42nd Street Moon News

MURDER FOR TWO celebrated their 200th performance on Monday night, April 28. Below, Check out a photo of the company and another of Brett Ryback and Jeff Blumenkrantz cutting the cake!

42nd Street Moon, San Francisco's only resident professional musical theatre company, has announced the lineup for its 22nd season of presenting rare and uncommon musical theater. Says Producing Director Stephanie Rhoads, "For 2014-2015, we're offering ESCAPADE! - a season of capers, sprees, hijinks, japery, and intrigues, to help audiences escape their day-to-day troubles with five spectacular American musicals from Broadway greats such as Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Richard Maltby, Sandy Wilson, Frank Loesser, George Abbott, Dorothy Fields and Arthur Laurents."

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. 'What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel,' remarks Wood. 'It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews tonight, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

To be or not to be is no longer the question - critics and audiences agree that WITTENBERG is a hit. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of WITTENBERG, David Davalos' audacious comedy about reason versus faith. Josh Costello (San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Theatre Company, Impact Theatre) directs this smarty-pants celebration of history, language, academia, and religion, featuring Dan Hiatt (The Arsonists), Elizabeth Carter (Trouble in Mind), Jeremy Kahn, and Michael Stevenson. WITTENBERG plays now through May 11 (added performances: Tuesday, May 6, 7pm; Wednesday, May 7, 8pm; Thursday, May 8, 8pm; Friday, May 9, 8pm; Saturday, May 10, 8pm; Sunday, May 11, 2pm and 7pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

MR. IRRESISTIBLE - A New Sci-Fi Musical Comedy Thriller - described as 'The Terminator meets Ugly Betty' - directed by Jonathan J. Carpenter, with book & lyrics by D'Arcy Drollinger (Shit & Champagne / Project: Lohan)and music by Christopher Winslow (OMFG!), make its West Coast premiere June 4 - 8, 2014 for a very limited engagement of 5 performances only, running Wed., Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 8:00 pm / Sun. 7:00 pm. (Preview Wed. 6/4 / Opening Thurs. 6/5) at the Alcazar Theatre - 650 Geary St. (btw'n. Jones & Leavenworth Sts.) in SF.

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson will have its world premiere in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco for a limited engagement, running four weeks only.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. "What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel," remarks Wood. "It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Saturday, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

42nd Street Moon's Greg MacKellan and Mark D. Kaufmann wrote 'Painting the Clouds with Sunshine' as a tribute to musical films of the depression era, but their end result may very well have been a successful film of that time.

For the first time in 42nd Street Moon history the company will present a World Premiere: a brand new musical by Greg MacKellan and Mark D. Kaufmann, PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE, featuring a parade of sensational songs from the 1930s.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein announced that Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award winner, Jason Graae, will bring his new one-man show, 49 ½ Shades of Graae, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only - tonight, March 20 (8 p.m.)

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre announced today that Murder For Two original cast member Jeff Blumenkrantz will be returning to the hit musical comedy, reprising his role of 'The Suspects' beginning Monday, March 17, 2014. Blumenkrantz, fresh from the critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd at New York Philharmonic, is taking over for composer Joe Kinosian, who joined the cast on Monday, January 20, 2014. Blumenkrantz reunites with current star Brett Ryback in the original musical featuring book and music by Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and direction by Scott Schwartz. The New York production of Murder For Two began performances at New World Stages on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, officially opened on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 and recently extended to July 6, 2014.

San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon raised the roof - and significant funds - with the help of celebrity guest star, Megan Hilty, at WHAT WE DID FOR LOVE, the theatre company's gala fundraising evening held February 27 at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco. A sold-out crowd of 270 guests, many of whom adopted the suggested theme attire of 'Anything Goes with a dash of red,' were thrilled by the sultry and Smash-ing talents of Broadway and television star Megan Hilty, who with help from her musical director Bryan Perry, performed a crowd-pleasing array of hits from her already impressive career. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder For Two are teaming up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Ryan Scott Oliver will launch the series on Monday, March 24th, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder For Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street).

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays today, March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson will have its world premiere in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco for a limited engagement, running four weeks only.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein announced today that Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award winner, Jason Graae, will bring his new one-man show, 49 ½ Shades of Graae, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only - Thursday, March 20 (8 p.m.) 49 ½ Shades of Graae is an evening with Broadway juvenile turned Hollywood misfit Jason Graae (pronounced Grah, means Grey in Danish) as he explores the many 'shades' of his life and career. From comedy to tragedy all rolled up in a madcap and heartfelt romp, Jason explores his life of sex, drugs and musical comedy, featuring old and new songs alike, by the people who wrote them. 49 ½ Shades of Graae is directed by Heather Lee with Music Direction by John Boswell. Tickets for Jason Graae range in price from $25 - $35 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon announces WHAT WE DID FOR LOVE, a gala fundraising evening with special guest, star of NBC's Smash, and Sean Saves the World, Megan Hilty, 6pm, tonight, February 27 at Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave, San Francisco. In addition to the 'smashing' talents of Broadway and television star Megan Hilty, the evening will include cocktails, dinner, a brief live auction, and a 'MoonGlow Cabaret' with clarion-voiced chanteuse Klea Blackhurst and other Moon performers. Guests are invited to dress in cocktail attire with a dash of red. For tickets ($375 - $7500) the public may contact 42nd Street Moon at (415) 255-8207 or for more information visit 42ndstmoon.org.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the Bay Area Premiere of WITTENBERG, David Davalos' audacious comedy about reason versus faith. Josh Costello (San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Theatre Company, Impact Theatre) directs this smarty-pants celebration of history, language, academia, and religion, featuring Dan Hiatt (The Arsonists), Elizabeth Carter (Trouble in Mind), Jeremy Kahn, and Michael Stevenson. WITTENBERG plays April 4 through May 4 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets and information the public may visit www.theatreworks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

Love is in the air at Murder For Two! Join the cast and creative team of the hit musical comedy along with friends and special guests as they attempt to solve the mysteries of love at Love: The Concert on February 10, 2014 at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street) immediately following the 7pm performance. Love: The Concert is presented in partnership with BroadwayWorld.com. Admittance to the concert is free to all those with tickets to the February 10th performance of Murder For Two. Tickets are available now on Telecharge.com.