Michael Lopez

Indomitable spirit. Heather Dowling certainly has it. Her life epitomizes it. Her show heralds it. And, watching Heather revel in a tale spanning thirty years of deeply personal toil and trouble, I couldn't help but consider how many jobs I've had, how many fresh starts and new beginnings I've had to pull out of too many rejections, misfires and missed opportunities in life. Heather's unabashed honesty allowed me to rejoice in the simple power of continuing to try, in learning the hard way, i... full review

Laura's show is rich in Southern charm, and her personal story of struggling with an acting career in LA far from her roots is something many Angelinos can empathize with, but Laura's easy delivery and effortless humor are beguiling because she's taking us into some very uncomfortable territory. Laura's unstintingly honest portrayal of her final months with her father and her exploration of that complex relationship under the duress of his failing health and in the absence of her recently dec... full review

I just built a permanent new place in my heart for Abby Schachner. I had so much fun at her show! She turned her packed house into an intimate gathering of close friends by being unabashedly, electrically and hyper-kinesthetically open and alive. A skilled and talented artist and the goofiest kid you could ever want to meet, Abby is the kind of performer I aspire to be. She honors and subverts the fairy-tale world she spins in poems that are funny and odd, innocent and not, unpredictable ... full review

This is an open wound of a piece. Direct, impassioned, eloquent and nuanced, Sean's play is a brutal and graphic meditation on the struggles of a soldier, habituated to the mindset of war, to reintegrate himself into his life and relationships. There's nothing maudlin or self pitying here, just honesty in a whirlwind of well crafted remembrance as this character sifts through the wreckage of his life, stunned by the inevitability of his loss but no less hurt by it. If your spending a day ... full review

Elizabeth is a testament to the power inherent in a well told story. Simply put, with off-beat charm and a deceptively cagey comedic bent. Her seeming innocence belies a keen eye for catching the perfectly telling detail that makes you laugh at the truth of it. ... full review

Loved it! You feel immediately that you're in the hands of a capable actress and in for a wild ride through a childhood rendered with the kind of crystal clarity that the most painful parts of growing up impart. Poignant and hilarious, this show is so much fun!... full review

This was such a brave and honest performance. Leigh unfolded her truly heartfelt confessional within a well crafted play, stepping nimbly between characters that at once inspired empathy and gave counterpoint to her obstinate main character. A thrill ran up my spine when I realized that I recognized Leigh from the depths of my childhood television watching. Profound and self deprecating, confused, furious and poignant, this story was so theatrically engaging. I wish there were many more like it.... full review

Chris is so honest, so funny and so personable. I found myself connecting with his story in a personal way, reflecting on my own struggles in those precious, confused pre-teen years. Super show!... full review

Halfwits is deliriously and delightfully crazy, full of stuff and nonsense, but in the most touchingly human way. I had a great time!... full review