Saturday, May 18, 2013
What’s Happening Around Town for May 18, 2013
Tilted Field's Last Days of Mary Stuart
Tilted Field, in association with Son of Semele Theater, presents the world premiere of The Last Days of Mary Stuart, an electro-opera, through the curated guest-production program SOSEhost. This immersive music theater experience is conceived, written and directed by Becca Wolff, with music by Byron Kahr and John Nixon of TONY. The show will run June 21 – July 20, with opening night on Saturday, June 22. In an immersive club atmosphere, The Last Days of Mary Stuart blurs the lines of history to create a musical allegory for our time.
Mary Stuart is the disgraced and charismatic Queen of Scots, fast becoming an It-Girl on a meteoric rise in 16th-Century England. As she drives herself into the rift over Queen Elizabeth’s legitimacy, foreign powers threaten and youths are radicalized abroad. It is in this political hothouse that Mary Stuart grows her cult of personality that menaces the future of the English Empire and the new world in which we live.
The sound has evolved over the two years of the project’s development from a rock idiom to the more dramatic, flexible and sweeping sounds of electronica. The vocal style is straightforward and powerful and the piece is structured in the aria/recitative mode of classical opera where the music tells the story as much as the words within it. The cast includes Laila Ayad (Elizabeth), Alex Knox (Judge #2/Badge Man), Daniel David Stewart (The Kid), and Marianne Thompson (Mary Stuart). Performances are Thursdays & Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 8:00 & 10:30 pm (no performance on Thu. July 4) at Son of Semele Theater, just west of Downtown LA at 3301 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004. For more information, please call (213) 351-3507 or visit www.sonofsemele.org. For more about the show visit www.tiltedfield.com/projects.html.
Ryan Black's 88’s Lineup for May 22nd
Ryan Black’s 88’s is back at Don’t Tell Mama, every Wednesday beginning May 15th at 8pm. There is no cover charge and seats may be reserved with a dinner reservation by calling (323) 380-7209, or you can reserve online HERE. The lineup for May 22nd includes Cortes Alexander, Shane Alexander, Laura Dickinson, Tawny Dolley, Erin Duncan, Ava Gaudet, Adam Hunter, Paulette Ivory, Matt Scott, Craig Taggart, Pam Trotter, and Coco & Ruby (Courtney Freed & Rebecca Johnson). Open mic after the show so bring your music. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/RyanBlacks88s.
Joanne Tatham Comes To Catalina Jazz Club
Joanne Tatham brings her jazz-infused vocal storytelling back to Catalina Jazz Club in Soundtrack New York: Music from Movies Made in Manhattan on June 6th at 8:30 pm. From Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Midnight Cowboy, from West Side Story to Tootsie -- this brand-new show includes the work of The Gershwins, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Henry Mancini with Rod McKuen, and many more. Visit www.JoanneTatham.com for more news. Quinn Johnson is the musical director for Soundtrack New York and the show is produced by Clifford Bell. www.Cabarabia.com
Kritzerland’s Mad About the Boy
Kritzerland presents Mad About the Boy: The Songs of Noël Coward June 2 at 7:00 pm at North Hollywood’s Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal, with musical direction by Lloyd Cooper. The cast includes Eileen Barnett, Lisa Livesay, Jane Noseworthy, John Sloman and Robert Yacko, with special guest Susan Watson. For reservations call 818-754-8700.
Angel City Chorale 20th Anniversary Concert
Angel City Chorale (ACC) will celebrate its first two decades in song with special reunion concerts on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, 2013, at 7:00 pm. The 20th Anniversary Concerts will feature the west coast premiere of Grammy Award-Winning Composer Christopher Tin’s "Calling All Dawns." In addition to performing Tin’s highly acclaimed three-movement piece, which celebrates the circle of life in 12 languages, Angel City Chorale will also perform “The Best of ACC,” highlighting much-loved and crowd-favorite songs from the choir’s 20-year history. Conducted by ACC Founder and Artistic Director Sue Fink, the concerts will be held at the historic Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010. The audience is invited to join the performers for a dessert reception after each performance. For additional information and tickets, please call (310) 943-9231 or visit www.angelcitychorale.org.
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Labels: angel city chorale, catalina jazz club, kritzerland, ryan black, son of semele
Monday, January 21, 2013
What's Happening Around Town for January 21, 2013
Stay On The Line Set to Rock Hollywood
Stay On The Line will open at Theatre 68 in Hollywood on February 22. The rock musical centers around the lifeline of a crisis center and documents the journey of a handful of young volunteers and their callers as they face life and death in the course of 24 hours. Originally titled 24 Hours, the Ovation-nominated musical now features an entirely new book and even some new songs in its rock/pop score by Rob Hartmann. Taking place over the course of a single day, a timid 19-year-old named Brian shows up at a crisis hotline center wanting to become a volunteer phone counselor. When the supervisors question his ability, Brian agrees to stay and train for 24 hours straight to prove he has the mind strength to handle the pressure.
The cast includes Jimmy Traum, Katy Jacoby, Christopher Maikish, Jacqueline Real, Stefan Rich, Deosick Burney, Nick Echols, Stephanie Andersen, Christopher Callen, Eric B. Anthony, Masaya Palmer, Ryan Foy, Chelsea Costa, Katherine Washington, Daniel May, Catherine Hwang, Cy Creamer, Bradley Estrin, Jennifer Saltiel, and Kourtney Sonntag. Theatre 68 is located at 5419 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, one block east of Western Avenue. Free rooftop parking. For tickets and information visit http://stayonthelinethemusical.com/.
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The Group Rep presents Richard Harris’ Stepping Out directed by Stan Mazin, produced by Linda Alznauer Feb. 8 - March 24. This sweet tale about an eclectic mix of neighborhood locals is told against the backdrop of an adult community center tap dancing class, as the earnest amateurs struggle to learn the routine for their big charity show. We witness them challenge their fears and triumph over their troubles, teaching us that the bonds of family are not always determined by blood relations. The cast features Michele Bernath, Cynthia Bryant, Irene Chapman, Julie Davis, Susy London, Sandy Mansson, Laurie Morgan, Michael Robb, Colette Rosario, and Kathleen Taylor. Talk-back Sundays: Feb. 17 & March 3. Ladies Night Fridays: 1/2 price tickets. Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., NoHo 91601. For tickets and more information call 818-763-5990 or go to www.thegrouprep.com.
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In June 2011, Coeurage Theatre Company brought a workshop production of the new musical The Trouble With Words to the Hollywood Fringe Festival that I absolutely loved. [Click Here to see the review] Despite it being unfinished, underfunded, and severely restricted by a small space, it ran for 4 months (instead of 4 weeks) to sold out houses and critical acclaim. The project went on to win Best Musical at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and an Ovation Award for Best Original Music and Lyrics. Now the company is ready to give The Trouble with Words a fully realized production in a properly equipped venue with a beautiful set and costumes. Check out their fun Kickstarter campaign to see how they’re doing and come on board if you feel so inclined. Click Here to go to their page. TTWW will run March 2nd – March 31 (Previews: Thursday, February 28th and Friday, March 1st at 8pm). Performances will take place at The Lost Studio, 130 S La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more about the production you can also visit their website at http://thetroublewithwords.com/
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LA LA Land, the hit online radio program with host Brett Chapin and new co-host Dorothy Dillingham Blue, can now be heard at LATalkLive.com every Saturday at 12 noon PST. Broadcast to a national audience of over 100,000 every week, LA LA Land offers a vast array of actors, filmmakers, musicians, designers, directors, and more, sharing their perspectives on the entertainment industry, offering timely advice, and discussing in general the various elements that make Los Angeles the entertainment capital of the world. On January 5, Brett was joined by new co-host Dorothy Dillingham Blue, who was chosen by listeners at the conclusion of a four-month search. Blue is an actress, stand-up comedian, v/o artist, director, choreographer, and teacher. In addition, she currently serves as director of the youth program at Theatre Palisades. For more info on LA LA Land, Brett Chapin, Dorothy Dillingham Blue, and LATalkLive, visit www.facebook.com/lalalandtalk, www.brettchapin.com, or www.latalklive.com.
A Stephen Schwartz Kritzerland
Kritzerland at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal presents The Stephen Schwartz Album Monday, February 4th at 8pm. The show features Dan Callaway, Kim Huber, Dennis Kyle, Lexi Lawson, Lisa Livesay, Jenna Rosen, Sami Staitman, and Sarah Staitman, with special guests Karen Morrow and Adrian Zmed. Musical direction is by Lloyd Cooper. Based on the hit album produced by Bruce Kimmel, the evening will feature songs from Godspell, The Baker’s Wife, The Magic Show, Children of Eden, Working, Pippin, and, of course, Wicked. Kritzerland evenings usually sell out, so make your reservations early: 818 754-8700. Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.
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The Catalina Jazz Club will host cabaret artist Karen Gedissman for a special performance on Sunday, January 27th at 7pm. Ms. Gedissman returns to the cabaret scene in Los Angeles after having performed her critically acclaimed one-woman show Karen G. Passionately! as well as starring in such musicals as A Chorus Line, Hair, Three-Penny Opera, Evita, Violet, and Judy Garland in Babes, an original musical based on Garland’s life. The show is directed by Bruce Kimmel, and accompanied by Shelly Markham, the show’s musical director and arranger, and Nate Light on bass. The performance will include a tribute to Gedissman’s longtime friend and dance teacher, Annette Cardona, best known for her performance as Cha-Cha in the hit film Grease, where she dazzled audiences in a dance number with John Travolta. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Annette Cardona College Fund. For tickets go to www.catalinajazzclub.com or call (323) 466-2210.
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Chromolume Radio is back, bringing you the best of Broadway and the musical theatre repertoire with one of the largest collections available at nearly 350 hours of programming available. You’ll hear Broadway’s best shows, like Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, Carousel and Sound of Music to Sondheim winners, Company, Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George. They also have many of the current hits such as Spring Awakening, Spamalot, Avenue Q, In The Heights, Hairspray, The Producers, Wicked and much, much more. Both popular and obscure musicals are in constant rotation and with new musicals added daily. You can listen to Chromolume Radio at www.chromolumeradio.com. Chromolume’s Cabaret Series also continues with Bonnie LaVallo on March 17, 2013, 6:00 pm. Tickets are $15 or 2 or more for $13.50 each. For more information visit www.crtheatre.com/cabaret.html.
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Labels: catalina jazz club, chromolume theatre, coeurage theatre, group rep, kritzerland, la la land
Thursday, January 17, 2013
What's Happening Around Town for January 17, 2013
Stages of Gray Theatre in Pasadena announces that the world premiere comedy/revue Doctor, Doctor!, written by Randall Gray, will open its inaugural season. It will run Feb. 1 - March 24 at Stages of Gray Theatre, 299 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107. Set to a score comprised of pop standards, the show provides laughter, singing and dancing in a look at the lighter side of healthcare in the era of reform. Artistic Director Randall Gray will direct a cast that includes Scott Alin, Cody Bushee. Christine Cater, Jon Christie, Mark Colbenson, Sara Davenport, J.D. Driskill, Michelle Feng, Neil Lewis, Richard Lee, Bear Manescalchi, Lisa Marie, Eliezer Ortiz, Wendy Rostker, Samantha Vandellon, Sarajane Williams, Barbara Woods and Claudia Zielke. Choreography is by Ali Whitman and the technical director is Alexander Nifong. For tickets call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.stagesofgray.com.
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Gifts of Love: The Words and Music of Stephen Schwartz, a benefit concert, will be presented on Sunday, February 10th at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, 6725 Sunset Blvd. just east of Highland. Doors open at noon for a sumptuous brunch/lunch buffet. Entertainment (suitable for all ages) will begin at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $50 per person for food and entertainment (tax and gratuity included; full no-host bar also available.) Click Here for tickets.
Musical Directors Mitch Kaplan and Valerie Taylor, with Scott Olsen on Bass and Denise Fraser on Drums, lead a first-rate line-up of singers from the musical theatre world, performing the songs of Stephen Schwartz from such shows and films as Wicked, Pippin, The Baker’s Wife, Working, Godspell, Children of Eden, Rags, The Magic Show, Enchanted, Hunchback, Phcahontas, The Prince of Egypt and more. The show will be hosted by True Blood’s Carolyn Hennesy. All proceeds will benefit the Musical Theatre Programs at both campuses (Culver City and Valley Glen) of Summit View School. Summit View is dedicated to educating young people with learning differences. A commitment to maximizing each student's potential and performance forms the foundation of the school's educational program. www.summitview.org
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Cindy Williams, of Laverne and Shirley, fame will star in Nunset Boulevard on Saturday, January 26 at 8pm at the Fox Performing Arts Center. The Little Sisters of Hoboken have gone Hollywood in the highly anticipated, latest installment of Dan Goggin’s international smash-hit Nunsense franchise. Nunset Boulevard follows the latest exploits of The Little Sisters of Hoboken, who have been invited to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. They are thrilled at the prospect until they arrive and realize that they are booked into the Hollywood Bowl-A-Rama - a bowling alley with a cabaret lounge - and not the famed “Bowl” they were imagining. Fox Performing Arts Center is located at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the box office located at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside. The Box Office Phone number is: (951) 779-9800.
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After a short hiatus, Dan Callaway’s musical theatre workshop will be back in February. Thoughts from Dan about upcoming sessions: “The workshop is going to be a place for you to build your skills as well as your community. We are not in this in isolation, and class is going to be more and more a place where we collaborate and help each other out. We're going to eat together, and we're going to take our music into the community. More on this later. There will also be more opportunities for you to perform. I’m ganging up with lots of my friends and colleagues, and we’re coming up with some great ideas for showcases and other ways that will give you goals and performance opportunities that will inspire you to reach your own next level.”
Upcoming Schedule:
February: Theme and Industry Guest TBA next week
Thursday Feb. 7, 7-10
Tuesdays, Feb 12, 19, and 26, from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
March: Sondheim Workshop
Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
We'll put together a showcase of Sondheim songs and scenes that will be performed in a workshop setting for industry guests at the end of the month.
Workshop fee is $300/month. Send Dan an email at dan@MyLAVoiceTeacher.com to reserve a spot.
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One Night Stand
And in theatres, one night only: One Night Stand, a behind the scenes look at Broadway’s zany 24 Hour Musicals will be shown in theaters nationwide on January 30 at 7:30 pm local time. This is your opportunity to get an inside look at the process of some of Broadway and Hollywood's greatest actors, directors and writers as they write, cast, rehearse and perform four short musicals in just 24 short hours. Tickets can be purchased at www.fathomevents.com.
Live at the RRazz Room
Erich Bergen, currently starring as Billy Crocker in the national tour of Anything Goes, is set to bring his one-night-only concert to San Francisco’s premiere nightclub, Live At The RRazz, on Monday, January 28 at 8pm. Bergen is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed performance as Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio in the first national tour and Las Vegas companies of the Broadway smash Jersey Boys. With musical direction by Michael Orland, Bergen’s concert will feature new material, including songs from Hero, Jersey Boys, and his CD, The Vegas Sessions. Tickets are on sale now at www.LiveAtTheRRazz.com, or by calling (800) 380-3095.For more Musicals in LA news:
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Labels: catalina jazz club, fox performing arts center, Rrazz Room, stages of gray