[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s production of Motel 66 running through October 22 at Lonny Chapman Theatre.
Motel 66 has become something of an annual event by the good people of Group Rep. A selection of eight original short plays centered around the iconic route and different motels along its path. The stories are hugely varied, although they all have a great mix of humor and relevance, along with a healthy helping of drama.
Every year they surprise me with this show. What could be repetitive and a little ‘safe’ is always thought provoking, truthful and hilarious. The actors dig deep, using the stories of death and birth and marital strife and fear and love to get to the heart of life. The performances are nuanced and full of warmth and understanding. The cast is big and brash and welcoming, it’s really a revelation in a way. All these disparate souls just looking for some connection and ending up in the same place, sitting around a motel pool wondering how they got there.
The Group Rep is such a gift to NoHo. Always hopeful, never boring. I highly recommend that you go and see Motel 66. Take a couple of hours of your day and sit in the upstairs theatre with the complete and total understanding that you will be surprised, touched, that you will most probably laugh out loud several times and that you will, without a doubt be thoroughly entertained. Another excellent year at Motel 66!
Poolside Therapy by Sal Valletta
Directed by Linda Alznauer
With: Diane Linder, Brad Kahn and Tack Sappington
One More Night by Gina Yates
Directed by Van Boudreaux
With: Julie Davis, Mark Stancato and Bailey Warner
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Forever Friends by Denise Downer
Directed by Todd Andrew Ball
With: Melissa Lugo and Cierra Lundy
No Room at the Motel by Bill Fitzhugh
Directed by Larry Eisenberg
With: Sean Babcock, Joe Clabby, Larry Eisenberg and Jessica Kent
Immaculate Perception by Fox Carney
Directed by Helen O’Brien
With: Sasha Kartman and Lloyd Pedersen
Eureka Escorter by Doug Haverty
Directed by Bruce Kimmel
With: Bert Emmett (9/21-9/24) and Lee Grober (9/28-10/22), and Clara Rodriguez
Saving Garbage by Paul Elliott
Directed by Brent Beerman
With: Cynthia Bryant and Miguel Chavez
Quapaw, Oklahoma by Clara Rodriguez
Directed by Leota Rhodes
With: Laureen Faye, Pascal Gigon, Danny Salay and Bonnie Snyder
The Team
The production team includes Brent Beerman (Producer), Helen O’Brien (Managing Director), Mareli Mitchel-Shields (Dramaturg), Nick Foran (Lights & Sound Design), Paul Reid (Stage Manager), John Ledley (Booth Technician), Reginald Johnson (Asst. Stage Manager), Denise Downer (Marketing/Social Media), Kristin Stancato (Webmaster/Online Marketing), Doug Haverty (Graphic Designer), Jackie Hearn (Photography/Social Media), and Bridget Murray (Social Media).
Tickets:
When:
Running through October 22
Where:
Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd, NoHo Arts District, CA 91601