A couple of random observations on local theater in 2007. The Valley is rising, and so are the beaches, to a lesser extent. A trend has been developing over the past three years that became even more pronounced in 2007 — the number of rock-solid theater productions emerging from North Hollywood and Burbank. In years past, our critics would consider it punishment to be sent to the Valley. But in today’s economic-artistic climate, there’s been a noticeable geographic shift in the number of productions worth considering for review — from Hollywood to the Valley. The quality of those productions has been reflected in reviews — and not just from this newspaper. Speculation as to the cause: real estate. The costs of putting on a play in Hollywood have driven most of our best companies out of the region — Actors’ Gang and Theatre/Theater spring to mind. (Circle X has been performing in Hollywood for years, but remains technically a gypsy troupe.) With the exception of Theatre of NOTE and Open Fist Theatre, among the last of the better Hollywood membership companies, Hollywood is now the land of indie productions in rental houses — people who roll in to do one show for whatever reason people would want to do one show in Hollywood. (Hmmm . . . wonder what that could be.) Even Open Fist, which took over Actors’ Gang’s former digs on Santa Monica Boulevard, is getting itchy to move on to economically friendlier pastures. Here’s a list of memorable shows, arrived at capriciously, from 2007. I’ll... More >>>