MUSICAL NEWS: Blending the 1925 silent film with original songs and powerful live performances to create a show-stopping-spectacle, Vox Lumiere–The Phantom of the Opera brings the Lon Chaney classic to three-dimensional, high-decibel life. Singers, dancers and musicians give voice to the silent film projected behind them, playing off each other, the audience and the onscreen story to create a magical exchange. Latin and French for “Voices of Light,” Vox Lumiere is equal parts rock concert, opera, musical theater and multimedia spectacle, all working together to tell a story with projected silent movies. Each evening begins with a red carpet entry for the patrons, photo ops with the cast, refreshments and pre-show entertainment in the lobby. Once inside, patrons experience a live band, surround projection screens, hi-definition sound and a light show. The singers and dancers are lavishly costumed in steampunk-inspired attire.
Featuring music and lyrics by Kevin Saunders Hayes with vocalists Julie Brody, Marisa Johnson, Victoria Levy, James Lynch, Chris Marcos, Danielle Skalsky, and D. Valentine; Dancers Siân Dakin, Cameron Evans, Carolyn Pampalone, Jamie Pfaff, Dustin Ripkens, and Jason Sensation; and musicians Christopher Allis on drums, Zac Matthews on bass, and Jeff Miley on guitar. Eight performances: Sept. 19-20, Oct. 10-11, Nov. 14-15, Dec. 12-13 will take place at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. Tickets: (844) VOX-ROCK or www.voxlumiere.com.
Bright Star, a new American musical by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin is set to open in September at The Old Globe. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star runs Sept. 13 – Nov. 2 with opening night Sunday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 pm. Inspired by their Grammy Award-winning collaboration “Love Has Come For You” the musical tells a beguiling tale that unfolds in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina between 1923 and 1945. Billy Cane, a young soldier just home from World War II, meets Alice Murphy, the brilliant editor of a southern literary journal. Together they discover a powerful secret that alters their lives. The acting company includes Stephen Lee Anderson (Daddy Murphy), Stephen Bogardus (Daddy Cane), Patti Cohenour (Mama Murphy), Carmen Cusack (Alice Murphy), Wayne Duvall (Mayor Josiah Dobbs), Hannah Elless (Margo Crawford), Jeff Hiller (Daryl Ames), Kate Loprest (Lucy Grant), A.J. Shively (Billy Cane), Wayne Alan Wilcox (Jimmy Ray Dobbs), and Libby Winters (Dora Murphy), with ensemble members Allison Briner, Max Chernin, Leah Horowitz, Joe Jung, Ashley Robinson, Sarah Jane Shanks, Scott Wakefield and swings Lulu Lloyd and Greg Roderick. Tickets: (619) 23-GLOBE or www.TheOldGlobe.org.
Sacred Fools and the Burglars of Hamm will present The Behavior of Broadus, produced in association with Center Theatre Group, Sept. 12 - Oct. 18, with previews Sept. 5-11. Complete with lab rats, romance and music, it is the incredible, sort-of-true story of John Broadus Watson, father of Behaviorism and modern advertising. This world premiere off-kilter musical is Sacred Fools’ second co-production with The Burglars of Hamm, following the hilarious Land of the Tigers. Written by Carolyn Almos, Matt Almos, Jon Beauregard & Albert Dayan, it features original songs by Matt Almos (who also directs), Brendan Milburn and Burglars of Hamm, choreography by Ken Roht, and is produced by JJ Mayes. The cast includes Hugo Armstrong as John Broadus Watson, Erin Holt as Mary Watson, Amir Levi as Little Albert, Cj Merriman as Whitey, Rebecca Metz as Emma Watson, Andrew Joseph Perez as Phil the Rat, Bill Salyers as Jacques Loeb, Tim Sheridan as William McDougall, Devin Sidell as Rosalie Raynor, and Jacob Sidney as Dean Stevens. Tickets: (310) 281-8337 or www.sacredfools.org.
Laguna Playhouse continues its Rock ‘N Roll Summer by presenting Motorcity Magic – A Musical Journey Through the Motown Years, directed by Michael Yorkell, August 13 – 24. This fast-moving production honors the Motown legends that brought the world to its dancing feet with the music of the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Isley Brothers, Mary Wells and many more. The cast will feature Denny Mendes, Donald McCall, Arthur Jefferson, Steven Wood and Evelyn Dillon and a 7 piece back-up band in a dynamic and driving tribute that spans more than a decade of Motown classics. Tickets: (949) 497-ARTS (2787) or www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
Also at Laguna Playhouse, Gene Kelly: The Legacy, An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly, will be presented for two nights only Monday, Sept. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 pm. In this unique, live performance, Patricia Ward Kelly, his wife and biographer, takes audiences behind the scenes with rare and familiar film clips, previously unreleased audio recordings, personal keepsakes, and stories Kelly shared with her over their decade together. She guides us on an unforgettable journey into the life and heart of the man who changed the look and style of dance on film and became one of the world’s most beloved and iconic stars. www.lagunaplayhouse.com
Oh My Ribs! Entertainment presents Rock Van Winkle Aug. 16 – Oct. 11 in Hollywood (opening night Sept. 20). After a 32-year acid trip, long-lost rock star Bobby Lee Hightower crawls out of a clothes dryer in a bungalow in Laurel Canyon in the Summer of 2001, where he encounters three generations of pop music royalty including a new love, an old love and a rival brother who has become a music industry powerhouse. It’s a clash of the titans when the ideals of the “Love Generation” meet the cynicism of the new millennium in Bill Haller’s new “West Coast” Musical. Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/800939
Lost in LVOV is officially extending as a recipient of the Encore! Producer’s Award and will run for one special performance on Sunday, August 17 at 6:00 pm. There will also be a pre-show and post-show performed by Jacob & Julia from Paris Chansons, with classic songs sung in Russian and Yiddish. Lost in LVOV is a time capsule of memories, secrets and experiences of the Belman sisters who came to America from the U.S.S.R before and after Perestroika. The solo piece performed by Sandy Shimona explores the anecdotes and remembrances the sisters left behind to wander the streets of Lvov, Ukraine. The 60-minute performance will perform as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, in association with Schkapf – on August 17 at Schkapf, 6567 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038. www.lostinlvov.com
LOST returns as a musical when Chinless Productions opens We Have To Go back: Lost the Musical, just in time for the 10th anniversary of the original show’s premiere. LOST fans will get a second chance to relive their favorite moments on the island in this parody of TV’s most iconic cult hit. Much like Point Break Live or Fellowship, this show is a hilarious tribute to a pop-culture phenomenon. The show takes six seasons of material, 72 characters, and countless locations, and transforms them into one night of absurd musical comedy. It will also offer five different alternate endings the audience votes on nightly so each night LOST fans will have a new chance to get the ending they always wanted. Blacksparrow Auctions is providing authentic props used on the set of LOST for the show and, in the spirit of giving back, 5% of all box office receipts will go to Cancer Gets Lost, a charity organization founded to support and improve the lives of people living with cancer. We Have To Go Back begins its 5 week run on September 18 (opening night is Monday Sept. 22) at the Lillian Theatre (Elephant Stages). Tickets: www.lostthemusical.com.
CONCERTS/CABARET: Upstairs at Vitello’s will host An Evening of Classic Broadway on Monday, August 25 at 8:00 pm. Acclaimed musical director Brad Ellis headlines the Fraser Entertainment Group production which will feature Eydie Alyson, Jennifer Foster, Damon Kirsche, Jen Malenke, Todd Sherry, Pat Whiteman, Paul Wong & more. Click Here for tickets and more information.
Also coming to Upstairs at Vitello’s on August 20 at 8:00 pm, (mostly) musicals: COLOR Scheme, featuring a vibrant evening of songs by writers like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Alan Menken, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Schwartz, Jones & Schmidt, Duke Ellington performed by many of your favorite singers along with music director Gregory Nabours. Tickets: $10 at the door or Click Here for advance tickets.
Dan Callaway presents Going Home: A Farewell to LA Show at Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 7:00 pm. The evening will include songs from the theatre and some of Dan’s favorite singer-songwriters, Broadway to Bluegrass. Featuring Bobby Apperson (music director, piano), Chris Novicki (drums), and Korey Simeone (fiddle, guitar, dobro, mandolin). Tickets: $19 + $10 food/drink minimum. 5:30 dinner seating, 7:00 show, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91601. Reservations: (818) 754-8700.
The 4th Annual LA Skins Music Fest takes the stage August 30 at the Barnsdall Art Park Gallery Theater. The concert series focuses on contemporary Native American music, featuring R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock. Preceding the concert is a Youth Talent Showcase that encourages Native American youth to explore music, express themselves artistically and perform in front of an audience. Talent showcase applications available now. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Show starts at 5:30 pm. Email contact@laskinsfest.com for information. This event is sponsored by KABC, KCET, and the Barcid Foundation and in partnership with Torres Martinez Tribal TANF. No admission Fee. ParkingProvided. www.laskinsfest.com
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