24th Street Theatre, a multiple award-winning professional theater company, has created a name for itself as leading producer of emotionally rich and provocative productions for families. Their latest endeavor, in association with theWallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, is the world premiere of Rapunzel Alone, written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Kenny, anddirected by Debbie Devine and Jesus Castaños-Chima. Performances continue at The Wallis in Beverly Hills March 12 toMarch 19, and at the 24th Street Theatre March 26 to April 30.
Loosely inspired by the famous children’s story, Rapunzel Alone centers on Lettie, a young mixed-race girl from London who is sent to the countryside for her own safety during the daily bombings of World War II. On an isolated country farm, she faces her own battles with a strict new guardian and a very “fowl” goose. Tara Alise Cox, William Leon and Marie-Françoise Theodorestar, with playwright Kenny providing narration and puppeteer Matt Curtin bringing ornery Gertrude the Goose to life. Adults and children ages 7 and up will be drawn into the fantasy world where a goose and lonely “witch” can turn out to be your best friends when you need companionship the most.
Originally commissioned to address the increasing isolation among teens coming of age in the world of social media, over the course of the past two years of pandemic, lockdown, social uprising, election, insurrection, climate calamities and war, the play continued to evolve, making it even more relevant now, given the number of young children currently displaced from their homes due to erupting warfare.
Rapunzel Alone moves into the Lovelace Studio Theater at the Wallis Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210 from March 12 to 19 with $25 tickets. The play then returns to the 24th Street Theatre, 1117 West 24th Street, L.A. 90007 (near USC) March 26 to April 30 with tickets $10-$24. Patrons ages 5 and up must show proof of vaccination, photo ID, and wear a mask. For exact dates, reservations and information, go to www.24thstreet.org.
Switching gears, head over to the Ahmanson Theatre through April 10 for The Lehman Trilogy, a very adult family tale written by Stefano Massini, adapted by Olivier Award-nominated Ben Power and directed by multiple Olivier Award, Academy Award and Tony Award winner Sam Mendes. Original London and Broadway cast members Simon Russell Beale and Adam Godley are joined by Broadway company member Howard W. Overshown, each of whom vividly portray the Lehman brothers, their sons and grandsons, girlfriends and wives, and business associates from all walks of life.
The Lehman Trilogy is the story of an immigrant family – and a family business – that would transform and, finally, upend the world. It begins on a cold September morning in 1844 when a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world, like so many immigrants before and after him. Soon he is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins. But just what happens 163 years later when the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy and triggers the largest financial crisis in history? It’s a spectacular journey told during a fast-paced run time of 3 hours, 20 minutes with two 15-minute intermissions.
Both shows are blessed with incredible actors who will mesmerize you with their ability to inhabit their roles, with innovative video projections magically transforming each set into many locations. And speaking of sets, kudos must be given to The Lehman Trilogy’s scenic designer Es Devlin for such a remarkably versatile, transparent turntable set upon which the actors weave through rooms and characters as if we are watching time pass before our eyes as the scenes swirl before us.
Tickets for The Lehman Trilogy are available through CenterTheatreGroup.org, Audience Services at
(213) 972-4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012). Be prepared to show proof of vaccination, photo ID and wear a mask. More information is available at CenterTheatreGroup.org/Safety.