Jackie Houchin
I write human interest stories and business profiles, cover school and local events, and do the occasional investigative reporting for a local weekly newspaper in Tujunga, California, often accompanying the stories with my own photographs.
I review books for Mystery Scene, The Strand, and Crimespree magazines. And I review stage plays and musicals for Community, Experimental & Noho theaters and CLOs.
Visit my "News & Reviews" website at: www.jackiehouchin.com
Articles by Jackie Houchin
August 26, 2010
The Will Rogers Follies chronicles the life and career of Will Rogers is a series of show-stopping numbers and moments of quiet wit and wisdom.
August 22, 2010
"Greater Tuna" depicts a day in the life of Texas' "third-smallets town, where the Lions club is tooliberal, and Patsy Cline never dies. It's laugh-out-loud, hilarious fun.
August 20, 2010
The story of a string of "traveling" pearls and the women whose lives it touches.
August 20, 2010
A story of an impossible friendship between a seasoned Soviet diplomat and an young and earnest American nuclear arms negotiator.
August 17, 2010
Alexandre Dumas' swashbuckling adventure of honor, glory and undying devotion to friends and countrymen in the days of King Louis XIII.
July 30, 2010
A superb production of Shakespeare's a revenge tragedy, enjoyable to casual theatergoers and informed enthusiasts alike.
July 20, 2010
A family-friendly musical based on the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea" by Hans Christian Andersen.
June 21, 2010
A witty and stimulating, romantic-mystery set at a stately manor in England, moving across two centuries, and involving a possible 1809 scandal (involving Lord Byron) that's being researched by the owner's descendents in 2009.
June 15, 2010
A family-friendly musical about 11-year old Priscilla and her family who are vacationing at a beachside cottage in Maine. She discovers some magical crayons who taker her, her pesky brother, and his dog on a wild adventure.
June 04, 2010
Will Tom and Kyra, who once loved each other deeply, now be able to bridge the gaps between them and reunite as lovers?
May 29, 2010
The musical - winner of six Tony Awards - features the life of humorist and performer Will Rogers portrayed as a revue in the Ziegfeld Follies, fully of heartwarming humor and glitzy, show-stopping numbers.
May 22, 2010
A troubled American teen vanishes into the mysterius world of Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox religious community while on a summer trip to Israel, leaving her parents desperate.
May 12, 2010
A fun and fanciful "musical with a moral" - in one act.
May 08, 2010
A brief sampling of the mystery pulp fiction works by L. Ron Hubbard, and information about the Golden Age Stories, print, audio and performed in live "radio-theater."
May 05, 2010
The story of a plain nearly-old maid, whose marriage prospects are as non-existant as rain in the drought-ridden countryside, that is, until a charismatic "Rainmaker" makes an appearance.
May 05, 2010
A solo play written and performed by Kres Mersky featuring Albert Einstein's faithful secretary who tells of her life with the great Nobel Prize Winner; intimate, amusing, touching.
April 28, 2010
And entertaining and enlightening play based on a iconic book about acting by Richard Boleslavsky in which a "green" young woman becomes a talented actress by heeding the wise words of her Teacher.
April 21, 2010
A funny play that pits a father-in-law against a mother in a crowded house for a comedic succession of squabbles and laughter. Heartwarming and entertaining.
April 03, 2010
A funny and bright musical based on the film by Richard Morris about a young girl who has left home to experience life (and marriage) in the Big Apple. While staying true to the movie, the live theatre production features a great score with catchy, toe-tapping tunes
March 23, 2010
An Irishman's tale of life, love and one pesky ghost.
March 08, 2010
The story of a successful author who's misfortune turned into blessing ... and a wonderful artistic gift.
March 03, 2010
When a strong willed woman defies an equally strong willed man, sparks fly, in both 1948 Baltimore and in Padua, Italy 300 years earlier.
February 23, 2010
A glitzy new musical about 4 beautiful "broads" who put on an annual variety act at the Millennium Manor retirement village, and what happens when one of them makes a startling announcement.
February 20, 2010
A musical based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell about labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise go unheeded. In the middle of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, the grievance committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent.
February 12, 2010
Part three in the series of Women in the Los Angeles Police Department; female patrol officers and detectives
February 04, 2010
A wacky pastishe of the children's nursery rhyme, with crossdressers, audience participation and a "jolly good time.'
February 04, 2010
An insider look at the booking process at the Foothill Station jail, and a discussion about cops who are also moms.
January 22, 2010
A delightful, feel-good musical by the master of storytelling, Ray Bradbury, about an older couple in the distant future whose surprise gifts of love to each other have unexpected results.
January 21, 2010
A bedroom farce about a Senator running for the Presidency on a platform of morality and honesty, but who has a closet full of girls...I mean skeletons.
January 15, 2010
First hand account of a typical daytime ride-along with LAPD Sergeant Sherri Egan, plus insider interviews about men/women in the LAPD.
January 12, 2010
A musical tribute to Patsy Cline and the true story of a friendship between the singing star and a devoted fan.
January 05, 2010
An outrageously funny family-friendly British farce full of mistaken identities, misunderstandings, numerous men in Vicar's attire and a hilarious maid who tries to keep it all together.
December 31, 2009
NYPD Detectives in the Major Case Squad hunt a serial killer with connections to 9-11.
December 26, 2009
EARLY RODDERS, a local group of car enthusiasts, delivered toys for needy kids to LAFD Fire Station #82 in La Canada as a way to "give back to the community."
December 15, 2009
A delightful, original ballet based on Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale, The Snow Queen, about a young girl's search for her friend...who has been betwitched by the Snow Queen, after an evil mirror shatters and curses the land.
December 03, 2009
An uplifting musical version of an old Dickens favorite, filled with traditional carols, beautiful costumes, special effects and lively performances.
November 28, 2009
The heartwarming story of how a family if unruly kids revolutionalized a Christmas pageant when the heard the real story of Jesus' birth.
November 24, 2009
Part variety show, part parody of "A Christmas Carol, and part Children's Hour with Santa, the show is a delightful entertaining and often hilarious burst of Christmas cheer.
November 24, 2009
An adaptation of Dostoevsky's book, condensed to reveal the central plot of a killer who tries to justify his actions, his pursuing nemesis who presses for a confession, and the woman who acts as catalyst in his demise and redemption.
November 21, 2009
Erin Holt, director of DanceArts and California Contemporary Ballet in La Canada,CA, created the original ballet & choreography for Hans Christian Anderson's fantasy fairy tale "The Snow Queen."
November 12, 2009
A gripping, enigmatic play that portrays the relationship between an agoraphobic mother and her precocious son who claims to have witnessed a horrific murcer.
November 09, 2009
The Alexander Technique is about being in touch with your body, sensing it, checking to see how it is doing, and giving it directions.
November 09, 2009
A classic thriller about a blind housewife who becomes the target of three thugs searching for "treasure" hidden in a doll. She must outwit those who have pulled her into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Audrey Hepburn starred in the 1967 movie version.
October 28, 2009
The story of Don Quixote's quest for the impossible dream.
October 23, 2009
An eccentric theatrical family in hard times living together out of emotional neediness and financial necessity is visited by one misfit daughter who's chosen to live as a "civilian" and who dares to bring her handsome fiance to meet everyone.
October 13, 2009
When a shy man pretends to be a non-English speaking foreigner to keep from talking to strangers he accidentally overhears confessions and plots that force him to come out of his shell and be a hero.
October 02, 2009
A heartwarming story of three old soldiers in a French military hospital whose arguements, adventures and ailments bring laughter and tears and deep satisfaction.
September 27, 2009
A happy musical-play for children about a vain Prince (who got some warts) and a Princess who couldn't keep promises, and how it all worked out happily ever after.
September 25, 2009
A middle aged businessman living in Dublin has seen the ghost of his recently deceased wife, and sees an ex-priest/therapist who has haunting issues of his own.
September 18, 2009
A hilarious farce about a nephew who must take the body of his deceased Uncle on a holiday to Monte Carlo in order to claim his $6 million inheritance... and the people who try to stop him.
September 18, 2009
A hilarious farce about a nephew who must take the body of his deceased Uncle on a holiday to Monte Carlo in order to claim his $6 million inheritance... and the people who try to stop him.
September 10, 2009
Fourth in the BABY SHARK mystery series, Private Investigators, Kristin Van Dijk and Otis Millett track a dibolically clever bank robber whose list of dead bodies includes Otis' estranged wife, Dixie.
September 04, 2009
A fresh and funny musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Snow White - for kids and adults alike
August 27, 2009
An informative, educational star-gazing event sponsored by the Sidewalk Astronomers, who set up powerful home-made telescopes and invite the public to view the heavens free of charge.
August 26, 2009
A fascinating mystery set in the world of matchmaking among the rich and powerful, where if the match is not rite, the person is eliminated...permanently. Can a handwriting analysist discover the killer before he strikes again?
August 21, 2009
A classic comedy about upper class snobbery in a delightfully tangled story that tickles the ribs while it entertains
August 11, 2009
A pair of funny and poignant plays about "the Jewish-American experience," then and now, by the co-writer of the screenplay "Tootsie"
July 26, 2009
A musical, based on the film, Footloose, about a town that's forbidden dancing, the Reverand who inforces the law, and a young man, a newcomer, who wins his rebellious daughter and helps the town counsel see the joy of dancing.
July 17, 2009
A trio of thought-provoking plays by the story telling master, Ray Bradbury, looks at the past to see how it can help people in the future.
July 14, 2009
Gala opening of an art show for seven artists from The Fairfax Art Group at the Towns-Burr Gallery in Burbank
July 10, 2009
A glimpse into the life of Pasadena POPS orchestra conductor and music director, Rachael Worby and her upcoming concert at Descanso Gardens.
July 10, 2009
A moving story of a mother's love and desperate hope for her son in a post-Apartheid South Africa.
July 04, 2009
The story of Newhall Coffee Roasting Company; it's founder, beginnings, and the battle with big brands for a place in the marketplace.
July 02, 2009
A complex comedy-drama about a country song and the lives (and loves) of the people connected with it.
June 27, 2009
An award-winning musical parody of "The Fellowship of the Ring" with extraordinary comic appeal; more than a spoof, more than a lampoon, it's a festival of fun!
June 26, 2009
An annual Roadster Exhbition & Swap Meet at the LA Fairplex, put on by the Los Angeles Roadster Club, and featuring show-quality pre-1937 roadsters.
June 24, 2009
A Pulizer Prize winning romantic drama about a brilliant University mathematician who slips grop genius to madness, and those who care for him and survive.
June 13, 2009
Sisters in Crime mystery writers discuss their books and writing craft at a Burbank Public Library event.
June 10, 2009
A charmingly re-telling of the old Fairy Tale classic, with music, songs, and several delightful "extra" characters to please young audiences.
June 03, 2009
Fidelity and loyalty triumph over treachery to assure that love will prevail in one of Shakespeare's most complex and romantic later plays.
May 31, 2009
A classic romantic-comedy musical about young couples falling in love and looking forward to a life in the new state of Oklahoma.
May 28, 2009
A children's book about a "dorky" young boy, who is SO annoyed about the way people use sayings and espressions that aren't literaly true, that he sets out to disprove them all.
May 25, 2009
A heart-warming, family comedy about a young man trying to break away from his boisterous but loving immigrant grandparents.
May 18, 2009
"EARLY RODDERS," a group of car enthusiasts meet Saturday mornings for coffee, car talk, and a little showing off. They welcome spectators to join them at these FREE events.
May 15, 2009
A Fine Arts Show Opening at the Towns-Burr Gallery in downtown Burbank features the work of six artists in various mediums.
May 01, 2009
A funny play about an eccentric family who show that money isn't everything, that family and true love will trump all.
April 28, 2009
A heavy-metal rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber "loosely" based on the last 7 days of the life of Jesus Christ; will be offensive to some.
April 21, 2009
A hilarious comedy about a not-so-truthful young lawyer, and what happens when his lies begin to find him out.
April 19, 2009
A one-woman, three-act play in which Sybyl Walker performs a dozen roles, each character a victim and survivor of the elusive thing called Love.
April 01, 2009
Who really discovered the secret of life? A true story about English biophysicist, Rosalind Franklin's photograph that revealed the structure of DNA
March 23, 2009
Short Story workshop inspires writers to write and submit stories to a new anthology.
March 18, 2009
A one-woman/one-act play about an 'English as a Second Language' teacher and her students, celebrating Women's History Month
March 12, 2009
William Inge's 1953 Pulitizer Prize winning romantic-drama about love and life on a hot Labor Day weekend in the Midwest.
March 06, 2009
An Irish comedy-play with songs, written by Ray Bradbury, and telling a variety of stories about working-class Irishmen who congregate for friendship and cheer in Heeber Finn's Pub.
February 26, 2009
A delightful new musical comedy about the joys and surprises a middle-aged couple face when they try an Internet dating site to find that "perfect match."
February 22, 2009
"The Illustrated Bradbury" - inspired by Ray Bradbury's book, "The Illustrated Man" - is a delightful one-man play depicting ten of the author's over 500 published stories.
February 17, 2009
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a swashbuckling romantic musical full of the glory and intrigue of the French Revolution and the pomp and wealth of the English court.
February 13, 2009
How a "field trip" to the live-action Theatre40 Production of "The Manor" motivates Sisters in Crime crime writers to create short stories for their new anthology.
January 28, 2009
A musical comedy about three young mothers who form a band and get their break at a PTA talent show, then go on to fame and glory with their "domestic" style of rock 'n roll.
January 28, 2009
A bawdy, boisterous tongue-in-cheek parody of a children's nursury rhyme that's traditional British slapstick comedy dating from Shakespearean times.
January 23, 2009
Talented portrait painter and illustrator, Tom Smith, exhibits seasonal cartoons and caricatures on store windows in Sunland and Tujunga.
January 20, 2009
A delightful play about five young Latino men who think their dreams will come true if they could just buy a wonderful white suit.
January 19, 2009
A hilarious comedy-mystery about an almost-competent Detective, his clever wife, and a puzzling murder aboard the Bounding Main.
January 06, 2009
Neil Simon's classic romantic comedy about a young newlywed couple who discover and solve the challenges of life and marriage...after the honeymood is over.
December 07, 2008
A heartwarming and nostalgic musical, with a universal theme of Tradition that cuts across barriors of class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness.
December 01, 2008
Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and four determined spirits set the stage for Scrooge to mend his miserly ways in this traditional Christmas musical for the whole family.
November 29, 2008
The classic Christmas tale of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge, adapted by Larry Davison and featuring Old English carols, folk dances and original music.
November 14, 2008
An edgy, thought-provoking set of plays about murder, guilt and forgiveness.
November 11, 2008
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
by Shari Shattuck
New York, Signet, 2008,
Paperback, $7.99
In this sequel to Eye of the Beholder, psychic Greer Sands is again forced to use her clairvoyant abilities to help find a killer and to protect the people and the environment she loves.
Set against a backdrop ...
November 11, 2008
Sherlock Holmes gets a run for his "deducing" money, with Dr. Watson's sharp and clever wife in a serious of mystery stories.
November 03, 2008
An Winter Holiday Mystery Anthology donated by thirteen talented authors will benefit Toys for Tots charity.
November 02, 2008
Assistance League of Pasadena and Flintridge Volunteers provide school uniforms to needy Pasadena Unified School District kids.
October 23, 2008
The tragic tale of twin boys who are separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother's haunting secret
October 12, 2008
A spooky comedy about two spinster sisters living in the swampy bayou, a weird woman with strange stories and a shocking confession, who visits them one dark night.
September 29, 2008
Book two in the Bargain Hunters Network mystery series - a little humor, a little romance and a whole lot of fun
September 22, 2008
Bloodhounds, trained to find lost pets, are featured on the new Animal Planet series.
September 13, 2008
A one-woman performance of the life of poet, Emily Dickinson by Kate Randolph Burns
September 12, 2008
---Theatre Review
The Glendale Centre Theatre has faced the challenge of producing the special-effects-heavy, "PHANTOM" on their theater-in-the-round stage and come out triumphant.
From the colorful Paris street and Bistro scenes bursting with gaiety and song as in "Melodie de Paris," to the...
September 03, 2008
A Handwriting specialist uses her skills to solve a murder.
August 30, 2008
A ghostly love story between a Pulizer Prize winning novelist and her deceased lover
August 29, 2008
A new comedy play about the paranoias of crime in our neighborhoods.
August 04, 2008
Brigadoon is a romantic musical-comedy Broadway hit about a mystical village that appears only one day in one hundred years.
July 16, 2008
"Did our faith kill our child?" Where do you turn when your faith is at odds with your heart?
July 16, 2008
A new way to save money and get uber-fresh produce delivered weekly.
July 01, 2008
A new, bawdy, comedy-farce at the Lizard Theater that's full of madcap misunderstandings and mistaken identities, sure to "crack up" any audience
June 30, 2008
"A big city, a love story, danger, and a mystery with more curves and twists than the Pasadena Freeway; Film-Noir fans will love this play.
June 09, 2008
Thousands of "cherry" street rods on display at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona
May 25, 2008
Singing, tap-dancing and special effects all a part of the stage version of MGM's mega-hit musical, "Singing in the Rain."
May 11, 2008
Four new tales of the macabre in this popular mini-play series.
May 07, 2008
A romantic comedy about a Jewish girl whose parents want her to mary "a nice Jewish boy" preferably a doctor, and how her "simple" ruse backfires.
May 06, 2008
This charming play is based on the Academy Award-winning screenplay by Maurice Richlin, from the smash film starting Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
April 21, 2008
Ray Bradbury's classic science fiction story about burning books and supressing individual liberties.
April 13, 2008
A nun is dead, a priest is imprisoned, and the TRUTH is on trial.
March 05, 2008
The story of how a convicted felon chooses to serve his sentence in a mental hospital and manages to irrevocably change the lives of the patients while sacrificing his own.
February 25, 2008
A new play by the author of "The China Syndrome" opens at Fremont Theatre in Pasadena, inspired by the true story of a 19-month Steelworkers Strike and the union local who went abroad to negotiate with the fugitive owner only to find himself in prison for murder.
February 04, 2008
Rosemary Lord recounts Hollywood lore and history form her beautifully illustrated and narrated book.
January 27, 2008
Three delightful plays by Ray Bradbury enacted at the Fremont Theatre in South Pasadena.
January 23, 2008
A well-plotted mystery of murder, intrigue and treason, set in Key West and Havana.
January 16, 2008
A hilarious comedy-farce about a couple of actors who get into trouble impersonating women. Think... "Some Like It Hot!"
December 30, 2007
Theatre Review by Jackie Houchin
The Glendale Centre Theatre opened its 2008 season with one of the funniest shows they've ever produced.
"The Foreigner," written by Larry Shue and directed by George Strattan (who also reprises the title role for a third time), is full of laughs, tender momen...
December 18, 2007
Toni Bayley is a parent and a member of the PTA at Mountain View Elementary School. She volunteered again this year to be chairperson for “Reflections,” a program established by the National PTA to encourage students across the country to create works of art for fun and recognition.
The annual ...
December 18, 2007
The Knightsbridge Theatre is wrapping up the year with two well-known Christmas plays.
The first one, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is geared toward children, and true to its "experimental theatre" designation, has been adapted by director Kelly Boczek to reflect comtempory times.
In the...
December 18, 2007
The Knightsbridge Theatre has opened a wonderfully authentic production of "A Christmas Carol" playing weekends through December 23.
Adapted by Raymond Donahey and directed by Joseph Stachura, this version of the holiday favorite is darker, but truer to the era of the author. Charles Dickens had...
December 12, 2007
The Ray Bradbury Pandemonium Theatre Company opened last weekend with the world premier of “Ray Bradbury’s Noel” - a guest production at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena.
The show is made up of two plays based on Bradbury’s stories, with a personal appearance by Mr. Bradbury in Act ...