MUSICALS: Davis Gaines will star as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett as Marian Paroo in Musical Theatre West’s production of The Music Man at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center Feb. 14 – March 2nd. Meredith Willson’s timeless musical features musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and is directed by Jeff Maynard. Con man Harold Hill promises a boys’ band to counteract the possibility of a pool table coming to River City. His persuasive patter fools everyone except the town librarian, Marian Paroo. The cast will also feature Ashley Anderson (Zanetta Shinn), Maguire Balleweg (Amaryllis), Paige Brinskele (Pick-a-Little), Emzy Burroughs (Oliver Hix), Peyton Crim (Olin Britt), Joey D’Auria (Mayor Shinn), Jon Hand (Constable Lock), Emilie Lafontaine (Gracie Shinn), Cathy Newman (Mrs. Paroo), Jenny Moon Shaw (Pick-a-Little), Rebecca Spencer (Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn), Bryan Vickery (Jacey Squires) and Matt Walker (Marcellus). Tickets: (562 856-1999 x. 4 or www.musical.org.
Skylight Theatre Company presents the world premiere of The Wrong Man, an underground musical written by Ross Golan, directed & choreographed by Lee Martino and starring Ross Golan and Jennifer Brasuell, Jan. 25 - March 1st. The Wrong Man is an acoustical tale of what happens when the wrong man meets the wrong girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. Framed for murder, his ill-fated circumstances spiral out of control, leaving him at the mercy of a flawed judicial system. Tickets: www.skylighttheatrecompany.com
ADDED PERFORMANCE: Due to high ticket demand, a second concert performance of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera has been set for Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 8:00 pm at Hollywood’s legendary King Kong Club. The February 4 & 5 concerts will take place just a few days before the start of the 2014 Olympics, which is also the 20th anniversary of the lead pipe assault heard ‘round the world and Tonya and Nancy’s subsequent skate-off at the 1994 Winter Olympics. With libretto by Elizabeth Searle and music by Michael Teoli. Proceeds from the two evenings will go to support Celebration Theatre. Tickets: (323) 960-9234 or www.celebrationtheatre.com
Theatre Unleashed and artistic director Carlos Martinez have announced their 2014 season, which will include the west coast debut of Justin Moran’s original satirical musical, POPE! An Epic Musical, in September/October. In it, an idealistic young Pope is framed for a heinous crime and banished from the Vatican. The people, blinded by the media frenzy, allow a tyrannical archbishop to seize power. As this new Pope tightens his iron fist, the people are disheartened and in despair, and the world is crying out for a hero…can Pope reclaim his glory to become the hero the world needs? The season will also include Tartuffe in March/April directed by Jeff Soroka, 25 Plays Per Hour and Friends Like These in June at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and KAWL Presents It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play for the Stage in December. www.theatreunleashed.com
CABARET/CONCERTS: Independent Shakespeare Co. seduces you with an eclectic evening of music, scenes, poetry, and comedy on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 pm. From Chaucer to Cole Porter, In and Out of Love, a Passion Play will look at love from the top, the bottom, and everywhere in between. Performers include all of your ISC favorites, plus some great guests. This is a one-night-only event in the Independent Studio, 3191 Casitas Ave. #168, Los Angeles, 90039. Tickets: http://independentshakespeareco.org
Ryan Black’s 88’s is back by popular demand with The Songs of COMPANY by Stephen Sondheim on Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 8:00 pm. Open mic after the show 10pm – 2am. Seats may be reserved at (323) 380-7209. Ryan says, “We’ve had an amazing time over the last 30 shows, but I’m moving on to other projects. Please come celebrate with us!” Free - No Minimum. For more information go to www.facebook.com/ryanblacks88s
Kritzerland at the Movies will take place Mon. Feb. 3 at 8:00 pm at Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal. The show stars Brennley Brown, Emma Degerstedt, Dennis Kyle, Lisa Livesay, John Sloman and Shannon Warne, with special guests Andrea Marcovicci and Richard Sherman, and musical direction by Shelly Markham. From Oscar-winners, to musicals written especially for the screen, you’ll hear songs by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, Marvin Hamlisch, Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, Burt Bacharach and more. To RSVP, call (818) 754-8700.
The Grove Theatre celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the British Invasion with Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Shoot Out, courtesy of tributes Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash when they return to The Grove on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 - $50 and may be purchased online at www.grovetheatre.com or by calling (909) 920 - 4343. The show is appropriate for all ages. The Grove Theatre is located at 276 E. Ninth Street in Historic Downtown Upland. http://grovetheatre.com/.
DIRECTORS LAB: The 2014 Directors Lab West will take place May 17-24th in residence at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Lab will continue its tradition of bringing together dedicated theatre directors, choreographers and master artists for a week of intense discussions and exploration of the art form. Attendance is by application only and there is no cost to participate in the Lab. Applications to attend the Lab and further information may be found at www.directorslabwest.com. Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, Feb. 28th by 5:00pm PST. In the last 14 years, over 100 acclaimed artists have given their time to the Lab including Jason Alexander, Julie Arenal, Luis Alfaro, Paris Barclay, Cirque Berzerk, Kay Cole, Gordon Davidson, George Furth, Ming Cho Lee, Marc Masterson, Janet Miller, Randy Newman, Vincent Paterson, Carey Perloff, Stephen Wadsworth and Charlayne Woodard.
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MUSICALS: The Festival of New American Musicals will present a reading of Going Hollywood on Jan. 22 & 23 starring Vicki Lewis, Adam Wylie, Anneliese Van Der Pol, and Tim Martin Gleason. Going Hollywood is a jolly, hilarious and very musical version of the brilliant Kaufman and Hart comedy, Once in a Lifetime, featuring book by Joe Leonardo & David Zippel, lyrics by David Zippel, and music by Jonathan Sheffer. The reading will be directed by Joe Leonardo, with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach. To reserve FREE tickets, email info@lafestival.org with date you’d like to attend (January 22nd or 23rd) and the name(s) of each person in your party. You will receive an email confirmation. Showtime is 7:30 pm at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre 4800 Hollywood Blvd. LA 90027. (2 blocks West of Vermont Ave.) www.lafestival.org.
A one-night-only concert performance of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera has been set for Tuesday, February 4 at 8:00 pm at Hollywood’s legendary King King Club. The concert will take place just a few days before the start of the 2014 Olympics, which is also the 20th anniversary of the lead pipe assault heard ‘round the world and their subsequent skate-off at the 1994 Winter Olympics. The librettist is Elizabeth Searle and music is by Michael Teoli. The concert version of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera will be choreographed and directed by NAACP and Ovation Award-winner Janet Roston. Proceeds from the evening will go to support Celebration Theatre.
This high energy and darkly comic show takes the audience on a wild, hilarious, and insightful ride. The true over-the-top tale contains operatic themes with twists so outrageous they seem invented as the piece explores our celebrity-crazed-society, the public’s hunger for salacious scandal, and the media’s drive for tabloid fodder. The concert staging will include a full rock band, vocals, and visuals and star Michael Ballestero, Jordan Kai Burnett, Sarah Chaney, Joe Donohoe, Michael Shaw Fisher, Maegan McConnell, Jesse Merlin, Suzanne Petrela, Michael Shepperd, Jeff Sumner, and Laura L. Thomas. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. Doors open at 7pm for bar service. A live DJ will be spinning before and after the performance. The King King Club is located at 6555 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, 90028. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.celebrationtheatre.com or by phone at (323) 960-9234.
The west coast premiere of the new musical Battledrum will take place March 7 – April 19 at Sierra Madre Playhouse. Gala opening nights are Fri., March 7 and Sat., March 8 at 7:00 pm and include a champagne reception. Set during the Civil War, Battledrum depicts the stories of three drummer boys serving in the Union Army. There’s Rufus, a Kentucky war orphan recruited after his home has been burned to the ground; Jackson, bound into service by his parents; and George Washington, a runaway slave who got lost on the path of the Underground Railroad. Drummer boys were pivotal to the conduct of a skirmish, but the three lads are nonetheless youths, thrown into the heat of the bloodiest conflict ever conducted on American soil. Battledrum embraces an important segment of American history, a traumatic chapter when courage, brotherhood and patriotism could keep you alive.
Book & lyrics are by Doug Cooney and music is by Lee Ahlin. Battledrum is directed by Christian Lebano and is double-cast. The company includes Joseph Ahearn, Tara Bopp, Will Cespedes, Kaitlin Cornuelle, Patrick Dillon Curry, DJ Harner, Jon Monastero, Mark Ostrander and Alexandra Wright. Each performance will include a post-show talk led by a historian on California’s role in the Civil War and featured actors from the show. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
GENE KELLY: The Pasadena Playhouse Theatre is pleased to present Gene Kelly: The Legacy, An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly for two performances only – Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 pm. During a unique evening, Patricia Ward Kelly - his widow, biographer and the person who knew him best - presents an intimate portrait of this dynamic and innovative artist who created some of the most memorable and iconic scenes in film history. Patricia Kelly’s compelling presentation combines rare and familiar film clips, previously unreleased audio recordings, personal memorabilia, and insights culled from her hours of interviews and conversations with her husband. Tickets are priced from $15 - $70. Also, available is a VIP ticket which includes a Preshow Meet & Greet with Mrs. Kelly and a reception for $150.00. For tickets call (626) 356-7529 or go to www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.
WIN TICKETS: The Book of Mormon is giving you an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the show by participating in a social media scavenger hunt on Saturday Jan 18 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm PST. They will be sharing clues on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram teasing the locations of hidden doorbells around Los Angeles. To play along, follow The Book of Mormon on Twitter (@BookOfMormon), Instagram (TheBookOfMormon) or Facebook (TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway) and the hashtag #BOMHunt. One entry is allowed per person. Winners must show valid ID at The Pantages box office.
AUDITIONS: Director/choreographer Miriam Durrie-Kirsch is having another day of auditions for the role of JIMMY in Conejo Players Theatre’s upcoming production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. You don’t even need to prepare a song (although having a selection in your back pocket is always a good idea). Just head over to Conejo Players on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10:00 am. You’ll learn some of Jimmy’s music, as well as a short dance combo. Come ready to move, or bring a change of clothing. There may also be some cold reading from the script. Character description: Jimmy Smith: (Male mid 20s-40s) Self-assured, quick-witted, and charming with a good sense of comedic timing. Tenor with solid high A. Good mover; dancer a plus. www.conejoplayers.org
CABARET/CONCERTS: Ryan O’Connor and Musical Mondays Los Angeles have announced the upcoming appearance of Broadway’s Eden Espinosa (Wicked, Brooklyn, Rent) in a Free performance at Eleven Nightclub in West Hollywood on Monday, January 20 at 10:00 pm. Espinosa is making appearances throughout the U.S. to celebrate the release of her award winning debut solo album , Look Around, now available on iTunes, Amazon, Cd Baby, and www.EdenEspinosa.com. Eleven Nightclub is located at 8811 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069. For more info visit www.eleven.la
Upcoming concerts at the Grove Theatre in Upland include legendary Grammy Award winner Bryan Duncan, on February 1 at 7:00 pm. Duncan brings his powerful voice and charming humor to a family-friendly concert featuring classic hits like “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Love You With My Life” along with new songs like “I See You.” Then on February 8, R&B singer Virgil Gibson headlines Remember the Magic, a concert that brings back the great sounds of the doo-wop era featuring tunes like “Only You,” “Up On The Roof,” “In The Still Of The Night,” “You Send Me,” “My Girl,” “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and many more. http://grovetheatre.com/
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