Ivy Beech

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the nominees for theatrical excellence for 2020 and 2021. This year's awards have been combined due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Spotlight focuses on Nan McNamara, an award-winning actress who I have seen in many productions at the Actors Co-op in Hollywood, perhaps most notably in the 2017 Ovation Award-winning '33 Variations' in which she played a journalist who was able to go back in time to interview Ludwig Von Beethoven (an outstanding performance by Bruce Ladd) about his work. But what happened to the world premiere production of Lee Blessing's 'A Body of Water' which Nan directed when Covid-19 shut down L.A. theaters?

Actors Co-op's production of Lee Blessing's “A Body of Water” with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson, opened to a SOLD OUT house Friday night.   The play runs now through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The Award-winning Actors Co-op Theatre Company will present 'A Body of Water' written by Lee Blessing with the world premiere of Blessing's new ending, directed by Nan McNamara, produced by Crystal Jackson. The play will run February 7 through March 15, at Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Playwright Robert Harling's sharp, snappy, heart-wrenching, Louisiana-favored dialogue receives its most worthy due in this Actors Co-op production; cast with a spot-on ensemble of six amazing actresses, smoothly and expertly helmed by director Cameron Watson.

The award-winning Actors Co-op proudly presents Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS, directed by Cameron Watson, produced by Lauren Thompson.  Set in a small town beauty salon in Louisiana, STEEL MAGNOLIAS celebrates the bond of friendship between six women in the midst of life's challenges. Based on the playwright's upbringing, and later adapted into the critically acclaimed film, STEEL  MAGNOLIAS  is a humorous, yet devastating journey of friendship, loss, and love.

Director Cameron Watson is about to receive the Milton Katselas Award for distinguished achievement in direction from the LADCC for 2018. He is one busy director in LA theatre and recently sat down to discuss overseeing the new production of Steel Magnolias at Actors Co-op, set to open Friday March 22. Describe your association with Actors Co-op.

Actors Co-op extends its daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

Actors Co-op adds two matinees of this daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson, is a staggeringly ambitious project for any theatre. First of all, it is a period piece taking place in a foreign country, in this case Russia and belongs in the realm of literary classics, requiring or better suited to classically trained actors. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op's Crossley Theatre. Anna is directed intelligently by Heather Chesley and boasts a fine cast, but somehow lacks the stature that it deserves.

Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Todays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.

Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.

Torn from today's headlines, what do you do when your enemy may be smarter than you? William Mastrosimone's gripping drama CAW'S-PAW is set in a warehouse near the U.S. capital where a terrorist who has wreaked madness and destruction on America is about to use a news reporter to exploit just one more valuable hostage – the world's supply of clean water. Reflecting both current issues of the destruction of clean drinking water in such places as Flint, MI, as well as climate change, this play will get you thinking about how the media tends to promote violence when words fail to gets opposing sides talking to each other, and will get you thinking about what it takes for a good cause go bad.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the riveting CAT'S-PAW by William Mastrosimone and directed by Stephen Rothman.  CAT'S-PAW will preview on Wednesday, March 22 & Thursday, March 23 at 8pm and will open on Friday, March 24 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 30 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the riveting CAT'S-PAW by William Mastrosimone and directed by Stephen Rothman. CAT'S-PAW will preview on Wednesday, March 22 & Thursday, March 23 at 8pm and will open on Friday, March 24 at 8pmand run through Sunday, April 30 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the second show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Moosie Drier.  HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES will preview on Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, October 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 22 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the second show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Moosie Drier.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the second show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Moosie Drier.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the second show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Moosie Drier.

Actors Co-op takes 'pride' in announcing its third show in its 2014-2015 season (and 23rd year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with the unforgettable classic, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, written by Helene Jerome, based on the novel by Jane Austen and directed by Linda Kerns. Check out a first look below!