Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Musical News for Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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| Andrea Martin in Pippin. Photo credit: Joan Marcus |
MUSICAL NEWS: Andrea Martin will reprise the role of Berthe for the L.A. premiere of PIPPIN at the Hollywood Pantages Oct. 21 – Nov. 9. With a book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Previously announced casting for the national tour includes Sasha Allen (NBC’s The Voice) as Leading Player, Kyle Selig (The Book of Mormon on tour) as Pippin, Tony Award winner John Rubinstein (created the role of Pippin in the 1972 original Broadway production) as Charles, Sabrina Harper (Pippin, original Broadway Revival cast) as Fastrada and Kristine Reese (Wicked on tour) as Catherine. The company also includes Skyler Adams, Sascha Bachman, Bradley Benjamin, Callan Bergman, Dmitrious Bistrevsky, Mark Burrell, Mathew deGuzman, Fernando Dudka, Mirela Golinska, Kelsey Jamieson, Preston Jamieson, Lisa Karlin, Alan Kelly, Melodie Lamoreux, Zachary Mackiewicz, Lucas Schultz, Tory Trowbridge, Mackenzie Warren and Borris York. Tickets: www.HollywoodPantages.com
FRINGE TOWN HALL: If you attended or were involved in this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, the fringe folks invite you to join them for a Post-Fringe Town Hall public forum and Q&A session on Saturday, August 16 at 2:00 pm at Theatre Asylum (6320 Santa Monica Blvd). There will also be an informal mixer to follow at Three Clubs (1123 N. Vine St.) at 4:00 pm..
AUDITIONS: Performance Riverside will hold auditions for Shrek the Musical Aug. 24 & 25 at the Landis Performing Arts Center in Riverside. The production will be directed by Gary Krinke, with choreography by Jodi Julian. Audition times for both days are as follows:
4:00 pm Kids Audition
6:00 pm Equity Auditions
7:00 pm Open-call (everyone)
Rehearsals begin Oct. 8 (Mon.-Thurs., plus Sat. & Sun. TBA); show runs Nov. 7-16 at the Landis Performing Arts Center, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA. Equity Members will be hired under the Guest Artist Agreement, Tier II, pending Equity approval; professional pay for non-union; students must enroll in a class. For complete details go to www.performanceriverside.org/shrek-auditions.
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Labels: actors co-op, hollywood fringe, pantages, performance riverside, rubicon theatre
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Musical News for Thursday, July 10, 2014
Sierra Madre Playhouse has announced a new slate of shows to carry its programming into early 2015. Musicals will include A Little House Christmas adapted by James DeVita from the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, directed by Emily Chase. (Nov. 28 - Dec. 28, 2014), Always…Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley, directed by Robert Marra (May 8- June 28, 2015) and Einstein is a Dummy, book & lyrics by Karen Zacarias, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, directed by Mary Jo Duprey (Jan.16 – Feb. 28, 2015). As an adult, Albert Einstein changed our view of the universe. But as a boy, he struggled with the same issues any 12-year-old might—keeping up with violin lessons, impressing the girl next door and, oh yeah, comprehending the fundamental relationship of space and time to the speed of light, of course. As with last season’s Battledrum, the Playhouse is offering a musical entertainment that will appeal to an underserved youth audience as well as to its adult patrons. For a list of all the shows on their season, go to www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
CONCERTS/CABARET: MISCAST: Right Singer, Wrong Song returns to Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal, Monday, July 21st. Reservations: (818) 754-8700.
Following Next To Normal at Cabaret at the Merc is Spring Awakening on August 8 – 11, book & lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik,musical direction by Cris O’Bryon, choreography by Evan D’Angeles and directed by J. Scott Lapp. The company includes Nick Eiter, Emily Chelsea, Austyn Myers, Lindsay Joan, Hayley Marian, Jonathan Sangster, Tyler Lenhart, A.J.Foggiano, Claire Keefer, Bailey Sonner, Zackary Scot Wolfe, Joseph Arreola and Katie Larsen. Tickets: (866) 653-8696 or www.CabaretAtTheMerc.com. The Merc in Temecula, 42051 Main St. Temecula, 92590.
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Labels: cabaret at the merc, hollywood fringe, la mirada theatre, pasadena playhouse, sierra madre playhouse, sterling's
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Musical News for Sunday, July 6, 2014
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Labels: hollywood fringe, la mirada theatre, nmi, overtone industries, performance riverside, redcat, repertory east, zombie joe's
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Musical News for Tuesday, July 1, 2014
MUSICAL BIZ CONFERENCE: New Musicals Inc. has announced the panelists for its fifth biennial Biz of the Musical Theatre Biz Conference, set for July 18-20 in North Hollywood. Those who will be speaking on a variety of topics include: John Caird (director, Les Misérables; writer, Jane Eyre, Daddy Long Legs), Randy Johnson (writer/director, A Night with Janis Joplin; original producer, Always, Patsy Cline), Michael Alden (Broadway producer, Grey Gardens), David Bryant (Broadway producer, A Tale of Two Cities), Karyl Lynn Burns (producing artistic director, The Rubicon Theatre), Sheldon Epps (artistic director, Pasadena Playhouse), Paul Gordon (lyricist/composer, Daddy Long Legs, Jane Eyre), Dana Harrel (creative executive director, Walt Disney Imagineering), Daniel Henning (founding artistic director/producer, The Blank Theatre Company), Michael Jackowitz (Broadway producer, How to Succeed..., Tuck Everlasting), Michael A. Kerker (ASCAP director of musical theatre), Terence McFarland (executive director, LA Stage Alliance), Brendan Milburn & Valerie Vigoda (Striking 12, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Beautiful Poison), Heather Provost (Broadway/film/ TV producer), Cheri Steinkellner (Tony nominated bookwriter, Sister Act), Michael Weiner & Alan Zachary (First Date, Second Hand Lions), Michael R. Blaha (entertainment lawyer, producer), and Cate Caplin (award winning LA director/choreographer). For a complete schedule of conference events, visit www.nmi.org/develop/conference.
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Labels: hollywood fringe, la mirada theatre, nmi, upright citizen's brigade
Friday, June 27, 2014
Review: The Werewolves of Hollywood Blvd Rocks the Fringe
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| L-R: David Haverty, Kyle Nudo, Leigh Wulff and Michael Shaw Fisher. Photos by Terra Espinosa |
I have to say…I really loved this crazy new rock musical. In my book, it’s the kind of show that embodies all that is best about the Fringe, with its unconventional characters, sly direction (by Aaron Lyons), pert choreography (by Michelle LaVon), and wicked twist on a relevant message. The musical balances broad comedy with a subtler kind of humor that sometimes takes an extra beat to sink in before you can fully appreciate it, so listen closely to the dialogue and the lyrics and you won’t be left behind.
The Werewolves of Hollywood Blvd is a collaboration between Michael Shaw Fisher (book & lyrics) and Michael Teoli (music & additional lyrics) with the Orgasmico Theatre Company, the same folks who brought Fringe favorites Exorcistic and Doomsday Cabaret to the festival in previous years. If you know their style, you know that this is a company that does everything full out and can deliver a punch line like nobody’s business. This show is no exception.
What I loved most about Fisher’s treatment of the story is that it has an underlying impish quality that bubbles throughout. The subject matter may be dark but the execution is playful and a helluva lot of fun. Plus, Teoli’s score is complex, electrically-charged, and filled with recurring character motifs and well-placed reprises that make the songs familiar quickly. He also has a way of hiding subtle melodic phrases that linger within a particular song, just for a moment, and if you can catch them before the music moves on, they’ll make you smile in recognition – dissonant Mary Poppins anyone?
Like the song says, “We’re all a little damnable…” especially those who scheme to get ahead in Tinseltown, and Werewolves takes a satiric look at the tipping point of one Hollywood agent (Kyle Nudo well-cast as Lawson Grace) who veers over the edge when his world spins out of control after losing his job. Now on the skids, he revisits a film script he had previously discarded and becomes swept up in the lives of three historical “werewolves” who come to life as he reads the story.
In flashbacks we see Peter Stump (David Haverty), Jacques Roulet (Michael Shaw Fisher), and Joana of Tarcouca (Leigh Wulff) tell of their pain, their sacrifices, and their difficult choices, and we see their increasingly mesmerizing effect on Grace as they urge him to release his own inner wolf. Haverty blazes through Stump’s inner struggle and Teoli’s music with a calculated charismatic intensity that never disappoints while Wulff’s warm alto voice adds a plaintive richness to her sad Slavic tale. Fisher’s fearlessly comedic Frenchman, with his horrible teeth, bawdy behavior, and hair-trigger responses, is absolutely riveting.
Jesse Merlin once again proves that funny is his middle name, this time bringing Lawson’s oddball boss, JP Governs, a devotee of Vlad the Impaler, to quirky life. Jim Hanna goes mental, Laura L. Thomas oozes Succubus sex appeal and Sarah Chaney returns as the reigning queen of the deadpan delivery. Alex Lewis and Hannah Johnson add a dose of hipster energy and Marc Jablon makes his own eccentric contributions to the comedy.
Those who like a solid rock musical with plenty of big sound will also find much to get excited about in Werewolves. Even from behind the set, Teoli’s 4-piece band owns plenty of stage time and makes a big impact on the production.
Not merely the raging rocker you might expect, this original musical contains more than meets the eye, but you’ve got to let it carry you away. Go with it and you’ll have a great time. Check it out and see for yourself.
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| L-R: Michael Shaw Fisher, David and Leigh Wulff |
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| Kyle Nudo and Leigh Wulff |
THE WEREWOLVES OF HOLLYWOOD BLVD
Remaining performances: June 28 at 4:45 pm and 11:55 pm
Orgasmico Theatre Company
Theatre Asylum (Lillian Theatre)
6320 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
http://hff14.org/1507
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Labels: hollywood fringe
Monday, June 16, 2014
Fringe Review: GIRAFFENSTEIN, Frankenstein with Giraffes
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| James Penca and Edred Utomi. Photo s by Rich Clark. |
This original one-act pop musical aims high and often hits its mark although it may not be the musical you think it’s going to be. While it contains a fair amount of wry humor, don’t expect the kind of silliness you found in The Pokemusical, the team’s entry into last year’s Fringe Festival. This twist on the Frankenstein story has a more sophisticated harmonic structure and a richer musical texture that gives it an edge while still delivering a lot of fun for the money.
The ensemble handles the singing beautifully and there is plenty of funny choreography and quirky direction by Joanna Syiek. It’s an all-animal cast so they’ve also found creative ways to modify their appearance which makes for some great sight gags. Forearm crutches, high heels and grease paint are the main elements for the giraffes; boot walker casts and football shoulder pads complete Josh Hillinger’s transformation into a rhino; and rhinestones, black leather pants and fur turn Seth Salsbury into the kind of lion who would be completely at home in a revival of CATS. (Someone cast that boy in Rocky Horror Picture Show already. He’d make a great Frank N. Furter).
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| Seth Salsbury |
Giraffenstein follows the callous Dr. Giraffenstein (James Penca) and his failed attempts to create a superior being, in this case the first giraffe who can eat from the top of the tree, and raises questions about how much responsibility we have to that which we create. When its jokes land it is hilarious but the humor is still hit or miss.
The tone of the book is often quite dark and there are gaps in the story that could use more explanation. It’s unclear why the doctor’s fiancé (Katharine Kelly McDonough) agreed to marry him in the first place since all she does is complain about him, or why the Monster (Edred Utomi) tells Dr. Giraffenstein he’ll never see him again but then comes back to confront him near the end of the story. The show currently has a running time of about 75 minutes so there is plenty of room for it to expand. Odd though it is, Giraffenstein still has a lot going for it.
There are lessons about acceptance and standing up for yourself, as well as how important it is to find a place we can call home. Technically, this is also a good example of how to create a movable set on a budget that gets the job done and still delights with its ingenuity. Two reversible set pieces are hand-painted to create the expansiveness of the Serengeti and they even manage to make the sun rise in a creative way.
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| James Penca, Edred Utomi and Josh Hillinger |
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| L-R: Kelley Dorney, Ian Klingenberg, Kelsey Schulte and Katie DeShan |
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| Katharine Kelly McDonough and James Penca |
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| Kelley Dorney and Kelsey Schulte |
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| James Penca and Edred Utomi |
Book and music: Alex Syiek
Direction and musical staging: Joanna Syiek
Musical direction: Jennifer Lin
Sound Design: Corwin Evans
Set and Lighting Design: Eric Mitchell
GIRAFFENSTEIN
June 8 - 29, 2014
Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tickets are $10 at http://hff14.org/1888
www.colorandlighttheatre.org
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Labels: color and light, hollywood fringe
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Review: Generation ME the Musical Has a Lot to Say
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| The cast of Generation ME the Musical. Photos by Colleen O'Donnell |
You may think you’ve seen it before but Generation ME the Musical isn’t just another story about teen suicide. In all honesty, this new full-length musical from three first-time writers is the surprise of the festival. It has moments – a lot of them – that will knock the wind out of you, and for much of the performance I attended, the audience was so quiet and so engaged you could hear a pin drop.
It’s a great example of how the right people telling the right story can move an audience with their honesty. This is a musical with something to say and it does it without being heavy-handed or melodramatic. Because of that, it can’t help but affect you. The revelations that come in Act II alone will make you reevaluate what you think you know to be true. There’s often so much more to a person’s story and until you stop focusing on yourself you’ll never really see what is right there in front of you.
Seventeen teenagers make up the cast and because they are actually the same ages as their characters they feel like real people, not actors. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of fresh young talent in the production but it doesn’t feel like they’re “acting” and that alone is worth its weight in gold.
This is a realistic story of what happens when a high school kid whose life looks perfect commits suicide without explanation or warning. Following an unforgettable opening number, the story is told in flashbacks with lighting changes that help inform the audience whether the scene taking place is happening before or after the critical event.
Yes, there is still editing to be done (the show clocks in at about 2 hours and 45 minutes) but this is a polished, well-rehearsed, well-written musical full of potential that marks the beginning of a promising writing career for Julie Soto (book, lyrics & story), Will Finan (music & musical direction), and Ryan Warren (story and direction). It’s candid, raw, funny, and touching. I’d love to see anything they do next.
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| Kayla Wood and Liam O'Donnell |
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| The cast of Generation Me the Musical |
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| John Novotny and Liam O'Donnell |
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| The cast of Generation ME the Musical |
GENERATION ME
June 8 – 28, 2014
Hudson Theatres
6539 Santa Monica Blvd.
Tickets: $10
www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1466
www.generationmethemusical.com
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Labels: hollywood fringe
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Fringe Review: ZOMBIES FROM THE BEYOND Gets a Big Thumbs Up
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| Alison England (top center) as evil alien aviatrix Zombina menaces (L-R) Alex Taber, Lara Fisher, Amelia Gotham, Daniel Jimenez, Frank Blocker and Eric Sand. Photo credit: John Santo |
The Visceral Company takes on musical theatre and rides it all the way to success in a chipper interplanetary musical even non-musical theatre folks will love! Forget any idea of skipping it because it is a hilariously fun send-up of the 1950s and sci-fi B-movies directed by Dan Spurgeon and choreographed by Anna Safar with spot-on cheeseball precision, featuring a cast that knows how to play the comedy without ruining it.
Plus, it’s the only place you’ll find Zombina, an “intergalactic strumpet on the prowl” and her chorus of dancing Zombettes, searching for earth men to repopulate their planet. Picture a shapely Wagnerian operatic powerhouse who looks like a cross between the 1940s glam version of Eve Arden (she could use that wig as a weapon), and a drag queen sporting hot pink eye shadow who knows how to work the stage, and you’ve got Alison England in a dynamic role that will surely be a fringe-favorite contender. At the very least, it will serve to get this show extended.
What else will you find? A Russian spy (Eric Sand) in disguise who packs a wallop of a baritone voice; a wise-cracking secretary (Lara Fisher) and a Clark Kent-ish leading man (Daniel Jimenez); a squeaky-clean delivery boy (Alex Taber) who just happens to have his jingle taps in his pocket at the most opportune times; and a comically stiff Major (Frank Blocker) and his fresh-faced daughter (Amelia Gotham) hiding more smarts than the rest of them combined.
They’re a singing, dancing, talented bunch. Even a few rough edges in the vocals don’t detract from the big impact this cast makes, so go! This upbeat musical will have you laughing from beginning to end.
ZOMBIES FROM THE BEYOND
May 30 – July 20, 2014
The Lex Theatre (mainstage)
6760 Lexington Ave in Hollywood
Tickets: $32
Use code BEERTOWN and save $7 when purchasing tickets in advance via Brown Paper Tickets. Good for advance online purchases only. The producers reserve the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time.
http://hff14.org/1512
www.thevisceralcompany.com
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Labels: hollywood fringe, visceral company
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Fringe Review: Good People Theater Company's THE FANTASTICKS
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| The cast of The Fantasticks. Photos by Sherry Barnett |
Despite their best efforts, the good folks of Good People Theater Company are unable to recreate the magic they achieved with their 2013 fringe hit, A Man of No Importance, in their current revival of The Fantasticks. Contributing to the lackluster production are pacing issues and actors without the singing ability, stage presence, or emotional depth to effectively handle the demands of the roles. The exposed nature of comedy makes it even more difficult to pull off than drama and so much more obvious when it isn’t working. In the absence of real passion, poignancy and an understanding of how to blend the bitter with the sweet - which is what makes this Schmidt & Jones classic so satisfying - it left me feeling restless. Even the more successful comedy songs by the fathers did not keep me engaged for long. The saving grace is the wonderful harp accompaniment which creates a sparkling mark in the plus column, despite the show’s onstage deficiencies.
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| Matt Franta and Audrey Curd |
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| Matt Stevens and Michael Wallot |
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| Christopher Karbo |
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| Joey D'Auria, Matt Franta and Corky Loupe |
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| Matt Stevens, Matt Franta, Audrey Curd and Michael Wallot |
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| Audrey Curd and Christopher Karbo |
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| Joey D'Auria and Corky Loupe |
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| Matt Stevens, Matt Franta, Audrey Curd and Michael Wallot |
THE FANTASTICKS
June 5 – 29, 2014
Good People Theater Company
Lillian Theatre
1076 Lillian Way at Santa Monica Blvd
Tickets: $10 (preview) $20 (general run) $10 (students and seniors).
www.hff14.org/1513
www.goodpeopletheaterco.org
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