Musicals in LA

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Musical News for Wednesday, January 22, 2014

MUSICALS: Davis Gaines will star as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett as Marian Paroo in Musical Theatre West’s production of The Music Man at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center Feb. 14 – March 2nd. Meredith Willson’s timeless musical features musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and is directed by Jeff Maynard. Con man Harold Hill promises a boys’ band to counteract the possibility of a pool table coming to River City. His persuasive patter fools everyone except the town librarian, Marian Paroo. The cast will also feature Ashley Anderson (Zanetta Shinn), Maguire Balleweg (Amaryllis), Paige Brinskele (Pick-a-Little), Emzy Burroughs (Oliver Hix), Peyton Crim (Olin Britt), Joey D’Auria (Mayor Shinn), Jon Hand (Constable Lock), Emilie Lafontaine (Gracie Shinn), Cathy Newman (Mrs. Paroo), Jenny Moon Shaw (Pick-a-Little), Rebecca Spencer (Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn), Bryan Vickery (Jacey Squires) and Matt Walker (Marcellus). Tickets: (562 856-1999 x. 4 or www.musical.org.

Skylight Theatre Company presents the world premiere of The Wrong Man, an underground musical written by Ross Golan, directed & choreographed by Lee Martino and starring Ross Golan and Jennifer Brasuell, Jan. 25 - March 1st. The Wrong Man is an acoustical tale of what happens when the wrong man meets the wrong girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. Framed for murder, his ill-fated circumstances spiral out of control, leaving him at the mercy of a flawed judicial system. Tickets: www.skylighttheatrecompany.com

ADDED PERFORMANCE: Due to high ticket demand, a second concert performance of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera has been set for Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 8:00 pm at Hollywood’s legendary King Kong Club. The February 4 & 5 concerts will take place just a few days before the start of the 2014 Olympics, which is also the 20th anniversary of the lead pipe assault heard ‘round the world and Tonya and Nancy’s subsequent skate-off at the 1994 Winter Olympics. With libretto by Elizabeth Searle and music by Michael Teoli. Proceeds from the two evenings will go to support Celebration Theatre. Tickets: (323) 960-9234 or www.celebrationtheatre.com

Theatre Unleashed and artistic director Carlos Martinez have announced their 2014 season, which will include the west coast debut of Justin Moran’s original satirical musical, POPE! An Epic Musical, in September/October. In it, an idealistic young Pope is framed for a heinous crime and banished from the Vatican. The people, blinded by the media frenzy, allow a tyrannical archbishop to seize power. As this new Pope tightens his iron fist, the people are disheartened and in despair, and the world is crying out for a hero…can Pope reclaim his glory to become the hero the world needs? The season will also include Tartuffe in March/April directed by Jeff Soroka, 25 Plays Per Hour and Friends Like These in June at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and KAWL Presents It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play for the Stage in December. www.theatreunleashed.com

CABARET/CONCERTS: Independent Shakespeare Co. seduces you with an eclectic evening of music, scenes, poetry, and comedy on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 pm. From Chaucer to Cole Porter, In and Out of Love, a Passion Play will look at love from the top, the bottom, and everywhere in between. Performers include all of your ISC favorites, plus some great guests. This is a one-night-only event in the Independent Studio, 3191 Casitas Ave. #168, Los Angeles, 90039. Tickets: http://independentshakespeareco.org

Ryan Black’s 88’s is back by popular demand with The Songs of COMPANY by Stephen Sondheim on Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 8:00 pm. Open mic after the show 10pm – 2am. Seats may be reserved at (323) 380-7209. Ryan says, “We’ve had an amazing time over the last 30 shows, but I’m moving on to other projects. Please come celebrate with us!” Free - No Minimum. For more information go to www.facebook.com/ryanblacks88s

Kritzerland at the Movies will take place Mon. Feb. 3 at 8:00 pm at Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal. The show stars Brennley Brown, Emma Degerstedt, Dennis Kyle, Lisa Livesay, John Sloman and Shannon Warne, with special guests Andrea Marcovicci and Richard Sherman, and musical direction by Shelly Markham. From Oscar-winners, to musicals written especially for the screen, you’ll hear songs by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, Marvin Hamlisch, Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, Burt Bacharach and more. To RSVP, call (818) 754-8700.

The Grove Theatre celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the British Invasion with Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Shoot Out, courtesy of tributes Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash when they return to The Grove on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 - $50 and may be purchased online at www.grovetheatre.com or by calling (909) 920 - 4343. The show is appropriate for all ages. The Grove Theatre is located at 276 E. Ninth Street in Historic Downtown Upland. http://grovetheatre.com/.

DIRECTORS LAB: The 2014 Directors Lab West will take place May 17-24th in residence at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Lab will continue its tradition of bringing together dedicated theatre directors, choreographers and master artists for a week of intense discussions and exploration of the art form. Attendance is by application only and there is no cost to participate in the Lab. Applications to attend the Lab and further information may be found at www.directorslabwest.com. Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, Feb. 28th by 5:00pm PST. In the last 14 years, over 100 acclaimed artists have given their time to the Lab including Jason Alexander, Julie Arenal, Luis Alfaro, Paris Barclay, Cirque Berzerk, Kay Cole, Gordon Davidson, George Furth, Ming Cho Lee, Marc Masterson, Janet Miller, Randy Newman, Vincent Paterson, Carey Perloff, Stephen Wadsworth and Charlayne Woodard.

For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: isc, king kong club, musical theatre west, pasadena playhouse, ryan black, skylight theatre