“Teenage Dick” Reimagines Shakespeare’s Classic Tale of Lust for Power

ASSASSINS, Los Angeles:  This Sondheim musical is described as “darkly comedic,” an unusual description in that it explores the nine notorious Americans who took a shot at an American president. The singing characters have familiar names such as John Wilkes Booth, Charles Guiteau, Lee Harvey Oswald, Squeaky Fromme, and John Hinkley Jr., and the songs ask, “Why did you do what you did?”  The production is being staged by East West Players, the nation’s longest-running Asian American theatre and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works. It is their twelfth production of a Sondheim musical. Founded in 1965, East West Players celebrates diversity in ethnicity, orientation, gender, etc. They use the term “People of color” to include all colors, with a focus on Asian Americans. Their 240-seat auditorium is large enough to support Equity (professional) actors, but small enough to keep faces visible. Assassins will be presented February 17 – March 20, 2022. (eastwestplayers.org)

TEENAGE DICK, Pasadena:  No, this is not a musical about lusty twinks in a Bel Ami romp. It is, in fact, a brilliantly hilarious take on Richard III, Shakespeare’s classic tale of lust for power. Teenage Dick reimagines the most famous disabled character of all time as a 16-year-old outsider in the deepest winter of his discontent: his junior year at Roseland High. Bullied for his cerebral palsy, Richard plots his revenge — as well as his glorious path to senior class presidency. This sharp-witted production is at once everything you would imagine and nothing you would expect.  With the title of “California’s State Theatre,” it would be easy to assume that Pasadena Playhouse productions would be stuffy, but that would be far from the truth. In fact, the company consistently breathes new life into established works without any obligation of “reverence.”  This is a DIGITAL PRODUCTION from February 1 – 27. (pasadenaplayhouse.org)

WICKED, Costa Mesa and Sacramento:  This beloved musical has been defying gravity for over 20 years now and though I caught it several times in its first five years, it has been a long time since I have seen it and I look forward to re-visiting Oz as it was before that pigtailed brat from Kansas dropped in. For me, Wicked is the most complete Broadway musical ever staged. Stephen Schwarz’s songs are pop classics, the relationship between characters has great heart, the visuals of costumes, sets and effects are spectacular, and the script has great depth. Who were the wicked and good witches, and how did they end up good and evil? How did the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion become who they were? We know that a film production with Ariane Grande and Cynthia Erivo has been announced, but that will be a long time coming, and one last viewing of the stage production is in order. Plays Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts February 9 – March 6 (SCFTA.org) and Sacramento’s SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center March 30 – April 24 (broadwaysacramento.com)

All productions are subject to change. Please visit the theatre websites directly for the most up to date information.