[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Following an acclaimed run at Rogue Machine in 2024, Committed? A Ritual for Robbie, written and performed by Lisa Robins and directed by Mitch Levine, returns for 12 performances only at Beverly Hills Playhouse August 1–17.
Why live? What’s my purpose? How do you transform the worst thing that’s ever happened to you? Ever since her brother died by suicide, Lisa Robins has been committed to creating something for Robbie … about Robbie … about surviving Robbie. It took 30 years.
Committed? A Ritual for Robbie is a neurotic, erotic, psychotic tale of transformation. Sometimes the best way to honor the dead is to get hilariously, messily, beautifully alive. Chock-full of contemplations, ruminations, and revelations, Committed? is a funny, raw, healing, and heart-opening experience.
Talk Backs
There will be talkbacks following each performance hosted by experts in mental health, suicide prevention, and artists experienced in transforming trauma into theatre: Ali Borowsky, Find Your Anchor suicide prevention movement, Friday 8/1; Josh Ravetch, co-creator/writer/director of Carrie Fisher’s solo show Wishful Drinking at Geffen Playhouse, Sunday 8/3 at 7pm; Susan Morgenstern, producing director at The Braid, Saturday 8/9 at 2pm; Arlene Sarner, writer of Peggy Sue Got Married, Sunday 8/10 at 3pm; and Colin Campbell, Grief: A One Man ShitShow, date TBA. More will be announced shortly.
The Team
Lisa Robins’s Committed? A Ritual for Robbie was produced by Rogue Machine in Los Angeles last fall and was previously chosen for the Whole Megillah New Play Festival at San Diego Rep. Since then, she appeared in the Beverly Hills Playhouse production of A Doll’s House, Pt. 2 and Helvetica at Ophelia’s Jump. Noted original plays she helped bring to fruition include The Blessing of a Broken Heart by Todd Salovey and In Every Generation by Ali Viturbi at San Diego Rep, The Catskill Sonata by Michael Elias (dir. Paul Mazursky), River Time by Katherine Cortez, Center of the Star and Long Bridge (dir. Bill Rauch) with Cornerstone, Love, Loss and What I Wore (Geffen Playhouse), Sex… by George Furth (dir. John Rubinstein), Good in Bed by Gena Acosta (dir. Asaad Kelada), and Shock Therapy by Tom Bellin (dir. Jenny O’Hara). Film/TV credits include Rum Diary, James Dean. She is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio, Rogue Machine, and an Artist in Residence at The Braid.
Mitch Levine is a stage and film director with credits around the world who led the Directors Unit of the legendary Actors Studio. Off Broadway, he directed Sorry! at Circle Rep, Amorphous George at MCC, Terror America and A Public Service at the Ohio Theatre, and the revival of Lyle Kessler’s Orphans. He collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Moses Pendleton on the creation of Passion, directed A Dream Within a Dream (Pacific Resident Theatre), Jean Anouilh’s Antigone (Williamstown Theatre Festival) and Arthur Kopit’s Wings in Los Angeles. He was a Juilliard Fellow and the first James Cameron Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute. His film Shadows, a story of love and loss during the Holocaust, won awards around the globe. He directed the acclaimed run of Cindy Marinangel’s Dietrich and the multi-year tour of the political comedy God Help Us! starring the late, great Ed Asner. Other films include In Confidence (Cannes 2015) and the documentaries Hungry is the Tiger and Morphing Gravity. He hosted AFI’s Great Filmmakers series and founded The Film Festival Group.
Committed? A Ritual for Robbie Is produced by Genevieve Fowler. It is recommended for ages 14 and over.
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