Kimberly Akimbo: Malibu Stage Company by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Kimberly Akimbo: Review for LA Weekly After music directing a production of Xanadu for Act III Theatre Ensemble this winter, I am back to writing and reviewing! I am thrilled to be the…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 12:56am on March 16, 2012[SHARE]

My Town: Reflections on Our Town at The Broad Stage by Sarah Taylor Ellis

According to a woman sitting behind me at the Broad Stage on Sunday afternoon, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is performed at least once a day somewhere in the United States. The middle ag…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 6:44am on January 31, 2012[SHARE]

O(h): casebolt and smith by Sarah Taylor Ellis

casebolt and smith’s O(h): Review for Stage and Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 8:32pm on January 20, 2012[SHARE]

Los Angeles Theater Review: O(H) (casebolt and smith) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

NOT YOUR ORDINARY EVENING OF DANCE Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith's long-term friendship shapes their every move as a duo dance company. Such a partnership between a straight woman and gay man …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 1:07am on January 20, 2012[SHARE]

Celebrating 2 Years of Blogging by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Two years ago today, I launched my new blog Compositions on Theatre with a Prologue: My roommate Roxanne has urged me for months now to start a blog about all my theatrical adventures " s…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 5:23pm on January 14, 2012[SHARE]

Apologies (and other grey areas): The Paper Industry by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Apologies (and other grey areas): Review for Stage and Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 8:06pm on January 6, 2012[SHARE]

Kissing Sid James: Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Kissing Sid James: Review for Stage and Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 7:53pm on January 6, 2012[SHARE]

Off Broadway Theater Review: KISSING SID JAMES (Brits Off Broadway at 59E59) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

THE SOUND OF TWO BRITS KISSING Stationary sales executive Eddie and sexy casino worker Crystal fumble through their first weekend trip together in Robert Farquhar's Kissing Sid James. This p…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 6:11pm on January 6, 2012[SHARE]

Off Broadway Theater Review: APOLOGIES (AND OTHER GREY AREAS) (The Paper Industry) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

OUR APOLOGIES FOR TELLING YOU TOO LATE Something is happening in New York theater. With their latest "ugly opera" Apologies (And Other Grey Areas), The Paper Industry explores the uncertaint…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 5:52pm on December 23, 2011[SHARE]

A Year in Theater: 2011 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

2011 has been a whirlwind theatrical year. Last winter, I music directed two incredibly rewarding ensemble shows: Brecht and Weill’s Happy End (with director Hunter Bird) and The Ci…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 1:22pm on December 20, 2011[SHARE]

The Myths We Need " Or " How to Begin by Sarah Taylor Ellis

The Myths We Need – Or – How to Begin: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 9:02am on December 14, 2011[SHARE]

Off Broadway Theater Review: THE MYTHS WE NEED " OR " HOW TO BEGIN (Purple Rep) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

ONE OF MANY GENESIS STORIES TO COME Creating a fresh twist on the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve is no small feat. Unfortunately, Larry Kunofsky's The Myths We Need – or – How to …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 2:02pm on December 13, 2011[SHARE]

A Very She & Him Christmas: Or, Why I'm Not Quite a Hipster by Sarah Taylor Ellis

On my recent visit to NYC, I stayed with a designer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn – a hotbed of hipster culture. And on several occasions, friends told me that I would make a good hipster.…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 9:19pm on November 28, 2011[SHARE]

Bring It On The Musical: Ahmanson Theater, 11/11/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Bring It On The Musical: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 12:32pm on November 15, 2011[SHARE]

LA/National Tour Theater Review: BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL (Ahmanson Theatre) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

PREPPY IS THE NEW SUBVERSIVE When the development of Bring It On: The Musical was announced, I rolled my eyes. The commercial viability of yet another mediocre movie-to-musical had lured Ton…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 12:04pm on November 15, 2011[SHARE]

Stephen Sondheim in Conversation: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 10/29/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Segerstrom Center for the Arts sent an e-mail around 4pm and the LA Times published an article at 5:50, but Jen and I didn’t know the news until we reached the box office last night: W…

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 9:54pm on October 30, 2011[SHARE]

The Lord of the Rings in Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring: Honda Center, 10/15/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

The Lord of the Rings in Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 3:02am on October 20, 2011[SHARE]

The Dinosaur Within: The Theatre @ Boston Court, 10/9/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

The Dinosaur Within: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 6:54pm on October 13, 2011[SHARE]

Los Angeles Theater Review: THE DINOSAUR WITHIN (The Theatre @ Boston Court) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

ACCESS YOUR INNER DINOSAUR The Dinosaur Within digs up some curious storylines, but these fragments fail to cohere into a compelling narrative. In its West Coast premiere at Boston Court, Jo…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 4:27pm on October 13, 2011[SHARE]

I've Never Been So Happy: Rude Mechs, 10/8/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

I’ve Never Been So Happy: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 5:59pm on October 12, 2011[SHARE]

Los Angeles Theater Review: I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY (The Rude Mechs) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

A WILD WEST PARTY IN CULVER CITY The Rude Mechs' I've Never Been So Happy works overtime to please. This Western extravaganza spills into the Kirk Douglas Theater's lobby for an interactive …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 4:25pm on October 12, 2011[SHARE]

Cymbeline: Fiasco Theater, 9/17/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Cymbeline: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 6:10pm on October 5, 2011[SHARE]

Off Broadway Theater Review: CYMBELINE (Fiasco Theater) by Sarah Taylor Ellis

DOING A DIFFICULT PLAY RIGHT Tackling William Shakespeare's late play Cymbeline is no small feat, but Fiasco Theater makes the challenge deceptively simple and positively enchanting. With a …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 2:15am on October 2, 2011[SHARE]

Septimus & Clarissa, Ripe Time: 9/20/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Septimus & Clarissa: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 12:49pm on September 29, 2011[SHARE]

Dublin by Lamplight: Inis Nua Theatre, 9/17/11 by Sarah Taylor Ellis

Dublin by Lamplight: Review for Stage & Cinema

SOURCE: Compositions on Theater at 12:39pm on September 29, 2011[SHARE]