orange & los angeles counties on stage


A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN Like a comet that burns far


too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Fueled by such unforgettable songs as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Cry Baby” and “Summertime,”A Night With Janis Joplin is a musical journey


celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences—icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of rock & roll’s greatest legends. The production, which runsSaturday, September 15 through Sunday, October 7at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, features Broadway’s original “Janis”, Mary Bridget Davies, starring in her Tony nominated role. Davies performs with her own band, The Mary Bridget Davies Group, and is also an interpreter of Janis Joplin’s music. She received a Tony Award-nomination for best lead actress in a musical for her performance as Janis inA Night with Janis Joplin. For tickets and more information, call 562.944.9801, or visit lamiradatheatre.com.


MARIAN, OR THE TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD The West Coast premiere of Adam


Szymkowicz’s gender-bending, patriarchy-smashing, hilarious new take on the classicRobin Hood is now on stage at Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood. In this retelling of the tale, Robin Hood is and has always been, Maid Marian in disguise. She leads a motley group of Merry Men, a few of whom are actually men, against the greedy Prince John. As the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, who will stand for the vulnerable if not Robin Hood? What is the cost of revealing your true


self in a time of trouble? Modern concerns and romantic entanglements clash on the battlefield and on the ramparts of Nottingham Castle.Marian, Or the True Tale of Robin Hood is a play about selfishness, selflessness, of love deferred and the fight—always the fight—the fight must go on. Performances continue this monththrough Saturday, September 22 at Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood. For tickets and more information, call 323.856.8611, or visit theatreofnote.com.


TWO’S A CROWD They say opposites attract... Well,


they haven’t met Tom and Wendy. Forced together by a computer error, freewheeling Tom and uptight Wendy do their best to ruin each other’s vaca- tions. Will they get to know each other well enough to reveal the real reasons behind their travel? Will they agree on sleeping arrangements? Will room service ever arrive? Laguna Playhouse presents a world premiere musical, Two’s A Crowd starring Rita Rudner and Davis Gaines, book by Martin Bergman and Rita Rudner, music and lyrics by Jason Feddy and directed by Martin Bergman. This is Bergman and Rudner’s third new show and first musical at the Laguna Playhouse, and their most ambitious offering to date. “We find the Laguna audience to be really supportive, and we wanted to start this show here before taking it on tour and hopefully ending up in New York,” said Bergman. “The feedback we’ll get from the Playhouse audiences will be immensely helpful, and we hope the people who come and see the show will know and enjoy their role in being involved in something at its very inception. Although it’s set in Las Vegas, it’s a very Laguna recipe – the three of us plus the immensely talented Jason Feddy.”Two’s A Crowd will be performed for two weeks only,Friday, September 7 through Sunday, September 16at Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets and more information, call 949.497.2787, or visit lagunaplayhouse.com.


A SYMPHONIC TRIBUTE TO MOTOWN The music of “Hitsville U.S.A.” comes to SoCal when Long Beach


Symphony performs hits from Motown’s golden years. The Pops! Series concertA Symphonic Tribute to Motownfeatures smash hits made famous by artists like Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, The Temptations and the one and only Stevie Wonder. Songs include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Dancing in The Street,” “I Heard it Through The Grapevine,” “My Girl,” “Superstition,” and more. Audiences will be transformed by the powerful music of Motown with these authentic arrangements and talented young vocalists, Shayna Steele and Michael Lynche (American Idolfinalist). The show takes placeSaturday, October 6 at Long Beach Arena. The concert starts at 8 p.m. but ticket holders are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic dinner along with your favorite libations to enjoy before the show. For tickets and more information, call 562.436.3203 or visit longbeachsymphony.org.


SEPTEMBER 2018 | RAGE monthly 49


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