“Observations Along The Road” is Daniel’s (cahwyguy’s) home for journaling. Daniel is a mild-mannered computer security specialist with interests in a wide variety of things, especially live theatre, highways, Judaism, history, and off-beat news.
🎭 Theatre Writeups, 🛣️ Highway Updates, 📰 Musings on the News, and other 🗯️ Rants and Roadkill Along the Information Superhighway
I was introduced to your blog primarily for the theatre reviews that you have written. I was curious as to how you went about selecting the theatres you attend? I know there’s a ton of live theatre out there these days and was wondering how, for example, you decide to write about the Repertory East Playhouse versus the Canyon Theatre Guild. Thanks.
The answer is different for each theatre. I originally just had a subscription for the Pasadena Playhouse, which I started in 1987 or so. After their bankruptcy, I looked around for another similar theatre, and latched upon the Colony. When the Playhouse came back, I just wasn’t enamored of their programming — or price — which is why I’m at the Colony.
REP East came about shortly after I discovered Goldstar. We went to their “William Shakespeare abridged” production in 2004, and started going to almost every show via Goldstar. After about 2 years, we decided we liked their programming so much — and the people there so much — we wanted to subscribe. Canyon Theatre Guild has a very different show mix and a different professionalism, and so never attracted us as much.
Cabrillo Music Theatre came about in the mid 1990s when we were looking for a good family venue that did musicals. We liked Cabrillo’s program of four musicals, and so subscribed as a family. I still like what they do.
As for the other shows, it is primarily what I want to see. Often, that is musicals — usually one’s I’ve heard but never seen, but others that get written up in the various local blogs and websites that attract my attention. This includes the tours and such at the Pantages and Center Theatre Group. Similarly for plays, but I do tend to see a lot less plays.
Does that answer your question?
Absolutely makes sense. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Canyon Theatre Guild so I was wondering if there was anything I could do to attract you to our theatre. I totally understand where you’re coming from and really enjoy your writings, it’s nice to read from someone who doesn’t have a background in theatre but thoroughly enjoys attending shows. Those are some times the best people to review shows. If you’d ever like to see a show at the Canyon Theatre Guild, just let me know and I’ll get you tickets.
It really depends on the show and our schedule. Drop an email to me at faigin -at cahighways.org, and I’ll send you my address so you can send me a program. If something looks interesting (we were there for one show in the past), we’ll go. Who knows… given the shutdown, I may have more time on my hands 🙂
I read with interest your 2010 blog about using Sam Mikhail of College Planning Advisors to assist you in your daughter’s college application process.
I went to a seminar given by Mr. Mikhail last night. I would be very interested to know how you viewed your experience.
Brad
I’ll send you an email shortly.
I saw this and thought of you:
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/music-geeks-are-retrofitting-old-ipods-to-keep-the-perfect-mp3-player-alive
I saw the article come across in Google news, but it had no details. They could have at least linked to https://www.iflash.xyz/ (the Tarkan board site).
Thank you for being one of the few listings on Google about my family, the Lopez Ranch. I tried working on a blog but it seems boring. My dad Stanley died 2 years ago and most of his siblings are gone now and I wanted something out there about a place we all loved.My uncle Bernie filled me in on some facts and I visited Judy Lucero at the Culver City Historical Center. Not much to find.
Hi Daniel,
I’m new to the theater world having come from television & film.
My first foray into LA theater is with my Hollywood Fringe scholarship winning play CHATTER.
CHATTER is a dark comedy loosely based on my own struggles as a mixed woman, both black and white, as well as with my Jewish religion (which I know you can relate), and with my experiences with self doubt and suicide.
CHATTER is about silencing the voices in our head that tell us we’re not (blank) enough. We’ve all experienced that feeling.
A diverse, mostly black, all-female cast is heading up the production.
I have also partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as well.
I’d love to save a seat or two for you to come out and see the show. I think you’ll really enjoy it.
The dates of the show are:
June 3rd @ 2:30
June 18th @ 5:30
June 22nd @ 7pm
Please let me know if you can make it out any of these dates and I’ll rope off our best seat(s) for you!!
Thank you for all that you do and thanks for being such an integral part of the LA arts!!
Best,
Natasha Lewin
I have yet to go through the fringe schedule to layout what I want to see. I’ll keep your show in mind, and get back to you (consider dropping a note to my email – faigin -at cahighways.org). Note that I’m odd in that I don’t accept free tickets. I prefer to pay something, typically the half-price I would pay on goldstar. I’m well trained from the ethics rules at my day job.
Found your voter guide when I was looking for information on judges (can be very hard to find). It was super helpful to me. We seem to have very similar opinions to begin with so you did not have to sway me too much, but you helped me decide how to vote on the judges and a couple propositions I was waffling on. Thank you for your diligence in making this!