Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
'Small Engine Repair' & 'Re-Animator the Musical' Win Big at LA Weekly Theatre Awards
Michael Redfield, John Pollono, and Jon Bernthal in 'Small Engine Repair' (photo by John P. Flynn.)
()
On Monday, LA Weekly invoked the ancient gods to celebrate the best theatrical performances on Los Angeles' smaller stages at the 33rd AnnualLA Weekly Theatre Awards at the Avalon in Hollywood. Lost Moon Radiohosted the event, which played hilarious homage to Dionysus, the god of wine and theatre. Winners received "LAWees" for a broad spectrum of categories that ranged from Production of the Year to Best Blood Effects.
Despite the mass consumption of wine (you know, to honor Dionysus), there were many memorable moments of the evening where theatre lovers and patrons came out in full Grecian force, donning laurel wreaths and evil eye amulets, tucking their valuables into underwear when need be (swaths of chiton fabric do not have pockets). Resurrected gods Hermes, Zeus, Aristophanes, and Priapus announced winners while Lost Moon Radio's Greek chorus sang of the ancient worship of "rocks and other weird shit." Honorees, including Rogue Machine's Artistic Director John Flynn, waxed knowingly about the shared theatrical lifeblood of L.A. Flynn eloquently declared, "Art is transformative. It can change the world. It isn't what we do, but how we do it that is transformative."
()
Graham Skipper in 'Re-Animator the Musical' (photo by Thomas Hargis).
Small Engine Repair and Re-Animator the Musical were big winners, taking awards in multiple categories. Small Engine Repair beat out Blackbird, Day Drinkers, The War Cycle: Gospel According to First Squad, and Way to Heaven for Production of the Year, also claiming LAWees for Best Playwright (John Pollono) and Best Ensemble. Re-Animator the Musical took home awards for Musical of the Year, Best Direction of a Musical (Stuart Gordon), Best Musical Ensemble, Best Adaptation, Best Original Music (Mark Nutter), and Best Blood Effects (Gordon). The complete list of LA Weekly Theatre Award nominees and winners can be read here.
Support for LAist comes from
In case it isn't obvious, LAWees go to productions that the LA Weekly staff has seen. There is so much theatre on our stages at any given time; it would be impossible for any publication to partake in it all. There are plenty of productions that absolutely deserved mention that did not make the nomination list. That said, the LA Weekly Theatre Awards should both be appreciated for what they are (a thank-you to the folks that sacrifice so much to give our thriving metropolis a wonderful theatre scene) and taken with a grain of salt for what they are not (which is non-comprehensive).
If you missed seeing Re-Animator the Musical, it's doing another run at the Hayworth Theatre from May 3 to July 8. Ticketing information is available here.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist