Pasadena Playhouse has finally hit its stride and I’m excited to see the classic George C. Wolfe musical, Jelly’s Last Jam, open June 2nd through June 23rd. The Geffen Playhouse has brought back Helder Guimarães for his latest one-man magic show (wrapped in a story) — The Hope Theory — playing through June 30th. It's good for your friends who might not sit through a whole play but still want a good story. It’s also time for the Hollywood Fringe. In one way, the fringe is the place to find the raw energy that previously permeated most of LA’s intimate theaters. That’s both a good thing and a complicated thing — LA theater has changed. Putting on a show is a higher-stakes affair now. So it’s great to see that "Hey, what the hell, let’s put on a show" energy. But it can be hit or miss. My advice and context from last year still holds — see below. This is Anthony Byrnes opening the curtain on LA theater for KCRW.
Picks for June
