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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child February 15-June 22, 2025 at Pantages Theatre

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

  • By KENNE HOFFMAN

Use the floo network, grab a port key or jump on your broom. It doesn’t matter how you get there, but you can’t miss seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the famous Hollywood Pantages Theater. Hold onto the edge of your seat, this spellbinding spectacular will whisk you back to Hogwarts and beyond your imagination for a one-of-a-kind journey that is everything (and more) than you could hope for. Written by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was marketed as the “eighth story” of Harry Potter, taking place after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. While Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play about a new generation of wizards, it features many fan-favorites including the Harry Potter trio, (John Skelly as Harry, Matt Mueller as Ron, and Ebony Blake as Hermione).

Set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hollows, the play opens with Albus (Harry’s son played by Emmet Smith) getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express for his first year. He befriends Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius (Aiden Close) on the train. The two travel through time to fix past wrongs, including the death of Cedric Diggory. Their actions could change the Wizarding World forever. It premiered in London in 2016 and New York in 2018 and won six Tony Awards including Best Play, Direction, Scene, Lighting, Sound and Costume Design.

This mind-blowing race through time has spectacular spells and an epic battle with the most mystifying theatrical magic ever seen on stage. Playing February 15 thru June 22, 2025, at the Hollywood Pantages.

For tickets and show times, click here.

Traveler’s Prayer at The Braid

Traveler’s Prayer

  • By AC REMLER

Kicking off its 2025 season, The Braid’s production, “Traveler’s Prayer,” examines Jewish identity through travel and personal journeys, bringing to life 15 true and intimate stories that span global destinations, including Hiroshima, Israel, South Africa, Rome, and Thailand.

Directed by Susan Morgenstern, the show delves deeply into the meaning of Jewish experiences through humorous and profoundly moving stories. The Braid’s artistic director, Ronda Spinak, notes that these narratives transcend simple travelogues, examining how journeys serve as metaphors for personal and cultural discovery.

The production highlights stories from renowned writers such as Sex and the City writer, Cindy Chupack, novelist Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum, and Rabbi Susan Nanus. The show also features Roni Geva, Michael Naishtut, Jill Remez, and Amy Tolsky.

Traveler’s Prayer originates in ancient Jewish tradition and was inspired by the need for divine protection during journeys, asking for peace, safety from enemies and ambushes, and divine favor. 

Performances began in January and will run through February 6, 2025. Multiple show options are available, including live theater and two online Zoom performances on February 2 and 6. Following Traveler’s Prayer, The Braid will feature a screening of I Loved Jew, I Loved Jew Not in February, with Two Faiths, One Love debuting in March.

The Braid is a Jewish theater company based in Santa Monica, telling stories that celebrate Jewish identity and reflect the lived experience of being Jewish.

For more information and purchase tickets, click here.

Severance season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+ (Adam Scott / Photo Apple TV+)

SEVERANCE

  • By SEAN JAMES

The second season of Severance on Apple TV+ continues exploring its intriguingly unique premise with a blend of psychological thriller and dark humor. Created by Dan Erickson, this series delves deep into the lives of employees at Lumon Industries, who have undergone a radical procedure to separate their work and personal memories. The stark contrast between the two existences raises profound questions about identity, autonomy, and the nature of work.

Returning stars, including Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and John Michaelson, bring depth to their characters, showcasing the emotional turmoil that results from their severed lives. The performances are compelling as each actor navigates the complexities of their characters, embodying the struggle between conformity and self-discovery. Notably, tech mogul Tim Cook makes a guest appearance in episode two, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative.

This season, the plot unfolds with Mark (Adam Scott) and his colleagues attempting to unravel the mysteries surrounding Lumon and the implications of their severed memories. As they confront the eerie corporate culture that defines their existence, they begin to grapple with their surreal reality. The writing remains sharp and inventive, maintaining a balance between suspenseful and philosophical. With its distinctive visual style and haunting score, Severance solidifies its status as a thought-provoking series that challenges viewers to reflect on the balance between work and life, ultimately offering a uniquely captivating experience.

For more, click here.

Watermarks (A Fugue) February 14-23, 2025 at Theatre West

WATERMARKS

  • By KEN WERTHER

You’re inside a tent, Moroccan feel to the place. Camels and sand outside. Most importantly, you’re inside a brand-new gift card shop at an outpost somewhere in an exotic and out-of-reach twilight zone. The merchandise is all hand-made. Careful not to knock anything over! Meanwhile, the manager and his one and only customer argue over past lives, over cinema history, over what is and what is not.

Sound intriguing? Welcome to Watermarks (A Fugue), a new play at Theatre West this month. Written by Abbott Alexander and directed by Marco Rivera, the cast features Abbott Alexander, Briana Burnside, Helen Floersh, Scottie Nevil, and Steve Nevil. Psychological forces play against each other in this slapstick dramedy about resurrection, double meanings, puzzles, and cultural associations. Combined glances, gestures, and touch create a feeling of unity with all things.

Playwright-actor Abbott Alexander appeared on television in the daytime dramas Lovers and Friends and For Richer, For Poorer. He is an LA Drama Critics Circle Award-nominee, LA Weekly Award-winner, and two-time Valley Theatre Awards-winner. Director Marco Rivera is a UCLA directing and dramaturgy alumnus. His theatre credits include Just Like Us with UCLA Latinx Theatre Comunión, the US premieres of Lope De Vega’s Women and Servants, Dea Loher’s Life on Praça Roosevelt, and the West Coast premiere of The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell. There are only six performances (February 14–23) so get your tickets while you still can! 

For tickets and more details, click here.