Musicals in LA

Friday, May 2, 2014

Musical News for Friday, May 2, 2014

OPENINGS: The Colony Theatre has announced its 2014-2015 season, which will include the Los Angeles premiere of Words by Ira Gershwin, April 15 – May 17, 2015 (opening night April 18). Featuring a book by Joseph Vass and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, with additional lyrics from Porgy and Bess by DuBose Hayward, music by Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, and George Gershwin. Meet the man behind the lyrics of songs like “Fascinating Rhythm,” “The Man That Got Away,” “I Got Rhythm,” and many more as the other half of the famous Gershwin duo guides us on a trip through some of the greatest American songs ever written. Insights and tales about his legendary collaborations all frame this fascinating and inspiring evening of music and theatre. For a complete look at the Colony’s upcoming season, visit www.colonytheatre.org or call (818) 558-7000.

The Old Globe has announced the cast of Dog and Pony, a new musical with book by Rick Elice and music & lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker. From the award-winning talents behind Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Altar Boyz, Dog and Pony is a romantic musical comedy that follows Mags and Andy, a successful screenwriting team, as their professional relationship evolves into something more. Tony Award winner Roger Rees will direct a cast that includes Heidi Blickenstaff (Jane, Annie), Beth Leavel (Rhoda, Doris), Eric William Morris (The Host, Jeff, Joe), Nicole Parker (Mags), and Jon Patrick Walker (Andy). May 28 – June 29. Opening night is Thursday, June 5 at 8pm. Tickets: (619) 23-GLOBE or www.TheOldGlobe.org.

The Festival of New American Musicals has announced its 7th season with 10 recommended May shows. Included are 4 world premieres: The Ghost of Gershwin, May 9-June 22 at the Lonny Chapman Theater in North Hollywood; Chasing a Song, May 13-June 15 at La Jolla Playhouse; The Witch of Blackbird Pond, May 18 at the Odyssey Theater; Dog and Pony, May 28-June 19 at The Old Globe in San Diego; and Nickel Mines, May 31-June 29 at UC Irvine. Also included among the Festival recommendations for May are: Jason Robert Brown’s The Trumpet of the Swan, May 3 & 4 at the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills; Zack Zadek and Friends, May 4 at Rockwell Table and Stage in Hollywood; Citrus Singers’ Broadway, May 17& 18 at Citrus College in Glendora; For the Record: Quentin Tarantino, continuing at DBA in West Hollywood; and U-sical, the Improv Musicals, every Friday night at Comedysportz in Hollywood. www.lafestival.org

The Hollywood Pantages announces a lottery for tickets to Green Day’s American Idiot, which returns to L.A. for a limited one week engagement; May 13 – 18, 2014. www.hollywoodpantages.com/Lottery

BENEFITS: Pasadena Playhouse has confirmed some of the guests who will be in attendance for its premiere gala – Take The Lead at the Playhouse on Sunday, May 4 at 5:30 pm. They include
Nigel Lythgoe, Bonnie Lythgoe, Kris Lythgoe, Becky Baeling Lythgoe, Mandy Moore, French Stewart, Mario Lopez, Mary Murphy, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Lindsay Arnold, Allison Holker, Ben Vereen, Adam Shankman, Spencer Liff, Patricia Ward Kelly, Du-Shaunt “FIK-SHUN” Stegall. Tickets: www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

Rubicon Theatre invites you to An Evening with Megan McGinnis and Krysta Rodriguez on Monday, May 12 at 7pm. Tickets are $125 ($75 is tax-deductible). Limited to 70 attendees. Click Here for details and reservations.

On May 15, Rogue Machine will host its annual Benefit Gala, which will celebrate theatre through song. One Night in Santa Monica will take place 6pm – 10pm at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club, 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 9040 featuring live music, cocktails, a silent auction, and MORE. Tickets: www.roguemachinetheatre.com.

CABARET/CONCERTS: Due to popular demand, Jeremy Jordan’s concert, with special guest Ashley Spencer, has added a third performance at Hollywood’s Catalina Bar & Grill on Tuesday, May 6 at 8pm in addition to the two shows scheduled for Mon. May 5 at 7:30 & 10pm. Tickets: www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com

Miscast’s next show will takes place on Monday, May 19 featuring Mandy Kaplan, Todd Sherry, Will Collyer, Patrick Gomez, Wendy Rosoff, Netta Most, Mona Chatterjee, Marc Hawes, Tom Metz III, and Kathryn Lounsbery. We've got 2 new singers in songs from shows like Chicago, Les Miserables and Frozen. Seating is first come, first served. Dinner and Drinks at 6:30pm, Show at 8pm. $19 Cash Only at the door. Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, 5303 Lanksershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. Reservations: (818) 754-8700. Proceeds go to Project Angel Food.

Mary Wilson, indelibly known as one of The Supremes, joins the cast of STAGE Goes to the Movies, which takes place on Saturday, May 10, at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Tickets: www.stagela.com

The Oak Ridge Boys will appear at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts for two performances only, May 17 at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets: (562) 944-9801 or www.lamiradatheatre.com.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents The Temptations, for the final performance in its inaugural season, on Saturday, June 7 at 8pm. Tickets: www.arcadiapaf.org or call (626) 821-1781. The theatre is located at 188 Campus Drive at North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007.

Venice, the band created by and consisting of members of the Lennon Sisters family will appear at the Grove Theatre one night only, May 18 at 6pm. Tickets: (909) 920-4343 or www.grovetheatre.com. The Grove Theatre is located at 276 E. Ninth Street, Upland, CA 91786.

The men of Black Hi-Lighter (the Highland Park, glitter-garage psych rock band) are set to take the stage on Saturday, May 17 at the Viper Room in West Hollywood for the second installment of their buzzworthy residency series, The Black Hi-Lighter Affair. They will be joined by Toy Bombs and Washing Machines for this appearance. www.blackhi-lighter.com

CLASS: Pat Whiteman will offer her Summer Musical Performance Workshop Sunday afternoons in June and July (June 15, 22, 29 and July 6 13). 1:30-4:30 pm at Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601. Ron Snyder at the piano. Cost: $395/six week class ($150 deposit will hold your space). Work on any type of material you’d like (pop, rock, musical theater, country, standards) for anything you want: audition pieces, studio work, upcoming performances, cabarets, one/two person shows or acts, or just getting your voice out into the universe in a safe, supportive environment, etc. The class will culminate with a performance at a local club. www.patwhiteman.com

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Labels: colony theatre, festival of new american musicals, la mirada theatre, old globe, pasadena playhouse, upright cabaret