James Sims

Theatre

  • A DIY Path to Bringing ‘Job’ to Broadway

    A DIY Path to Bringing ‘Job’ to Broadway

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    James Sims

    It’s refreshing to talk with Max Wolf Friedlich ’17 on the heels of a buzzy opening night for Job, his hit new play on Broadway. You won’t get any type of exaggerated excitement or the false pretense of platitudes, which may seem surprising when you realize you’re talking to a 29-year-old playwright who has already appeared…

  • Passing the Baton: Michael Ritchie’s Final Season

    Passing the Baton: Michael Ritchie’s Final Season

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    James Sims

    After leading Center Theatre Group for more than 16 years, Michael Ritchie will retire as Artistic Director on December 31, 2021, following the long-awaited return to live, in-person performances after a devastating year-and-a-half shutdown of its three historic theatres. In 2004, the neon lights sitting atop a once historic movie house in Culver City flickered…

  • Page to Stage: different words for the same thing

    Page to Stage: different words for the same thing

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    James Sims

    I produced this video taking viewers from page to stage of this world premiere production.

  • Interview with David Hyde Pierce and Christopher Durang

    Interview with David Hyde Pierce and Christopher Durang

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    James Sims

    I recently filmed an interview with David Hyde Pierce and playwright Christopher Durang.

  • TEDxBroadway: Just a Dream Away

    TEDxBroadway: Just a Dream Away

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    James Sims

    While there often tends to be a sense of skepticism when speaking of Broadway’s future, TEDxBroadway was more about thinking positive, and brainstorming for the sake of live theater. Bazadona rattled off a list of needs for the viability of Broadway: incredible original productions, full theaters with diverse audiences, a wider platform to share our…

  • Tony Awards Reflect a Boring Broadway Season

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    James Sims

    With the Tony Awards only a few days away (June 13) and nearly every theatre-oriented website extolling predictions for the ceremony, I thought it appropriate to weigh in on the past Broadway season, and even toss out a few of my own picks for best in show. It is nearly impossible to dismiss the fact…

  • ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ Tears Down Musical Theatre Tradition

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    James Sims

    Musical theatre old timers have been circling the proverbial wagons for quite sometime now, grasping at revival after revival in hopes of retaining the fading glory of yesteryear song and dance shows. Over the course of the past couple seasons on and off Broadway, a rebellion of sorts has been afoot, and if anyone has…

  • Fond Look Back at Pasadena Playhouse

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    James Sims

    While many New Yorkers stick their noses up at the thought of a “theatre scene” in Los Angeles, there is plenty of live theatre going on in the spread-out city. Some of it is actually worth watching. Having covered the Los Angeles theatre beat for a long while, it was always my hope to highlight…

  • Marvelous Wonderettes Closes Its Gym Doors

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    James Sims

    Move over Rydell High, there is a new group of singing teenage starlets on stage hailing from Springfield High, and they are making audiences flip as they relive their 1958 Senior Prom to some doo-wop classics. Off-Broadway’s The Marvelous Wonderettes has been playing to enthusiastic crowds at The Westside Theatre since it settled in New…