Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Tickets Set To Go On Sale for THE BOOK OF MORMON at the Pantages

Broadway/L.A. and the producers of the new musical The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards® including Best Musical, announced today that single tickets for The Book of Mormon in Los Angeles will go on sale exclusively to American Express Cardmembers beginning Wednesday, May 30 at 10:00 am by calling  800-745-3000 or visiting Ticketmaster.com and will remain on sale through 11:59 pm on Tuesday, June 5.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Sunday morning, June 10 at 7:00 am exclusively at the Pantages Theatre Box Office (6233 Hollywood Boulevard), and five hours later at 12:00 Noon, individual tickets will be made available online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-982-2787, and at all Ticketmaster outlet locations. Prices start at $30. In addition, a day-of-show lottery for a limited number of $25 seats will be held for each performance. For more details, please visit www.BroadwayLA.org.

The Book of Mormon features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, South Park. Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker. 

Two-time Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel will star as Elder Price in the First National Tour. Creel also appeared on Broadway in the revival of Hair, Thoroughly Modern Millie, the 2004 Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles, the Goodman Theatre/Kennedy Center production of Bounce, as well as Hair and Mary Poppins on the West End. Most recently he was seen in the title role of the American Repertory Theater production of Prometheus Bound, and has also starred alongside Julie Andrews in the television movies, “Eloise at the Plaza” and “Eloise at Christmastime.” Additional casting will be announced soon.

Set design is by Scott Pask, costume design is by Ann Roth, lighting design is by Brian MacDevitt and sound design is by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus. Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.  

The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, steps away from the fabled intersection of Hollywood & Vine. For more information about the Los Angeles premiere engagement of The Book of Mormon, please visit the official website of the Pantages Theatre, www.BroadwayLA.org.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

THE BOOK OF MORMON is coming to Los Angeles!

The National Tour of The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, will make its west coast premiere in a strictly limited 12-week engagement September 5 - November 25, 2012 at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Book of Mormon will be the first show of the Broadway/L.A. 2012-2013 Season at the Pantages Theatre. Broadway/L.A. season ticket holders will be given first access to seats and single tickets will go on sale at a later date. The season’s remaining productions are to be announced.

The musical features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, South Park. Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.

“The question people most ask me about the show – aside from ‘can you get me tickets?’ – is ‘when’s it coming to LA?’” commented Robert Lopez. “It’s great to finally have a good answer to one question, if not the other.” “We moved to Los Angeles twenty years ago to try and make it as filmmakers,” commented Trey Parker and Matt Stone. “The last thing we expected is that one day we would be bringing our Broadway musical here. It’s crazy and great.

The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, steps away from the fabled intersection of Hollywood & Vine. For more information about the Los Angeles premiere engagement of The Book of Mormon, please visit the official website of the Pantages Theatre, http://www.broadwayla.org/ or http://www.bookofmormonontour.com/.

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Interview: The Wild World of 50 Shades! The Musical

It’s coming. Yes, it’s really coming. 50 Shades! The Musical is about to open in Los Angeles on February 25th and audiences have never been crazier over a show than this one. Based on the wildly popular book, 50 Shades of Grey, the musical parody takes the audience into the world of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele through the eyes of a group of book club ladies who read the book together. The production is a collaboration between a team of comedy writers that includes Al Samuels, Emily Dorezas, Amanda Blake Davis, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward and Dan Wessels, and it was written in an unconventional manner. Before it arrives, I had a chance to talk to writer, Emily Dorezas, who is also a producer and the show’s touring director, and Tiffany Dissette, who plays Pam, about how the musical got started and what we can expect to see.

Emily Dorezas: 50 Shades from A Writer’s Perspective

What inspired you to write a parody of the book 50 Shades of Grey?


Emily:
I think it was a couple of things. All of the writers come from a comedy background and whenever there’s a phenomenon, be it political or cultural, we know it’s ripe for comedy. Some of us hadn’t even read the book yet but there was such a frenzy around it that we realized there could be something to have fun with there. I think the juxtaposition of the material, which was provocative, and who was reading the material - conservative housewives - seemed to be something we wanted to make fun of.


Who came up with the idea to do a parody?


E: I’m also one of the producers, along with Marshall Cordell and Al Samuels, and one day Marshall said he had seen a news story about hardware stores running out of rope after the book came out. He’s this crazy entrepreneur and he was thinking maybe he should invest in a rope factory in China, but in the meantime, he said we should think about making fun of this. So even though Marshall isn’t one of the writers, it was definitely his idea. And then I think it was Al who said, let’s do a musical!

Did you all get together in a room to write, comedy sketch style, or did you work individually and then bring ideas in?

E: It was very much a complete collaboration because we had a very short amount of time to write it and put it up. Initially, the idea came in July 2012 and then, while we were in Scotland for something else, we got a date for the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. That was three weeks after the idea came to life. We went from starting in a room together, to working on Google docs from an apartment in Scotland while some of the writers were writing in L.A. It was crazy. So in terms of writing style, it was much more like a TV show - all hands in - than it was a typical musical that takes longer to develop and workshop before it comes to life. Usually a musical takes a couple years with fewer writers. This took a team and we got it up fast.

How have audiences responded? Was there anything that surprised you?

E: The male reaction was the biggest surprise for me. As the tour went on, we would get these private messages via Facebook or our emails with guys thanking us because they had no idea what their wives and girlfriends were reading before they came to the show. They knew it was erotic but I think they thought the show would be ‘just a chick flick on stage’ and I’m quoting a guy on that. I think that is how most guys really come to the show. They’re kind of dragged there. One guy said the party hasn’t stopped since we got home last week, so I think it starts the conversation. These guys aren’t going to necessarily read the book but they’ll come and they’ll laugh together at a show and then realize… you’re into that? Okay, I had no idea.  

What should the audience expect to see? 

E: It’s a musical parody and it is definitely in the style of a Book of Mormon treatment of 50 Shades of Grey. We’re all deep in that world of Family Guy musicals and South Park musicals and SNL…that style of comedy, so it’s really fast and in your face. It’s not your typical musical comedy. This is funny first, and we have some great songs too. It’s not for kids but there’s no nudity. There’s a lot of suggestive body placement and there’s a ton of innuendo, and obviously there are a lot of terms that we did not shy away from that are in the book. But it’s a good laugh. You might not want to watch it with your parents...but your parents will have a great time at it. 

How did you find the way to key into the story?

E: We wanted to make light of all of our friends and family that have read 50 Shades of Grey and so we felt the best way to do that was the book club. The culture of book clubs is really everybody hanging out and having a couple drinks and maybe you talk about the book and maybe you don’t. We wanted to have that kind of feel open the show and we also use the book club to frame it. If an audience member hasn’t read the book, like a husband or a boyfriend, we wanted something to guide them through.

Have you had book clubs and groups come to see the show?

E: Oh, yeah. We get a lot of large groups and group sales folks but we also get groups of 6 or 8, about the number you can fit in a minivan. They’re book clubs or girlfriends that maybe wouldn’t necessarily go to a theatre show but this is their night out.

Do you have a favorite moment that didn’t get left in the show?

E: We had a song that used to close the show called “B*tthole in Control” that isn’t in the show any longer. We had already hit those marks and we felt like it wasn’t the right way to end the show. It just wasn’t the right tone, but we all liked the song. So even though it doesn’t exist in the show anymore, it is on the digital version of the album because we all loved it so much. 

How many productions do you have out right now?

E: The New York company opens about the same time we come to LA. It’s at the Electra Theatre in Times Square and in Los Angeles we’re at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. We also have shows in Paris and Holland, we’re about to open in Germany, and we’re also with Broadway Asia.

How does that feel?

E: Awesome! (she laughs) It’s the best. We have a great management partner, Act Five, and we could not be happier about those licenses because, while we have control over it, we give them a lot of flexibility to discover new things with the show; things that maybe we hadn’t thought of or maybe they’ve heightened different elements, so it’s really fun. I saw the Paris show and there was much more nudity than I ever dreamed of but that’s fine. 

Have you had to deal with any censorship issues in any of your tour cities?

E: Not yet. People know that this is a pretty racy book. They know what they’re getting into. We’ve played the Bible belt and it’s just as crazy as anyplace else in terms of the audience reaction. They’re totally in it. If we do get a walkout or two it’s usually because people thought they were coming to a musical that was an exact representation of the book. I have found that there are certain folks who are so passionate about this book that they don’t want to laugh about it. It awakens them, for whatever reason, and I respect that. I just always like to be clear. It is a parody. It isn’t going to be an exact replica of the book you read.

Is there audience interaction in the show?

E: Not really. There are a few times the actors talk to the audience but there’s no audience reaction back. We don’t take anyone up on stage.

Have you had anything wild happen with audience members? 

E: We’ve had some people grab at Christian and he gets underwear and other things thrown at him. I can’t remember where we were, but it was definitely what I would consider a pretty conservative area of the south. I was in the ladies room and I came out and realized that the men’s room also had ladies in it. I peeked in and there were some super straight-laced soccer moms that were loading up their lipstick vibrators that they just got. It was like the craziest concert but it was a musical theatre show. It was insane. They were all drunk, probably 50 of them in there, 4 of them using a urinal, 2 of them trying to figure out their lipstick vibrator and I was just thinking…you guys have to all go to church and see each other after this. You live in this town together.

Sounds like they had a great time! Do you have any idea what you'd like to do next after this show?

E: I’m based in LA and I did comedy in Chicago and toured colleges. I come from a stand-up background and when I moved to LA I never thought I was going to be doing a live musical tour. When I moved to LA I was definitely on a TV trajectory with the goal of being a show runner one day, so I’m going to be coming off the tour soon and I’m going to pick up where I left off with that.

Tiffany Dissette: 50 Shades from An Actor’s Perspective

Tiffany, what a crazy show to be part of. Are you having fun playing Pam in the show?

Tiffany: Yes! It’s such a blast of a show. Pam is the one in the book club who introduces 50 Shades of Grey to the other two ladies and the book club helps narrate the story. If you haven’t read it, you’re following the story along with the book club ladies. They’re good liaisons for the audience because all three of them are caricatures of typical housewives that a lot of audience members can relate to.

Who are the other two ladies?

T: There’s Carol, who is the one who doesn’t really get it and she’s a little bit reserved, a little appalled by everything that’s happening. Bev is totally into it and she’s the one who’s a little drunker on the side. And then there’s Pam, who I’d say is the most sexually charged, sexually aware one of the housewives. She’s the one urging the other ladies to go on this adventure with her and really experience the story; she really opens up our eyes to this whole other world that exists that a lot of people don’t know about. It definitely has some raunchy elements to it but it’s a parody so it’s all in fun. 

Has anything surprised you about the audiences that have come to see the show?

T: It’s interesting because it’s almost like the women who come to see the show are cult followers. You’ve heard of the Harry Potter fans or the Twilight fans…A lot of the people who come see the show are huge fans of the book. Many of the women will come in groups. It’s ladies night out and they’ll come dressed in masks with gray ties and riding crops. It can get wild. 

Have you had any unusual experiences either onstage or after the show?

T: We’ve had ladies in the front row tapping the stage with their riding crops or throwing panties at Christian. It’s hilarious. We also adapt certain parts of the show to each city we’re in and some of the audiences go crazy for that.

Why do you think the 50 Shades trilogy has become such a phenomenon?

T: There have been erotic novels in the past but I think it’s the way it’s written. It’s very nonchalant. I think it started out as this naughty little secret and a woman would say to her girlfriend, have you read this book? Have you experienced this 50 Shades? And then it became more and more popular. Then book clubs started to read it and then it just took over and became this phenomenon - this story of an innocent sweet girl being completely taken over by this world. There are a lot of people that walk into the theater being very reserved and walk out feeling completely comfortable talking about some of the subject matter. It’s a good conversation starter!

How would you describe the style of the music?

T: It’s all original music, mostly contemporary musical theatre, accompanied by a 3-piece band. We do a couple of parodies of some well-known musicals like Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables so people who are knowledgeable in musical theatre will get those references as well.



Performances of
50 Shades! The Musical begin February 25 (opening night Feb. 26) at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA. Click Here for tickets or call (213) 972-4488. 

Performance Schedule:
Tues. Wed., Thurs. & Fri. 8:00pm,
Sat. 5pm & 9PM, Sun. 1pm & 6:30pm
http://50shadesthemusical.com/

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Saturday, January 18, 2014

Musical News for Saturday, January 18, 2014

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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Thursday, January 24, 2013

LADCC Announces 2012 Nominations and Special Awards

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre in 2012. The 44th annual LADCC Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18 at the historic Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown L.A. All tickets have been reduced to $30 and can be arranged through crixawards2013@gmail.com. PayPal will be accepted prior to March 18. Credit cards will be accepted at the door. Nominees are entitled to a single complimentary ticket, and additional information may be found at www.ladramacriticscircle.com, the Circle’s website. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. on March 18 for drinks, music, hors d’oeuvres (no full dinner) and conversation, while at a Silent Auction attendees can bid on theatre and film related items. Only cash or checks will be accepted at the auction, please. The show will commence at 7:30 p.m.

Scheduled host French Stewart is a 25-year mainstay of the Los Angeles theatre scene and a notable star of TV and film. Best known for his six seasons co-starring on NBC’s  3rd Rock From the Sun, he is a member of Sacred Fools and played the title role in that company’s 2012 production of Stoneface, The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton, which has received two LADCC nominations. 
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Monday, February 25, 2013

The Pantages Announces its 2013 - 2014 Season. Check out the Video Previews!

Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti from the original Broadway Company of ONCE.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus


The Pantages Theatre has announced its 2013-2014 season, a seven-show package that includes five Los Angeles premieres, and the return of The Lion King and The Book of Mormon. The season will include Once, the 2012 Tony®-winner for Best Musical, the supernatural love story Ghost the Musical, the Broadway revival of Evita, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz, and a theatrical celebration of the composer himself, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Season Ticket Holders may also add two Pantages premieres to their package: War Horse and Green Day’s American Idiot. Here’s a video preview of some of the shows coming up on the season. Season Tickets go on sale Monday March 4th at 10:00 a.m. at www.HollywoodPantages.com or by phone at 866-755-BWAY(2929).

THE WIZARD OF OZ
September 17 – October 6, 2013
Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production
Directed by Jeremy Sams

EVITA
October 23 – November 10, 2013
By Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Michael Grnadage
Choreography by Rob Ashford
www.EvitaOnBroadway.com


Disney’s THE LION KING
November 20, 2013 – January 12, 2014


THE BOOK OF MORMON
January 21 – February 9, 2014
By South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone


THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
June 3 – 22, 2014
Featuring songs from his greatest musicals


GHOST THE MUSICAL
June 27 – July 13, 2014
By Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard


ONCE
July 15 – August 10, 2014
Book by Enda Walsh
Music & Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
Directed by John Tiffany

WAR HORSE
October 8 – 13, 2013
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo


Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT
May 13 – 18, 2014
Featuring the music of Green Day
With Lyrics by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong
Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Directed  by Michael Mayer


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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

MUSICAL NEWS for Tuesday, June 3, 2014

MUSICAL NEWS: La Jolla Playhouse will mount the world premiere of Up Here, a new musical comedy featuring book, music and lyrics by the husband-and-wife composing team of Robert Lopez (The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Disney World’s Finding Nemo: The Musical). Up Here will be directed by Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers and will be part of the Playhouse’s 2015/16 season (dates TBA). The musical follows Dan, an ordinary guy with a boring social life, an unused gym membership and a lot going on upstairs. When he finds a potential spark with Lindsay, his attempts at love are jeopardized by his chaotic subconscious mind. Up Here is about moving past ourselves – and those little voices in our head - to find happiness.  www.lajollaplayhouse.org

The Festival of New American Musicals has launched its 7th season, recommending a record 13 new musicals and events in the month of June. Many of them have been featured here on Musicals in LA as well. They are:
The Ghost of Gershwin, an original homage to George Gershwin at the Lonny Chapman Theater, through June 22
Chasing the Song, a world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse through June 15
For the Record: Quentin Tarantino, the popular cabaret show at DBA in West Hollywood, through July 26
Dog and Pony, a world premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego, through June 29
Nickel Mines, a world premiere at UC Irvine, through June 7.
Elements, a west coast premiere by the Angel City Chorale, June 6 & 7
Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, a musical cabaret at the new Fifty-Seven in downtown LA, through June
Werewolves of Hollywood Blvd, premiering at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (Lillian Theatre), through June 28
A Little New Music, the Festival joins in showcasing songs from new musicals at Rockwell in Los Feliz on June 10.
Futurefest, the Festival’s annual marathon featuring talented high school and college talent performing songs from new musicals at Rockwell on June 11.
Artland, the first world premiere musical developed at the LA County High School of the Arts, through June 15.
30 Minute Musicals, musical satires of blockbuster movies – Independence Day and Outbreak, at the Hudson Theatre in West Hollywood, through June.
One Singular Sensation, the Festival expands to Napa for Broadway Under the Stars in June and July. For more information about all of the shows, go to www.lafestival.org.

The Grove Theatre will open Oklahoma! this Sat., May 31 and run for 8 performances through Sunday June 15. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece about a romantic rivalry on the Western frontier boasts a collection of classic songs and a spirit that has made it an enduring favorite. Featuring such Broadway favorites as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “People Will Say We're in Love,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” and the exuberant title song, this brilliant first collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein set box-office records as it ushered in the Golden Age of American musical theater. The Grove Theatre is located at 276 E. Ninth Street, Upland, CA 91786. Tickets: http://grovetheatre.com/

San Diego Musical Theatre will present Next to Normal directed by Nick DeGruccio, starring Bets Malone (Diana), Robert Townsend (Dan) and Eddie Egan (Gabe), Sept.26 - Oct. 12 at the North Park Theatre. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness as Diane Goodman struggles with bipolar disorder. Tickets: www.sdmt.org.

TELEVISION: KCET will present two shows for musical fans this week. On Thurs, June 3, 2014 at 10:00 pm, they will air A Broadway Lullaby, a new documentary from award-winning director Barbara Rick. The documentary provides an unprecedented inside look at Broadway’s brightest performers, all uniting to combat breast cancer through the beauty and power of music and art. The film captures the inspiration, rehearsals, recordings and creative process of artists including Victoria Clark, Raul Esparza, Sutton Foster, Marva Hicks, Nikki M. James, Judy Kuhn, Rebecca Luker, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Laura Osnes, Vanessa Williams, Charles Randolph-Wright, Stephen Schwartz, David Shire, and Jules, and musicians Larry Campbell, Dave Eggar, Taylor Eigsti, Gil Goldstein, Fred Hersch, Julian Lage, and many more.  The documentary will also stream online at www.kcet.org. Click Here for more about the documentary and view the teaser below.


Then on Friday, June 6 at 8:30 pm, Dialogue With Doti, hosted by Chapman University president Jim Doti, will debut. The talk show profiles today’s leaders in business, science, the arts and more. Doti’s first episode features four-time Tony Award®-winning playwright Terrence McNally (Master Class, Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman). McNally will share stories and memories of his life and discusses his play Mothers and Sons which has been nominated for a Tony Award®.

YOUTUBE: News from across the pond - Episode one if Don’t Let Go is now available on YouTube. The musical film is by Jacob William, a recent Goldsmiths University graduate, and is produced by Seth Chan and directed by Bella Barlow. Don’t Let Go tells the story of Tom (played by William) who, after a car accident leaves him in a wheelchair, fights to save the girl he loves (Annie Kirkman) from an abusive relationship (Roy Ryan). Featuring ten original songs performed live and characters like a reggae-singing Grandma (played by Juliette Kaplan of BBC’s Last Of The Summer Wine), Don’t Let Go is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story about embracing life and love in the face of sheer adversity. For more information, go to www.dontletgo.co.uk or www.jacobwilliam.co.uk or check out the video below.



CABARET: Eric Petersen and wife Lisa Marie Morabito will co-host A Little New Music 5 at Rockwell: Table & Stage, June 10 at 8:00 pm. The evening 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, with special appearances by musical comedy duo Schoolcraft & Murray, and Milburn & Vigoda. Performers include Julie Tolivar, Anne Torsiglieri, Jennifer Hubilla, Joey Haro, Sophie Oda, Joseph Morales, Amanda Kruger, Daniel David Stewart, Elise Dewsberry, Kailey Swanson, Cassidy Barnes, Travis Joe Dixon and more. Musical Director is Bryan Blaskie. Doors open at 6:30. www.alittlenewmusic.org

ANMT NEWS: The Academy for New Musical Theatre presents three brand new 15-minute musicals on June 23 and 24 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. The annual 15 Minute Musicals are a decades-long tradition at ANMT and conclude each season’s Core Curriculum of the writers’ workshop, which has been in existence for over 40 years. This season’s theme is Can’t Get Enough: three short musicals about addiction. Shows featured includes The Lover: A Tale of Obsessive Love by Grace Jasmine (book & lyrics) and Ron Barnett (music), Smartest Zombie at Harvard by Bryon Richards (book), Natalie Elder (lyrics) and Marc Macalintal (music); and Spoilers! by Mitch Glaser (book), Mike Shapiro (lyrics) and Erik Przytulski (music). The cast features Noel Britton, Sara Gonzales, Jeffrey Landman, and Kevin Yee, directed by Joshua Finkel, and music directed by Ron Barnett. Tickets are $25 at www.anmt.org.

SEARCH FOR NEW MUSICALS: July 15 is the submission deadline for ANMT’s annual Search for New Musicals. Entries are accepted from around the globe and winners receive awards worth up to $25,000 in workshop productions, concert readings, feedback, and developmental support. All entries will receive constructive dramaturgical feedback, and will be entered in the Search contest. The winner of the 2014 Search will be announced by November 15, and will receive a workshop with the Academy Repertory Company, detailed feedback from the ANMT staff, and will be given a concert reading in Los Angeles. Writers may submit their shows electronically via ANMT's website, or submit materials by mail after completing an online submission form. For more info go to www.anmt.org.

ANMT’s BIZ OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE BIZ CONFERENCE will take place July 18-20 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood. Sign up by June 15 and take advantage of the $100 off early registration discount. Every other year, NMI & ANMT host a prestigious conference on the business side of the musical theatre business. Panelists include award-winning writers, artistic directors, commercial producers, entertainment lawyers, agents, union reps, and social media marketing experts. For information go to www.newmusicalsinc.net and click on DEVELOP and then CONFERENCE.

ANMT BOOT CAMP: The Academy for New Musical Theatre is offering three courses this summer for musical theatre bookwriters and lyricists as part of the annual Musical Theatre Summer Boot Camp. They are: 

BEATING BROADWAY - August 5, 7, 12, 14
Instructor: Scott Guy 
Tues/Thur for 2 weeks; 7-10pm 
Using Steve Cuden's book Beating Broadway, these four sessions will detail the 'beats' of the plot line of several successful Broadway musicals

BOOK LAB - July 12, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23 (note no July 19)
Instructor: Elise Dewsberry 
Six Saturday mornings from 10am-2pm 
The Book Lab is designed as an introduction to writing the book of a musical while also outlining the collaborative steps involved in creating a new musical with the whole team.

OUTLINING ANYWHERE! - July 14, 21, 28; August 4, 11, 18
Instructor: Elise Dewsberry 
Six Monday evenings from 7pm-10pm 
The Outlining Lab is available in-person OR online (or a combination of the two!) Video lectures, exercises, handouts, and tests are all available online.

For complete course details, prices, early bird discounts and registration info go to www.anmt.org and click on BOOT CAMP.

AWARDS: The Nederlander Organization and Hollywood Pantages Theatre have announced the winners of the 3rd Annual Jerry Herman Awards. KABC 7 Eyewitness News Entertainment Reporter George Pennacchio served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. Grand prize winners include Joshua Velez from HArts Academy (Pippin) and Ayla Stackhouse from Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts (In The Heights). Best actor & actress runners up are Sawyer Patterson from John Burroughs High School, Kelsey Smith from Los Angeles County High School of the Arts, Nick Sparks from Oakwood High School and Julia McDermott from Mira Costa High School. Notre Dame Academy’s Luelle Robles won the “No Small Parts” Award for her role in Hairspray.

Other award recipients include Sheldon Donenberg and Holly Gould for Best Actor and Actress respectively; Santa Monica High School (Pippin) for Best Musical Staging or Choreography; Marina High School (Crazy for You) for Best Costumes; The Academy of Music at Hamilton High School (Anything Goes) for Best Orchestra; Agoura High School (Into the Woods) for Best Scenic Design; and Chaffey High School (Monty Python’s Spamalot) for Best Technical Crew. www.JerryHermanAwards.com

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