Eric Sciotto News

As one of the nation's leading professional theaters and recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, Paper Mill Playhouse has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows to Broadway. Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey.

As with each passing season, 2018 proved to be another exceptional year for theater not only in Souther California in general but also in Orange County---my home base. This year, the OC finally welcomed the debut of what has become this century's most awarded and most renowned stage musical ever about the Founding Father etched regally on the 10 dollar bill. Meanwhile, So. Cal. enjoyed a powerful surge of new stage works that explored Asian-American experiences, a positive step forward in the presentation of diverse voices we seldom hear from on the stage. A pair of touring musicals---both opening in the O.C. in early 2019---made such an impact in their Los Angeles engagements for me personally that I had to include them in my list, even though I have not 'officially' reviewed the productions for print. With that said, here is my 'Best of 2018' from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby---a mixture of outstanding shows and brilliant performances that made a lasting, memorable imprint in my theatergoing experience this year.

Following a critically acclaimed, sold out run of Singin' in the Rain, the 2018 Broadway At Music Circus season continues with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a show Broadway World called a 'daring, dazzling choreographic extravaganza.' With iconic choreography and a Tony®-nominated score, this rollicking musical based on the beloved MGM film features a crafty and assertive young bride living in the 1850s Oregon wilderness. She attempts to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law, but her plan goes comically wrong. Featuring high-kicking dance numbers, heartfelt romance and soaring songs. Performances of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers are Tuesday, June 26 through Sunday, July 1 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

Following a critically acclaimed, sold out run of Singin' in the Rain, the 2018 Broadway At Music Circus season continues with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a show Broadway World called a "daring, dazzling choreographic extravaganza." With iconic choreography and a Tony®-nominated score, this rollicking musical based on the beloved MGM film features a crafty and assertive young bride living in the 1850s Oregon wilderness. She attempts to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law, but her plan goes comically wrong. Featuring high-kicking dance numbers, heartfelt romance and soaring songs. Performances of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers are Tuesday, June 26 through Sunday, July 1 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, Broadway Sacramento has confirmed casting for the six shows in the 68th Broadway At Music Circus season. The casts include a number of Broadway veterans-some of whom are making their Broadway At Music Circus debuts-and audience favorites from previous Broadway At Music Circus productions.

As a major highlight of its summer-long celebration, June 15-September 2, of the centennial of Leonard Bernstein's birth, Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in Lenox, MA, has programmed several fully staged and semi-staged productions of Leonard Bernstein's work written for the stage, featuring several Tony Award-winning Broadway performers, choreographers, and directors.

Once in a while, you come across a stage show that, on paper, may not have had the buzz that other high-profile shows may have had initially, but then you see it … and it just completely surprises you in the best possible way. That pretty much sums up my recent experience with the oh-so delightful NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, Musical Theatre West's buoyant and sublime new regional production of the 10-time Tony Award-nominated 2012 musical comedy now on stage at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach, CA through April 22. An irresistibly silly and infectiously tuneful stage show that will have you smiling from start to finish, this roaring 20's throwback with modern sensibilities provides lots of zany antics, lots of witty one-liners, and lots of spectacular song-and-dance showstoppers that will have you wondering---where has this show been all my life?

The Gershwins' Nice Work If You Can Get It is such a smooth entertainment and a joy to watch where and whenever it plays...if the director and cast are top notch and up to a myriad of challenges. You cannot pull off farcical material unless actors are atuned to split timing and can sing and dance up a storm. You must have triple threat performers. No problem at MTW, whose 'S'Wonderful' production keeps the audience consistently applauding for more. Dependably resourceful director Larry Raben, splendid choreographer Peggy Hickey and a stellar ensemble create real 'Fascinating Rhythm' through April 22.   

What do you get when you mix a cocktail of 21 Gershwin gems, madcap comedy, and show-stopping dance numbers?  It's Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Broadway's 10-Time Tony nominated musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, coming to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center April 6-22. 

Combining musical theatre, comedy, and other tongue-in-cheek 'art forms,' Cabarets by J&J and the Laurie Beechman Theatre will present MISFITS! Following on the success of other one-night hit cabarets like 'Shipwrecked,' and 'A Swing... and a Miss!', this tongue-in-cheek show takes a hard look at the glorious art of miscast performers through hilarious stories and song.

Elvis is leaving the building! Producer Lawrence Rosner has announced, today, Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the campy musical comedy that leaves you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, will play its final performance Sunday evening, July 30, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row.

The new Off-Broadway musical Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical that will leave you howling for more, features book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, continues at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

The King was in the in the house, last night. The cast of the new Off-Broadway musical Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical that will leave you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues) welcomed Elvis Impersonators to the show, now in performance through September 24, 2017. BroadwayWorld has photos from their visit below!

Elvis is in the house! Opening Night of the New York premiere of Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical that will leave you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues) is tomorrow, June 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.

Elvis is in the house!  Opening Night of the New York premiere of Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical that will leave you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues) is tomorrow, June 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.

Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical will leave you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues). Opening Night is Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.

Performances begin TONIGHT for the New York premiere of Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the zany new musical that will leave you howling for more, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus, at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues). Opening Night is Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, starring Michael Urie, opens at Red Bull Theater!

Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, the new musical that will unleash your inner hound dog, with book, music and lyrics by Lory Lazarus. Directed by Broadway veteran Don Stephenson, with choreography by Melissa Zaremba, and music direction, arrangements and orchestrations by Benjamin Rauhala, performances are set to begin Thursday, June 1, 2017 at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues). Opening Night is set for Thursday, June 15, 2017. Ryan Conway serves as Executive Producer.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: Chita Rivera, Rachel Bloom, Wayne Brady and more take part in 'CONCERT FOR AMERICA' on the West Coast!