Say what? Theatre is too predictable for you? Too familiar? Too safe? I hear your pain. Cancel your plans to sit around and kvetch about the stagnant state of the arts this weekend and get over to Espace DbD in Los Angeles, where Rachel Rosenthal’s “TOHUBOHU!” will spin your world on its head.
I can’t tell you what you’ll see because no two shows are alike. Just check your pre-conceived notions at the door as you enter. Rosenthal—the doyenne of Los Angeles performance artists—doesn’t know herself what will take place. Her Extreme Theatre Ensemble creates wholly improvised art: unscripted, unrehearsed, unrepeatable. "Everything happens in the moment," she says.
Rosenthal’s revealing new book, “The DbD Experience: Chance Knows What It’s Doing!” does offer a few clues. The interdisciplinary artist has been liberating actors for years from the constrictions of The Method; this “part manual, part manifesto, part memoir” delves into the processes and exercises she has developed over the decades, and employs today in her 34-hour DbD Experience Weekend workshops. As she observes: “The process of art is like archeology with ourselves the digging sites.”
“TOHUBOHU!” performs March 12-14; April 9-11; May 7-9; June 11-13; and July 9-11. Reservations are necessary (seating is limited); call 310-839-0661. Rosenthal will be signing her book June 19 at Book Soup in West Hollywood.
The equity-waiver Studio theatre at Long Beach Playhouse is also trying to shake things up a bit with regard to theatergoers’ expectations, and has apparently generated a fair amount of controversy with their current offering. I haven’t seen their production of Christopher Durang’s “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” but it’s edgier than what they typically present on their MainStage. Through March 27. Call 562-494-1014.
Hot tip: Its official opening delayed by last-minute permitting issues, the Monkey Wrench Collective now expects to open their production of "The Revenger's Tragedy" by Thomas Middleton in Fullerton on March 20, at a venue to be announced shortly. The theatre company has decided to postpone US Premiere of "pool (no water)" by Mark Ravenhill until the MWC space opens in late April. Call 714-525-1400.
More from Jordan:
Vibrant ‘Roses’ at Mark Taper Forum, melodic ‘Chopin’ at Laguna Playhouse
Oscar's sins of omission
Oscar winners and nominees of the 1920s & 1930s on DVD
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