Author Archive: Glamour

Aloha Everywhere Concert Series at Downey Theatre

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Hawaiian Island Creations Lifestyle

Presenting the Best in Hawaiian Music with the
Aloha Everywhere Concert Series

Presents
Three-Time GRAMMY Winner
Kalani Pe’a

Brings his Festive Hawaiian Christmas Tour to Los Angeles

Special Guests
Kumu Hula Chase Keoki Wang & Hālau Nā Mamo O Pana’ewa


Downey Theatre – Saturday, December 14, 2024; 7pm

The Aloha Everywhere Concert Series presented by Hawaiian Island Creations (HIC) Lifestyle presents three time GRAAMY Winner Kalani Pe’a with his Hawaiian Christmas Tour 2024 at the Downey Theatre on Saturday, December 14 at 7pm, bringing the best in Hawaiian music to Los Angeles. Kalani Pe’a known for singing everything from classical, musical, ballads, R&B, soul to traditional and original Hawaiian music, displaying his wide-ranging talents as a songwriter and music composer. His talent for lyrics is on display in his original Hawaiian songs alongside his affectionate bilingual arrangements of R&B favorites. Special guests Kumu Hula Chase Keoki Wang and Hālau Nā Mamo O Pana’ewa join Kalani Pe’a for a memorable Hawaiian Christmas show.

Spend an evening enjoying the musical spirit of the Hawaiian Islands and its welcoming aloha culture, celebrating the warmth and special ‘aloha’ of the season, sharing much-loved songs from both western and Hawaiian roots. Kalani Pe‘a is quite charismatic with a beautiful and powerful presence who will share the stage with special guests Kumu Hula Chase Keoki Wang and Hālau Nā Mamo O Pana’ewa.

“We are excited to bring the Aloha Everywhere Music Series to Downey. Hawaiian music fans will enjoy ringing in the holidays with Kalani Pe’a as we bring culture, dance, and aloha everywhere,” noted Patrick Landeza, Executive Director of HIC Lifestyle.

“Gifted with a gorgeous voice and a flair for composing resonant Hawaiian songs, [he’s] a major, innovative figure in contemporary Hawaiian music.” – Maui News

The Aloha Everywhere Concert Series, presented by Hawaiian Island Creations (HIC) Lifestyle, started as a small surf shop on Oahu’s Windward shore. Through a commitment to quality, service and aloha spirit, the brand has built a reputation as an icon of Hawaiian surfing recognized throughout the world. The retail chain has grown to include seventeen stores across three islands, providing authentic Hawaiian surf gear to both locals and visitors alike and they subsequently branched out into the world of presenting Hawaiian music’s top artists, bringing excellent music, cultivating community, and nurturing culture by spreading aloha everywhere.

WHEN: Saturday, December 14, 2024; 7 p.m.

WHERE: Downey Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA 90241

PARKING: FREE on-site parking

TICKETS: $40 – $65

HOW & MORE INFORMATION:
– https://www.downeytheatre.org/; 562-861-8211; boxoffice@downeytheatre.org
– https://www.facebook.com/DowneyCivicTheatre; https://www.facebook.com/HICLifestyle; https://www.facebook.com/KalaniPeaMusic
– https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1932263/downey-theater/; https://www.instagram.com/kalanipeamusic
– Kalani Pe’a music video Ku’u Poli’ahu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7IsxQKApKI

– Kalani Pe’a Hawaii Theatre Highlights from last year’s Christmas Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgcviPCPX50&t=22s

Kalani Pe‘a got his start at the age four when he was diagnosed with a speech impediment; his mother introduced him to singing and music to help him pronounce his words. His father who comes from a musical family and his mother encouraged him to take vocal lessons and choir, and by age 8, Peʻa was winning numerous talent competitions. His winning streak continued with Brown Bags to Stardom, and first place in the National Association Teachers of Singing Competition in Colorado/Wyoming chapter, in men’s classical and musical divisions.

His debut album brought him into working with Dave Tucciarone, a 13-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award- Winning Engineer and Producer based in Honolulu, leading him to win a 2017 GRAMMY® and his first Na Hoku Award. This successful collaboration continued with Peʻa’s second CD, No ‘Ane‘i [We Belong Here], garnering rave reviews and a second GRAMMY win in 2019. Now his 3rd CD Kau Ka Pe‘a has once again brought him GRAMMY recognition, and he was also featured in the GRAMMY Opening Premiere Concert.

A fluent Hawaiian speaker and graduate of Hawaiian language school, Peʻa went on to illustrate and publish five Hawaiian language children’s stories while working on his master’s degree in early childhood education at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo. He taught at Kamehameha Preschools in Kona, followed by 8 years as a Hawaiian resource coordinator for Kamehameha Schools Maui, teaching Hawaiian culture (science focus), and creating curriculum.

The GRAMMY wins opened the door for his performing and touring career, and he was honored by the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives with an official proclamation: “It is vital that Native Hawaiian culture and the arts be perpetuated for future generations: Kalani Pe’a is a torchbearer and we recognize his accolades, accomplishments, and continued work on behalf of Native Hawaiians.”

RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH at Laguna Playhouse

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RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH

Written by Kris Lythgoe
Produced by Lythgoe Family Productions

Directed by Becky Lythgoe

Supervising Director Bonnie Lythgoe

Musical Direction by Andy Street

Choreography by Becca Sweitzer

Laguna Playhouse presents Lythgoe Family Productions ninth “Panto at the Playhouse” with Darcy Rose Byrnes as “Rapunzel,” L.J. Benet as “Prince Sebastian,” and Larry Saperstein as “Simple Simon,” joining the previously announced Sally Struthers (“All In The Family”)  as “Madame Gothel,” in the world premiere of RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH, produced by Lythgoe Family Productions, written by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Becky Lythgoe, supervising director Bonnie Lythgoe, choreography by Becca Sweitzer and musical direction by Andy Street.  RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH will begin performances on Saturday, December 7; (with a press opening on Sunday, December 8 at 5:30 pm); and runs through Sunday, December 29 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.  

 Prepare for a spellbinding journey as Rapunzel tries to escape from her tower and the wicked Madame Gothel with the help of Prince Sebastian of Newport Beach, all the while learning her true identity and making her way to the Kingdom of Laguna for the Festival of Lights. Get set for Laguna’s favorite holiday event, filled with laughter, pop music from Taylor Swift to Stevie Wonder and of course snow! 

 

Preview: Saturday, December 7 at 7:00pm

 Opens: Sunday, December 8 at 5:30pm

 Runs: Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 29, 2024

 Performances will be Wednesdays at 6:00pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00pm & 4:00pm (Saturday, December 21 will perform at 11:00am; 3:00pm & 7:00pm).  

There will no performances on Weds., Dec. 25 or Friday, Dec. 27 at 7:00pm.        

There will be added performances on Monday, December 23 at 12:00 pm & 4:00pm; Thursday, December 26 at 3:00PM & Friday, December 27 at 12:00 pm & 4:00pm.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

606 Laguna Canyon Rd. in Laguna Beach, CA

Tickets range from $44 – $84 (for adult tickets); 

$37 – $69 (for children 2 – 14) 

There is a $50 “Golden Ticket” add-on option for a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance and a gift bag with special surprises!  

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices subject to change.

 For tickets – visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com or call 949-497-2787

Sierra Madre Playhouse Announces 2025 Season

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Sierra Madre Playhouse
Announces 2025 Season,
Featuring a Record Number of World-Class Programs
Across a Wide Array of Genres

 

The Historic Performing Arts Venue
Offers 70 Entertaining and Compelling
Music, Jazz, Theater, Dance, Cinema, and Family Events
from January 2025 to December 2025

Highlights Include:

  • Debut of a Multi-Week Lunar New Year Celebration;
  • Expanded Dance and Music Programming;
  • World Premiere of a New Theatrical Work in Development;
  • Silent Film Classics Reimagined with Alt Rock Soundtracks;
  • New Artistic Partnerships with East West Players, Street Symphony, and Silents Synced and Continuing Partnerships with Wild Up and Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

2025 performances listed in chronological order:

sierramadreplayhouse.org/calendar

Theatre Review: The Wisdom of Eve

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Margot (Dahlia Waingort Guigui) and her entourage are captivated by Eve (Esther Guigui), an ingenue who portrays herself as Margot’s biggest fan. But below her sweet demeanor, Eve’s ambition has no limits. Director Bryan Rasmussen extracts the best elements of Mary Caswell Orr‘s script to present an amusing play that delivers drama and comedy in the best possible way.

Combining the elegance and excitement of the 1950s, Rasmussen infuses the play with the effervescence of the Golden Age of Broadway and the glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Paying homage to the stars who performed in the original film released in 1950, the cast in The Whitefire production convey a halo of sophistication and allure typical of the 50s’ productions.

Dahlia Waingort Guigui hits the right notes when portraying the duality of megalomania and carelessness of Margot. Likewise, Esther Guigui does a fantastic job playing the convincing ingenue and the heartless Machiavellian. Bringing order and reason to Margot’s hectic world is her husband Clement (John Mese), who can see through Eve’s excessive ambition right from the get-go. Also supporting Margot’s career is Lloyd (Eric Keitel), the playwright who writes to fit Margot’s personality, but can’t seem to find the right character to fit Margot’s age; she’s now 45 playing a 22-year-old.

To complement the talent and also shining bright on stage are two fabulous actors. Michael Mullen, playing Margot’s dresser Leila and the unscrupulous journalist Tally Ho, is quirky and funny, creating a compelling character and a perfect contrast to the darker tones of the story. More of him would be even better. The other actor is Barry Brisco, playing Karen. He delivers a tremendous performance, combining fluidly both drama and comedy. There are tears in his eyes when he cries, showing his level of commitment. 

The story ends up linking Broadway and Hollywood. Whether in New York or Los Angeles, the play delves into ageism, especially for women, and how difficult it is to find trustworthy friends in a hyper-competitive industry that promotes a cutthroat environment. Eve’s ambition keeps the intrigue going till the end. When you think of the magnanimity of forgiveness, a twist happens that throws off your assumptions, and you end up debating whether to sympathize with some of the characters or not. This exercise highlights the brilliance of Orr’s writing.            

This is another win for The Whitefire Theatre, an example of resilience despite the challenges and an example of dedication to the production of  quality theatre in Los Angeles.

The Wisdom of Eve

The Whitefire Theatre
13500 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

October 12th through November 24th

Performances are Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, with a show added Sunday evening, November 24th at 7:00pm.

(Due to a schedule conflict there is No Show October 26). 

Tickets: www.whitefiretheatre.com

Written by Mary Caswell Orr. Directed by Bryan Rasmussen. Produced by Dahlia Waingort Guigui.

Cast: Cayla Black (Vera), Barry Brisco (Karen), Brady Gentry (Harvey), Dahlia Waingort Guigui (Margot), Esther Guigui (Eve), Mitch Hara (Shared Roles – Tally-Ho & Leila – 10/12, 10/19, 11/16 & 11/23), Eric Keitel (Lloyd), John Mese (Clement), Michael Mullen (Shared Roles – Tally Ho/Leila – Performs 11/2, 11/9 & 11/24, Mitch Rosander (Bert Hinkle).

Creative team: Jeff Rack (Set Design), Derrick McDaniel (Lighting Design), Michael Mullen (Costume Design), and Mitch Rosander (Sound/Projection Design).

Theatre Review: Antíkoni

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Antíkoni reimagines Sophocles’s Greek tragedy to adapt it to a Native American narrative. It’s a story of family conflict and the continuous struggle of the Natives to preserve their legacy. The story stresses the topics of law, gender, and tradition in the historical context of the marvelous world of the Nez Perce Nation (The Nimiipuu people).

Playwright Beth Piatote explores the Nez Perce’s history and challenges through a series of characters that reflect the urgency of the Tribe to continue the fight for their rights in a time of uncertainty. Set in the near future, Antíkoni tells the story of a museum that is endangered by the rise of a Nationalist Party. Directing the museum, Kreon (Frank Henry Katasse) is able to bring back some of the ancestors’ remains that were in the hands of private European collectors. However, Kreon’s niece Antíkoni (Erin Xáalnook Tripp) opposes the idea of keeping the remains in the museum. Defying Kreon, she wants to bury them respectfully, so she tries to get the help of her fiancé Haemon (Kholan Studi) and sister Ismene (Isabella Madrigal) to carry out the risky operation. In this play, The Chorus are the Aunties, who try to guide them in the right direction. And just like in Sophocles’ play, there’s also Tairasias (Nikcoma Lee Mahkewa), the wise blind prophet who attempts to reason with Kreon.

Piatote questions the role of the museums in caring for the dead. Several museums exhibit objects and remains of Natives, while dismissing their humanity at the same time, an arrogant symbol of their historical looting. In the play, Kreon does whatever he can to track down some of the remains of the Native ancestors held in Europe to bring them to the museum he directs. This becomes a contentious issue between him and Antíkoni. Both think they’re right and this leads to an intrafamilial conflict.

In this extraordinary display of eloquent defiance against assimilation, Piatote and Director Madeline Sayet deconstruct the Western vision of museums and literature that has attempted to silence and disregard the rich and vast culture of the Native nations over the years. No matter the forced relocations, ethnic cleansing, or Trail of Tears, the new generations of Native Americans continue to fight invisibility while demanding the return of what belongs to them (check out the message on Antíkoni’s jacket).

Antíkoni accentuates the mastery of the Nez Perce as storytellers. Throughout the play, there are several stories about the origins of the sun, the moon, and the stars. Storytelling is a central aspect of Indigenous epistemology. It is through oral tradition that parents pass down important lessons to their kids, based on knowledge and experience. Piatote and Sayet invite the audience to be mesmerized by this ancient rubric, setting up the seats in a circle, as though sitting around a fire.

The structure of this play brings a refreshing take on the traditional stories we are so accustomed to read and see. Thanks to organizations like Native Voices, playwrights like Piatote have the opportunity to revisit the past to rescue and disseminate the richness and sublimity of the millennial Nations, inviting us to compare, question, and challenge our own perceptions of the world. The talents of Piatote, Sayet, and the passionate thespians of Antíkoni allow us to dream.

Antíkoni

Southwest Campus
234 Museum Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90065

November 8-24, 2024
Opening: November 8, 8 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays: 8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: 2 p.m.
Student Matinees: November 15 and 22, 11 a.m.

Tickets: theautry.org/events/native-voices

Written by Beth Piatote (Nez Perce). Directed by Madeline Sayet (Mohegan).

Cast: Frank Henry Katasse (Tlingit), Erin Xáalnook Tripp (Lingít), Isabella Madrigal (Cahuilla/Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Kholan Studi (Cherokee), Nikcoma Lee Mahkewa (Hopi-Tewa, Mohave, Chemehuevi), Arigon Starr (Kickapoo), GiGi Buddie (Tongva and Mescalero Apache),  Dawn Lura (Diné), and Nathan Woodworth (Karuk).

Creative team: Courtney Mohler (dramaturg) and Jennifer Bobiwash (assistant director).

Theatre Review: A View from the Bridge

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Surrounded by the danger and somberness of Red Hook, Arthur Miller created a gripping drama, relating the hardships of working-class Italian immigrants and the tragic consequences of a forbidden love.

The tight community of Italian immigrants serves as the background for one of the most iconic plays in American theatre. Eddie (Richard Baird), a longshoreman, lives with his wife Beatrice (Margot White) and his orphaned 17-year-old niece Catherine (Marie Zolezzi). Eddie is going through a middle age crisis, exacerbated by the bedroom issues with his wife and the disturbing sexual attraction towards his niece. As a good Italian man, he welcomes Beatrice’s cousins Marco (Lowell Byers) and Rodolpho (Coby Rogers). But the flirting between Catherine and Rodolpho triggers Eddie’s rage, building tension and conflict by the day.

Alfieri (Frank Corrado), a lawyer serving as a narrator in the play, tries to convince Eddie to get Catherine out of his mind and bless her relationship with Rodolpho. Eddie, however, is reaching the point of no return, his eyes like tunnels, lost in his madness. A presage of an unstoppable tragedy.

The illusions of the first love, the honorability within a tight community, and the hopes of a new life in America are shattered by Eddie’s perception of a challenge to his authority and his inability to control his emotions. The characters soon find out that these issues will become a hindrance to their happiness and a rupture of their mutual trust.

On stage, the cast and the experienced direction of David Ellenstein create a pulsating staging that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Ellenstein builds up the suspense scene after scene, invigorating the action to reach a dynamic and captivating climax. The actors explore the layers of emotions and conflicts that make this play such a rich ground on themes of sexuality, migrants experience, and the complexities of human relations.

At the epicenter of this memorable production is Richard Bair. His portrayal of Eddie is electrifying. Baird excels in exteriorizing the agony and devastation of a man who is about to violate the sacrosanct omertà, destroying everything and everyone around him, blinded by his uncontrollable passion. Baird goes all in, achieving a triumphant presentation, elating an audience absorbed by his riveting performance.

The lighting with the blue hues and the brownish tones of the set design highlight the intensity and roughness of life on the waterfront, an accurate depiction of the hardships of immigrants and their efforts to survive in New York in the 1950s.

This production succeeds in capturing the emotional distress of a character falling prey to his own demons, risking his reputation, his family, and his place in the world.

A View from the Bridge

Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Rd. Laguna Beach, CA

Runs: Sunday, November 3 – Sunday, November 17, 2024
Wednesdays at 7:30pm; Thursdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Fridays at 7:30pm;
Saturdays at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm.
There will be no performance on Sunday, November 3 at 1:00pm or Sunday,
November 17 at 5:30pm.
There will be a post-show talkback following the Friday, November 8
performance.

Tickets: lagunaplayhouse.com

Written by Arthur Miller. Directed by David Ellenstein.

Cast: Richard Baird, Lowell Byers, Frank Corrado, Steve Froehlich, Coby Rogers, Matthew Salazar-Thompson, Margot White, and Marie Zolezzi.

Creative team: Scenic design by Marty Burnett; lighting design by Matthew Novotny; sound design by Ian Scot; costume design by Elisa Benzoni; hair and wigs design by Peter Herman; props design by Kevin Williams; fight coordinator is Christopher M. Williams. The Production Stage Manager is Vernon Willet.

‘Fancy Nancy, Splendiferous Christmas’ at the Chance Theater

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WHAT COULD BE FANCIER FOR CHRISTMAS?!
Fancy Nancy, Splendiferous Christmas

THE HIT BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING BOOK SERIES IS BACK AT THE CHANCE!

WHAT: Fancy Nancy, Splendiferous Christmas
Presents with elegant wrapping paper, festive decorations, Christmas cookies with sprinkles – and who could forget the tree? After all, there is no such thing as too much tinsel. Ooh, la la! This year, Nancy is especially excited. After selling some of her old gowns and accessories, she has enough money to buy a brand-new sparkly tree topper. She simply cannot wait to decorate the Christmas tree. But when things don’t turn out the way Nancy planned, does Christmas still stand a chance of being splendiferous?

WHEN:
Previews: December 6-8, 2024; Friday 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Sunday, December 8 at 6 p.m.
Performances: December 6 – 22, 2024
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 7 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m., Sundays at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.

RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 15 minutes

TICKETS: $21-$30, with discounts for children (age 4-12), educators, veterans, seniors and students. Pay-What-You-Can preview performances are also available to ensure that live theater is accessible to everyone.

WHERE: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage
5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center is located at 5522 E. La Palma Avenue in Anaheim Hills. Going west on La Palma from Imperial Highway, we are on the left in the front of the industrial park just past the In & Out. There is plenty of free convenient parking in front of the theater.

MORE INFO: www.ChanceTheater.com or call (888) 455-4212

COMMITTED? at Rogue Machine at the Matrix Theatre

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Suicide Story Transforms Tragedy To Recovery
Because Who Wants to Talk About Death?
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Join us this weekend for the world premiere of Rogue Machine’s
COMMITTED?
Written and performed by Lisa Robins / Directed by Mitch Levine
8pm Fri Nov 1; 3pm Sun. Nov 3; 8pm Fri Nov 8; 2pm Sat Nov 9
Rogue Machine at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Post-Show Talkbacks After Each Performance

Let’s face it: Suicide Sucks. And no one knows how to handle it. How do you transform the worst thing that’s ever happened to you…?

WHAT: “Committed?”
Written and performed by Lisa Robins
Director: Mitch Levine
Dramaturg: Justin Tanner
Produced by Elina de Santos
A Rogue Machine Production
Recommended for ages 14+

DESCRIPTION: Let’s face it: Suicide Sucks. And no one knows how to handle it. How do you transform the worst thing that’s ever happened to you…? With humor as a shield and community as her anchor, Lisa uses raw honesty and biting wit to share a “Ritual for Robbie.”

WHERE: Rogue Machine at the Matrix Theatre

7657 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(Street parking)

WHEN: Opening at 8pm on Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Schedule: Fri. Nov. 1; 3pm Sun. Nov. 3; 8pm Fri Nov 8; 2pm Sat Nov 9
Closing: November 9, 2024

TALKBACKS FOLLOWING EACH PERFORMANCE:

11/1, Friday at 8: All Saints Day related program (the day when the veil between the living and dead is the most fragile).

11/3, 11/8, 11/9: guests TBA

HOW: For reservations call 855-585-5185 or https://www.roguemachinetheatre.org/committed

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $45 (Students $25 / Seniors $35)

Lavender Men Wins Best Narrative Feature, Festival Favorite & Best Actor 

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Lavender Men Wins Best Narrative Feature, Festival Favorite & Best Actor 
 
Michael O’ Hara, Natasha Dewhurst, Mia Ellis, Lovell Holder, Cherie Corinne Rice, Alex Esola, Roger Q. Mason, Philippe Bowgen, Mia Chang, David Gonzalez, Shirley Luong, Tyler Woehl, Seth Dorcey, Linnea Liu Dakin, Talya Klein. Photo credit: Charles Reese.
Directed by Lovell Holder
Screenplay by Roger Q. Mason & Lovell Holder
Based on the stage play by Roger Q. Mason
 
Lavender Men, a new film directed by Lovell Holder and written by Holder and Roger Q. Mason, based on Mason’s critically acclaimed stage play, has been touring the festival circuit this fall with screenings at the OutSouth Queer Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina, Charlotte Film Festival in Charlotte, NC, Cinema Diverse in Palm Springs, CA, Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival in Bay City, MI, Out on Film in Atlanta, GA, Ashland Independent Film Festival in Ashland, OR, Seattle Queer Film Festival in Seattle, WA, OutReels in Cincinnati, OH, Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA, We Make Movies International Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA, and Yellowstone International Film Festival in New Delhi, India.
The film was awarded a Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the Charlotte Film Festival and named a Festival Favorite by audiences at Cinema Diverse. Roger Q. Mason won Best Actor at the Micheaux Film Festival. The film was also nominated for Best Screenplay (Roger Q. Mason & Lovell Holder) at the Micheaux Film Festival and Best Feature and Best Performer (Roger Q. Mason) at We Make Movies International Film Festival.
While working on a poorly-attended play about Abraham Lincoln, the long-suffering stage manager Taffeta interfaces with difficult people both onstage and off. After a particularly miserable evening, Taffeta plunges into their daydreams, crafting their own retelling of the Lincoln myth by inserting themself into the likely true love story between Abe – then just a young lawyer in Springfield, Illinois – and Elmer Ellsworth, a dashing army sergeant. As Taffeta churns through every possible identity to bring themselves as close to connection and intimacy as they can, they must question why they have chosen to tell a tale that may never have been for them in the first place – and how to finally live a life of their very own. Part chamber drama and part exorcism, Lavender Men presents a fundamentally queer story where theater, cinema, history, and memoir collide into one singular, breathtaking fantasia.
The cast features Roger Q. Mason (Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution on Netflix) as Taffeta, Pete Ploszek (Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise; the upcoming final season of You on Netflix) as Abe, and Alex Esola (Bart Freundlich’s After the Wedding at Sundance; The Young Pope on HBO) as Elmer. The supporting cast includes Philippe Bowgen, Chad Callaghan, Linnea Liu Dakin, Natasha Dewhurst, Mia Ellis, Cherie Corinne Rice, Ted Rooney, Charlie Thurston, Tyler Woehl, and Gillian Williams. Lavender Men was produced by Mia Chang, Mia Ellis, Lovell Holder, and Roger Q. Mason with Executive Producers Rob Massar, Christopher Donaldson, Paul Hart-Wilden, Gary Grossman, Jon Lawrence Rivera, and Cece Suazo, Co-Executive Producers Gillian Williams and Matt Plaxco, Co-Producer Shirley Luong, and Associate Producers Letitia Chang and Seth Dorcey. The production team included Director of Photography Matt Plaxco, Editor Morgan Halsey, Production Designer Stephen Gifford, Composer David Gonzalez, Original Song “I Am a Chandelier!” by Kevin JZ Prodigy, Choreographer Jobel Medina, Vogue Choreographer Cece Suazo, Intimacy Coordinator Talya Klein, Original Theatrical Intimacy Coordinator Ann C. James, Theatrical Lighting Consultant Dan Weingarten, Theatrical Costume Consultant Wendell Carmichael, Theatrical Sound Consultant Erin Bednarz, and Headdress and Jewelry Design by ONCH.
In 2019, Roger Q. Mason’s original play Lavender Men received a public workshop on Broadway at Circle in the Square, directed by Lovell Holder and starring Mason, Charlie Thurston, and Garrett Clayton. The play’s world premiere was subsequently scheduled for April 2020 at Skylight Theater in Los Angeles, following its development as part of the theater’s SkyLab. After the premiere’s cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the play was named to the 2020 Kilroy’s List. Holder and Mason subsequently adapted a section of the play into the short film Taffeta, starring Mason and directed by Holder. The short film screened at Outfest, BFI Flare, Bentonville, Hollyshorts, and the SCAD Savannah film festival, where it received a jury prize. In 2022, the play premiered at last in Los Angeles, produced by Skylight Theater and Playwrights Arena, where it was named by TheaterMania as one of the six “Best Regional Productions in America of 2022.” Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times called Mason “A daring theatrical talent…evoking the mingled visions of Suzan-Lori Parks, Jeremy O. Harris and Michael R. Jackson.” Following the play’s critically acclaimed debut, Mason and Holder began the process of adapting the piece for film.
Lovell Holder (Director/Producer/Co-Writer) has produced the feature films Peak Season, Midday Black Midnight Blue, The End of Us, Working Man, Some Freaks, and Loserville (which he also directed).  Collectively, his films have screened at over 100 film festivals, including SXSW, Fantasia, Santa Barbara, Shanghai, SCAD Savannah, Outfest, and BFI Flare.  In theater, he directed the Broadway workshop of Lavender Men at Circle in the Square, and in Los Angeles he has directed at Skylight Theater, Playwrights Arena, Echo Theater Company, Celebration Theater, and Rising Phoenix Rep. His debut novel, The Book of Luke, will be published by Grand Central Publishing (an imprint of Hachette) in hardcover and audiobook in Fall 2025. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he is a graduate of Princeton University and Brown University. Instagram: @lovell.holder
Roger Q. Mason (Co-Writer/Producer/Performer) (they/them) is a writer and performer who uses the lens of history to disrupt the biases that divide rather than unite us. Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway (Circle in the Square Reading Series), Off and Off-Off-Broadway, and regionally. They are a recipient of the inaugural Catalyst Fellowship, awarded by the Dramatists Guild Foundation, in celebrations of theater makers whose work impacts social justice and civic change through art. As a filmmaker, Mason has been recognized by the British Film Institute, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, and Atlanta International Film Festival. Their films have screened in the US, UK, Poland, Brazil, and Asia. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and an alum of the Ma-Yi’s Writing Lab, Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Group, and Primary Stages Writing Cohort. Mason currently produces a memoir/cooking segment on Instagram called Cooking with Q: A Playwrights Guide to Telling My Trouble. Previously, they co-hosted the podcast Sister Roger’s Gayborhood and hosted This Way Out Radio’s Queerly Yours: Portraits in Courage. Mason has served as lead mentor of The Marsha P. Johnson Institute’s Starship Fellowship, the New Visions Fellowship, and the Shay Foundation Fellowship. They are currently on faculty at CalArts. Instagram: @rogerq.mason

TROUBIES’  HOME ALONE-LY  HEARTS CLUB BAND at The Colony Theatre

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TROUBADOUR THEATER COMPANY

presents A World Premiere Holiday Musical Event!

TROUBIES’ 
HOME ALONE-LY 
HEARTS CLUB BAND

Musical Direction by Ryan Whyman

Directed and Adapted by Matt Walker

Limited Engagement begins Thursday, December 5th

at The Colony Theatre in Burbank!

TROUBIES’ HOME ALONE-LY HEARTS CLUB BAND

Directed and Adapted by Matt Walker

 

Featuring the Songs of “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” 

by the Beatles

 

Previews: 

Thursday, December 5, at 8pm

Friday, December 6th at 8pm

Opens: Saturday, December 7 at 4pm (press opening);  

Runs: Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 22, 2024

Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm; 

Saturdays at 4pm & 8pm;

Sundays at 4pm & 7:30pm

 

Colony Theatre

555 N. Third St., Burbank, CA  

Tickets: $35.00 – $65.00 

Tickets available online at www.troubie.com

or by calling the box office at (818) 558-7000