The Prodigal Father: New Comedic Drama Stars Barney Miller's Max Gail
Celebration Theatre (7051 B Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90038)
- Full Price:
- $10.00 - $20.00
- Our Price:
- FREE - $10.00*
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for The Prodigal Father have expired.
The last date listed for The Prodigal Father was Saturday May 2, 2009 / 8:00pm.
Most Popular Theater Event Nearby:
After the Fall: Rarely Produced Classic by Arthur Miller from HumanArts Theater Company
- Full Price:
- $25.00
- Our Price:
- $12.50
Based on the playwright's life and considered one of Arthur Miller's most personal plays, After The Fall follows a man on his quest to make peace with his own history and with the tumultuous world around him. This experimental portrait of a man struggling with the choices he has made in his public and private life examines the personal, political and universal forces that collide when we "fall" from innocence. Following the death of his second wife, Quentin tries to move forward, but he must also relive childhood losses, failed marriages and the effects of the 1950s' Blacklist. This rarely produced classic is presented by the HumanArts Theater Company. Learn More
Goldstar Member Tips
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Goldstar Member on Where to Park
Plenty of street parking, along w/ public transport options.
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Goldstar Member on What to Wear
Was warm inside the theater.
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Goldstar Member on Where to Eat
Lots of options for dining in area.
Goldstar Member Reviews
Self-Proclaimed GOLDSTAR POSTER BOY
Spellbinding no, worth your time... yes. While there is nothing I could say really negative about this production, of the many plays I have seen at this venue it will probably be one that will fade away the fastest from my memory. And not meaning to discount it, or especially the performances in any way, I just now understand some of the reviews that stated it really brought nothing NEW or particularly moving to the table regarding this subject matter. And by the way I was not feeling the love for those reviewers at the time upon reading them, going anyway. Don't agree with the harshness of totally trashing something. There is something to take away from almost every experience. It is always nice to see productions about people, family relations coming full circle, surviving it and people living more honest, authentic lives. I enjoyed seeing Max Gil, the supporting actress playing the "friend" was great and a wonderful comic relief. The son was played by an understudy in this show... so don't know how that might have changed the overall experience. Not realizing, or reading the insert... I did wonder about the casting as far as him having any family likeness, being asian ( or looking ). Having said all that, I ask/ urge that you consider supporting this theatre and what they consistently bring to the table with great integrity about alternative lifestyles.Written on Apr 19 2009
P.S.went to the season finale of WEHO the after-hours show, saw part one last year.... very campy & a lot of fun. Full house
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NJOY909
Goldstar Member
Great acting ensemble led by the talented Max Gail, and a terrific supporting cast. Show not easy to watch as it deals with difficult subject matter (Alzheimers) and has a lot of flashbacks interspersed within present day plot. If you enjoy heavy drama and strong performances, it's worth attending.Written on Mar 27 2009
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Lou
This play needs work. The production values are strong - excellent staging, good directing, and overall good acting. But the story falls flat at the end. It's hard to see why the gay couple breaks up so easily as there is no indication that this isn't a strong relationship. And when the father with Alzheimer's moves in, these guys need a discussion of how they're going to cope day-in, day-out with his condition. Some of the writing is very good, and there are some terrific lines, but the story needs a bit of strengthening. And I really enjoyed this playwright's "Play It Cool," one of the best gay plays I've seen in a long time.Written on Mar 30 2009
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More Information About The Prodigal Father
Website
http://www.celebrationtheatre.com/
Quotes & Highlights
- "An entertaining ride." --LA Weekly, Go!
- "The performances Matthews elicits from his cast of five include some of the finest you’ll see this year, particularly the tour-de-force work of [Max] Gail." --Stage Scene LA
Description
<p>The Prodigal Father, a world premiere play by Larry Dean Harris directed by Michael Matthews, is a co-production between Celebration Theatre (CT) and Playwrights 6 (P6). Television veteran Max Gail plays the title role in a cast that includes Josette DiCarlo, Joe Rose, Allain Rochel and Truly Magyar.</p> <p>This is the fifth P6/CT collaboration in ten years following Harris’ LA Weekly Best Playwriting Award nominee Bible Stories in 1999 and three critically acclaimed Christmastime is Queer group productions in 2002, 2003 and 2004.</p> <p>“It’s a good fit creatively, and it’s good business,” said Michael Shepperd, CT Artistic Director. “Celebration has had a long relationship with P6, and this co-production allows us to capitalize on the strengths of both companies while sharing the financial risk during this time of economic hardship.”</p> <p>The Prodigal Father explores the father-son relationship of Earl and Jamey Sanders, two disparate personalities thrown together – along with Jamey’s lover – in a Chicago loft. Earl’s Alzheimer’s provides the momentum for the narrative as scenes – and characters - shift instantly from present to past in a uniquely theatrical experience of comedy and drama.</p> <p>The production is helmed by former CT Artistic Director Michael Matthews, who recently directed Allen Knee’s The Jazz Age to critical acclaim at the Blank Theatre. Matthews, a Chicago Jeff Awards nominee, had a string of successes at CT: Four, Stupid Kids, Porcelain, The Bacchae and Beautiful Thing, which earned him two Ovation Award Best Director nominations in the same year.</p> <p>Prodigal was developed in the P6 workshop and marks Harris’ return to Celebration following the eight-week sold-out run of his jazz musical Play It Cool with collaborator Mark Winkler in 2006.</p> <p>Play It Cool – a Critic’s Pick in the Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly and Backstage – recently made its east coast debut in the New York Musical Theatre Festival starring Sally Mayes and Josh Strickland. Harris has received LA Weekly, Ovation and GLAAD nominations for his work, which also includes Like an Old Song named the Best Gay-Themed Play of 2000 by Backstage West.</p> <p>The Prodigal Father marks another return: that of television veteran Max Gail to the stage after 25 years. While Gail is best known for his television role as Det. Stan "Wojo" Wojeciehowicz on Barney Miller from 1975 – 1982, he has nearly 100 film and television credits, including a recurring guest star role on the current CBS comedy Gary Unmarried.</p> <p>Playwrights 6 is a Los Angeles-based playwright-managed theater company founded in 1999. Celebration Theatre, founded in 1982, is the oldest continuously running professional gay and lesbian theatre in the United States.</p>
About the Ticket Supplier: Celebration Theatre
Celebration Theatre is a company of artists dedicated to creating a dynamic outlet for progressive gay and lesbian voices in contemporary theater and performance in Los Angeles. They intend to create a broader involvement in their community, conduct a rigorous exploration of society's changing sentiments and values, and share these explorations with a wider audience.