Bonjour,
Challenge Grant Update – Only three weeks left!
As you know, one of our most generous patrons—who wishes to remain anonymous—recently made the incredible pledge of a $25,000 Challenge grant. Thanks to so many of you, we’ve made great progress—$10,500 so far. We need you in order to match these funds by June 28th—the closing date of “Limonade Tous les Jours: A Paris Love Story.” Any donation large or small is welcome. Join those below in making it possible to match this pledge!
Raffaela Commitante
Jay Bevan
Lindsie Carlsen
Barbara Beyer
David Tillman
Michael Wiles
Alan Grinnell
Ricky Lee Grove
Roger Marheine
Arthur Wlliamson
Margaret Perscheid
Holly Dunnigan
Michele & Curt Wittig
Michael Intriere
Berta Finkelstein & Bill Claiborn
The Weaver Family Foundation
Talma Zelitzky
Follow this link to play your part in supporting the work at City Garage—and merci in advance!
Limonade Tous les Jours: A Paris Love Story – Final three weeks!
“Limonade,” our romantic hit, is in its final three weeks. Critics and audiences agree, it’s like a lovely, fantasy trip to Paris. We got a particular lovely review this last week from Travis Michael Holder of the LA Drama Critics circle, while Sarah Spitz of The Hollywood Times did a big feature about it. (See the quotes below and follow the links to read both pieces in full).
Get your tickets while they last!
Buy Tickets Online.
“Absolutely brilliant…strikingly well-calibrated performances….an enchanting evening of theatre that transports its audience into a dreamlike state, offering a beautifully stylized escape that lingers in the mind long after the final curtain.” — Travis Michael Holder, Ticket Holders LA
“It’s one thing to stage a charming and irresistible play, as City Garage is doing with its current production, Limonade Tous Les Jours: A Paris Love Story. But when the offstage relationship is as charming as the play, that’s a real life romantic love story.” — Sarah Spitz, The Hollywood Times
TOP TEN – RECOMMENDED!
“A subtle, elusive dance of attraction and seduction, propelled by Mee’s witty, humorous prose, with Andrew and Ya-Ya taking turns at the lead, and each slowly revealing the vulnerability and desires of the other….Director Frederique Michel draws well-calibrated performances from the cast, and again reveals her knack for evocative, “creative atmosphere-ing….Gorgeous!” — Lovell Estell III, Stage Raw
“Love is in the Parisian air at Santa Monica’s City Garage Theatre in Limonade Tous Les Jours: A Paris Love Story….[David] Frank and newcomer [Nicolet] Anton make for a believably mismatched pair of lovers, the latter scoring bonus points for giving French songstresses Edith Piaf and Mireille Mathieu a run for their francs français in nightclub sequences. Most engaging of all is City Garage discovery St. James, whether bare of torso or wearing a slinky slip dress or showing off seductive vocals and sizzling dance moves choreographed by St. James himself….If you can’t afford un voyage à Paris in the springtime, this just might be the next best thing!” — Steven Stanley, Stage SceneLA
“All three performances are as quietly glorious as a perfect haiku, or maybe a simple but exquisite bouquet of flowers. Or maybe something else exquisite. Because that word defines this specific play. Exquisite. Like a drink of something icy and perfect on a hot summer day, or a magnificent blanket in a winter night.” — David MacDowell Blue, The World Through Night Tinted Glasses
“Get happily drunk on love at City Garage with Limonade Tous les Jours: A Paris Love Story. Directed by Frédérique Michel and produced by Charles A. Duncombe, this play by Charles L. Mee beautifully captures the romance and magic of Paris.” — Edward Goldman, Art Matters
“A play for those that have fallen in love, are falling in love, and those who long to fall in love again. It harks back to a line spoken in a classic movie from not too long ago: “We’ll Always Have Paris”. — Rich Bowry, Accessibly Live Off-Line
About the Play:
“Limonade Tous les Jours: A Paris Love Story” by Charles L. Mee May 22 – June 28, 2026
Obie Award winning playwright Charles L. Mee creates a magical love story in the city of light. YaYa, a vivacious young Parisian cabaret singer, and Andrew, a reserved American in his 50s, are both recovering from ruined relationships. When they meet at a Paris cafe and then, without quite meaning to, spend the day together, they speak of all the reasons why they shouldn’t fall in love. And so, of course, they do. Featuring classic French cabaret songs, this lovely, lyrical piece love story with music is a deep exploration of love and desire, of why people come together, and the hunger for connection that keeps us trying—no matter how many times we fail.
Summer Theatre Camp at City Garage – 2 sessions: June 15 – June 20; June 22 – 27, 2026
Jaime Arze, Artistic Director of the renowned Big Sur StageKids will be holding a summer theatre camp at City Garage this summer for ages 8 -16. For students with theater experience, this is a great way to engage in a new form of stagecraft. For students with no theater experience, this is a great way to get on stage immediately! No auditions! No scripts! No memorizing! No homework! Show up for games, improv, character creation, scene work, music, dance, and costuming. Two sessions, weekdays 11:00am – 3:00pm. The ensemble creates the play in one week and performs it for an audience on Saturday afternoon at 3pm for friends and family. Click here for more information and to sign up.
See you at the theatre!
Merci,
Frédérique & Archie❤️
