Opening the Curtain

What would a great Los Angeles theater community look like?

Act Two of the actors-union-versus-their-Los-Angeles-members' battle royale.

It's rare, while enjoying a play, for me to think, "gosh, I wish this was dinner theater!"But from the opening lobby serenade, complete with accordion, checkered table cloth, and wrapped Chianti bottle, Big Shot, the latest from Theatre Movement Bazaar, had me craving a good meatball.

Why do we go to the theater? If words like 'the human condition,' 'honesty,' and 'catharsis' pepper your answer - Mr. Bock's brutally beautiful play at the Echo Theater Company is a must see.

This is a story that pits local against national and art versus commerce. Nationally, LA's a liability to Actors' Equity because for all this 99-seat theater the union isn't collecting a penny. The union wants to get rid of a liability and standardize business practices.

In simplest terms, Anna Deavere Smith's latest piece at the Broad Stage is an exploration of the struggle of Civil Rights in America dating back to Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." In more complex terms? It's a study in the unexpected circumstances of virtuosity.

There's a delicious moment in great dramas when the world comes into sharp focus for an instant and where you're not really sure how it's going to turn out. LA's 99-seat theater community had one of those moments last night at the first annual 1st Annual Stage Raw Awards.

Playwright Neil LaBute likes to get under your skin. Love him or hate him, he's going to push your buttons, challenge your assumptions. City Garage theater is tackling his 2011 play The Break of Noon and it's no exception.

With all the off-stage drama in 99-seat-theater of late, it's been easy to forget the art itself. Trevor written by Nick Jones is the latest 99-seat gem from Circle X. It's as passionate an argument as any for why you should care about LA's small theaters.

Why does small theater in LA matter? Where's the audience rallying to support us? Why should you care? We have to answer those questions not for New York or Chicago or Athens but for Los Angeles.