Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Colony Theatre 2012-13 Season to include new Lorenz Hart Musical
The Colony Theatre Company is thrilled to announce its 2012 - 2013 season of shows and, for the first time in its history, will be bringing its subscribers and audiences six World, West Coast or Los Angeles premiere shows. The season includes everything from a world premiere musical that looks at the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart - to a smack-down of biblical proportions in Savannah, Georgia; From a Hitchcock-ian style thriller to a behind-the-scenes look at a non-profit theatre; throw in a legendary Stradivarius violin and some Fiestaware and you’ll see one of the most exciting seasons ever! The 2012/2013 Colony Theatre Company Season is:
The Savannah Disputation
Los Angeles Premiere
Written by Evan Smith
When susceptible Catholic spinster Margaret politely admits perky Pentecostal evangelical Melissa into her home, her seemingly solid faith starts to waver – much to the chagrin of her feisty sister Mary. But who's the blasphemer and who's the believer? Before long, the God-fearing sisters have ambushed their steadfast "guest" with the aid of an unsuspecting, mild-mannered local priest, setting the scene for a hilarious smackdown of truly biblical proportions, as all of them discover the perils of using religion to bend others to your will.
BLAME IT ON BECKETT
West Coast Premiere
Written by John Morogiello
What really goes on behind the scenes in non-profit theatre? Meet Jim Foley, a jaded, cynical Literary Manager with a penchant for caffeine and chaos. Into Jim's derelict lair steps Heidi Bishop, a bright-eyed, newly minted MBA who hopes to make the leap from box office to back office. At first she seems like Mary Poppins, but it turns out Eve Harrington would be more like it, as Heidi manipulates everyone around her to get what she wants. A wonderful comedy with heart and a message, the play asks the question how far are we willing to sacrifice our soul to get ahead? And once we have, was it worth it?
AMERICAN FIESTA
West Coast Premiere
Written by Stephen Tomlinson
Can Fiestaware, that brightly colored Depression-era ceramic dinnerware, represent and illuminate the secrets of human relationships? Can it serve as a metaphor for political and ideological acceptance in the modern world, and bring civil, thoughtful discourse back to the dinner table? When an obsessive collector of vintage Fiestaware sets off in search of the perfect specimens, he finds some startling divides within his own family, as well as a surprising series of connections between residents of "red" and "blue" states. In his comedic cross-country travels, he ultimately finds hope and acceptance – as well as some fabulous serving bowls.
THE MORINI STRAD
West Coast Premiere
Written by Willy Holtzman
After a full and rewarding life as a world-renowned musician, aging Erica Morini inadvertently damages her legendary Stradivarius, a violin worth millions that accompanied her throughout her long career on the top concert stages of the world. It is an act akin to scratching the face of the Mona Lisa, so she secretly hires an unassuming but dedicated violin maker to restore her priceless instrument. At first she proves to be a difficult client, but the two develop an unexpected friendship over the instrument they both treasure in this inspired drama based on a true story that rocked the classical music world.
I’LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Los Angeles Premiere
Written by Peter Colley
Sweet, vulnerable Jan has had a nervous breakdown. To help her recover, her husband Greg rents a remote cabin in the country. Their neighbor is a strange farmer who delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Then Greg’s beautiful, sophisticated sister arrives, and frightening events begin to occur. Is Jan still ill and imagining things? Is Greg trying to help her – or drive her crazy? Is the farmer an ally or an enemy? And what’s really going on with the sister? A classic thriller in the Alfred Hitchcock mode!
FALLING FOR MAKE BELIEVE
World Premiere Musical
Book by Mark Saltzman
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lorenz (Larry) Hart was one of Broadway's all-time greats, the brilliant lyricist who penned “My Funny Valentine,” “Blue Moon,” “Manhattan,” “Falling in Love With Love,” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “Where or When,” and countless other classics. As half of the legendary team of Rodgers and Hart, he lived a life of dizzying heights and crushing lows. Now Mark Saltzman (author of The Colony’s smash hit Clutter: The True Story of the Collyer Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out) captures them all in an intimate look at the life and times of this lyrical genius, a brand new musical developed by The Colony featuring some of the most memorable songs of the 20th Century.
The Colony Theatre is located at 555 North Third Street, at the corner of Cypress, in the heart of the Burbank Media Center. For further information, call (818) 558-7000 or visit www.colonytheatre.org.
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Labels: colony theatre
Sunday, October 21, 2012
What's Happening Around Town for October 21
Independent Shakespeare Co. presents a new musical based on an old case, Red Barn, written by David Melville, directed by Melissa Chalsma and starring David Bickford, Robert Alan Beuth, Mary Guiliiams, Matthew Michael Hurley, Aisha Kabia, David Melville, Ashley Nguyen, Nikhil Pai, Dana Pollak, Erika Soto, Claudia de Vasco. Writer David Melville grew up hearing the true story of an 1826 murder in a nearby village. The mole-catcher’s daughter and the son of a wealthy landowner had an illicit affair. She became pregnant. What followed involved extraordinary subterfuge, a former convict of an Australian Penal Colony, a school for young girls, a wife located via an ad in the London Times, and 20,000 people attending the public execution of William Corder. October 25-November 18, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm, www.iscla.org. Click Here for a sample of the music.
An evening of music from The Rocky Horror Show featuring an All-Star cast will take place on Saturday, October 27 – two shows at 9pm and 11pm. Proceeds from the event will go to support The Midnight Mission which provides life necessities and job placement for the homeless. Tickets will be available at the door and are a $15 suggested donation. Musical direction is by Jake Anthony and choreography by Lindsay Martin, featuring Christa Hamilton, Michael Montiel, Mark Torres, Corey Affron, Janet Paraiso, Ben Hensley, Paul Hovannes, Nick Menecola, and Lindsay Martin. Archway Studio/Theatre, 305 South Hewitt St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.
The Coterie is proud to present Boston Legal star Ryan Michelle Bathe in the world premiere of How to Train Your Diva, October 27 at 8:30 pm. Join Ryan Michelle Bathe as she recounts some of the drama and destiny that has been her journey as an actress and singer in New York and Hollywood. Click Here for tickets.
San Diego Musical Theatre announces the final production of their 2012 season, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, December 13 - 23 at the Birch North Park Theatre. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaption features seventeen Irving Berlin songs and will star David Engel, Laura Dickinson, Jeffrey Parsons, Jill Townsend. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander. The dazzling score features well known standards including "Blue Skies," "I Love A Piano," "How Deep Is the Ocean" and the perennial favorite, "White Christmas." Directed by Todd Nielsen with choreography by Lisa Hopkins and musical direction by Don LeMaster. www.sdmt.org
Christmas My Way - A Sinatra Holiday Bash! starring Luca Ellis, Jason Graae, Heather Lee, and Beth Malone, directed by David Grapes with musical direction by Vince di Mura, will play the El Portal Theatre December 15 – 31, 2012, with low price previews December 13 & 14 and special New Year’s Eve performances on December 31. Conceived by David Grapes and Todd Olson with a book by Olson and original musical and vocal arrangements by Vince di Mura, the show serves up cool versions of Sinatra mainstays like "Fly Me To The Moon," "New York, New York," "That¹s Life," and "The Lady is a Tramp". Joined by a swingin’ live band, they make a little hey-hey with groovy versions of such Sinatra Christmas hits like "Mistletoe and Holly," "The Christmas Song," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." So, Ring-a-ding-ding! And get set for a fresh, knocked-out coo-coo Sinatra Christmas, with 40 classic hits perfect for the holidays. For Tickets call 818-508-4200, 866-811-4111 or go to www.elportaltheatre.com.
Family ticket packages are now available for A Snow White Christmas with prices starting at $99.00 for a four-ticket package. The show will run December 13 - 23 with a gala press opening night on Wednesday, December 12 at 7:00 pm at The Pasadena Playhouse. An updated version of the classic tale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, A Snow White Christmas features family-friendly magic with a comedic twist, dancing, a live miniature pony and contemporary music. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 - 102! Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday music, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities. www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
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Labels: coterie, el portal theatre, isc, pasadena playhouse, san diego musical theatre
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Musical News for Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The Academy for New Musical Theatre presents a Concert Reading of the new musical City of Light Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30pm at the Colony Theatre, Burbank. The romantic musical comedy has a book by Gabrielle Wagner Mann, music by Jan Roper, and lyrics by Julie Weiner, and was written as part of ANMT’s Full Length Curriculum in the 2012-13 season. A few weeks before her wedding, Molly, in a moment of panic, flees the comforts of Pasadena and runs off to Paris to clear her head. What she finds there is more than she ever expected and when her fiancé shows up to bring her home, she is faced with a decision that could alter the course of her life. The reading will feature Noel Britton, Jordan Kai Burnett, Elise Dewsberry, Evelyn Halus, Erica Hanrahan-Ball, David Holmes, Mike Irizarry, Michelle Lane, Christopher Maikish, Suzanne Mayes, Paul Marchegiani, Sari Rose Poll, Andrea Press, Tedd Szeto, John David Wallis, Justin Michael Wilcox, and Jennifer Winkler; with music direction by Ron Barnett. www.anmt.org
Where can you see A Christmas Carol this holiday season? There’s sure to be a production running in a theater close to you! Here are a few to choose from:
A Noise Within: Dec. 7 - 22. Featuring Geoff Elliott, Robertson Dean, Stephen Rockwell, Rafael Goldstein, Jill Hill, Mitchell Edmonds, Deborah Strang, and Alan Blumenfeld. www.anoisewithin.org
Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre: Nov. 30 - Dec. 22. Starring Josh T. Ryan as Scrooge and Zombie Joe as The Ghost of Jacob Marley, with Denise Devin, Vanessa Cate, Sebastian Muñoz, and featuring the Steam Punk Chorus: Julie Fergus, Gloria Galvan, David Wyn Harris, Annalee Scott, and Corey Zicari. Tickets: (818) 202-4120, http://zombiejoes.homestead.com/
Sierra Madre Playhouse: Nov. 29 - Dec. 23. Adapted, directed and choreographed by Christina Harris, with musical direction by Rich Dembowski. www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
Glendale Centre Theatre: Nov. 29 - Dec. 24. Adapted by Brenda Dietlein and directed by Brenda & Tim Dietlein. www.glendalecentretheatre.com
Lewis Family Playhouse: Dec. 7 – 15. Adapted by John Jakes and presented by Rancho Cucamonga Community Theatre. www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com
Kentwood Players presents a Kentwood Kids musical comedy, Mr. Potcher’s Holiday, featuring book & lyrics by Bob Silberg and music by Barbara Klaskin Silberg on Saturdays, Nov.30, Dec. 7 and 14 at Westchester Playhouse. Mr. Potcher has eliminated all extracurricular activities at the school. When a young student named Darcy tries to persuade him to reinstate them, he not only remains unconvinced, he decides to also do away with all the holidays as well. Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Cupid, Leprechaun, Jack o’Lantern and Thanksgiving Turkey conspire with Darcy to change Mr. Potcher’s mind. Featured in the cast are Dylan Bailey, Kenjo Cable, Tyler Cable, Melana Dix, Riley Dix, Drew Fitzsimmons, Logan R. Hannig, Sarah-V Harnden, Trevor Hart, Osric Holt, Stephanie Hotz, George Kondreck, Kobe Kubes, Steven Lerner, Fiona Okida, Katie Reinhold, Valerie Ruel, Jennifer Sperry, Hollister Starrett, Genevieve Thomas, Isabel van Aaist, Skylar Washington and Ja'von Willis directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Melodie S. Rivers, with choreography by Lulu Peña. Tickets: www.kentwoodplayers.org
CABARET/CONCERTS: Tonight – Ryan Black’s 88’s, The Sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein, 8:00 pm at Don’t Tell Mama LA. Reservations: 323 380 7209.
A Kritzerland Christmas: Sunday Dec. 1 at 7:00 pm starring Dan Callaway, Ashley Fox Linton, Lisa Livesay, Hadley Miller, Jenna Lea Rosen, Kelsey Scott, Sarah Staitman, and Robert Yacko, with special guest Terri White. Musical direction by Richard Allen. Reservations: 818-754-8700. Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal.
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Labels: anmt, chance theater, kentwood players, kritzerland, norris center, rubicon theatre, ryan black