Los Angeles News

"I either write the book or sell the jewels. I’m kinda sentimental about the jewels.”

So says legendary Hollywood icon Ava Gardner (Elizabeth McGovern, Once Upon a Time in America, Downton Abbey) to her ghost writer Peter Evans as they begin work on her tell-all biography that will shock Tinseltown. But as Peter attempts to glean the juicy details about her life story, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her turbulent relationship to Howard Hughes, an altogether different and unexpected journey unfolds in this theatrical glimpse into the private life of Hollywood's original femme fatale. With a magnificent performance by Elizabeth McGovern, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel and written by Elizabeth McGovern, AVA is playing to full houses at the Geffen Theater until May 14th.

Geffen Theater 10886 Le Conte Avenue, 90024.

For dates and curtain times check with the box office at 310 208-5454,

PICNIC

The William Inge play PICNIC is playing at the Odyssey Theater Ensemble theater until May 28th. Closeted and dogged by an acute sense of failure for most of his life until he ended it, William Inge wrote some of the great lyrical plays of the American mid-century, and Picnic was his masterpiece, his playground and, quite possibly, his fantasy.
    

    
Sensual, passionate and delightfully funny, Picnic is a timeless American classic about the line between restraint and desire. When a handsome young drifter named Hal arrives in a small Midwestern town, his combination of uncouth manners and titillating charm sends the women reeling, especially the beautiful Madge. What follows is an achingly true depiction of their struggle to find something of their own value in the midst of adult pettiness and despair.

In 1953 Picnic won both the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Circle Award.

Box Office: 310 477-2055 or odysseetheatre.com

OLEANNA

Oleanna by David Mamet
Directed by Miguel Perez
Produced by Darcy Lee
Starring: Claire Wagner & Jean-Michel Richaud
The Zephyr Theatre | HFF 2023

Los Angeles, CA (April 19, 2023) Oleanna by David Mamet is a powerful play that explores the complex issues of political polarization, lack of trust in institutions, #MeToo and gender inequality, cancel culture and free speech and mental health & well-being. It's a timely work that reflects the struggles we face in society today. Through the story of a university professor and a student, Oleanna exposes the power dynamics and manipulation that exist in our society and the dangers that arise when we fail to communicate with one another. Opening June 3rd at The Zephyr Theatre.

    
With director Miguel Perez at the helm Oleanna stars Claire Wagner & Jean-Michel Richaud. A run of six performances at The Zephyr Theatre (7456 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046) begins on Saturday, June 3rd at 6:30pm as part of Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023. Additional performances Saturday, June 10th at 12:30pm, Wednesday, June 14th at 8:30pm, Sunday, June 18th at 5:45pm, Saturday, June 24th at 12pm with a final performance matinee on Sunday, June 25th at 2:15pm.

Tickets are $20 and go on sale May 1st https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/ 9520?tab=tickets