Gil Kaan - Page 11

The North American tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Moulin Rouge! The Musical has already begun its L.A. premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre June 30, 2022. Tony Award winner Alex Timbers directs this touring cast led by Courtney Reed as Satine and Conor Ryan as Christian. I had the chance to throw out a few questions to Nicci Claspell who plays Arabia (one of the Lady Marmalades).

Playwright Carolene Joy Cabrera King’s TOO MUCH SKIN will debut as part of SheLA’s annual Summer Theatre Festival July 15, 2022, at the Zephyr Theater.  Carolene depicts the story of Filipino siblings navigating assimilation and battling stereotypes via the world of cosplay and videos. Carolene took some time from her rehearsals to answer a few of my SKIN queries.

The national tour of Freestyle Love Supreme lands at the Pasadena Playhouse July 12, 2022. This theatrical creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail and Anthony Veneziale’s received a Special Tony Award in 2020. I had a very delightful phoner with cast member Aneesa Folds.

The relaunched national touring company of Dear Evan Hansen returns to the Ahmanson June 26, 2022. Winner of six 2017 Tony Awards, a Grammy and a Olivier; this production stars Anthony Norman as the titular character.

Next up for Center Theatre Group’s fourth season of Block Party, D’Lo’s solo show To T, or Not To T? (A Comedic Trans Journey through (T)estosterone and Masculinity) beginning previews June 25, 2022 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. D’Lo hilariously takes us on his journey transitioning while bridging his traditional Tamil Sri Lankan family with his Queer/Trans chosen family. I had the chance to pick D’Los brain on his back story to To T, or Not To T?

Ovation Award-nominated director Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx will succeed Director of Cultural Arts Jon Imparato (set to retire June 30) as the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center’s new Artistic Director.  Besides overseeing the Center’s two live performance venues — the 200-seat Renberg Theatre and the 50-seat black box Davidson/Valentini Theatre, Jonathan’s other priorities are to engage communities through arts programming, bring emerging L.A. artists to the Center’s various locations, and to offer workshops and classes for free or at low cost. Jonathan opened up some from his final days at A Noise Within to address a few of my queries.

Already opened at the Ruskin Group Theatre, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner through July 17, 2022. Lita Gaithers Owens directs the cast of Paul Denk, Lee Garlington, Brad Greenquist, Dan Martin , Mary Pumper, Vickilyn Reynolds, Mouchette van Helsdingen, Vincent Washington and Renn Woods. Lita managed to make some time to answer a few of my inquiries.

The East West Players presents the rolling world premiere of Interstate, an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical (opened last week). Jesca Prudencio directs the cast of Jupiter Lê, Kristian Espiritu, Jaya Joshi, Michelle Noh, Reuben Uy, Stefan Miller, Natalie Holt MacDonald and Krystle Simmons. Jesca took some time between her two productions to answer a few of my queries.

Will Geer’s Theatricum presents the world premiere of the “all new” revival of Oscar-winning playwright Ernest Thompson’s The West Side Waltz beginning June 25, 2022. Mary Jo DuPrey directs the cast of Ellen Geer, Melora Marshall, Willow Geer, Miguel Pérez and Charles Lin. I was most fortunate to have the playwright make some time to answer my queries.

The national tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical lands at the Dolby Theatre beginning June 15, 2022, for its Los Angeles Premiere, followed by a run at Segerstrom July 5th -July 17th. Jerry Mitchell directs the cast led by Adam Pascal and Olivia Valli. I got a chance to pepper Olivia with a few questions on her Pretty Woman journey.

Broadway cabaret staple Joe Iconis will be previewing songs from his new ‘Album’ (to be released June 17th) at the Bourbon Room June 22, 2022, joined by some of the ‘Album’ artists who are also members of Joe Iconis & Family. Joe took a moment to answer a few of my musical queries.

The national tour of Come From Away landed at the Ahmanson May 31, 2022 (with a run at Segerstrom Center for the Arts June 21-26). The true story of 7,000 stranded passengers on September 11, 2001 and how the small town in Newfoundland unselfishly welcomed them. Nick Duckart, part of this crazy talented ensemble, found some time between shows to answer a few of my queries.

Song master Michael Feinstein will duet with songstress Freda Payne in a tribute to two song greats - A Very Special Evening with Ella and Frank - June 7th and 8th at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s. The very busy Michael graciously took some time to answer a few of my queries.

Sweet Nell Productions & Outside In Theatre, in collaboration with Family Affairs Studio, will world premiere Justin Elizabeth Sayre’s Lottie Platchett Took a Hatchet at Assembly Festival as part of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival August 4th - 27th, with a preview in Los Angeles at Casita del Compo’s Cavern Club June 10th – 12th. Jessica Hanna directs the cast of Kirsten Vangsness as Lottie (June 10 & 11) Lauren Lopez as Lottie (June 12 & August 4 – 27) with Tom Lenk, Ryan W Garcia, Tom Detrinis and Justin Elizabeth Sayre. I had the opportunity to ask Tom Lenk a few queries about his many successful ventures, as well as his history with producer/director Tom Detrinis.

The next show at the Mark Taper Forum, Rajiv Joseph’s King James world premieres June 8, 2022 (with previews starting June 1st). Kenny Leon directs this co-production of Center Theatre Group and Steppenwolf Theatre Company starring Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti. Glenn took some time to answer a few of my queries on King James, being co-artistic director at Steppenwolf Theatre and working with a one-of-a-kind co-star.

Latino Theatre Company presents Kulunka Teatro’s André & Dorine beginning June 8, 2022 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center. Co-founding member of Kulunka Teatro Iñaki Rikarte directs the silent cast of Edu Cárcamo, El José Dault and Garbiñe Insausti portraying over fifteen different characters, telling the story with only masks, gesture and movement. I had the opportunity to get some behind-the-scenes info about André & Dorine and Kulunnka Teatro from Iñaki.

Pasadena Playhouse’s next live production Uncle Vanya opens June 1, 2022. A most productive Los Angeles theatre staple, Michael Michetti directs this Los Angeles premiere of the Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation of the Anton Chekhov classic Uncle Vanya. Cast includes Hugo Armstrong as “Vanya,” with Anne Gee Byrd, Brian George, Brandon Mendez Homeras, Jane Taini, Sabina Zuniga-Varela and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz. Michael found some time from his multi-tasking to answer a few of my queries.

The Groundlings’ Chris Guerra shares the process he went through to become a Main Company member, as well as the inspiration he finds in everyday life and his two kids.

One week after the west coast premiere of S. Asher Gelman’s Afterglow opened at the Hudson Theatre, one of the three leads couldn’t go on. Fortunately, understudy Nate Richardson was in the wings ready to tackle the integral role of Alex.

A protégée of Quincy Jones and mentored by Stevie Wonder, singer Sheléa graces The Wallis stage with her one-nighter Pretty World: Through the Eyes of Alan & Marilyn Bergman June 25, 2022. Sheléa shared remembrances of her many high-profile events in her life leading up to her Bergmans tribute.