Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Into the Warehouse and Into The Woods
When you have an opportunity to see one of Stephen Sondheim’s most popular musicals (like Into The Woods) produced with a fresh vision (by director Calvin Remsberg) in a non-traditional 99-seat space (think empty warehouse), who could possibly pass that up? Certainly not me.
Driving out to the location (just north of downtown on Main, across the L.A. River and a couple of streets off to the right in the Taylor Junction area of warehouses), I felt like I was on an adventure…literally going into the urban woods. It was getting dark…I didn’t know what I was walking into…I was on my own. Somehow the lyrics to “Into The Woods” seemed to take on new meaning.
“Into the woods, without delay, but careful not to lose the way. Into the woods, who knows what may be lurking on the journey?”
From the drive, to the parking, to inside the warehouse itself, the location can’t help but steal the show. Remsberg and set designer, Jeanine Nicholas, have placed the stage near one corner of the space, draping vines from iron girders, using metal walkways and other structural elements to create the distressed atmosphere of the woods. Staircases and added ramps allow actors to reach the raised stage, with audience members seated “boxing ring style” on two sides. Jim Harney’s stark lighting furthers the tone, directing the audience’s attention by his use of contrast and shadows.
The fairy tales that intertwine in this musical are familiar; Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are all stories we’ve heard before, yet this musical does not pretend that all endings are happy. When you get what you want, you may not want what you’ve got…and then what do you do? Wait for the second act and you’ll see.
Into The Woods is one of Sondheim’s most difficult scores and musical director Richard Berent seamlessly blends live acoustic piano and pre-recorded orchestrations to provide the accompaniment for Remsberg’s industrial setting. Fellow musicians will understand the enormous amount of work that has gone into his task, in addition to rehearsing a cast of twenty in just a few short weeks.
Jennifer Malenke and Valerie Rachelle
Standouts among the ensemble include Jennifer Malenke as Cinderella. Even if there was no other reason to see this show (but there is), you should see it for her sparkling soprano spinning out across the warehouse space as she portrays the down-to-earth princess-in-the-making.
The same can be said of Zachary Ford, one half of the comedic duo of princes (along with the dashing David Nett) who leaps on and off the stage in search of damsels in distress. The agony they express over the one thing they want that is out of reach is absolutely delicious, and Ford’s ability to sing through a vocal phrase shows off his gorgeous tenor voice beautifully.
The best one-liners, of course, go to Little Red (Shannon Nelson), who nonchalantly pops them out one after another. She finds herself both in the story and listening to the story, as narrated by a mysterious man, (General Hospital’s Anthony Geary). Geary moves easily in and out of the tale, at times casually observing the other characters and at others, thrusting himself into the story to assist the Baker (David Pevsner). When tragedy finally strikes the mysterious man, the rest of the characters must learn to find their own way in a world that no longer resembles the familiar fairy tale they once knew.
And finally, a cow named Milky White (Johnny Cannizzaro) proves that, without any words, all you really need to do to steal a scene is quietly go about your business.
The Lucid By Proxy production of Into The Woods runs through November 20th at 8:00 pm at Big Art Labs, 651 Clover Street, Los Angeles (downtown) 90031. Tickets and information available online at
Cast: David Pevsner (Baker), Valerie Rachelle (Baker’s Wife), Jennifer Malenke (Cinderella), Shannon Nelson (Little Red Riding Hood), Michael Uribes (Jack), Jessica Pennington (Witch), Pamela Hamill (Jack’s Mom), Nancy Gassner-Clayton (Stepmother), Jessie Withers (Florinda) and Sarah Orr (Lucinda), Johnny Cannizzaro (Milky White), Jayson Kraid (Father), AnnaLisa Erickson (Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/Giant), James Paul Xavier (Steward), David Nett (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Josie Yount (Rapunzel), Zachary Ford (Rapunzel’s Prince), Sarah J. Stuckey (Sleeping Beauty), and Carissa Ro Gatti (Snow White).
Crew: Calvin Remsberg (Director), Richard Berent (Musical Director), Patty Ramsey (Stage Manager), Sasha Harris (Assistant Stage Manager), Jeanine Nicholas (Scenic Designer), Jim Harney (Lighting Designer), Joseph "Sloe" Slawinksi (Sound Designer), Kerri Norris (Costume Designer).
Monday, April 20, 2015
MUSICAL NEWS Part One for Monday April 20, 2015
LOS ANGELES NEWS: The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that Broadway stars Emily Padgett, Thom Sesma, J. Elaine Marcos, and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit will lead the cast of the world premiere musical Waterfall. The epic new Broadway-bound love story begins previews May 29, with the official press opening on June 7, at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. The production will then play Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre October 1-25, 2015.
Motown The Musical, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, will play the Hollywood Pantages April 28 - June 7. The musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. The cast will star Julius Thomas III and Allison Semmes as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, with Nicholas Christopher (Smokey Robinson), Jarran Muse (Marvin Gaye), Leon Outlaw, Jr., Reed L. Shannon, Erick Buckley, Patrice Covington, Jamarice Daughtry, Tamar Davis, Lynorris Evans, Melanie Evans, Devon Goffman, Jennie Harney, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Dana Marie Ingraham, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., Trisha Jeffrey, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Krisha Marcano, Moeisha McGill, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Chadaè Nichol, Ramone Owens, Nicholas Ryan, Jamison Scott, Joey Stone, Doug Storm, Martina Sykes and Galen J. Williams. Tickets: www.HollywoodPantages.com or (800) 982-2787.
Robot Teammate and the Accidental Party has extended its performance residencies at Golden Road Brewing in Glendale and iO West in Hollywood. The comedy troupe will perform their signature musical form, featuring completely improvised music, lyrics, multi-act story structure, and choreography, based entirely on audience suggestions, during hour-long, monthly shows at each venue. RT+AP has been creating once-in-a-lifetime musical comedy experiences since 2012, earning the world record for longest cage match in improv history for their 86 week run at iO West in Hollywood. The cast includes a diverse group of performers from comedy institutions such as UCB, iO West, Nerdist, Comedy Sportz and The Second City. Performance dates: April 28 and May 26 at Chloe’s at Golden Road Brewing, 5410 W. San Fernando Rd, LA, CA 90039. Doors at 8:00 pm, show at 8:30, free admission. Also May 15 at iO West, 6366 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90028. Show at 8:00 pm, tickets are $10. www.robotteammate.com
Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents Heather Henson’s Sing-A-Long with The Muppet Movie on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm. Join the fun as the IBEX Puppetry Sing-A-Long crew, including Heather Henson, brings elements of the film to life for the audience via puppetry, kiting, and shadow acting. Children and adults alike are urged to yell out famous lines, blow bubbles, dance in the aisles, and of course, sing along with the movie to forge new or renew connections to films from another generation. Tickets ($15): www.Arcadiapaf.org. Admission is free with the purchase of a Goodie Bag (Goodie Bag is required for entry). The theatre is located at 188 Campus Drive at North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007. For more information please call (626) 821-1781.
On March 26, 2015, Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his musical directing debut with Rain, a sumptuous world premiere musical by Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Giant) and Sybille Pearson (Giant). Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Rain follows a group of American travelers thrown together in a boarding house on a tropical South Pacific island. The sudden arrival of another guest, the mysterious and provocative Sadie Thompson, turns their lives upside down in ways they could never have foreseen.
And returning for its 18th holiday season beginning Nov. 7, is Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! As in years past, The Grinch will be performed on Saturday, December 12 for children on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as other families with special needs that may appreciate the welcoming and supportive environment this performance provides. For a complete schedule of all the productions on The Globe’s season, including Shakespeare plays and more, go to www.theoldglobe.org.
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