Loving LA

One thing I’m really enjoying this year is discovering the small productions and shows going on all around LA – especially on the Westside, that I hadn’t really explored before. I’ve already written about The Moth story slams, of which I am now a devoted regular. Now was the turn of Spark off Rose, a spoken word series at The Powerhouse Theater in Santa Monica, founded by actress Jessica Tuck.

Once a month Spark features true stories from the narrators’ lives, centered around a common theme. At times incredibly moving,  at times hilariously laugh-out-loud funny, they are always thoughtfully well-written and powerfully engaging. Our theme of the night was “After Hours”. Interpretations ranged from a pediatric social worker’s struggle with her faith in the face of her sometimes trying profession, to a “sad-off” of love songs played out between two roommates, both pining over their seemingly hopeless love lives. The night was finished off by an original song written and performed by the talented Deborah Pardes.

A funny and great show and a rare local treat. Make yourself an audience regular, or if you have a story to tell, sign up to be a performer and I’ll look forward to seeing you there.

Sal