This play is inspired by the true story of the “Killer Grannies of Santa Monica” aka the “Black Widows”. Two widows come up with a plan to make millions. They will take in men close to dying, get them to sign life insurance policies, and then collect the money when they pass. There is just one issue. The men keep living.

Susan Damante is excellent as one of the widows. She feels she deserves so much better than the life her husband provided for her. Cheryl David is great as the other widow. She very convincingly plays an immigrant from Yugoslavia, accent and all. Kevin Dulude is hilarious as the son-in-law living with them. Larry Eisenberg is hilarious as the drunken first man they take in. He hilariously stumbles all over the place. Phil Sokoloff is great as the second man they bring in. He captures an essence of crazy that keeps you guessing what he’ll do next.

Cost of a ticket: $38

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Get tickets now for Death, With Benefits through February 20^th.

Quinn Delaney

It’s 74 degrees tonight in Hollywood. It’s the perfect weather for an outdoor show at Supernova Comedy. This venue was started a year ago as a covid-friendly open air space. It’s a truly unique experience to see comedy outdoors and Supernova Comedy does it well.

One of the first comedians is Doug Benson. He immediately makes it clear that he is high. He goes on to read jokes he has written down on small pieces of paper. They are little ideas he is testing out in front of an audience. Some are good and some only make him laugh. One the funniest things he says is that stage he is standing on should rotate like a lazy susan. That way he doesn’t keep his back towards half the audience. The venue should probably move the stage the short distance to the side wall so they just have their back to the wall.

Next up is Jim Jefferies. He does a bit about how they didn’t put wheels on luggage until the 90s. But we went to the moon in the 60s! Later on he talks about long term relationships. Eventually, you narrow it down to just four positions: him on top, her on top, one for him to finish, and one for her to finish. The audience is cracking up the entire time as he breaks this down. Lastly, he introduces the next comedian, the creator of his favorite show, Big Mouth, Nick Kroll.

Nick tells a bunch of stories from his life. First he talks about how after sleeping with a girl he met through a dating app, she called her parents at 4am to tell them she slept with a Jew. He then goes further back and tells stories from when he was 12 and 6 years old. Perhaps he is working through material he plans to use for Big Mouth.

Jessimae Peluso has a really dirty set. Most of what she says is too just nasty to type out, and it is hilarious.

Jeff Ross and David Koechner did not appear. This is just the nature of comedy shows in LA. The lineups often change last minute.

Cost of a ticket: $25 plus two drink minimum

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value

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Quinn Delaney

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie first premiered in 2017 in Sheffield, England. In 2021, it was released as a film. And now, in 2022, it is making it’s American premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Jamie is a 16 year old boy in high school. He wants to be a professional drag queen. Most people in his life are very supportive, but a few are not. Most notably, his father does not approve. He also has to deal with a bully at school and a teacher enforcing dress code rules. It’s a coming of age story as Jamie learns about himself and creates his drag queen identity.

This is a feel good story about a very progressive community. 20 years ago, the challenges Jamie faced would have been ever more daunting. It’s a joy to see how happy he becomes when he is allowed to fully express himself. Layton Williams is perfect for this role.

Bianca Del Rio / Roy Haylock is outstanding as the owner of the drag queen store. It’s a big moment when she first enters the stage as Loco Chanelle. It’s no surprise she won the 6^th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Melissa Jacques is a powerful force as Jamie’s mother doing everything she can for him. Her solo song, “He’s My Boy”, is especially impressive. Shobna Gulati is excellent as the mother’s best friend. She also plays this role in the film version. Gillian Ford is great as the teacher trying to be supportive while also meeting the demands of the parents. Lastly, Hiba Elchikhe is fanstastic as Jamie’s best friend. By the end of the show, the whole audience wants to be her friend!

Get tickets now for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie through February 20^th!

Cost of a ticket: $35 – $125

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value (for the $35 tickets)

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Quinn Delaney

A Little Night Music first opened on Broadway in 1973. The film adaption was released in 1977. It was revived on Broadway in 2009. And now, it opens at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles.

Two married men are having an affair with the same woman. This upsets one of the men greatly, as he would rather another man sleep with his wife than with his mistress! The other man is married to a much younger “trophy” wife. They have never had sex, despite being married 11 months. Also, his son is in love with his new wife. Suffice it to say, it gets a bit farcical from here.

This production is impressively big considering the small size of the theatre. In fact, it is Broadway worthy! There are so many great one liners that have the whole audience laughing. This musical still holds up very well.

Peyton Crim is outstanding as one of the married men searching for happiness. He has a great baritone voice like Kelsey Grammer that is strong enough for opera. Alexa Rosengaus is excellently flirty as the son’s first crush. In fact, the entire cast is fantastic.

Cost of a ticket: $49.50

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for A Little Night Music through March 13^th!

Quinn Delaney

Johnny Blood kills a man in self defense at a bar. With his only witness a prostitute, he is convicted. His sister goes to the governor to seek a pardon. To her shock, he offers clemency in exchange for her chastity. She is a week away from becoming a nun and could never go through with it. So, with the help of the sheriff, she hatches up a plan to have the prostitute impersonate her.

This musical is absolutely hilarious like a Mel Brooks movie. The costumes are exceptional. The set is fantastic with prison bars on wheels and a roll out bed.

The acting is excellent. Michael Louis Cusimano is so funny as Johnny Blood, the fool that is wrongly sentenced to hang. Samatha Duval is superb as the flirty and fun prostitute. Rudy Martinez nails the role of the drunk priest in jail with Johnny. Elijah Rock is great as the “ah shucks” sheriff. Jo Garcia-Reger is perfect as the shy nun shocked at the governor’s advances. Lastly, Rusty Ferracane is spectacular as the devilish John Malkovich type governor. He plays the villain so comedically to the audience’s delight.

Cost of a ticket: $68

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Get tickets now for Desperate Measures through February 6^th!

Quinn Delaney

Kash’d Out opens with “Good at Gettin’ By”. “Some people they got way more that they need. I wonder why, cause’ I don’t even have to try. I’m gettin’ good at gettin’ by.” This is such a fun song about living easy with no worries. It immediately creates a chill vibe.

Later on they sing “So Blessed”. “I’m thinking we should put tomorrow on hold and just live in the moment.” Wow, such a great lyric. This song exudes coolness.

Later on they play “Way Too High for This”. “Step back, slow down. I can’t deal with that right now, I’m way too high for this. Way too high for this.” This is a fantastic party song that has everyone singing along to the incredibly catchy chorus.

They close with the fantastic “Yes I”. “ You must love your marijuana and I say: Yes I, Yes I, Yes I, Yes I, Yes I do.” It’s such a great chill reggae song that has everyone swaying along.

Every song has great lyrics and an excellent reggae beat. The future is bright for this young band out of Orlando, FL.

See their past setlists here.

Cost of a ticket: $27.50
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +
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Quinn Delaney

The year is 2465 and fewer than 435 Americans are alive. Everyone is a member of Congress. A group of people are camping just beyond the walls of the city and Congress must decide how to act. Should they send a diplomatic emissary or should they attack first and ask questions later? It’s a heated debate as they decide how to proceed.

Firstly, the idea that everyone would be in Congress is quite silly. The idea that the size of the cast equals the number of Congress members does make sense. The arguments in session are great as they spar over procedure and their course of action.

Todd Wojcik (Eurydice, Requiem for a Heavyweight) is excellent as the warmonger politician pushing the attack first mission with a complete disregard for the rules of Congress. Darren Jones is fantastic as his main adversary, pushing for diplomacy and following procedure. Denise Hoeflich is great as the leader of Congress, trying to maintain order in the chaotic environment. When she comes home, she is comforted by Ted James (School for Lies), who plays her robot husband. He is absolutely hilarious as he tries to figure out human politics.

Brandon Boler is solid as the reluctant congressman who abstains from voting most of the time. His wife, Allyce Torres, is superb as she expresses her outrage over her husband’s actions and then a second time against the attack first option. Deanna Reed-Foster (The First Deep Breathe, Be Here Now) is great as the only member of the Supreme Court. She exudes authority and leadership. Lastly, Noah Villarreal and Grant Lewis are solid in their supporting roles.

Cost of a ticket: $40

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Get tickets now for Wellesley Girl through February 5^th!

Quinn

Ana Popović is on tour promoting her latest album, Live for Live. It was released in 2020.

Her band tonight is excellent. Each one of them has a solo during the night and absolutely crushes it. Here is the lineup:

– Jeremy Thomas: keys

– Buthel Burns: bass + b-vocals

– Kwesi Robinson: drums + b-vocals

– Jordan Carr: trumpet

– Evan Knight: saxophone

To close her set, she plays “Lasting Kind of Love”. “It’s not a lasting kind of love, it’s temporary.” “And baby, I don’t mind”. It’s a groovy track about casual relationships. It is a fantastic blues song that really showcases her vocal talent.

She closes out the night with “Boys’ Night Out”. It’s a fun jammer about letting your man go out and release some stress. It features her virtuosic guitar playing which left the crowd dancing all the way home!

See her past setlists here.

Cost of a ticket: $28

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Quinn Delaney

Jackie tells us the story of her history in the performing arts. It starts with a very humble beginning and ends with this show. Along the way she attends Boston Conservatory and The Second City. She uses puppets and humor to tell her tale, but the real highlight is her vocals. Jackie Smook is an impressive singer. Accompanied by Joey Chimes on piano, the songs sound absolutely fantastic and Broadway worthy.

Cost of a ticket: $20 + a two drink minimum

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Get tickets now for The Jackie Smook Program of De-Dumbification through June 4!

Quinn

Two theatre critics are attending a murder mystery play. On stage, the housekeeper turns on the radio. As a man enters the back door, a police message comes on saying they are searching for a man that exactly fits the description of the man sneaking into the house. We later learn that he is dating two women at the same time without them knowing about it. This whole time, a man is laying dead near the front of the stage, half covered by a couch, without anyone noticing.

To start the second half of the show, the phone starts ringing and there is nobody on stage to answer it. So, one of the theatre critics goes on stage to answer it. The other characters treat her as if she is the man dating two women. It’s a repeat of the earlier scene for everyone else as she fumbles on stage in an absolutely farcical manner. Things just get crazier and funnier from here.

The entire cast is excellent. Shelley DeHosse is hilarious as the maid, especially when she is saying lines to obviously give information about the play that a normal person wouldn’t say. Claire Rutkowski is so funny over-acting as one of the women the man is dating. Sarah Seidler is great as the other woman, still in love with her missing husband. Croix Dakota Perkins is solid as the mysterious man in the middle of all of this. Eric S. Prahl is good and silly as the wheelchair-bound friend. Valerie Gerlock and Gabrielle Arietta Cross are solid as the self-engrossed theatre critics. Lastly, Adam Hoak is spot on as the old school Inspector Hound searching for answers.

Get tickets now for The Real Inspector Hound through February 6^th!

Cost of a ticket: $25

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney