Musicals in LA

Monday, April 7, 2014

Musical News for Monday, April 7, 2014

OPENINGS: 3D Theatricals has announced the cast for Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, which will run May 2 – 18 at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton (opening night May 3). Audiences of all ages will enjoy this irreverent and deliciously witty reimagining of some of our most treasured fairytales. Fairytale characters embark on a quest and everyone’s wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results. What begins as a lively, cheeky fantasy in the style of The Princess Bride ultimately becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

The cast is led by David Allen Jones as the Narrator/Mysterious Man and Bets Malone as the Witch with Jeff Skowron as the Baker; Viva Carr as the Baker’s Wife, Jeanette Dawson as Cinderella, Jordan Lamoureux as Jack, Julie Morgantaler as Little Red Riding Hood, Tracy Rowe Mutz as Jack’s Mother, Tim Martin Gleason as Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince, and Cameron Sczempka as Rapunzel’s Prince. The company also includes Leslie Stevens (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Melanie Mockobey (Lucinda), Melina Kalomas (Florinda), Lisa Dyson (Cinderella’s Mother/Granny), Cliff Senior (Cinderella’s Father), Mueen Jahan (Steward), Renna Nightingale (Sleeping Beauty), Christanna Rowader (Rupunzel), and Allison Sheppard (Snow White). T.J. Dawson has been set as director/choreographer, with Rufus Bond Jr. as assistant director and Leslie Stevens as assistant choreographer and dance captain. Julie Lamoureux serves as musical director/conductor with David Lamoureux as musical contractor. Tickets: www.3dtshows.com

The Pasadena Playhouse is bringing two unusual one-person shows performed in repertory to the newly refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre May 15 – 31 (press opening Fri. May 16: Amy G in Entershamement and Joe Orrach in In My Corner. The Carrie Hamilton Theatre has gone from a proscenium theatre to a black box, and can now be configured to accommodate many different kinds of productions. Amy G is a masterful entertainer (singer/comedian/rollerskater) who recently starred in the Off-Broadway show, La Soirée. Her unique style of physical, musical, stand-up and improvisational comedy is inspired by and reminiscent of Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Buster Keaton, Julie Andrews and the Muppet Show; but she is very much one of a kind. Orrach, an internationally renowned tap dancer, actor, singer, storyteller and U.S. Air Force welterweight boxing champ, came to fame as one of the stars of San Francisco’s long running Teatro ZinZanni from 2000 to 2006. Tickets: 626-356-7529 or www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

EXTENDED: The Untold Story of Indie Rock, a one-of-a-kind live, rock musical comedy at Second City has been extended and will now play through August 9. The show, which features 5 performers who portray 14 different bands and a slew of other comic characters, takes the audience on a hilarious journey through a mock history of Indie Rock. Written and directed by Brett Duggan with consulting director, Josh Funk and musical accompaniment by Ben Bromflied. Cast includes Brett Duggan, Jason McNichols, Casey Schuckett, Todd Risenmay, Kevin Stafford and Christopher Roque. Click Here for more info.

KICKSTARTER: Musical Theatre Orange County is doing a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for its upcoming production of Disney’s Tarzan, the Musical. Contributions will help with flying, royalties, music, venue rental, costumes, props, sets, director staff, rehearsal space, storage, insurance, printing, technical support and much more. Performances take place at the El Dorado Performing Arts Center July 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 pm and July 20 & 27 at 2:00 pm. For more info and to check out their campaign, go to www.mtoc.org.

CONCERTS/CABARET: Angel City Chorale reunites with composer Christopher Tin for its upcoming spring concerts, Elements, on June 7 & June 8 at the Wilshire United Methodist Church. Conducted by ACC founder and artistic director Sue Fink, the concerts will feature selections that explore the four elements in a variety of musical styles including pop (Earth, Wind & Fire), classical (Brahms), as well as spirituals (“Ain’a That Good News”), as well as the west coast premiere of Tin’s new song cycle, The Drop that Contained the Sea, the much-anticipated follow-up to Tin’s Grammy Award-winning album, Calling All Dawns. Tin’s new classical/world music fusion work features stunning juxtapositions of rhythms and cultures. Songs depict global visions of water from the snows of Mongolia to the rains of Africa. Each of the 10 pieces is sung in a different language, including Proto-Indo-European, Turkish, and Xhosa. Tickets: www.angelcitychorale.org

On Mon, June 9th at 8:00 pm come celebrate one of the biggest nights in theatre at the 3rd annual Night After the Tonys starring Broadway star Linda Eder, presented by Chris Isaacson at the Ford Amphitheatre. This songstress’ diverse repertoire spans all genres including Broadway, Pop, Country, Jazz and the Great American Songbook. Eder will be accompanied by a live band and the program will feature music from her fourteen solo albums, as well as signature songs from The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll & Hyde and more. Click Here for tickets.