Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival Presents 2nd Season of Summer Classics

29 Jun 2016 1 Comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags: , , ,

Sierra Shakes

Sierra Shakes in action

Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival returns to Sierra Madre Memorial Park for its second season of Shakespeare under the stars. The season will feature two classics – one comedy and one tragedy – now through August 13. Romeo and Juliet is currently running through July 16 and Twelfth Night will open July 21 and continue through August 13. All performances are free so bring the family, a blanket, and a picnic and you’ll be set for a lovely summer night.

“We are thrilled to be returning to Sierra Madre with two different plays and nearly 20 performances,” says artistic director Devon Armstrong. “The audiences were tremendous last year, and we can only hope that they enjoyed the shows as much as the cast did. We are proud to offer these performances in a co-sponsorship with the City of Sierra Madre and with the support of the Sierra Madre Community Foundation.”

Following the performances in Sierra Madre, the company will move to its downtown location at the historic Pico House for an additional five performances of Twelfth Night.

Sierra Shakes

ROMEO AND JULIET
June 23 – July 16, 2016
7:30 pm
Sierra Madre Memorial Park
TWELFTH NIGHT
July 21 – August 13, 2016
7:30 pm
Sierra Madre Memorial Park
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA, 91024.
Performances are Free and there is Free Street Parking
www.SierraShakes.com

TWELFTH NIGHT
August 19, 20, 21, 24 & 26, 2016
7:30 pm
Pico House
424 N. Main Street
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.downtownrep.com

Photo Flash: Downtown Rep’s Much Ado About Nothing

23 Aug 2015 2 Comments

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags: ,

Downtown Repertory Theater Company presents Much Ado About Nothing directed by Ivan Rivas, August 20 – September 6, 2015, in the courtyard of the historic Pico House in Downtown Los Angeles. Performances are free but reservations are recommended because there is limited seating availability and tickets for the company’s productions go quickly. www.downtownrep.com

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Downtown Rep - Much Ado About Nothing

Click HERE for more photos from the production.

Shakespeare Fans, You’ll Love this New Theater Web Series EMPTY SPACE

05 Aug 2015 1 Comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Web series Tags:

Empty Space 2

Congratulations to LA’s own Devon Armstrong and the Downtown Repertory Theater Company whose web series Empty Space is now available on BroadwayWorld.com. Empty Space is a nine-episode comedy that explores and glorifies the world of diehard thespians, those hardcore beasts of the theater who soldier on against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune because, after all, the show must go on. All episodes are now available for you to binge watch HERE. Since seeing a sneak preview of Episode One earlier this spring, I can tell you that I’ve been looking forward to the rest of the series. It’s terrific.

In Empty Space: After an untimely accident, Orson Ripley (Devon Armstrong), a scruffy but talented denizen of guerrilla theater, finds himself torn from his parking lot black-box and thrust into the world of the acerbic and autocratic Ian Kingsley (Freddy Douglas), Artistic Director of the well-heeled Warner Grand Playhouse. But all is not well at the Warner Grand: a simmering feud between the cast and the crew flares up into open mutiny three days before Romeo and Juliet is set to open…

The series is written and directed by Devon Armstrong with additional direction by Matt Lents, and is produced by Devon Armstrong and John Armstrong, with cinematography by Idan Menin. Empty Space is a BroadwayWorld exclusive and the popular theatre website’s first web series filmed in an actual theater.

The cast includes Freddy Douglas, Chris Eckert, Karina Noelle, Katie Pelensky, Arber Mehmetti, Tiffany Tejeda-Rodriguez, Devon Armstrong, Connor Kelly-Eiding, Amanda Corbet. Paul Eiding, Mark Jacobson, Sarah Peck, Joshua Bevier, Matthew Michael Collins, Madison Shepard. Matt Lents, Nicholas Ian Law, Stephen Davalos, Colleen Kelly, Todd Christian Elliot, Linda Serrato. Daniel Jimenez, Emily Goss, Kevin DeKimpe. Matthew Nelson, Idan Menin, Joe Desoto. Brooke Culbertson, Mia Carina Mollicone, James Fowler, Stephanie Galvan, and John Armstrong.

Click Here to watch Empty Space

 

Review: Downtown Rep Revives THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

12 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles, Reviews Tags: ,

Downtown Rep - Merchant of Venice
Within the courtyard of the historic Pico House in downtown LA, the Downtown Repertory Theater Company is in the midst of offering its sixth season of classical works. Led by artistic director Devon Armstrong, they have taken on Chekhov, Marlowe, Odets and numerous plays by Shakespeare, all while encouraging actors to tackle roles they might not otherwise have the opportunity to play.

The three story brick building makes a perfect setting for Shakespeare, with its picturesque arches, metal railings and balconies. It should, since it was originally built in 1869 by Don Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, who opened it as the first luxury hotel in LA. The back wall of the courtyard was also the site of the first theater in Los Angeles so it is fitting that it is once again used in that artistic capacity. It makes an especially beautiful setting for the company’s current production of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Ivan Rivas and starring David Nathan Schwartz as Shylock.  More

Downtown Rep Presents Romeo and Juliet, and Dido, Queen of Carthage

05 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags: ,

Born and raised in a vacant parking garage at Fourth and Main, the Downtown Rep. is now celebrating its fourth summer in the soaring three-story courtyard of the historic Pico House at Olvera Street and its fifth season of plays.

The company’s 2013 season is nicknamed “The Season of Tainted Love” since all of the lovers wind up poisoned, stabbed or incinerated, and starts with a blaze in Marlowe’s Dido, Queen of Carthage, which runs June 29 – July 21. The season concludes with a raging feud in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which plays from August 8 – 31.

Founded by artistic director Devon Armstrong in 2009, the company is comprised of both professional actors and recent graduates from theater conservatories across the country. Many are alumni of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). All performances of the Downtown Rep are free of charge, though seating is limited, reservations highly recommended, and donations gratefully accepted. For further information, go to www.downtownrep.com.