The Shadow knows!

// September 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Comic Books

by Marc Halperin

The Shadow was one of the first great pulp magazine heroes.  The one night performance of The Shadow at the Sierra Madre Playhouse commemorates its 80th anniversary of premiering on radio having originally debuted on July 31, 1930.

From its days in the pulp magazines to radio, comic strips, comic books, movies and a television series the character has captured the imagination of generations and millions of fans. The mysterious detective also known as Lamont Cranston had the power to “cloud men’s minds.” Continue Reading

Greater Tuna: a classic village comedy

// August 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

Dustin Fasching and Justin Baker in "Greater Tuna" Photo Credit: Donald Songster.

Greater Tuna is an amazingly resilient play that has been entertaining audiences for more than twenty years. Presented with a cast of just two actors portraying everyone inhabiting the town it is hysterically funny. We all have our favorite characters, mine is Petey, the erstwhile humanitarian and animal lover.

The Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 W Sierra Madre Blvd

Sierra Madre, Ca 91024

Reservations or Information:

626-355-4318

Circle of Will: Deconstructing Shakespeare

// August 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

We all know that Shakespeare wrote plays and sonnets that are still revered today. Companies all over the world perform his plays every day, and we hold Shakespeare as one of the greatest writers of all time. Yet who among us hasn’t suffered through a classroom reading or a bad rendition of one of his works? Even his lesser works contain moments of brilliance and yes he often deals with familiar themes in multiple plays using different methods to further plumb the depths of these tales. The magic of the Bard was that he could make all things new again by treating them as a drama instead of a comedy or altering the time or location.  Some people have questioned if there might have been others who also worked with Shakespeare, or just used his name on their work.

I was attracted to see this production, as I have studied Shakespeare with experts since I was a teen including Dr. Marion Taylor, who wrote Botton Thou Art Translated: Political Allegory in a Midsummer Nights Dream.  I wrote a play about the relationship between Shakespeare and his actors in 1994, I had sent the script around just before “Shakespeare In Love” came out.  Thus, I was really looking forward to seeing a show of the 1986, award winning play. Continue Reading

Seven strangers on an Elevator. Who are you behind closed doors?

// July 31st, 2010 // Comments Off // Stage Play

The cast of ELEVATOR Alex Rogers, William Stanford Davis, Deborah Vancelette, Mikie Beatty, Karlee Rigby, Rachael Page and Erica Katzin, photo by Marc Halperin (c) 2010

by Marla Lewin

The 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival  presented the world premiere of ELEVATOR and now the play is having a regular run at at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Written and directed by Michael Leoni with original music by Mario Marchetti,  and produced by Michelle Kaufer and Schoen Smith. ELEVATOR opened Thursday, July 29 and performs through Sunday, August 22

Based on the original short film, “Someplace In Between,” an Official Selection of the 2009 LA Shorts Film Festival. ELEVATOR is a comedy which brings seven diverse people together, first as they observe each other, waiting for the elevator, and then spending hours trapped together, living through fear of death, and examining their lives.  It becomes obvious we all need to look beyond appearances. Continue Reading

Rough Justice a behind the scenes look at the DC Comics artwork of Alex Ross

// July 28th, 2010 // Comments Off // Comic Books

(c) 2010 All rights reserved DC Comics and Pantheon Books.

By Marc Halperin

One of the things I love about San Diego Comic-Con is the opportunity to talk with the creators of comic books first hand. I have been attending this show since 1984. I try to attend every chance I get because for me it is like going to a high school reunion. I have been a serious comic book collector since before the debut of the Fantastic Four and Spider-man. I got started in this because my grandfather used to pick up returns from stores in the late 1950′s and 1960s and would let me have one or two books from the pile he had in the rear of his station wagon. Continue Reading

Enter Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s BLACK COFFEE

// July 28th, 2010 // Comments Off // Stage Play

Photos by Ed Krieger

by Marla Lewin

Agatha  Christie’s BLACK COFFEE,  opened Theatre 40’s 45^th Season. This was Christie’s first staged mystery and the only one to feature her character, Hercule Poirot. By the time in 1930 when BLACK COFFEE premiered in London, Poirot had already appeared in four novels and several short stories.

July 2010 has been a important month for Hercule Poirot as he has been featured on PBS Masterpiece Mystery in three new adventures. BLACK COFFEE is a worthy addition to the cannon and it is a treat to see it preformed live. It is a typical locked room mystery with numerous worthy suspects with their own motives for committing the murder and the Belgian detective must determine who is the actual culprit. That is always the treat in an Agatha Christie mystery. The clues are their and we are guided by her detective to solve the crime. Continue Reading

LA Shorts Fest 2010

// July 7th, 2010 // Comments Off // Film Festivals

by Marla Lewin

We will be attending another Shorts Film Fest this time here in Los Angeles. They proclaim themselves to be the largest short film festival in the world with 285 film screenings and 9 days of educational panels, interactive and entertaining events. Their host venue is the Laemmle Sunset 5 Theaters located at 8000 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood CA 90046.

They tell me that the festival has quickly become the industry standard for showcasing and awarding undiscovered talent. It is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and some of these films may go on to receive Oscar nominations. In the past, 33 films that have played at the festival have received Oscar nominations with 11 winning the coveted Oscar statue. Continue Reading

Farewell-Lady Drummond Hay on the first Zeppelin flight around the world

// July 5th, 2010 // Comments Off // Movie Premiere

by Marc Halperin

One of the films I looked forward to watching at the LA Film Festival was Farewell which premiered last November at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. Ever since I was a child I have had a fascination for these stately airships. Maybe it was the archival footage of the Hindenburg or just the Led Zeppelin album cover?

FAREWELL tells the story of Lady Grace Drummond-Hay, the only female passenger on the first journey around the world of the Graf Zeppelin in 1929. The film was meticulously pieced together over 9 years with archival materials from the extensive newsreel footage shot at the time. There are extraordinary moments captured in this film. The filmmakers have done a marvelous job finding footage that melds the story they have constructed from both fact and fiction into a cohesive  whole. There is plenty of adventure with tension over Russia and  an encounter with a monumental storm.

Continue Reading

Star filled Starry Nights at Theatricum

// July 5th, 2010 // Comments Off // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

One of the most revered Los Angels cultural and artistic institutions is The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum located in the mountains in Topanga a short distance from the freeways. This spot is filled with enthusiastic audiences and performers during the summer. If you have never been and you are missing out. In its intimate amphitheater  you can rub elbows with Hollywood stars and other members of the entertainment community along with neighborhood bohemians and just plain folks. Perfect for a summer evening.

On Friday, July 16 at 8 pm,James Cromwell, Amy Madigan, Michael O’Neill, Jordan Belfi and Christina Pickles headline a benefit performance of CARRY IT ON! Great American moments in word and song. The actors will perform a celebration of our past with the actual speeches, songs and poetry of great Americans including Abraham Lincoln; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Mark Twain; Walt Whitman; Rosa Parks; and Mother Jones. It’s an inspiring positive look toward our future, and a part of our collective history that cannot be forgotten. These stories of our forefathers and mothers help us pass this vital history on to the next generation. Later in August and September the Theatricum Summer Repertory Company presents eight additional performances of CARRY IT ON! as part of the summer repertory season. Continue Reading

Fantastic Fest September 23-30, 2010 Geek Heaven

// July 3rd, 2010 // Comments Off // Film Festivals

by Marc Halperin

What can you say about a festival that advertises it self as having:

70 Features • 50 Shorts • Eight nights of parties * Guns • Barbecue • Swimmin’ Holes • Karaoke, and …an unholy amount of movies, booze and fun await you in Austin, Texas.

The last two words say it all, only in Austin, a city whose motto is “Help Keep Austin Weird.”

This annual event is put together with the prodigious help of Harry Knowles of Aint it Cool News. Harry has made a living for himself and a lot of other people by making the Internet into a refuge and business for many in fandom. Next to Comic-Con in San Diego this is probably the most important film festival in the United States for all things related to science fiction, horror, fantasy and the supernatural. Continue Reading