New Member Auditions… Tuesday, September 7 at 7pm. Call 310-428-9519 for appointment.

THE THEATRE IS LOCATED 10900 BURBANK BLVD ,NORTH HOLLYWOOD.

$ 50 DOLLARS MONTHLY DUES ARE REQUIRED FOR MEMBERSHIP
The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theater is one of LA’s oldest membership companies in Los Angeles.
Celebrating its 36th season, the company welcomed its new  Artistic Director, Ernest A. Figueroa in the Spring of 2009.
The theatre is known for producing american classics, musicals and new works and boasts a diverse company of multi-generational artists.

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre mission is to foster growth of legitimate theatre in the greater Los Angeles area and to work as a service organization with the community, including youth groups, schools and charities. The company produces 6-11 productions a year and auditions for new members happen three to four times a year.

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre Presents:

A WALK IN THE WOODS

by Lee Blessing

Plays: Friday Evenings 8:00 pm

Saturday Matinees 4:00 pm

Through September 4, 2010

For ticket reservations, click here.

A play that in the wrong hands could easily bog down in dialog becomes a gripping and delicately framed study in human interaction as presented by the Group Rep. The insightful words of playwright Lee Blessing’s back story account of the  Salt II negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland in 1983, gain a new life when actors Larry Eisenberg and Fox Carney infuse themselves in the characters of Andrey Botvinnik, a Soviet diplomat and John Honeyman, his opposite number negotiating for the Americans.

Jose Ruiz – Reviewplays

The success of a theatrical two-man political debate is evident by the long running, Tony winning Frost/Nixon. In the same mold, playwright Lee Blessing’s highly acclaimed, timely dramedy A Walk in the Woods brings two talking heads together for two hours of political and trivial banter and the result is something close to perfection. The lead characters, Larry Eisenberg as Andrey Botvinnik, a career Soviet diplomat, and Fox Carney, as John Honeyman, an American negotiator, are so contrapuntal, that the audience is instantly enthralled.

Bonnie Priever – Tolucan Times

Under Richard Woody’s even and smooth direction, both Eisenberg and Carney are super. Eisenberg brings his character inward and completely enjoys himself. He wears the Russian skin as if it were his own. John Honeyman is the perfect fit for Carney. His outward appearance of a workaholic, corporate executive and his inner persistent, unyielding sense of never give up ideally serve the play. This is a rivetingly topical evening of theatre, astutely written, acted and directed.

Don Grigware – BroadwayWorld

So come on down to The Group Rep, where there’s great theater in your backyard!

(Major Ridge: Traitor or Savior?)

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre proudly presents a staged reading of a new play, NOT ONE MORE FOOT OF LAND! by Art Shulman, and directed by Thyra Lees-Smith.

Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18 at 7:30 PM.

Based on a true story, NOT ONE MORE FOOT OF LAND! is a drama centering around the life of Major Ridge, a Cherokee Indian, in the times leading up to and including the Trail of Tears in the mid-1840’s. He was the most controversial Cherokee who ever lived.

ADMISSION IS FREE, but reservations are suggested. The reservations number is 818-782-4252.  Ask for Art.

A discussion will take place after the reading, which you are welcome to attend.

The theater address is 10900 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

For those of you not familiar with Art Shulman, he is a prolific playwright whose full-length plays include The Rabbi & The Shiksa; BAGELS; Misconceptions; Old Broads Can’t Dunk; The $4 Million Giveaway; September 10; God, Bring Me A Miracle; Boxcar & Eugenia, Sex Is Good For You; The Rabbi & The Gravedigger, and Joe Carbone’s Job.

The cast includes Linda Alznauer, Cynthia Bryant, Michael Cassano, Britt Chichester, Disraeli Ellison, Diane Frank, Elliott Goldwag, Christian Kehoe, Elle Marshall, Robert McCollum, Julianna Piechoski Milton, Tom Regan, Larry Robbins, Leo Weltman

The first show, which opens on Friday July 30^th is called A Walk in the Woods, by Lee Blessing. Our production stars Larry Eisenberg & Fox Carney and was directed by Richard Alan Woody.  Performance Friday Evenings 8:00 pm with a Saturday matinee at 4:00 pm.  It runs: July 30 through September 4, 2010.

The second show opens Saturday, July 31^st and is called String of Pearls, by Michele Lowe and features direction by Sherry Netherland and was produced by Gina Yates.  It stars Michele Bernath, Katelyn Ann Clark, Lareen Faye & Sean Kathryn O’Connor.  Performances are Saturday Evenings 8:00 pm and Sunday Matinees 2:00 pm

It runs: July 31 through September 5, 2010.

For ticket reservations: www.thegrouprep.com or 818.700-4878.

A Walk in the Woods: In 1983, faced with a breakdown in nuclear arms reduction talks between Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov, lead negotiators Paul A. Nitze and Yuli A. Kvitsinsky met secretly in Geneva’s Botanic Garden to break the impasse. Based on those real-life events, Lee Blessing put a human face on the life-and-death issues confronted by two Cold War adversaries when two arms negotiators – one from the United States and the other from the Soviet Union – meet in Geneva and edge toward common ground. The play takes place in the scenic woods outside of the city where these two superpower negotiators meet informally after long, frustrating hours at the bargaining table. As the talks drag on and the seasons change, the relationship between the two develops from wariness to a sort of personal mutual understanding. In 1988, A WALK IN THE WOODS opened at Broadway’s Booth Theater and was nominated for the Tony Award, the Pulitzer Prize and the Olivier Award. The Broadway cast starred Robert Prosky and Sam Waterston. The play was originally presented at the O’Neill Playwrights Conference in Connecticut in 1986, and had a run at the La Jolla Playhouse before heading to the Big White Way.

What critics have said:

“…a work of passion and power with the ring of political truth. It is not only the best of the few dramas to reach Broadway this season, it is also the funniest comedy.” – Time Magazine

A minor miracle” – New York Magazine.

“A splendid evening of theatre.” – New York Daily News

String of Pearls:

A play about all the women we know. 4 actresses – 27 roles

Michele Lowe’s radiant play explores the possibilities that open up in the lives of an array of women as they come into contact with a certain strand of pearls. While the pearls are stolen, bought, bestowed, unstrung and nearly lost, four actresses play 27 characters in this deeply moving drama that is as fresh as it is funny. Spanning 35 years, the pearls touch the lives of mothers and daughters, sisters and friends, even husbands and wives as they weave a deeply affecting story of love and loss.

“Highly satisfying hilarious blend of sex, satire, poignance, and absurdism.” – New York Times

“String of Pearls is a funny and moving tale of a fated necklace that changes the lives of over two dozen characters. The stories and characters, intricately threaded together, create a gently comic, wonderfully magical puzzle.” – TheatreChannel.com

Are you ready for excellence in the theater?  So come on down to the Group Rep, one of the only theaters in the Southland performing shows in repertory!

The Menopause “Crack-Up” (in association with J.E.T. Productions) performs at 8PM on Tuesday August 3^rd and Wednesday August 4^th with a reception to follow both nights.  Admission is $20. Reserve tickets here on the website or by calling 818.700-4878. Get your tix now, this is an event not to be missed!

Judith E. stars in her one-woman show The Menopause “Crack-Up” – a funny take on the trials and tribulations of the onset of menopause. Along the way, we get to know about her life, loves and hopes for the future. Judith E.’s  solo show garnered critical acclaim and played to overflowing houses when it premiered in November 2009 at the NoHo Actors Studio, and has been accepted for performance at the Indiana Fringe Festival in late August.  The play is written by Judith E., and directed by Kaz Matamura.

Menopause, this period of physical change, leads to some self-loathing as the distraught character Giaa laments the unpleasant symptoms she is suddenly experiencing. In addition to playing a version of herself, Judith E. effortlessly slips into some alternate roles, such as the Russian doctor who she consults, a sinister cat-stroking villain, or the persona of her very strict grandmother or ‘abuela.’

Sad, yet funny, The Menopause“ Crack-Up” is an Adults Only show.  Contains brief partial nudity and explicit sexual language.

What Critics Have Said:

“Empowerment, Edginess, Elegance, Entertainment, and Enormous Energy is Everything that Judith E. brings to the stage at the NoHo Actors’ Studio…brings credibility…instantly transforming her persona from sad to serious to sexy….With her strong, fierce “I Will Survive” dynamism and her confidence, talent and ability to carry her show ‘solo,’ captivating the audience in its entirety, Judith E. is a force to be reckoned with, and her message real and relevant.”  – - Tolucan Times

“Judith E.’s writing and performance skillfully and thoughtfully presents every woman’s experiences in her one-act dramedy, nicely directed by Kaz Katamura.” – NoHoArtsDistrict.com

“…(you) laugh so hard your sides could split open…It’s enormously funny and sometimes poignant. “  – - NoHoArtsDistrict.com

“…a hilarious romp…we are privy to her moments of despair and moments of supreme fun.  If you can survive the hell of emotional roller coasters and see the fun in it as Judith E has done, you can hang on. “  – - LA Splash.com

“The acting and directing were superb and the packed audience was in stitches most of the time.”   -  – LA Splash.com

[© MMX MD TOTAL all rights reserved]

Ed Limato, Hollywood’s last great agent, passed away early in the morning of July 3^rd, 2010.  He was the best agent in Hollywood and had the best client list in a generation. Simply the greatest.

Most don’t know I spent two and a half years working at ICM when Mr. Limato was Co-President.  At first I was a floating assistant based in the mailroom before I settled in at Agency Contracts. At that time, it was a cushy job where HR let me go to auditions in the middle of the day.  And best of all, I learned about the industry from the belly of the beast. It was like going to grad school, and you received Masters in Show Business.  Without that job, I would not have been able to start producing as soon as I did.

Now when I say that Limato had the best client list in a generation, I am not exaggerating.  His client list, over the years included Antonio Banderas, Michael Biehn, Nicholas Cage, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Claire Danes, Geena Davis, James Franco, Matthew Fox, Ava Gardner, Melanie Griffith, Goldie Hawn, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Thomas Jane, Frank Langella, Jennifer Lopez, Derek Luke, Adrian Lyne, Madonna, Matthew McConaughey, Bette Midler, Liam Neeson, Sam Neill, Nate Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Quaid, Doris Roberts, Diana Ross, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Meryl Streep, Paul Walker and Marlon Brando.

Because of that list, it was normal to see the likes of Denzel Washington, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Richard Gere or Clare Danes walking through the building.  By the way, Michelle Pfeiffer would stop traffic even if she weren’t a famous actress.  Mr. Limato represented Hollywood royalty.

He was Hollywood royalty.

And we all knew it.  He had the clients he did not only because he was a prodigiously talented agent, but also because of his commitment to his client’s art.  Most importantly, Mr. Limato had the clients he did because he treated them all like family.

Because of that, his office was busy all the time.  Limato’s office was so busy, the mailroom would send up his morning mail two hours before the first official mail run, which would be met by Limato’s third assistant.  THIRD.  This man had three assistants, and they were always busy.  If we had to do something for his office, his name created miracles. If we were in the middle of development season and the TV Lit department was duplicating hundreds of scripts, every other script order was slowly worked into the queue.  If I walked into duplication and asked for four scripts to be copied immediately, I would be laughed at.  Then I’d utter three magic words: “It’s for Limato.” They’d be ready in less than fifteen minutes.

Mr. Limato’s style was sartorial. If you’ve never seen him or met him then you can’t really understand how well heeled he was or what a gentleman he was.  He would wear plaid suits. To work! Or a salmon colored shirt.  I’m just kidding – he would wear a salmon colored SUIT. Or mustard, just because!  Without a hint of irony! That’s what I noticed about him immediately, if this were NYC these tailored garments would have be worn with a sense of humor. But Limato actually liked them, and he knew he could do anything – if only because he said so.

Don’t get me wrong, Limato was also demanding – as demanding as anyone who is great at his job should be.  The opportunity to see how this legend really worked was priceless, and most of his assistants worked so hard because they understood this.  Some couldn’t handle the stress and pressure. I remember one assistant who quit by leaving a message on his office’s voicemail in the middle of the night.

“Oh, WOW,” I said.  “That fool didn’t just quit working at ICM – he quit show business.”  We all knew being that disrespectful to someone as legendarily powerful and great as Limato meant he would, as the saying goes, never work in this town again.  It was sobering.  And understandable.

As someone who was not an agent, nor one of his assistants, I was never really on his radar. Or so I thought.  Late one morning I was riding the elevator from P4 to the third floor. The elevator stopped at P1, the VIP parking level.  The doors opened and an impeccably dressed Ed Limato walked in.  I didn’t know what to do – just Limato and me in a slow elevator together! I shouldn’t make eye contact! Should I bow my head and look at the floor? Just as my head was about to explode, I forced myself to speak.

“Good morning, Mr. Limato.”

“Good Morning, Malcolm,” he replied.

HE SAID MY NAME!!! I could have fainted right there.

The only time I ever saw Mr. Limato outside of the ICM building was at a party for Tom Ford.  He was leaving Gucci Group and was receiving a star on the Beverly Hills Walk of Fashion.  This was the most luxurious party I had ever been to. A friend who worked at a management company scored me an invite, because he knew how much I respected Tom Ford’s work. They completely shut down Rodeo Drive from Little Santa Monica to Wilshire and built a party in the street that was two blocks long, with a third block for catering..  I mean, it was built up off of the street and lined with black carpet! Imagine, Rodeo Drive, carpeted in black with multiple levels that you could get to.  Every star in town was there. And I mean stars, there were no celebrities.  At the three-hour mark, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson gave a little speech and presented Tom Ford with his award. I was trying to find a place to stand and found a place at the top of a small set of stairs. I could see above everyone.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a smiling and stunning Lucy Liu bounded up the stairs and hugged the person next to me. She looked so happy to see this man – I had not yet seen her look that luminous on screen.  I looked over to see Ed Limato. They hugged and chatted for a minute. I remember thinking “Nothing about this is fake.  Everyone truly loves this man.” She hugged him again and went back to her guest.  I did notice she went up to him alone, she didn’t bring her guest up with her to be introduced…

I turned to him and forced myself to say something. “Mr. Limato… I work at ICM. It’s nice to see you here.”

“Oh yes,” he said and extended his hand for me to shake.  “Are you enjoying the party?”

I was always impressed by his behaviour, he easily could have high-tailed it somewhere else so he wouldn’t have to make small talk with me, who was not an agent.  But he was a gentleman.

Rita Wilson presented Tom Ford with a plaque.  As we cheered, white rose petal rained down on us.  Now that’s confetti!  This party was magical.  Then, Gloria Gaynor took the stage and sang her huge hit “I Will Survive.”  Mr. Limato, the greatest agent in Hollywood, in a sotto voce, sang right along with her.  Really.  Right before the bridge, he turned to me and said:

“This is my favorite disco song.”

I chuckled. I thought back to what his life and career must have been like: From working with Franco Zeffirelli in Italy in the 60s to going to work in the mailroom in NYC at the agency that would later become ICM. Being promoted and surviving a merger, then moving to William Morris and then back to ICM, becoming Co-President of the agency and still, all the way into the late 2000s having the greatest client list in all of Hollywood.  Yes, of course “I Will Survive” would be his favorite disco song – a song he still knew all the lyrics to.  All of them.

“It really is a good song, isn’t it?” I smiled.

Gloria Gaynor finished and Mr. Limato moved on, but not before putting his hand on my shoulder and saying goodnight.  The man was a class act.

In just two brief moments with him, I may have learned two of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned in showbusiness.  I will always remember passing each other in the ICM hallways, him being so impeccably dressed and making my Banana Republic wardrobe look like thrift shop rags.  He never failed to nod his head at me or say “Good Morning,” as he passed by.

In a class by himself, Mr. Limato was a true gentleman.  The real deal.

[© MMX MD TOTAL all rights reserved]

Have you ever heard of The Semmering?  It’s an area of the Alps that covers parts of both Italy and Austria.  It is an impossibly steep, very high part of the mountains.  And as those places generally are, it’s a beautiful part of the world.  The vistas, valleys and the clean fresh air are like nowhere else.  Even the water tastes incredible.

The only way to see The Semmering at ground level is by train – The Semmering Railroad.  There just aren’t roads in this area, you have to sit back, relax and see it the same way everyone did when it first opened to travel.  The people who designed and built these train tracks back in 1848 were incredibly smart people.  They knew there needed to be a train that took people from Vienna, Austria to Venice, Italy.  It would be great for the economies of both cities and everywhere in between.  Most importantly, it would be good for the people themselves. People work hard all the time, all year long and their souls need to relax, they need to be transported to a magical place.  And this railroad would take them someplace people had never been.

Since this would be the world’s first true mountain railway, there was not a train in existence that was able to make the trip.  But they built the tracks anyway. They built them because they knew, someday, the train would come.

You could say that The Group Rep is a lot like the people who built those train tracks in the Alps. In the past year, we’ve been doing some incredible work, and it’s getting us noticed. Like last July, with the Murray Shisgal Plays. Those plays were not only crowd pleasers, but they were critically acclaimed as well!

Then we followed that with our Rep-A-Trois, which “put the Rep back into The Group Rep!” We performed Boston Marriage by David Mamet, Heroes by Tom Stoppard and Painting Churches by Tina Howe – all in repertory with each other! Quite a feat for any theater, and especially for a ninety-nine seat house in Los Angeles.

For the holidays, we featured the Los Angeles premiere of a new musical version of A Christmas Carol, for the entire family.  It was tremendously well received, it had a sold out run and the critics loved it. It also featured a backstage blog by yours truly!

This winter, we featured a new adaptation of The City by Clyde Fitch.  This play was written over a century ago, and the adaptation showed how much is still the same about life in the present.  Incredible things were said by critics about our production.

This spring we featured Sweet Sue by A.R. Gurney.  It was a demanding play about going through transitions in life.  It’s not the normal fare for Los Angeles theater, and audiences were thrilled by it.

As you already know, BABY and Priscilla’s Perfect Day just opened to rave reviews and are currently running now! Tickets can be reserved right here on our site.

All in all, this season has been an embarrassment of riches.  But that’s our job.  We’re here for the Southland. We’re here to put on shows that transport audiences, to put on shows that have them leaving our theatre thinking a little differently about life. We’re here to move and inspire our audiences. That’s exactly what the theatre is for.  And as you can see, audiences and critics alike feel and believe we’re doing our job well.

We’re here for you, yet we’re not satisfied. We will continue to make excellent theater for all of you, and push ourselves to create experiences even we couldn’t previously imagine.  Some pieces will be appropriate for the entire family, while other pieces will be more challenging material. But they will always be incredibly well done.

Excellence is our standard.

You could say we’re just like those architects and construction workers in 1850 Italy and Austria. They built those train tracks over the Alps even before there was a train that could make the trip.  They built them anyway.  They built them because they knew one day the train would come.

Here we are, ready for you.  The only question is: Are you ready to see excellence in the theatre?

I already know the answer.

[in conjunction with Soccerboy in LA. © MMX MD TOTAL all rights reserved.]

Well, well, well. It’s time to congratulate the cast, crew and creative team on the rave reviews Priscilla’s Perfect Day has been getting.  We already feel proud just to have such a great, brand new piece of musical theater that the entire family can enjoy, that getting good reviews is very much the icing on the cake.  Or the syrup on your pancakes, if you will. 

If you haven’t checked out what this wonderful family musical is about, check out this interview with the show’s director, Jeremy Aldridge, on Broadway World LA!

We also have an interview with husband and wife writing team Diana Martin (book) and Richard Levinson (music) that’s also from Broadway World LA!

Here are some of what the reviewers are saying.  If you’d like to read the entire review, click on the link.

• It’s a creative romp with plenty of imaginative flights of fancy.

• It’s a giddy little adventure that will encourage children to be nicer to their siblings and not be so afraid of things that sound scary (but really aren’t).

• The acting, however, is engaging and it never hurts to be surrounded by the laughter of children.

Jackie Houchin, American Chronicle

Did we mention that there’s a pancake brunch backstage after the show for the little ones?!  What more can you ask for after a fun family musical?

Priscilla’s Perfect Day plays on Saturday mornings at 11AM through July 11th! Tickets are available here on the site or by phone at Call 818-700-4878.

Congratulations to Cate Caplin and our cast, crew and creative team of BABY, it’s their talent, hard work and commitment that’s earning these well deserved raves.

•”The Group Rep has a first-class production.”

•”Ultra-skilled director Caplin has thankfully provided a fast-paced and exceedingly active staging…”

•“Emily Thompson is a treasure as Lizzie, the best singer onstage and a bundle of energy and joy.”

•”Chorus members Klair Bybee, Lareen Faye, Becklett Arnold, Michael Cassano, Tonilyn Hornung and Jeremy M. Sage do remarkably well with a myriad of small roles. •Faye is particularly funny as a midwestern cowgirl type…”

•”The cast is terrific.” – - Broadway World.com

•”One of the most delightful elements of BAB is Cate Caplin’s staging.”

•”Pedersen is charming as Alan, playing the role with equal parts sincerity, sweetness and humor.”

•”…this show belongs to young leading lady Emily Thompson…who lights up the stage whenever she appears. ” – - MusicalsinLA blog.

•”In its West Coast premiere, this fun lovin’, ‘baby boomin’ musical delighted the audience from start to finish.”

•”Robert Allen is loveable effective as Danny, and Emily Thompson as Lizzie is sizzling showstopper!”

•”…Dana Abrams and Steve Rizzo, are heart touchingly hilarious”

•”Alan and Arlene, played with soulful sensitivity by Lloyd Pedersen and Luise Heath, share a touching duet…” – - Tolucan Times.

•”The GROUP rep has a first-class production on its hands that will surely

appeal to a wide audience, especially to marrieds and those planning

for the patter of little feet.” – Grigware

So come on down to meet our new arrival. You can even reserve tickets to BABY right here on our site! We play Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 2PM.

Here at The Group Rep we’ve got another show opening!!!  On June 12, Catawba Club Productions in association with The Group Rep presents the Los Angeles Premiere of PRISCILLA’S PERFECT DAY – A Family Musical!!!  This special production plays on Saturday mornings at 11AM from June 12-July 17.  AND – after each performance, there is a Pancake Party and other activities!!!

Rain might ruin eleven-year-old budding artist Priscilla Penelope Periwinkle’s idyllic notion of a relaxing vacation in Maine, and her “bratty” little brother Billy and his pesky, pancake-lovin’ dog Roscoe are making their first day at the quaint old cottage anything but perfect; when she finds some very strange crayons that send them all to a magical sunny beach, things start looking up … at least until they meet one very big, and very hungry, lobster.  But thanks to Billy’s quick thinking, it could still end up being Priscilla’s Perfect Day!

What a wholesome show to take the entire family to!

The cast includes: Natascha Aldridge, Courtney DeCosky ,Stephen Simon, Matt Valle, Brian Wallis, Victor Isaac, Diana Martin, Kaylena Mann, Lily Donnelly, and Ben Freiberger.

PRISCILLA’S PERFECT DAY has a book by Diana Martin with songs by Richard Levinson, featuring direction by Jeremy Aldridge and choreography by Michele Bernath.  It is produced by Catawba Club Productions and Lisa McGee Mann.

Tickets are $12 and  BUT there is a terrific deal: tickets are $10 if you’re a group of five or more!!!  All tickets can be reserved here on our website or by phone at:  (818) 700-4878.  The Lonny Chapman Theatre is located at 10900 Burbank Boulevard, 91601 NoHo Arts District/N. Hollywood.