Pleasing a crowd of dance enthusiasts with a single program is a surprisingly difficult task for any company or choreographer. The ballet purists shy away from most things not involving pointe shoes. The modern crowd usually enjoys work based on dance visionaries from the mid-20th century. And the contemporary audience yearns for newness and innovation above all else. But Nacho Duato and the Compania Nacional de Danza 2 have the elusive magic touch that somehow brings any audience to its feet.
Author Archives: Catherine Moore
Theater Review: Heroes
Geffen Playhouse, April 10-May 27
Theater Review: “Distracted”
“Distracted” Mark Taper Forum March 15-April 29 Sometimes it feels like we live in a hectic world where you can’t relax or focus no matter what you try. Our government warns of Doomsday terrorist plots in major cities; apparently, the planet is being destroyed with every light bulb we use; and each day, soldiers continue […]
Theater Review: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Center Theater Group Feb. 6 through March 18 Few actresses receive 30 seconds of applause upon taking the stage. An even smaller number are applauded for opening a play by shouting “Jesus H. Christ!” Kathleen Turner is the stunning exception to the previous two rules. Turner is reprising her Tony-nominated […]
Theater Review: Center Theatre Group
Center Theatre Group "13" Dec. 22 through Feb. 18 Anyone who survived eighth grade remembers the cliques, superficial gossip and social anxiety that made the last year of middle school one of the most traumatic yet formative adolescent years. Eighth grade seems to inevitably spawn backstabbing girls, flirtatious boys and the eternal tug-of-war between the […]
Theater Review: "The Nutcracker"
The Nutcracker Universal Ballet Thursday, Nov. 30 There is nothing quite like seeing “The Nutcracker” to officially welcome the holiday season. The children’s fairy tale is an eternally popular family-friendly fixture of winter. Its ubiquitous musical score follows us through Macy’s as we shop for loved ones, and its icon, the nut-crunching toy soldier, adorns […]
Theater Review: "Light in the Piazza"
“Light in the Piazza” Ahmanson Theatre Oct. 31 through Dec. 10 They say that theater is the willful suspension of disbelief. Rarely does a show come along that does not require the will. When that happens, you know you’re witnessing exceptional theater. “Light in the Piazza” is one of those gleeful aberrations that truly captures […]