By Shari Barrett
After the loss of their Pierson Playhouse in this January’s firestorm, Theatre Palisades is pleased to announce its second production of 2025, The Wisdom of Eve by Mary Orr, a timeless tale of deception and desire originally published by Orr as a short story in Cosmopolitan magazine in May 1946. She adapted the story into a play and then sold the film rights to 20th Century Fox, who produced the story as the Academy Award-winning film “All About Eve” in 1950.
The Wisdom of Eve pulls back the curtain on the cutthroat world of Broadway, centered around the seemingly innocent Eve Harrington. She arrives as a devoted fan of the legendary actress Margo Crane and is hired as her personal assistant. But as Eve sets her sights on the spotlight, her relentless ambition unleashes a chain of manipulation and betrayal that threatens to destroy careers and friendships. This masterful play explores themes of envy, manipulation, and the ruthless pursuit of success, mirroring the intense drama of its cinematic inspiration.
Under the skillful direction of Sherman Wayne, the talented cast includes Philip Bartolf, Isabella DiBernardino (as Eve), Steve Frankenfield, Manfred Hofer, Martha Hunter, Richard Johnson, Sara Kaner, Maria O’Connor (as Margo Crane), Eric Trigg, and Amy Witkowski. Martha Hunter produces for Theatre Palisades. Praised for its sharp wit and clever humor, The Wisdom of Eve is a behind-the-scenes theatrical experience you won’t want to miss, especially those who work in the entertainment industry or ever wanted to find their way onto the stage or silver screen!
Performances take place from Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 21, 2025 on Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. at The Blue Door Theater, 9617 Venice Blvd, Culver City 90232. Run time is two hours, 30 minutes with an intermission. General admission tickets are $25 or $22 for seniors and students. Take advantage of the special $5 early bird discount using promo code WISDOM5 at checkout. For tickets and more information, visit www.TheatrePalisades.org or call (310) 454-1970. Please note this production contains adult language and situations.
Parking is available at street meters and in the local neighborhood, but please read parking restriction signs to avoid ticketing and/or towing. Two Culver City municipal pay lots are located at 3846 Cardiff Ave. and 3844 Watseka Ave. The Blue Door is just a short walk west on Venice Blvd. from the Culver City Expo Metro Station.
The hilarious and audacious farm-to-fable musical Shucked about the one thing Americans everywhere can’t get enough of – corn – features a hokey, corny and hysterically funny book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn, a captivating score by Grammy Award winners, Tony Award nominees and Nashville music superstars Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, direction by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, comedically energetic choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by 2023 Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee Jason Howland. The combination of their skills, along with the triple-threat talented North American tour cast, bring the joy and heartbreak of everyday life in America’s corn belt to life onstage.
The universal story at the center of Shucked proves sometimes tearing down a few walls, rather than growing them, is the only way to preserve our way of life by turning musical theater on its ear and offering us a kernel of hope for our divided nation.
Hosted by Storytellers 1 and 2 (totally engaging Maya Lagerstam and Tyler Joseph Ellis), the story begins on the wedding day of local farm-raised pretty girl Maizy (Danielle Wade) and successful farmer Beau (Jake Odmark), a real Barbie and Ken couple who have been together since they were kids. But with the corn crop failing, Maizy takes on the responsibly of seeking help from the outside world after her cousin and best friend Lulu (Miki Abraham from Shucked on Broadway) encourages her to find her own place in the world and not settle for what might not be the best fit for her. Their close friendship shares the warmth of human kindness to a tee.
Leaving her best friend Lulu, Grandpa (Erick Pinnick), Beau and his outspoken brother Peanut (Mike Nappi) to try to save the seemingly unsavable rows of corn, Maizy sets off for the big city of Tampa, delightfully represented in “Travelin’ Song.” There she meets handsome and full-of-himself “Corn Doctor” Gordon (Quinn VanAntwerp from Shucked on Broadway) who flirts uncontrollably with Maizy, promising to make her a woman of the world after convincing her that he can save the corn back home. Of course, she does not realize Gordon’s real desire is to get more of the shiny rocks in her bracelet as well as get out of town to escape the mob targeting him for his gambling debt repayment.
But once they return to Cobb County, the town gets suspicious of the good “doctor” after he insists the only way to save the corn is to rid the ground of the precious, gem-filled rocks found under Grandpa’s house and in the fields. Of course, Gordon wants to sell them to jewelers back home to pay off his debt, featured in “Battle of the Rocks” that opens Act II. Of course, Beau is incensed when Maizy announces her plans to marry Gordon and leave for the big city with him, singing he is “OK” if that is her choice. But he still loves Maizy and wants to marry her. Of course, Gordon does not really want to marry Maizy, especially after Lulu, who runs a local distillery turning corn into whiskey, uses her amazing curves, sexy attitude and belting vocals to turn Gordon’s head (among other parts) in her direction.
Entertaining numbers follow including “I Do,” “Friends,” and “Best Man Wins” as Beau turns to the other men in town to help him win Maizy back, while Lulu encourages Maizy to learn to stand on her own two feet and not rely on a man to complete her life. But Lulu is really torn apart emotionally thinking she is going to steal Gordon from her best friend. And once Maizy learns to stand on her own two feet and make sure her voice is heard, Beau had better learn to honor the value of her intelligence before she will agree to change her mind and marry him for real. How do things work out for the four? It’s a musical comedy that ends with “Maybe Love” as a wedding takes place. Which pair, you ask? Go see Shucked and laugh along the way to finding out!
Kudos to the talented Broadway quality, multi-award-winning design team including Scott Pask (scenic design), Tilly Grimes (costume design), Japhy Weideman (lighting design), John Shivers (sound design) and Mia Neal (wig design). The Shucked orchestra conducted by music director Nick Williams on keyboard includes six musicians who raise the roof during every number. Ensemble members who take on many roles include Zakiya Baptiste, Cecily Dionne Davis, Ryan Fitzgerald, Jackson Goad, (Grandpa) Erick Pinnick, Celeste Rose, Kyle Sherman, and Chani Wereley, with dance captains Carly Caviglia and Nick Raynor, Sean Casey Flanagan, and Mallorie Sievert as swings.
The North American tour of Shucked continues through September 7 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028. Performances take place on performances Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with tickets available at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, or in person at the onsite box office.
Shucked also plays November 11-23 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Centre Drive in Costa Mesa 92626. Tickets and info at https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/shucked. A full list of cities on the tour can be found at https://shuckedmusical.com/#about.
