Sunday, December 8, 2019

Photo Flash: Peter Pan and Tinkerbell: A Pirates' Christmas at Laguna Playhouse

John O'Hurley and the Company of Peter Pan and Tinker Bell: A Pirates' Christmas.
All photos by Cathy Cunningham

 Peter Pan and Tinkerbell: A Pirates' Christmas is a singing, swashbuckling adventure performed in the high-flying style of a British holiday Panto. Take off on a wild quest with Tinker Bell (Ashley Argota), Wendy (Bryce Charles) and Peter Pan (Lincoln Clauss) as they try to put a stop to the plot of some dastardly pirates who plan to kidnap Peter as a present to Captain Hook (John O'Hurley). Filled with big laughs, magic, dancers and contemporary songs by everyone from Taylor Swift to The Bee Gees, this family show has a little bit of something for everyone. Make it your new holiday tradition! Tickets are available at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
Lincoln Clauss and Ashley Argota

L-R: Dakota Lotus, Daniel Peters, Lincoln Clauss and Bryce Charles

Clarice Ordaz (center) and the Company

Lincoln Clauss (center) and the Company

John O’Hurley and Ben Giroux

Dakota Lotus and Bryce Charles

Ben Giroux and John O’Hurley

John O’Hurley, Dakota Lotus, Bryce Charles, Daniel Peters and Lincoln Clauss

For more Musicals in LA news:
Like us on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Friday, May 12, 2017

MUSICAL NEWS for Friday, May 12, 2017

Laguna Playhouse is closing its season with The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, written and performed by James Lecesne, with music by Duncan Sheik and directed by Tony Speciale. When a 14-year-old boy goes missing in a small New Jersey town his disappearance is illuminated by memories of his brilliant spirit. This one-man show, written and staring Academy-award winner James Lecesne, tells the story of a young boy who had touched the hearts of his community during his short but richly colorful life. Teens and adults alike will be inspired by this uplifting story about humanity and the dignity of life. June 7 – 25. Due to the extreme generosity of Suzanne and James Mellor and The Mellor Fund, theatergoers 21 and under will be admitted for free. ID is required. www.lagunaplayhouse.com
The legendary Harmony Boys return to Hollywood bringing Christmas 1962 with them for four performance of  A Harmony Boys Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve and renowned singing sensations are presenting their annual yuletide fundraising concert to benefit their charity “Force Feed the World” (in which they shove food and their personal cultural and religious beliefs down the throats of the less fortunate during the holiday season). It’s a singing, dancing, musical comedy extravaganza brimming with heartfelt but provocative satire. Starring Michael Hoy, Aaron Matijasic, Gabriel Oliva, and Al Rahn. Written and directed by Aaron Matijasic with choreography by Jen Oundjian and musical direction by Ben Stanton. June 8 – 24 at Sacred Fools Theater. http://hff17.com/4661
Bucket List Theatre presents the world premiere of Missmatch, a multimedia musical parody based on actual events. Follow AC as she navigates her way through the world of online dating, unleashing hilariously disastrous results. Written & directed by Amanda Conlon. June 1 - 18 at Let Live Theatre at the Actors Company. http://hff17.com/4339
Theatre Unleashed presents a new production of its popular superhero satire musical The Spidey Project by Justin Moran featuring new scenes, character and songs. Nerdy social outcast Peter Parker takes on an alter ego as he attempts to defeat a dastardly collection of terrifying villains and perhaps his biggest nemesis of all…himself in this tongue-in-cheek comedy. The show was a hit in 2012 [read about it here] With heroes more in demand than ever, it’s a good time to see Spidey back in the next iteration of Moran’s musical. June 3 – 24 at Studio/Stage. Tickets for the June 3 performance are only 55 cents. http://hff17.com/4398
Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that legendary Tony Award-winning Broadway star Donna McKechnie will bring her show Same Place, Another Time to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood on Sunday, May 28 at 7:30pm and Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego on Thursday, June 1 at 8pm. Special guests in Los Angeles will include Greg Safel, making his LA cabaret debut in celebration of his new CD Visible, and local favorite Jeffrey Scott Parsons. www.chrisisaacsonpresents.com
Panic! Productions closes its season with a fresh take on the crowd-pleasing musical Little Shop of Horrors. The Alan Menken-Harold Ashman musical is directed by J. Bailey Burcham, with choreography by Tyler Matthew Burk, and musical direction by Josh Bednarsky. June 2 through 18 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. panicproductions.org
Linden Waddell returns to the theatre after a 20-year hiatus in Hello Again! The Songs of Allan Sherman. Sherman became an instant celebrity when his first three Warner Bros. comedy albums shot to #1 in the early ‘60s. He won a Grammy Award for his internationally-known hit about a child’s letter home describing a miserable camp experience in “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.” Waddell’s one-woman cabaret revue highlights Sherman’s humorous song parodies and is directed and choreographed by Janet Miller, with live accompaniment by musical director Marjorie Poe. The 55-minute concert presents some of his best-known works and lesser-known material. June 4 – 24 at Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre. http://hff17.com/4580
Jeremy Ebenstein takes audiences through his humorous, inspiring, yet often heartbreaking story of living with Asperger’s Syndrome in Pain In My Asperger’s. The 80-minute one-man show includes eight original songs and compositions as Ebenstein chronicles his journey from childhood to adulthood addressing issues like childhood bullying, hopeful romance, overcoming depression, and striving for acceptance. It’s a story of hope and love, not only for those suffering with Asperger’s Syndrome, but for all who have ever hoped and dreamed about making something of themselves. Written and developed by Jack Fry who serves as producer and creative consultant. June 3 – 25 at the Lounge Theater. http://hff17.com/4650

 For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: , , , ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Thursday, August 18, 2016

MUSICAL NEWS for Thursday, August 18, 2016

MUSICAL CELEBRATION
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will host a free two-day celebration for the community on Sept 10 (2pm – 10 pm) and 11 (10am – 2pm) featuring performances by many of the artists who will be appearing in their 2016-17 season. WelcomeFest highlights will include Matthew Bourne, Michael Arden’s Pop-Up Sondheim, Deaf West Theatre, Films of Harold Lloyd, For The Record: Scorsese, Impro Theatre’s Twilight Zone Unscripted: Abridged, the Colburn School, Invertigo Dance Theatre and many more. Everything is free and it’s a great way to experience a taste of The Wallis’ wide variety of arts offerings. Discounted parking is available both days. For a complete schedule of performances and interactive activities, visit www.TheWallis.org/WelcomeFest.

 MUSICAL NEWS
International City Theatre has announced its upcoming 2017 season, which begins with Forever Plaid, Feb 15 – March 5 (opening night 2/16). Always an audience favorite, it is the story of four young singers killed in a car crash on the way to their first-ever big concert who miraculously return to earth to fulfill their dream and perform the show after all, sixty years later. Written by Stuart Ross and featuring musical arrangements by James Raitt, Forever Plaid was first produced in 1990, yet remains one of the most popular and successful off-Broadway musicals in history. For a complete look at ICT’s 2017 season, visit www.internationalcitytheatre.org.
Menopause The Musical® returns to the Laguna Playhouse for a two-week run, August 31 – Sept 11. Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, the show was created as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The fun, 90-minute production is designed to get audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Set in a department store, four women meet by chance while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, they end up commiserating about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. Produced by GFour Productions, it is hilarious from beginning to end. www.lagunaplayhouse.com
The Barn Stage Company and Temecula Presents will stage Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Chess in Concert at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, Sept 1 – 4. The show will be accompanied by the 25-piece Temecula Valley Symphony Orchestra and is directed by J. Scott Lapp, with musical direction by John Mario Di Costanzo and choreography by April Henry. Cast includes Michael McCorry Rose as Anatoly Sergievsky, Louis Pardo as Freddy Trumper, Rena Strober as Florence Vassy, Elizabeth Brackenbury (Svetlana Sergievsky), Daniel Guzman (Alexander Molokov), Allen Everman (Walter de Courcey), Bryan Barbarin (The Arbiter), Jerry Alexander III, Ethan Park, Kelsie Piini, Ariana Ramirez, Amanda Restivo, Shealyn Sailors, Edred Utomi and Tanner Vidos. www.TheBarnStageCompany.com

 COLLEGE THEATRE
The CSULB University Players will present Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s Stop the World I Want to Get Off as part of their 2016-2017 season. Show runs Oct 7 – 16 in the Studio Theatre and is directed by Joanne Gordon. The quirky, British musical is a tale of rags to riches that will take the audience on a journey of one man’s search for hope during his rise to fame. Cast includes Christian Sullivan as Littlechap and Alexandra Billings (ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder, Amazon’s Transparent) in multiple roles as the many women in Littlechap’s life, with Maddie Larson, Asialani Holman, Kaleigh Clark, Bonnie Dolan, Asialani Holman, Likun Jing, Lara Lafferty, Maddie Larson, Tamanii Meeks, and Carolina Xique. Ticket Link

 For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: , , , ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Monday, December 8, 2014

Review: Striking 12 Strikes a Chord at Laguna Playhouse

Marisa Duchowny and Brent Schindele. Photos by Ed Krieger

Generally people fall into one of two categories when it comes to the holidays; those who love every moment of the glittering merriment and those who would rather it all end as quickly as possible. In Striking 12, the holiday concert-musical from GrooveLily’s Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn, and musical theatre writer, Rachel Sheinkin, both are represented in a hybrid production that mixes GrooveLily’s category-defying music with a non-traditional New Year’s Eve story to create an experience that lands somewhere in between genres.

 Directed with sweet simplicity by Janet Roston, it features a quartet of actor/singer/musicians: musical director Brent Schindele on keyboards, Marisa Duchowny on guitar, Matt Wolpe on drums, and Amberly Rosen on a Viper electric violin. The 90-minute self-professed “non-spectacular non-extravaganza” contains more than thirty songs in a variety of styles, from folk to pop to rockabilly to jazz. Schindele and Duchowny carry the bulk of the narrative while Wolpe adds comic relief with a series of hilariously eccentric characters and fresh-faced Rosen dazzles on the violin.

 It’s inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl and follows Schindele as an unlucky in love modern-day urbanite who shuns the end of the year festivities, opting instead to spend the night sulking at home. But when a quirky young woman selling LED light bulbs knocks on his door the evening quickly takes an unexpected turn. The result is a heartwarming tale that highlights the power of hope and the beauty of transformation.  

 Striking 12 was Vigoda and Milburn’s first crossover into musical theatre writing and an experiment that has since led to shows such as Disney’s Toy Story the Musical and Sleeping Beauty Wakes (presented in LA by Deaf West Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre). The format – more a staged storytelling concert than traditional musical – alternates between contemporary New York and 19th century Denmark as a story within a story emerges. There are times the airy structure feels somewhat disjointed, but it still communicates the deeper undertones of the show’s message and its charming score easily compensates for any idiosynchracies.

 Roston’s direction of Duchowny as the fairy tale version of the little match girl is especially touching. Duchowny’s gentle innocence makes “Snow Song (It’s Coming Down)” and “Wonderful” quite wonderful, and Schindele shines on “Green & Red (& I’m Feeling Blue)” and “It’s Not Alright,” songs that reveal his inner angst. Wolpe is a natural comedian in every sense of the word. From his showstopping comedy number, “Screwed Up People Make Great Art,” to his insistence that the group should be doing “The Little Drummer Boy,” (and what a payoff that has), every character is terrific.

Striking 12 is a holiday love letter that will bring you back to yourself. It’s the kind of musical experience that will warm your heart and remind you what is truly important in life. What better time than the turn of the calendar to remember.
Marisa Duchowny and Brent Schindele

Matt Wolpe, Marisa Duchowny, Amberly Rosen, and Brent Schindele

Marisa Duchowny and Amberly Rosen

 STRIKING 12
December 3 – 28, 2014
Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 
Tickets: (949) 497-ARTS (2787) or
www.lagunaplayhouse.com

For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels:

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Musical News for Tuesday, August 19, 2014

MUSICAL NEWS:  International City Theatre trumpets its 30th Anniversary in 2015 with a season of five plays celebrating famous people, fiery stories and fun adventures. ICT will pay homage to two icons of the American musical, kicking off the season in February with End of the Rainbow, Peter Quilter’s tour de force musical drama about Judy Garland, and finishing the year in October with the Los Angeles premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, the James Lapine-conceived musical revue that offers an inside glimpse into the artistic process of Broadway’s foremost composer/lyricist.

 The three other plays include the west coast premiere of Abigail/1702 in which Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa picks up the tale of Arthur Miller’s child-villain Abigail Williams ten years after The Crucible; a 30th anniversary production of August Wilson’s modern American classic, Fences; and the Los Angeles premiere of David Ives’ adaptation of Jean-François Regnard‘s 18th century French classic, The Heir Apparent. For more information and to subscribe to the 2014 season, please call (562) 436-4610 or go to www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

Laverne and Shirley star Cindy Williams will star in Laguna Playhouse’s run of Menopause The Musical®. The cast will also feature Sandra Benton, Beth Buczkowski and Playhouse favorite Marsha Waterbury. Menopause previews on September 17, opens on Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 pm and runs through September 28. Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. www.lagunaplayhouse.com


Valley Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Northridge presents the OBI-Award winning SITI Company’s Café Variations on Tuesday, September 30 at 7:30 pm. SITI was founded in 1992 by Anne Bogart and Tadashi Suzuki to redefine and revitalize contemporary theater in the United States through an emphasis on international cultural exchange and collaboration. SITI combines theater, dance and the music of George and Ira Gershwin in its six-actor version of Café Variations, a theatrical  exploration of life, love and identity in an unabashedly romantic celebration of café culture. Shown in the intimate Plaza del Sol, tickets range from $55 to $65. For tickets and a complete calendar of VPAC events visit www.valleyperformingartscenter.org.

Cyrano meets The Sopranos in Serrano, the Musical, a new musical based on the French classic Cyrano De Bergerac set in New York’s Little Italy directed by Joel Zwick, featuring book & lyrics by Madeline Sunshine and music by Robert Tepper. Click Here to check out their Indiegogo campaign. For more about the musical visit www.serranothemusical.com.

Cabaret at The Merc closes its inaugural 2014 Summer Series with a developmental workshop production of The Untitled John Mayer Project directed by J. Scott Lapp with choreography by Steven Cardona. Featuring the music and lyrics of Grammy Award winning songwriter John Mayer, an original book by Jordan Beck, and new arrangements by the show’s musical director Leonard Patton. The cast includes Taran Gray as John, Emily Lopez as Sara, Joshua David Cavanaugh as Chad, Jennifer Sun Bell as Olivia, with Daniel J. Filippi (Patrick), Nick Wuebben (Blake) and Hayley Marian (Chloe). The show will play Friday, Sept. 12 – 15 at The Merc in Temecula, 42051 Main St. Temecula, California 92590. www.CabaretAtTheMerc

 CABARET/CONCERTS: Reaching for the Stars: A Cabrillo Cabaret will take place on Monday, August 25 at 8:00 pm at the Lyric Theatre, 520 N La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Stars from Cabrillo past and present will join forces for this evening of entertainment to raise funds for the company. Performers include Kelli Provart, Jim J. Bullock, Harley Jay, Shannon Warne, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, Zachary Ford, Natalie Storrs and many more. Musical direction is by Cassie Nickols. Tickets are $20 at www.cabrillomusictheatre.com.

 Rockwell Table and Stage has announced its September line-up. Highlights include:

 Disney Dreams: Broadway Sings Disney (Sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25 at 8:00 pm)
Broadway performers share the love of Disney through songs and storytelling immediately followed by You Sing Disney – Open Mic at 11:30 pm.

 Broadway Barre (Monday, Sept. 8 at 8:00 pm)
Hosted by Kate Pazakis with Brian Kennedy at the Piano, this monthly event is where LA’s vibrant musical theater community comes together to enjoy each other’s company as well as perform for each other.

 A Little New Music 6 (Tuesday, Sept 23 at 8:00 pm)
This fast-paced hour of the newest or unheard musical theatre material is hosted by Jordan Kai Burnett and will showcase songs by award-winning writers Buck & Acquisto, Michael Gordon Shapiro, Drew Fornarola, Adam Gwon, Andrew Gerle, Michael Finke, Rosser & Sohne, Atkins & Segal, Salmond & Aronson, Defoe & Sinutoke, Wilmott & Stevens, Sankoff & Hein, and Daniel Maté. Special appearances by musical comedy duo Schoolcraft & Murray, and back by popular demand, Milburn & Vigoda.

 For reservations and info about Rockwell’s complete schedule of performances go to www.rockwell-la.com.

 For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: , , , , ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Musical News for Wednesday, August 13, 2014

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

 For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: , , , , , ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Musical News for Tuesday July 29, 2014

MUSICAL NEWS: Lexikat Artists, MB Artists and the NoHo Arts Center Ensemble will present the world premiere of Scary Musical The Musical, book by Richard Hochberg, music & lyrics by Richard Hochberg and Michael Paternostro, musical direction by Brent Crayon, orchestrations by Kenny Seymour and directed and choreographed by James J. Mellon. Scary Musical begins previews on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8pm; will open on Friday, Sept. 19 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 9, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood. The cast includes Jennifer Bennett as Teena Louise, Candi Milo as Leeza Courtney Fox, August Emerson as Norman Hates, Frank Authello Andrus, Jr. as Freddy Loussier, Leigh Golden as Carrie Beige, Matthew Tyler as Mr. MacGuffin, Jane Papageorge as Jamie Lee Leigh and Keir Kirkegaard as Jason Cravin.

 Someone is killing off the Drama Club of Vera Miles High School, everyone is a suspect and you decide who the killer is. Combining a slasher movie plot with a rock ‘n roll score, pop-culture humor and an homage to classic horror film clichés, Scary Musical has all the elements of your favorite “Scary Movies” with an added twist – the teenagers sing and dance – before, during and sometimes after getting killed! The setting is the quiet coastal village of Hidden Secrets, USA. On the night before the opening of the Vera Miles High School Drama Dept’s production of Scary Musical The Musical a brutal double murder takes place. We soon learn that a Crazy Mental patient has escaped from the Hidden Secrets Psychiatric Hospital and all “musical” HELL is about to break loose. Ticket: (818) 508-7101 x 6 or www.nohoace.com.
Wayne Brady will star as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate which opens the Pasadena Playhouse’s 2014-15 Season Sept. 16 - Oct. 12 (press opening Sept 21). The production, directed by Sheldon Eps, also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway’s Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lily/Kate. The cast will also include Joanna A. Jones as Lois/Bianca, Terrance Spencer as Bill/Lucentio, Jenelle Lynn Randall as Hattie, Rogelio Douglas, Jr. as Paul, David Kirk Grant as Thug #1, Danny Stiles as Thug #2, Pat Towne as General Howell, and Jay Donnell as Baptista, with ensemble members Eric B. Anthony, Shamicka Benn-Moser, Theresa Murray, Saudia Rashed, Carlton Wilborn, and Armando Yearwood. Jeffrey Polk is the choreographer and Rahn Coleman is musical director. Talkback Tuesdays will take place on Sept. 23 and 30 following the 8:00 pm performance and there will be a Post-Show Discussion on Sunday, Oct. 5 following the 2:00 pm performance. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena CA. Tickets: 626-356-7529 or www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

 Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Hollywood will present Quick & Funny Musicals, three brand new short musicals, on August 2nd at 10:00 pm in an evening of. They are: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Nightmare. We all know that the GOOP is a super woman BUT what is Gwyneth Paltrow afraid of? This musical will explore the depths of Gwynnie’s soul, while not at all making fun of her penchant for lording her superiority. Catfish: The Musical. Can Nev & Max sing? Is the man on the internet who refuses to meet up a total creeper troll?  Find out in the newest edition of Catfish (the musical!). Understudies: The Musical. The intrigue, the sabotage, ever wonder what goes on back stage? And what the heck even happens in Wicked? Does anyone know?

 The Company includes Rachel Bloom, Kathryn Burns, Nate Clark, Kimmy Gatewood, Jackie Johnson, Henry Kaiser, Jessica Reiner-Harris, Zach ReinoTony Rodriguez and Ben Siemon. Writers: The Company, Fiona Landers, Richie Root, Steve Szlaga. Quick & Funny Musicals are directed and produced by Lindsay Lefler. Tickets are $10. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood. Reservations: http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/view/2159


Hair, by Gerome Ragni & James Rado (book & lyrics) and Galt MacDermot (music) comes to the Hollywood Bowl August 1 – 3, directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman. The cast includes Kristen Bell (Sheila), Sarah Hyland (Chrissy), Mario (Hud), Hunter Parrish, (Claude), Jonah Platt, (Woof), Amber Riley, (Dionne), Jenna Ushkowitz, (Jeanie), Benjamin Walker, (Berger), Beverly D'Angelo, (Mom), and Kevin Chamberlin, (Dad). From its stunning Broadway premiere in 1968, Hair defined the “rock musical,” exuberantly celebrating hippie counterculture, the anti-war movement and, of course, the sexual revolution of the 1960s with a rainbow score of hits – including “Aquarius,” “Good Morning Starshine,” and “Easy to be Hard.” Let down your long, beautiful hair, pull out the tie-dye and come celebrate. Tickets: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/hair/2014-08-01
Chromolume Theatre has announced Bird Lives! as its next production, opening on Friday, August 15 at 8:00 pm. Written by Willard Manus and directed by Tommy Hicks, Bird Lives! will star Montae Russell as jazz icon Charlie Parker in this solo play with music. Parker, a legendary saxophone virtuoso, ushered in a new era of jazz by pioneering bebop and influencing subsequent generations of musicians. Bird Lives! will run through September 21.  The regular performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through September 21. Chromolume Theatre at the Attic is located at 5429 W. Washington Boulevard (between the 10 freeway and Hauser Boulevard), in Los Angeles, 90016. Ample street parking is available. Tickets: 323-205-1617 or www.crtheatre.com.

 The new national tour of Menopause The Musical® opens on Wednesday, September 17 at the Laguna Playhouse. (There will be one preview on Tuesday, September 16 and the show runs through September 28.) Now celebrating 13 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, Menopause The Musical® has evolved as a “grassroots” movement of women who deal with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead.  Set in a department store, four women meet by chance while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, the all-female cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. www.lagunaplayhouse.com

 EXTENDED: The Old Globe has additional performances of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods, which made its world premiere at The Old Globe in 1986. The production is an inventive reimagining by Fiasco Theater, directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, in a production that originated at McCarter Theatre Center. By popular demand, it will now play through Sunday, August 17. www.theoldglobe.org

 AUDITIONS: Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for Into the Woods on Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 11am-3pm and on Sunday, September 14 from 6-10pm. Callbacks will be held on Monday, September 15 from 7:30-10pm. Auditions and performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. For complete audition details go to www.kentwoodplayers.org.

 For more Musicals in LA news:
Become a Fan on Facebook Follow
Musicals in LA on Twitter
Click Here to return to home page

Labels: , , , , , , ,

CLICK HERE to comment 0