Malibu Playhouse’s dynamic 2013-14 season will open with the West Coast premiere of The Dream of the Burning Boy by playwright David West Read. This 2011 off-Broadway hit explores a high school teacher’s self-recrimination when a popular student suddenly dies in his classroom. The production will be directed by Edward Edwards, who recently directed LA Weekly’s “Pick of the Week”, Tender Napalm, and will star veteran Broadway/off-Broadway actor Jeffrey Hayenga. The production opens September 6 and runs thru October 13.

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Jesse Herwitz of StageHappenings.com has written a rave review for the Malibu Stage Company production of Blood Knot by Athol Fugard, directed by Lou Gossett, Jr., who “gives new life” to this ground-breaking play. This production of Blood Knot is “built on the backs of two powerful performances.” “Mr. Best manifests well the jovial nature of Zachariah’s unrestrained humanity. As Morris, Mr. Martinez carefully walks that thin trail ...

Malibu Times, March 6 ,2013, by Melonie Magruder

It’s a new day at Malibu Stage Company—right down to the new name: the Malibu Playhouse. The intent, local director Diane Namm said, was “a push to acknowledge Malibu not just as a beach town, but as a cultural destination on a par with the La Jolla Playhouse.” That regional theater has become famous for developing productions to send to Broadway (e.g. “Big ...