“Critic’s Pick of the Year” – American Radio Network. It’s the feel-good bawdy musical comedy hit of the season, the Rudie-DeCarlo tribute to the wenches and rogues of the Bard. Bowing to the groundswell of requests from critics and audiences alike, this “captivating†(stagehappenings.com) garden of a thousand and one theatrical delights returns to insure that all’s well that ends as you like it, extended through February 2010.
Santa Monica Mirror calls it “an upbeat romp.†“Delightful whimsy… a bold ambitious piece of musical theatre†says the L.A. Weekly. Magic and mayhem, fops and fairies, mistaken identity, romance and humor abound in this tongue-firmly-in-cheek evening of theatre. The eight-member cast, in the renowned Actors’ Repertory Theatre commedia-carnival style, creates a host of over thirty characters, bringing to the stage all the stuff that dreams (and musicals) are made on. “As homage to Shakespeare, master of pantomime Marcel Marceau, Commedia dell’arte and conventions of classical theater in general, it soars. And by the time the lights fade to black, you will not be able to fight the feeling that all you need is love.†UCLA Daily Bruin.
Written and directed by the award-winning creative team of Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie, “Love in Bloom†features members of the internationally acclaimed Actors’ Repertory Theatre Serena Dolinsky and Melissa Gentry, joined by guests artists Liz Eldridge as the lusty Lady Merrymount, James Hassett as the rogue Frivolio, Jake Levy as the sweet monster Calabasas, and Tyner Pesch as the charming (but most definitely wishy-washy) Prince Hamelot with Rudie and DeCarlo as King and Queen of the Faeries.
Music & lyrics are by E. Rudie with Matthew Wrather.
Complimentary Dessert and Nibbles Buffet included in price of admission. Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 6pm. Regular admission $25.00. Special discount price of $20 for students, teachers, seniors and members of the military. Further discounts available for groups of 8 or more. Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm.
For tickets, information and group discounts, call 1-310-394-9779 ext 1 or visit SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com. Santa Monica Playhouse is located at 1211 4th Street, in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, one block east of the Third Street Promenade.
