by David Thompson
Tuesday, Sep. 27, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Tanna Frederick stars in "Sylvia"
WHAT: Sylvia. The hit comedy.
WHO: Written by A.R. Gurney. Directed by Tanna Frederick. Produced by Henry Jaglom and The Rainbow Theatre Company. A guest production at Odyssey Theatre.
WHERE: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025,
WHEN: October 13- December 18, 2016. Thurs.- Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 3:00. Dark on Oct. 29, Nov. 24-27 (Thanksgiving weekend), Dec, 2.
ADMISSION: $30. Students and seniors $20.
RESERVATIONS: (800) 838-3006.
ONLINE TICKETING: www.sylviatheplayinla.com
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Five years ago, actor Tanna Frederick scored a personal triumph in productions of Sylvia at Sierra Madre Playhouse and Edgemar Center for the Arts. Now she returns to the title role, not only starring in but also directing the new production.
In this 1995 comedy by A.R. Gurney (Love Letters, The Dining Room), Greg and Kate are empty-nesters in the big city. On a walk in the park, Greg is adopted by Sylvia, a bouncy, frisky poodle mix. But Kate comes to feel that she is losing Greg to his adoring new best friend who just loves to be petted, scratched, and talked to. This imaginative twist on Greg’s midlife crisis leads to lots of laughs and some thoughtful insights into the nature of love, marriage, jealousy, and dogs.
In addition to Ms. Frederick, the cast also includes Steve Howard (also from the 2011 productions) as Greg, Beege Barkette (Babylon 5, The Fabulous Baker Boys) as Kate, and Matthew Marcy (TMI Hollywood) as three other characters.
Tanna Frederick is perhaps best known as a queen of independent film. Fresh off her career-best (so far) film reviews for Ovation, she has also appeared in The M Word, Irene in Time, Just 45 Minutes From Broadway, Queen of the Lot Hollywood Dreams, The Bandit Hound and more. Her stage credits include The Rainmaker (L.A. Times Critics Choice), Jack & Jill, Always…But Not Forever, Toussaint: For the Love of Freedom, Train to Zakopané, Dutchman ,A Safe Place, and more. She is also active in philanthropic endeavors, co-founding Project Save Our Surf and founding the Iowa Independent Film Festival, now in its tenth year.
« More fun than a barrel of puppies, Tanna Frederick is nothing short of terrific. »---ReviewPlays.com
« Tanna Frederick is truly brilliant as Sylvia. She embodies the fun-loving, childlike spirit of the dog.”--- Huffington Post
“Tanna Frederick is so funny and delightful as Sylvia. She really makes this a hysterically funny evening of theater.”--- American Radio Network