Wednesday, September 18, 2019
More Musical News to Make Your Week Better!
Check out the latest in Musical News and mark your calendars now!
Hold on to your hats, folks, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are opening a brand-new musical this weekend based on the beloved 1993 film by Mark Steven Johnson and it looks like it’s going to be terrific. Matt Lenz directs Hal Linden who plays Grandpa Gustafson, Cathy Rigby as Punky Barrels, and Ken Page as Chuck Barrels in this west coast premiere by Dan Remmes (book), Neil Berg (music), Nick Meglin (lyrics), with additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, and musical direction by Benet Braun. Max (Gregory North) and John (Mark Jacoby) have been feuding for more than 50 years over the silliest things but when the beautiful Ariel (Leslie Stevens) moves in across the street their rivalry reaches epic proportions. This story of family, friendship, love, and romance is sure to win your heart. Audience Talk-Backs with the cast will take place on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9. Show runs Sept. 20 – Oct. 13. LaMiradaTheatre.com
The Colony Theatre’s It’s Showtime! series will feature The Lion King’s Tonoccus McClain and special guests Jonathan Byram, Katherine Eames, and Destiny Lofton in a self-reflecting musical journey through the influences of musical theatre, jazz, pop, gospel, and other surprises this month. The piece is written by McClain and Alex Dueben and will run for four performances Sept. 26 – 29. The series also includes Talking To Myself with James Arnold Taylor, Oct. 10 – 13 and Chico’s Angels: Chicas in Space, Nov. 21 – 24. For more information visit www.colonytheatre.org.
Morgan-Wixson Theatre opens its season with The Drowsy Chaperone on Sept. 21. Kristie Mattsson directs and the show features music direction by Daniel Koh and choreography by Niko Montelibano. This sparkling musical comedy charmed audiences when it debuted on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards including Best Book (Bob Martin and Don McKellar) and Best Original Score (Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison). Morgan-Wixson’s cast features Deonté Allen, Jake Asaro, Mirai Booth-Ong, Chris Clonts, Devin Dimitri Dominguez, AnnaLisa Erickson, Michael Heimos, Estaban Hurtado, Daniel Koh, Janet Krajeski, Aric Martin, Audrey Pennington, Serenity Robb, Krystyna Rodriguez, Richard R. Rosales, Jenáe Denise Thompson, Christopher Tiernan, Holly Weber, and Steve Weber. Audience talk-backs will follow the performances on Sept. 27 and Oct. 6. Show runs through Oct. 13. www.morgan-wixson.org [Pictured: Holly Weber as Janet. Photo by Niko Montelibano]
Also on Sept. 21st, the new musical comedy Life in Boobs debuts at Second City Hollywood. The show is conceived by Jennifer Goodman and highlights the true trials and tribulations of boobs everywhere, with original songs, comedic vignettes and dramatic monologues, books & lyrics by Casey Christensen, and music by celebrity vocal coach Rachael Lawrence. Cast members include Sherry Cola, Brooke Eyler, Naomi Murden, Sara Montgomery, Leslie Rubino, and Kyla Page Williams along with Christensen and Goodman. A portion of the show’s ticket sales will go to Susan G. Komen Los Angeles. Performances are at 10pm, Sept. 21 – Dec. 14. SecondCity.com/LifeinBoobs
Storybook Theatre’s version of Beatrix Potter’s classic tale hops into Theatre West beginning Oct. 5. With book and lyrics by Anthony Grupposo, who also directs, music by Matt Dahan, and choreography by Mark Michello, it’s a musical adventure for the whole family. Cast includes Alex Mashikian, Ashley Fox Linton, Kathy Garrick, Saratoga Ballantine, Will Collyer, and David P. Johnson. Come do “The Bunny Hop” and sing along with Peter and the rest of the audience in this adaptation created specifically to appeal to children. Special accommodations can be made for birthday parties and school field trips by calling (818) 761-2203. This is Storybook Theatre’s 35th consecutive season providing wholesome family entertainment and many children’s first experience with theatre. We think that’s a very good thing. TheatreWest.org
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Labels: colony theatre, la mirada theatre, morgan-wixson, second city hollywood, theatre west
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Musical News Coming Your Way
Check out what's happening in Southern California and go see a show!
I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC
Tonight, Rubicon Theatre Company opens its updated encore run of I Dig Rock and Roll Musical, last year’s world premiere sequel to Lonesome Traveler. Directed by James O’Neil, it features an all-new cast starring Yvette Cason, Harley Jay, Beau Moore, Charlotte Morris, and Scott Anthony. The celebration of folk-rock then and now is a theatrical concert highlighting songs from 1965 through the 1970s made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary; The Mamas and the Papas; Joni Mitchell; The Association; Otis Redding; Cat Stevens; The Youngbloods; The Beatles; and many others, along with original songs of passion and protest inspired by the era written by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary), and other members of the group. Conceived by Ovation winner and Rubicon co-founder James O’Neil, Lifetime Grammy Award-winner George Grove, and LADCC-winner/Tony nominee Dan Wheetman with musical direction by Scott Anthony, and arrangements by George Grove and the performers. You can rock out now through Sept 29th. www.rubicontheatre.org
South Coast Repertory’s 56th season opens with American Mariachi by José Cruz González. The comedy with live music follows Lucha, whose loving gesture for her dying mother becomes much more as a group of young women learns to dream big and embrace the transcendent power of music. Lucha’s ailing mother no longer responds to much—except for a mysterious old record of mariachi music that Lucha finds in the house. Yearning for a purpose and determined to give her mother something to care about, Lucha and her cousin, Boli, decide to assemble an all-female mariachi troupe. But it’s the 1970s and women can’t be mariachis...or can they? Be sure to check the website for a list of pre-show performances and post-show talkbacks. www.scr.org/AmericanMariachi
Musical Theatre Guild opens its 24th season with Cy Coleman’s Barnum on Sept. 22nd at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Kirby Ward stars as P.T. Barnum with Tracy Lore as Charity Barnum and features MTG company members Matt Braver, Mathew Patrick Davis, Kelley Dorney, Jeffrey Scott Parsons and Glenn Shiroma and guest artists Jasime Ejan and Regina LaVert. Alan Bailey directs, musical direction is by Jan Roper, and choreography is by Cheryl Baxter. Tickets are available at www.alextheatre.org or by calling 818-243-ALEX.
Second City Hollywood is currently running a new 45-minute improvised musical production inspired by the suggestion of a historical figure. Think Drunk History meets Hamilton and you’ll get the idea. Improvisors Annie Bond, Andrew Young, Andy Apuy, Eric Pastore, Cherelle Patrice, Tess Gattuso, Mary Lou Kolbenschlag, Sara Caplan, Angela Giarratana and Scott Thiede fuse the art of long-form improv comedy with musical theater while paying homage to bio-musicals like Evita and Hamilton. Musical direction is by Tony Gonzalez. The next show is 9/18. May contain mature themes and strong language. Hey, it’s improv after all. Secondcity.com/NightBiopera
Also opening at Second City on Sept. 20th is this summer’s Fringe hit Supportive White Parents, by Joy Regullano (book & lyrics) and Sam & Tony Show (music). When an Asian girl tells her parents that she doesn’t want to be a doctor anymore, she wishes on a shooting star for supportive white parents. The cast includes Earl Baylon, Gina D’Acciaro, Kaitlyn Fae, Spencer Frankeberger, Jaq Galliano, Mary Grant, Aryiel Hartman, Marcel Licera, Mary Lou, Scott Palmason, Joy Regullano, Jim Shipley, Greg Smith, Giselle “G” Töngi, Reuben Uy, and Rob Warner, directed by Frank Caeti and featuring choreography by Ally Vega. More at www.secondcity.com/shows/hollywood
On October 19th, the Colony Theatre in Burbank will present an evening of Broadway stars singing The Music of Brian Gallagher. Scheduled to appear are Megan Hilty, Carly Hughes, Matt Cusson, and Carrie Manolakos, with more artists to be announced. The evening will feature music from Gallagher’s concept album Brownstone for the first time on the west coast. Admission is $45 with $60 VIP tickets available (includes a post-show meet and greet with the artists). Tickets are available at www.colonytheatre.org or by calling 866-811-4111.
Join International City Theatre for an intimate evening with legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday when they present Lanie Robertson’s glorious musical portrait of one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of all time. Starring Karole Foreman in the title role, and with music direction by Stephan Terry and Ebony Rep founding artistic director Wren T. Brown directing, Lady Day takes the audience through what will be Holiday’s last performance in a seedy Philadelphia bar in 1959. Foreman performs more than a dozen of her best loved songs including “God Bless the Child,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” “T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” and “Strange Fruit.” Oct. 18 – Nov. 3. Tickets: ICTlongbeach.org.
Adapted from Gertrude Stein’s A Circular Play, this unique musical journey is part of Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s 50th Anniversary “Circa ’69 Season” and is directed by David Schweizer, with musical direction by Kenneth J. Grimes and choreography by Kate Coleman. In Circles takes Stein’s nonlinear prose, based solely on her pleasure at the way certain words sounded together, and sets them to a splendid musical score featuring ragtime, tango, waltz, opera, barbershop quartet, jazz and other musical styles. Odyssey’s ensemble will feature original 1968 off-Broadway cast member Jacque Lynn Colton, along with Henry Arber, Shelby Corley, Ashlee Dutson, Kyle Fuller, Chloe Haven, Aaron Jung and P.T. Mahoney. For tickets and more information go to www.odysseytheatre.com.
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Labels: colony theatre, international city theatre, musical theatre guild, odyssey theatre, rubicon theatre, second city hollywood, south coast repertory