Musicals in LA

Monday, October 21, 2013

What's Happening Around Town for October 21, 2013

MUSICALS: Chance Theater has announced its 16th anniversary season, which will be the first in its new home at 5522 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, a space that is double the size of its current location. It’s a very musical season so here’s a look at what you can expect from Chance.

LYSISTRATA JONES (west coast premiere)
Feb. 7 – March 9, 2014
Book by Douglas Carter Beane, music & lyrics by Lewis Flinn
Directed by Kari Hayter, choreographed by Kelly Todd

Athens University is in the midst of a thirty-year losing streak, so Lyssie J. and her girl-power posse won’t “give it up” to their basketball-playing boyfriends until they win a game. The hilarious dialogue and upbeat score are an electric combination of Mean Girls, Glee and Pitch Perfect.

TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL TBA
July 3 – August 3, 2014
This musical surprise is the winner of four Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and a potent reminder of the importance of chasing one’s dreams and finding where you belong. The Grammy award-winning score serves as the backdrop for a community with dreams of succeeding while at the same time holding onto your heritage.

SHE LOVES ME
Nov. 28 – Dec. 28, 2014
Book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by Jerry Bock

Travel back to the 1930’s where you’ll meet Georg, the dull but adorable manager, and spirited new clerk, Amalia. This is the musical adaptation of the play that inspired such films as 1940 Jimmy Stewarts’ The Shop Around The Corner, the 1949 Judy Garland musical In The Good Old Summertime, and most recently as the 1998 Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan film You’ve Got Mail.

STRIKING 12
December 9 – 28, 2014
By Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin, and Valerie Vigoda
Directed by Oanh Nguyen

New Year’s Eve in modern-day New York collides with 19th Century Denmark in this concert-with-a-story, sketch-comedy-meets-musical event for the holidays. While some choose to grumpily ignore the season, others choose to try and spread cheer - while selling full-spectrum holiday light bulbs. Inspired in part by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, the show springs to life through an eclectic score of classical, musical theater, jazz and rock. See it once and it will become your new holiday tradition.

In addition, plays on Chance Theater’s season include the Southern California premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play directed by Trevor Bishop (April 25 – May 25, 2014) and Jordan Harrison’s Maple and Vine (Sept. 19 – Oct. 19, 2014). For more information visit http://chancetheater.com/.

A Taste of Red, a one-woman musical comedy starring Sabrina Miller continues Sundays at 7pm through Nov. 3 at NoHo Arts Center. Directed by James Mellon, it's a fun, lighthearted musical comedy that follows a girl on her journey to a better life. With the right intentions, her life takes her through hilarious and sometimes romantic distractions and self-sabotage. Eventually she must ask herself, “Is this a better life or just the same life in a better neighborhood?” This simple question forces her to look inside and discover her own patterns of behavior and self-sabotage. Click Here for more information.

This Clement World, a new musical theatrical work by Cynthia Hopkins and her collaborators will have its west coast premiere at REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts Oct. 24 - 27. Performed live with a chorus and 15-member band, Cynthia Hopkins’ skillfully crafted This Clement World, is a soulful, musical theatrical performance that poetically, yet urgently speaks to the earth’s rapidly changing climate, with humor, artistry and immediacy. The full evening work interweaves documentary footage of stunning landscapes captured during Hopkins’ three-week Arctic voyage aboard a century-old ship, with an original avant-folk rock opera, and an extravagant narrative in which Hopkins portrays three fictional characters: the ghost of a Native American woman, a neutral visitor from outer space, and a child from the not-so-distant future who has traveled back in time. All act as tour guides for an imaginary exhibit of the wonders of our world, playfully conveying reflections on the current climate change, through a deeply idiosyncratic lens. Tickets: call (213) 237-2800 or visit www.redcat.org.

EVITA will return to L.A. by way of Hollywood Pantages Oct. 23 – Nov. 10. Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, it stars stars Caroline Bowman as Eva Peron, Josh Young as Che, Sean MacLaughlin as Peron, Christopher Johnstone as Magaldi, Krystina Alabado as Mistress and Desi Oakley serves as the Alternate for Eva Peron. Individual tickets for EVITA may be purchased at www.HollywoodPantages.com or calling 1-800-982-2787.

Creating Arts Company presents The Boondoggles Adventure, Out of Boondoggle Central, which centers on Colton the cowboy, an imaginary friend who is determined to find his way back into the real world to find his boy Michael. Along the way he befriends a few of the imaginary friends that call Boondoggle Central home like Howard the monster, Crash the ninja, Fae the fairy, Jade the witch, Carmen the diva and even the Princess Taisie. He discovers that Barb the doll, Candy and Sandy the twins, Mosh and Leel the evil management will do everything they can to keep him from leaving their imaginary paradise. Overflowing with heart, humor, imagination and self-discovery, The Boondoggles is an extraordinary new children's musical that reminds us what friendship is all about. Now through Nov. 10 at Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA90401. For more information call (310) 804-0223 or visit www.creatingarts.org.

DANCE: Helios Dance Theater presents Puss In Boots: From Drawings to Dance Saturday October 26 at 11:00 am. You’re invited to take a peek behind-the-scenes as Helios artistic director Laura Gorenstein Miller and her dancers share the process of creating the choreography for the characters in DreamWorks’ Academy Award-nominated film, Puss In Boots. Drawings dance to life in styles from flamenco to contemporary as this award-winning company incorporates hand drawn story boards, choreography, video of the motion capture technology and finished film scenes from the movie. It’s fascinating for audiences of all ages to experience live dance in this new and innovative way using popular culture and the love of film. Following the show, stay for fresh cookies and milk and an artist meet and greet. http://thebroadstage.com/puss-n-boots

CABARET/CONCERTS: On Friday, Nov. 15 at 7pm, GLEH and Chris Isaacson present Upright Cabaret at GLEH; a monthly charitable cabaret series raising awareness of GLEH (Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing) through song. This performance will feature Danny Gurwin, whose Broadway credits include Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Click Here for more information.

Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal has added a second performance of Supercalifragilistic expialidocious! The Songs of the Sherman Brothers at 3pm on Sunday Nov. 3. Call (818) 754-8700 for reservations. Lunch/Brunch seating is at 2:00 pm. The show starts at 3:00 pm and runs an hour and a half. www.msapr.net

A tribute concert to Astor Piazzola will take place Nov. 3 at Sierra Madre Playhouse. The composer and musician, was famed as the creator of nuevo tango, which transformed traditional tango by infusing it with elements of jazz and classical music. On November 3, three Colburn Conservatory of Music students, Stephanie Ng (piano), Sang Yoon Kim (clarinet), and Kevin Lin (violin) will perform a concert in tribute to this important 20th century artist. This is the second concert in the ongoing Sunday Series featuring Emerging Artists at the Playhouse, a collaboration between Sierra Madre Playhouse and the Colburn Conservatory of Music 7:00 pm at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Tickets: $20. Students (to age 21) and seniors (65+) $15. Reservations: (626) 355-4318 or www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

Ryan Black’s Don’t Tell Mama LA - An Evening with Diane Warren Oct. 23. There is no cover charge and seats may be reserved with a dinner reservation by calling (323) 380-7209. Open mic after the show. Tickets: HERE.

Sarah Brightman has kicked off her North American 33-city fall tour in support of her new #1 album, Dreamchaser. This spectacular production will visit Southern California next week with two area shows -- Friday November 1st at Dolby Theatre followed by The Theatre at Honda Center on Saturday, November 2nd. Tickets: www.livenation.com or www.ticketmaster.com