Rick Shaw

The earlier run of Jeff Gould’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Divorce is being restarted at the ‘still unnamed theatre.’ Already opened, Marc Antonio Pritchett directs Divorce through November 20, 2022. Jeff managed to spare some time between writing and touch-up rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.

Comedienne, actress, singer, and tribute artist Barbara Brighton will deliver when she hosts The Comedy Corner for Vegas Beyond the Strip on Sept. 12.

Idyllwild Arts Academy announced the return of its popular annual fundraiser, Jazz In The Pines. While the Idyllwild Arts campus remains closed until August, Idyllwild Arts is forging ahead with a reimagined and predominantly virtual format for Jazz In The Pines.

David Carver Music presents HAMLET THE ROCK MUSICAL featuring music and lyrics by Cliff Jones and additional music, lyrics and orchestrations by Craig Fair.

David Carver Music will present HAMLET THE ROCK MUSICAL featuring music and lyrics by Cliff Jones and additional music, lyrics and orchestrations by Craig Fair.

In 1976 on Broadway, just 11 songs into the 2-hour performance, the audience erupted into a show stopping standing ovation. That, and the well-earned nightly show-ending standing ovations proved how powerful and moving this musical was in '76 and will be again in February, with the re-imagined 21st century version of Hamlet The Rock Musical.

Vivian Lee is a musical raconteur. An evocative vocal instrument and impressive technique are certainly part of her package, but the jazz singers we prize are musical storytellers. On “Let's Talk About Love,” Vivian Lee spins eleven memorable tales. Ms. Lee and her musical collaborators, including pianists Brenden Lowe and Joe Gilman, bassist Buca Necak, and drummer Jeff Minnieweather, offer the type of cohesive, group interplay that only comes from playing together on a consistent basis. When that happens, it's as if the musicians are breathing in sync. Accordingly, the rhythm section provides the perfect magic carpet for Ms. Lee's musical peregrinations. She has been recognized as one of the premiere jazz artists in Sacramento and this recording shows why audiences so appreciate her talent. 

With the music of Fats Domino and Elvis filling the theater, patrons to The Palace Theater were transported back to a bygone era. While enjoying their dinner, the mood was set to the 1950's, a time when muscle cars and smoking were all the rage. A time when girls could be seen in poodle skirts or cigarette jeans, and the men in letter men sweaters or leather jackets. Back to a time when Grease...was the word.

Playwrights Steve Shaffer and Mark Schiff have a background as standup comics and a plethora of television experience, so they certainly have an eye and an ear for what is funny. Their little play Married People A Comedy is a series of scenarios involving two couples who are best friends. Each pair has a son whose issues threaten to breakup their marriage, so they turn to group therapy...with much hesitation and trepidation. Currently onstage at the Zephyr Theatre through April 2, Married People has a real grounded base with four resourceful actors portraying nice, average, middle class people with whom audiences can assuredly relate.

Kite and Key Productions is thrilled to present the world premiere of MARRIED PEOPLE: A COMEDY written by Steve Shaffer & Mark Schiff and directed by Rick Shaw.  MARRIED PEOPLE: A COMEDY will begin previews on Thursday, February 23 at 8pm; will open on Friday, March 3 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 2 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.

Kite and Key Productions is thrilled to present the world premiere ofMARRIED PEOPLE: A COMEDY written by Steve Shaffer & Mark Schiff and directed by Rick Shaw.  MARRIED PEOPLE: A COMEDY will begin previews on Thursday, February 23 at 8pm; will open on Friday, March 3 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 2 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.

Does a comic opera from 1910 resonate with contemporary audiences? The answer would be with certainty, yes. Third Avenue Playhouse's Madame Sherry with original book/lyrics by Otto Harbach and music by Karl L. Hoschna, would be completely entertaining in the under James Valcq's impressive adaptation and direction along with a talented acting troupe who possess triple threats---they act, dance and sing. Valcq adapted the vintage comic opera from a found script and stage manager's notes discovered in New York's Public library and produces this effervescent theater experience on stage in Sturgeon Bay. With more than 20 songs, romantic smooching and clever choreography, Madame Sherry rings in summer entertainment and chases away any cloudy skies appearing on the horizon, literally or figuratively.

On any given Sunday afternoon or weekday evening, Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) presents enthralling theatrical happenings that make audiences crave indoor (and air conditioned) time and space, that relates to the Newtonian.. This July, Sturgeon Bay's year round performing arts center presents a fairly new and contemporary play titled Isaac's Eye that subtly asks the question: "Would you rather be famous for centuries and die alone or have someone who loved you say "I'm happy that you lived?" by delving into the life of Sir Isaac Newton.

The battle of the sexes. The battle of sex. Maybe, even, the battle for sex. However it's termed, men and women have scrambled to make sense of their insidious attraction versus spectacular confusion with each other since the Big Bang (ahem).

This very black comedy, The Idiot Box written by Michael Elyanow completely went over this critic's head as laughter never escaped from his mouth. (OK, maybe once.) Scenes in which the actors obviously went for the laughs, punctuated by the cheesy canned laughtracks fell flat. However, scenes played for straight-up dramatics killed.

Producer Ronnie Marmo and Theatre 68 are proud to present THE IDIOT BOX - By award-winning playwright Michael Elyanow - at The NoHo Arts Center. Rick Shaw (hot off the smash hit 'It's Just Sex'), will be directing the play, opening tonight, May 29th, 2015.

Producer Ronnie Marmo and Theatre 68 are proud to present THE IDIOT BOX - By award-winning playwright Michael Elyanow - at The NoHo Arts Center. Rick Shaw (hot off the smash hit 'It's Just Sex'), will be directing the play, opening May 29th, 2015.

Sex in a title is an eye-catching titillation guaranteed to attract an audience. I had never seen It's Just Sex originally, so I thought, 'OMG, let's do it - no pun intended - and be done with it'. Is it about sex for the sake of sex or what? Hardly. The play is not a parody of the porn industry or about consistently rampant promiscuity. Not that there's isn't sex involved or that the actors are not appealing. It is and they are, but, in the long run , there is much, much more. In fact, you leave the theatre gaining more from it than you expected, going in. It's Just Sex had an 11-year run in LA before it spent a year off-Broadway; now it returns with a brand-spanking new and electric cast to the Secret Rose Theatre for continued fun, games and plenty of food for thought, through October 26.

In It's Just Sex, producer Rick Shaw has concocted the perfect cocktail for the main soiree of this piece; expertly blending one part-genius script of Jeff Gould; one part-firm and slick-paced directing by himself (Rose); one part-clean, efficient, non-obtrusive production elements; and seven parts-talented troupe of actors.

After over 2 Years of sold out performances in Los Angeles, and 11 months Off-Broadway in New York City, It's Just Sex, the original, acclaimed, award-winning comedy about partner-swapping couples, makes its return to LA. Written by Jeff Gould and directed by Rick Shaw, It's Just Sex will open on Friday, August 22nd and run through Sunday, October 26th at The Secret Rose Theater, 11246 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601.