WESTFEST 2025 AT THEATRE WEST MID-FESTIVAL PREVIEW
I’ve been taking in all kinds of shows at Theatre West in the Valley, (right across from Universal,) for decades. I’ve seen plays, magic shows, even Storybook Theatre for kids. But I had never before known about one of their signature presentations, the cleverly monikered WestFest. Now that I’m finally in the loop, I headed over for the second of the four week-ends on Sunday afternoon. (Two more are still to come, so we’re all in luck.)
The actors who performed in the seocnd weekend of westFest. Photo by Karen Salkin.
WestFest is a festival, (duh,) of a few short plays in one evening or afternoon. There are both comedies and dramas, all written and performed by members of Theatre West, which is LA’s longest-running, continuously-operating professional theatre company. This past week-end, we were treated to a duo of one-acts, one funny and the other deadly serious, all acted really well.
And then, just as we were leaving, there was a really fun surprise—a reception with the actors, complete with a beautiful buffet that even included shrimp cocktail, which, trust me, is a rarity in the fare of post-show fetes these days! For once, I had no idea that any post-show activities would be happening!
It turns-out that WestFest does that after every performance! How absolutely generous of them! The friend I brought always enjoys seeing the actors out of wardrobe and up-close and personal, so he enjoyed that aspect of the fete, as well.
One of the uncomplicated and pretty sets. Photo by Karen Salkin.
The good news for my fellow Angelenos is that there are two more week-ends of shows.
In two weeks, the fourth and final weekend, October 17-19, consists of all comedies, in tribute to a beloved late company member, prolific comedy writer Ellen Idelson, whose one-hundred-one-year-old mother is still acting, and even recently appeared on stage at Theatre West!
But I’m especially looking forward to one play this coming weekend, October 10-12. Hence the Confusion is written by longtime Theatre West member, Jeanine Anderson, who also co-produces the theatre’s annual fundraiser, Millennium Magic, with George Tovar. I’ve seen a couple of full-length plays she’s written in the past, and found them to be very amusing and charming, so I have good expectations for this one, as well.
I hope to see many of you there this weekend. But please leave some shrimp for me after the show!
For more info, go to www.theatrewest.org.
