Benjamin Schrader News

Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24. The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera,Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q), and Ovation Award nominee (for MTW'sYoung Frankenstein) Rebecca Ann Johnson. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at them in character below!

This Thursday, June 9th at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, an elite cast of Broadway veterans will take to the stage for a one-night only benefit concert performing numbers from the award-winning Broadway shows that put them on the map. 100% of the proceeds from this stellar night of song and dance will benefit the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission. Panera Bread has graciously come on board to sponsor the evening.  Currently in rehearsals, the cast of over 50 Broadway performers, ensemble singers, and dancers is prepping for what is sure to be a thrilling night of theatre in Los Angeles.

Yes, Summer in Orange County, California is often marked with escalating temperatures, the Laguna Beach Arts festival, and heavy beach traffic, but you can still escape the heat by jumping into an air-conditioned theater... where O.C. theaters are still buzzing with excitement (except those that have ended their season). Everywhere from Costa Mesa and Fullerton to Santa Ana and Irvine (and even our county-line neighbors in La Mirada and Long Beach), there are lots of stage goodies to fill your live theater cravings.

Just days before New York City gathers to honor Broadway at the 70th Annual Tony Awards, the best and brightest Broadway performers are being assembled to celebrate and give back right here in Los Angeles.

Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24.  The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera, Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) , and Ovation Award nominee (for MTW's Young Frankenstein) Rebecca Ann Johnson.  From the composer/lyricist David Yazbek (The Full Monty) and a book by Jeffrey Lane, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on the Steve Martin and Michael Caine film, written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning.  Brilliantly crafted with wit, double-entendres , and show-stopping numbers, the Broadway  show earned 11 Tony Award nominations, including "Best Musical," "Best Book," and "Best Score" and the Drama League Award for "Best Musical."  Tickets are available at www.musical.org or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.  Tickets are $20 and up.

We came online this morning to an overflowing inbox of thoughts and rememberances that we present belong along with quotes from industry notables on social media. To all those who loved, knew, worked with, or had the pleasure of watching this enormous talent - he will be missed.

ROCKWELL Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining is thrilled to announce its second event in a new monthly collaborative series with SIRIUS XM Radio as they will be presenting 'SIRIUS XM: THE STAGE DOOR SUPPER CLUB RADIO HOUR: LIVE FROM THE ROCKWELL!'

ROCKWELL Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining is thrilled to announce its second event in a new monthly collaborative series with SIRIUS XM Radio as they will be presenting "SIRIUS XM: THE STAGE DOOR SUPPER CLUB RADIO HOUR: LIVE FROM THE ROCKWELL!"

MODERN FAMILY star Sarah Hyland is currently appearing in the musical SCREAM! alongside Jonah Platt, Missi Pyle, Christine Lakin, and Nicole Parker. Hyland recently took to Instagram to post a clip of her and Platt singing 'Don't Speak,' on stage, with the caption, 'This happened tonight and it made me happy. #dontspeak #theunauthorizedmusicalparodyofscream @jonahplatt' Check out the performance clip below!

ROCKWELL Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining has announced the world premiere of 'Modern Family's" Sarah Hyland starring in SCREAM!, with musical direction by Brian P. Kennedy and written & directed by Michael Gans & Richard Register. SCREAM! will preview on Friday, October 10 at 8pm; Saturday, October 11 at 8:00pm and Friday, October 17 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, October 18 at 8:00pm and run through Saturday, November 15 at ROCKWELL Table and Stage, 1714 N. Vermont in Los Feliz.

Brilliant direction and unforgettable performances compensate for uneven script in Disney's more grown-up play with music.

"Peter and the Starcatcher" catches more than starstuff with its mosaic style and resourceful staging. Directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers and writer Rick Elice manage to use ladders, flashlights and other pulled-together, everyday items to soar the magic to heights stronger and more believable than ever. Clap if you believe!

Local author Ridley Pearson, along with Dave Barry, crafted an interesting 'prequel' to the story of Peter Pan with their entertaining novel PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. The stage production of this tale, written by Rick Elice, is a similarly imaginative effort that utilizes a relatively small cast, with just about everyone playing multiple roles, and a frenetic pace that captures the same qualities that distinguished the original work. An engaging touring production with a very talented cast played the Peabody Opera House this weekend (March 7-9, 2014), and it was well worth the trip.

The five-time Tony Award-winning musical Peter and the Starcatcher makes its Twin Cities premiere in a limited engagement March 11-16, 2014 at the Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave.) in Minneapolis. Written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award?nominee Alex Timbers, tickets are available now in person at the State Theatre Box Office, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. It is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a part of its 2013-14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season.

Ropes become rooms and oceans, people become doors, gloves become birds and some very clever staging, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers.

Like WICKED was a prequel to the 'Wizard of Oz', PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is a prequel to J. M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony Award winning musical play written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers, from today, January 28 to February 16, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Press opening night is Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony Award winning musical play written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers, from January 28 to February 16, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Press opening night is Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

The five-time Tony Award-winning 'Peter and the Starcatcher' opened on December 4, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Written by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice('Jersey Boys,' 'The Addams Family') and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nomineeAlex Timbers ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'), 'Peter and the Starcatcher' continues through January 12, 2014. Click below to watch interviews from the opening night party!

The five-time Tony Award-winning 'Peter and the Starcatcher' opened last night, December 4, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Written by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice ('Jersey Boys,' 'The Addams Family') and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'), 'Peter and the Starcatcher' continues through January 12, 2014. Check out a look back the cast take their bows, and the red carpet arrivals below!