Well, besides the fact that this is the town where most beds at once can turn any given morning all into rocking chairs, I can think of one more: Al Pacino, small theatre, Oscar Wilde’s ‘drama in one act’ Salome and the possibility of catching this explosive combo for a measly 28 bucks.

That’s a perk for an Angelino if I heard of one.

Because let me tell you, this is our town. It is where you and I live and where a huge percentage of those anointed ‘famous’ by the consumer crowd also reside. So every now and then we get to see them off their official ‘star status’, just being locals, like you and I.

Dennis Quaid hits the local scene often with his own brand of classic rock with an amazing band called The Sharks (some fat cats –ex Joe Cocker musicians and such- play in his band, that’s the bottom line,- and neither you nor I have the money to afford them but if you happen to head out often in town –say to places like Cinespace and other upscale bars-, you’ll run into Dennis, playing as if in his own house garage. He’ll sweat and swirl right by you, bare footed, singing so frigging loud: … “great balls of fire…”

And the actors, since most live here, we truly get rare chances to see them outside the Hollywood package box. Again, Angelino perks. Pacino at the Wadsworth hitting the small stage for 26 consecutive nights? come on! You know you’ll be telling everyone at the office the next morning if you come. And you should come and then brag. Besides, having brains gives you bragging rights, right…? Let’s not forget, this play can’t be wrong –nor for the same token, proper- … the dialogue is the product of that imprudent wild man known as Oscar Wilde. This makes for more interesting conversation at the water cooler, I guarantee you that…

To be fair, you’ve heard Salome’s entire plot plenty of times. Of course, through the accounts of the evangelists it can be somewhat boring, but that’s why I believe the church may have hired Oscar Wilde to spruce things a bit up.

Now, what you should’ve been told first: the facts.

Al Pacino

Kevin Anderson

Jessica Chastain

Roxanne Hart

In a presentation with music of

Oscar Wilde's Masterpiece

SALOME

26 performances only!  April 14 to May 14

Directed by Estelle Parsons

With Original Music by Yukio Tsuji

Produced by Robert Fox, Daryl Roth and Amy Nederlander

Here is a terrific way for Los Angeles theatregoers to get tickets to see Al Pacino in Oscar Wilde’s SALOME -at a great price!- Fourteen $28 Rush Tickets will be made available for each performance, for front orchestra, side-view seats.  These Rush Tickets go on sale two hours prior to curtain time, for day-of-the-performance only, and will be available only at the Wadsworth Theatre Box Office. Cash only – limit two tickets per person. Please, no Rush line-up prior to 5:30pm for evening performances and 12:30pm for matinee performances.

SALOME has 26 performances only, April 14 to May 14 at the Wadsworth Theatre. The Wadsworth Theatre and Box Office is located 11301 Wilshire Blvd. on the Veterans Administration Grounds.

Al Pacino, Kevin Anderson, Jessica Chastain and Roxanne Hart will appear in a presentation with music of Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece SALOME. Presented as it was on Broadway in spring, 2003 by Robert Fox, Daryl Roth and Amy Nederlander, it will again be directed by Estelle Parsons with original music by Yukio Tsuji. 

Pacino and director Estelle Parsons spent nearly two years developing this production of SALOME before bringing it to Broadway, and are now delighted to bring it to Los Angeles.  "We made the decision to mount SALOME in this way because we felt it would better serve Wilde's text," said Pacino. "A staged reading yields a significant style unlike any other - it allows an audience the freedom to imagine and connect to the play in a different way."

A dramatic production based on the biblical tale of lust and revenge, Oscar Wilde’s SALOME draws the audience into a decadent world of passion and betrayal.  SALOME follows the legend of King Herod and his unbridled desire for Salome, the young daughter of his wife, Herodias.  Salome, indifferent to Herod's advances, longs for the love of the imprisoned John the Baptist. When he rejects her, she uses her powers of seduction and manipulation - and the Dance of the Seven Veils - to seek her revenge.

This production of SALOME was developed at the Actor's Studio (Estelle Parsons, Artistic Director) and was presented at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn (November 2002), at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY (February 2003), and on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (April, 2003).  Ben Brantley, in the The New York Times, said SALOME is “Smashing.  Inspired and sexy as all get-out.”

An Irish-born English poet, novelist and playwright, Oscar Wilde was considered an eccentric, as he was leader of the aesthetic movement that advocated "art for art's sake" and was once imprisoned for two years with hard labor for homosexual practices. SALOME (1893) written in French, was refused a license in London but, 13 years later, was adapted by Richard Strauss into a successful opera. Translated by Lord Alfred Douglas, it later appeared in England.

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Calendar Listing for

Oscar Wilde's SALOME: The Reading in Concert

Dates:          Friday, April 14 through Sunday, May 14

                    Press opening Thursday, April 27

Theatre:       Wadsworth Theatre, on the Veterans Administration grounds, Bldg 226                                        
                     11301   Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Schedule:      Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday Evenings at 8 pm

Saturdays at 8pm;

Sundays at 3pm

Prices:          $68 to $93, Premium seating also available
$28 Rush Tickets:  day-of-performance only, 2 hours prior, Box Office only, cash only. Limit 2 per person

Tickets:        @ Wadsworth Theatre Box Office,

11301 Wilshire Blvd., Bldg 226, Los Angeles

Phone – Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500

Online – www.WadsworthTheatre.com

More Info:      www.RICHMARKENT.com