Diedre Johnson

If you’re looking for steady work—but don’t mind slightly unsteady footing—try a gig on a cruise ship. by Diedre Johnson All aboard! Have you ever thought about a job on a cruise ship? It would all…

From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir BOOK REVIEW: By Lisa Marie Presley Reviewed by Diedre Johnson Reading From Here to the Great Unknown, the authorized memoir taken from Lisa Marie Presley…

What was always fun about "City" was how Gelbart accurately captured the 1940 s era, particularly Hollywood. The protagonist, Stine (Todd Nielsen), is every writer from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Dorothy Parker who came to Hollywood to work for the movies, made money but found themselves answering to a higher authority -- the studio boss.

The three happen upon an abandoned hamburger and, rather than fighting for the meat, they discuss options and walk away.

KimmiCat Prods. presents a comedy revue in two acts written by Kim Coles and Charles Randolph-Wright. Directed by Randolph-Wright; set design, Yael Pardess; costumes , Darryle Johnson; lighting, Doug Smith; sound, Ben Patrick Johnson. Opened Jan. 6, 1996, reviewed Jan. 7; closes Jan. 18. Running time: 2 hours, 20 min. TX:Cast: Kim Coles, Shaun Baker, Scotch Ellis Loring, Wolfgang Bodison, Gustavo Rex. Homework" is a fresh, funny ensemble piece that takes a skewed look at life and entertainingly

The deliciously bawdy "Volpone" has been dusted off and given new life in an entertaining production that features an enthusiastic cast and artful direction.

This version of "Dylan," Sidney Michaels' '60s Broadway play about poet Dylan Thomas' celebrated but unhappy life, demonstrates just how good a production can be. The show has funny, moving portrayals, top-notch lighting and costumes and effortless set changes.

Instead, this "off-the-wall, free-for-all" musical comedy misses the mark in many of its choices, including technical areas.

Two Faced" is an engrossing, in-your-face female perspective on growing older amid society's misguided expectations. Growing older naturally just isn't a plus in modern society, a fact adequately demonstrated by Lynne Adams' portrayal of a middle-age East Coast housewife and ex-designer coming to terms with herself and with aging.

It's rare that anything can go wrong when presenting "The Glass Menagerie," one of Tennessee Williams' earliest and best-known plays. And thisproduction delivers while overcoming its biggest challenge -- location.

For those fond of '60s and '70s pop culture, "Grounded for Life" offers one-liners alluding to everything from old after-shave commercials to the wonders of spreadable cheese. However, these may be too much of a good thing for this production.

There is little new about the concept of "Old Business," written and directed by Joe Cacaci. The battles between youth and old age, success and failure, and pride and stubbornness are age-old concerns. But the pure enthusiasm of the performers thrills.

Author! Author!," which looks at the life, times and words of Jewish humorist Sholom Aleichem, continues to be a crowd-pleaser some 18 years after its debut. The popularity may be due to its charm, relevancy and the cast's earnest willingness to please, but those looking for something new or theatrically compelling will not find it here.

The three stories in "Wild Hearts" are promoted as homages to the female settlers of the frontier West. Actually, they convey entertaining slices of life that could be set in any time period, but do not adequately display the true durability of these women, nor the conflicts of the times.

Opened Jan. 28, 1994; reviewed Feb. 11; runs through March 5.

Cynical is a more fitting adjective for the cast of characters in playwright/director Justin Tanner's "Bitter Women," at the Cast Theatre. This slice of life centering on living, renting and roommates in Los Angeles should be familiar to anyone who remembers moving to the city for the first time and, albeit sadly, learning the ropes.

Opened Sept. 23, 1993; reviewed Nov. 12; runs through Dec. 19.

Opened Sept. 22, 1993; reviewed Oct. 1; runs through Oct. 31.

Reviewed Aug. 28; 45 seats; $ 12 top.

"The Beautiful People," one of William Saroyan's more obscure plays, focuses on appreciating life. Although the lessons of this positive homage to the human spirit are still relevant, the play's emphasis on philosophizing makes for a tedious evening.