London in 2019 here!
The Play That Goes Wrong off-Broadway and on the West End [NY/London]. Read my thoughts on the 2019 tour national tour here, or my full review for Stage Raw here.
Not worth it:
Reefer Madness at the Whitley [LA]. I’d never seen this cult classic musical, so I had high hopes, if you’ll excuse the pun, but this production didn’t work for me at all; it felt like it was trying so hard to be camp that circled back around and turned out cringe. Tickets are quite expensive (they start around $90), and apparently don’t guarantee an unobstructed view!
My full review for Stage Raw here.
Closes July 21 in LA.
On my radar:
Mamma Mia: The Party in London
Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway
Stereophonic on Broadway
Suffs on Broadway
Mrs. Doubtfire on tour
Tiny Father at the Geffen
The Hollywood Fringe Festival
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