This week's THEATER FEATURE On Bobrauschenbergamerica and Orpheus Descending

law logo2x bSam Shepard's Geography of a Horse Dreamer is among the productions being reviewed this weekend. For a complete list of this weekend's reviewing assignments, press the Continue Reading tab at the bottom of this page.

Photo courtesy of Moth Theatre Company

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE IS CLOSING February 7 at the conclusion of of its current production of Camelot, the L.A. Times reported today. 37 employees will be out of work. Bankruptcy filing is an option. The Board of the mid-size theater is working on a long-term strategy to keep the Playhouse functioning over the long-haul rather than existing “hand to mouth.” 

AUDRA MCDONALD performs one night only Monday, February 1 8:30 p.m. at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Reprise Theatre Company produces. (310) 825-2101. More info here

FIRST ANNUAL LATC PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL starts this weekend at 514 S. Spring Street, downtown. Readings of plays by Velina  Hasu Houston, Evalina Fernandez, Jose Luis Valenzuela and Donald Freed and Kimba Henderson. Plays are scheduled for later, full production at LATC. No rsvp necessary. More information here

For a list of shows being reviewed this weekend, plus the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle nominees, press the Continue Reading tab directly below.

Check back here Monday afternoon for reviews of:

DITCH Taylor Coffman's “humorous look at the trials and tribulations of
love.”. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A.; opens Jan. 30;
Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Feb. 28, www.plays411.com/ditch. (323)
960-7787.

EXILES Carlos Lacamara's story of Cuban refugees adrift. Hayworth,
2509 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Feb. 27.
(323) 960-4442.

GEOGRAPHY OF A HORSE DREAMER Sam Shepard's story of a kidnapped
cowboy. Moth Theatre, 4359 Melrose Ave., L.A.; opens Jan. 29; Fri.-Sat., 8
p.m.; thru March 6, www.brownpapertickets.com. (323) 666-2296.

JUST A SONG AT TWILIGHT Willard Manus' drama about growing up in a
deaf household. Write Act Theater, 6128 Yucca St., L.A.; Thurs.-Sun..; thru
Feb. 27. (323) 469-3113.

KATAKI Shimon Wincelberg's WWII tale of an American soldier and a
Japanese soldier stranded together on a Pacific island. McCadden Place
Theatre, 1157 N. McCadden Pl., L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru
Feb. 13, www.kataki2010.com. (323) 856-0665.

NAKED IN THE TROPICS Odalys Nanin's story of gay sex, drugs and
rock'n'roll in a West Hollywood night club. Danny Indart, lyrics by Odalys
Nanin and Danny Indart. Macha Theatre, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood;
Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Feb. 21. (323) 960-1057.

SIDHE World-premiere production of Ann Noble's drama, starring the
Road Theatre Company's playwright-in-residence herself. Lankershim Arts
Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; opens Jan. 29; Fri.-Sat., 8
p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 20, www.roadtheatre.org. (866) 811-4111.

STAGE DOOR George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's Depression-era comedy.
Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2
p.m.; thru March 13, www.openfist.org. (323) 882-6912.

STOMP Return of the avant-garde noisemakers. Pantages Theater, 6233
Hollywood Blvd., L.A.; Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30
p.m.; thru Feb. 7, www.stomponline.com. (213) 365-3500.

SWEENEY TODD Musical Theatre West presents Stephen Sondheim's musical
thriller. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach;
opens Jan. 31; Sun., Jan. 31, 2 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.;
Sun., Feb. 7, 2 & 7 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 14, 2 p.m.; thru Feb. 14. (562)
985-7000.

L.A. WEEKLY THEATER AWARDS NOMINEES FOR 2009 TO BE ANNOUNCED HERE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8. The Awards will be presented March 29 at El Rey.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominees for 2009. Awards  will be presented March 22 at Burbank's Colony Theatre.

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