Stephen Van Dorn

Before Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty teamed up for iconic works like Ragtime, Once on this Island, and their current Broadway hit Anastasia,they wrote a crazy little musical called LUCKY STIFF. It was their first collaboration and, though it never made it to Broadway, it won the pair a Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre and launched a 30-year partnership that has helped shape the genre ever since.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fifth and final show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the killer musical from the writers of Ragtime and Once On This Island, LUCKY STIFF, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Stephen Van Dorn.  

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for110 in the Shade) presents the fifth and final show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season, the killer musical from the writers of Ragtime and Once On This Island, LUCKY STIFF, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Stephen Van Dorn.  LUCKY STIFF will preview on Wednesday, May 10 & Thursday, May 11 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 12 at 8pm and run through Sunday, June 18 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth and final show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with DANCING AT LUGHNASA, by Brian Friel, choreography by Julie Hall and directed by Heather Chesley.  DANCING AT LUGHNASA previewed on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5 at 8pm and opened on Friday, May 6 at 8pm and will run through Sunday, June 12 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth and final show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with DANCING AT LUGHNASA, by Brian Friel, choreography by Julie Hall and directed by Heather Chesley.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth and final show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with DANCING AT LUGHNASA, by Brian Friel, choreography by Julie Hall and directed by Heather Chesley.

'BITING BROADWAY...The first successful Vampire Musical' with Book by Richard Hochberg, Lyrics by Jordan Beck and Music by Gerald Sternbach, will be directed by J. Scott Lapp in a reading today April 8th at the Lyric Hyperion Theatre (2106 Hyperion Ave. in Los Angeles) at 4pm.

'BITING BROADWAY...The first successful Vampire Musical' with Book by Richard Hochberg, Lyrics by Jordan Beck and Music by Gerald Sternbach, will be directed by J. Scott Lapp in a reading on April 8th at the Lyric Hyperion Theatre (2106 Hyperion Ave. in Los Angeles) at 4pm.

One of Stephen Schwartz's failures The Baker's Wife, which toured extensively across the US in 1976 but never made it to Broadway, had a cast recording with Patti LuPone, Paul Sorvino and Teri Ralston and has had a few revivals including the UK. Why did it bomb? It's a simple, sweet show with a lovely message about human connection and a few pretty ballads, especially the hit 'Meadowlark', but there's a spark missing, nothing really exciting to get people into the seats; it's most definitely not commercial enough for Broadway. Based on the 1938 French film La Femme du Boulanger, that may be the main reason that the show is rarely performed. Now onstage at Actors co-op, Baker's Wife is mounted scrumptiously with terrific direction from Richard Israel and a superlatively cast ensemble.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE opens tonight, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE will preview on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Ever wondered what really goes on behind closed doors at auditions? Well now's your chance to find out. On Monday 3 August, "NEXT!" is giving you an exclusive look at the exciting world of Musical Theatre Auditions.

'Woyzeck' is lovely and horrible; a narrative, musical dream cycle of moments that represent the tragic realities of love and loss; and damaging effects of social hierarchy and human brutality.

'Woyzeck' has evolved beyond original playwright Buchner's vision. It's an evocative production that emphasizes the importance of dignity as a defining aspect of humanity-and the price paid when that humanity is stripped.

Charles Dickens' last novel, unfinished at the time of his death in 1870, supplied the story for the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood which won five Tony Awards when it first premiered in 1985. Although it won for Best Book and Best Score, I hardly find either completely satisfying. On the musical side, it's very much like operetta, with pretty singing, but with only one memorable song 'Don't Quit While You're Ahead'. As far as the book is concerned, it is a lengthy attempt to complete Dickens' story by allowing the audience to have its say...certainly a novel concept in 1985. Was he murdered? Was he in fact alive at the end? You decide! On the positive side, it is creative and very theatrical as a play within a play encouraging grande overplaying by the company of actors, and making it an assuredly fun entertainment. Despite mixed feelings about the play, I cannot but laud the current production at Actors Coop which is magnificently staged by director Stephen Van Dorn, wonderfully choreographed by Julie Hall and with an astounding ensemble... through October 26.

Actors Co-op announces its first show in its 2014-2015 season (and 23rd year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with an immersive and environmental production of the five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Whodunit,' THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Jake Anthony and directed by Stephen Van Dorn. THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD will begin previews tonight, September 17 and Thursday, September 18 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 19 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 26 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op announces its first show in its 2014-2015 season (and 23rd year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with an immersive and environmental production of the five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Whodunit,' THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Jake Anthony and directed by Stephen Van Dorn. THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD will begin previews on Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 19 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 26 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Cabaret at The Merc returned to beautiful Old Town Temecula on March 24th, 2013, for a magical evening of Disney music, featuring songs from Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Hercules, and more! Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Cabaret at The Merc returns to beautiful Old Town Temecula tonight, March 24th, 2013 at 6:30PM for a magical evening of Disney music! Featuring songs from Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Hercules, and more! Be Our Guest as we celebrate some of the most memorable songs from some of your favorite Walt Disney films.

Cabaret at The Merc returns to beautiful Old Town Temecula on March 24th, 2013 at 6:30PM for a magical evening of Disney music! Featuring songs from Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Hercules, and more! Be Our Guest as we celebrate some of the most memorable songs from some of your favorite Walt Disney films.