The Six Shows You Must See: This Weekend in LA (6/8-6/10)

Here are the six shows you must see: This Weekend in LA (6/8-6/10)

Henry IV – The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles at the Japanese Garden at VA West LA

Now – July 1st

Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have long been supporters of the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. This year Hanks is upping his support by taking on the role of Falstaff in a new version Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. Daniel Sullivan directs the production that stars, along with Hanks, Hamish Linklater, Joe Morton, Harry Groener and Rondi Reed. This is an outdoor venue, so if you plan on going, dress warmly. And settle in for a comic tale of fathers and sons that also has its share of drama and pathos.

Brahms Requiem – LA Master Chorale at Walt Disney Concert Hall

June 9-10

There are three requiems that are beloved: Mozart’s, Verdi’s and the Brahms Requiem. The Los Angeles Master Chorale, under the direction of Grant Gershon, will be performing Brahms’ masterpiece in two performances this weekend. Also on the bill are compositions by two Pulitzer Prize-winning composers:  Fly Away I by Caroline Shaw and where you go by David Lang. The Lang composition is having its West Coast Premiere.

Soft Power – Ahmanson Theatre

Final Weekend

This is your last chance to see one of the most adventurous new musicals to come along in quite some time. Soft Power, which is actually described as a play with a musical, was written by David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly and Yellow Face) with music and additional lyrics by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Caroline Or Change). It begins as a play depicting the night when a Chinese diplomat meets Hillary Clinton. They fall for each other. After a brutal event in the narrative impacting a third character, the play becomes a musical. 50 years later that musical is being celebrated and revived. It is a very unique structure, but the creators were not afraid to be adventurous in finding a new way of telling their story. The show concludes its run in Los Angeles this weekend and will continue in San Francisco starting June 20th. What happens after San Francisco has yet to be determined. If you like theatre that challenges at the same time it entertains, don’t miss Soft Power.

Main photo by Craig Schwartz

The Tony Awards – CBS or Viewing Parties

June 10

For theatre fans the biggest night of the year is unquestionably the Tony Awards. The annual awards celebration takes place on Sunday. The broadcast is at 8 PM and by the time it runs tape-delayed on the West Coast we will already know who the winners will be. Will Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2 win Best New Play? Will The Band’s Visit win Best New Musical? Will Angels in America win Best Revival of a Play? Will My Fair Lady win Best Revival of a Musical? Okay, maybe those are my predictions. We’ll have to watch on Sunday to find out. And if you are looking for opportunities to watch the Tony Awards in a more public setting than your living room, The Actors Fund has their annual Los Angeles Viewing Party on Sunday at the Skirball Center. Tickets may still be available. The honoree this year is Winnie Holzman (book writer for the musical Wicked.) There is also a viewing party at the Segerstrom Center  in Costa Mesa.

Don’t forget:

The Playboy Jazz Festival runs Saturday and Sunday (Legendary jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd and the Marvels with Lucinda Williams are the highlight on Sunday.)

Long Day’s Journey Into Night has two previews Friday & Saturday before officially opening on Sunday at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The production stars Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville.