Joan Almedilla News

MISS SAIGON's leading ladies Joan Almedilla, Rona Figueroa and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga recently gathered to pay tribute to the musical's lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. Click below to watch an excerpt from PhilDev's benefit concert at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall!

Move over Grinch... Santa Claus is back in town! Tonight, December 20 through Sunday, December 23, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and the big jolly man himself reunite with the spectacular Rubicon Family Christmas cast for a joyous celebration at the Ventura College Theatre for seven performances only. The stellar cast includes Joan Almedilla, Teri Bibb, Dina Bennett, Trey Ellett, Anthony Manough and Brian Sutherland, who have starred on Broadway in such shows as Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, 1776 and Rent, among others. Get a first look at the show with the photos below!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and the big jolly man himself reunite with the spectacular Rubicon Family Christmas cast for a joyous celebration at the Ventura College Theatre for seven performances only. The stellar cast includes Joan Almedilla, Teri Bibb, Dina Bennett, Trey Ellett, Anthony Manough and Brian Sutherland who have starred on Broadway in such shows as Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, 1776 and Rent, among others. They are joined by an ensemble of talented young artists from the region: Daniel Brackett, Cassidy Craig, and Sarah Mehrnia from Ventura; Madeline Gambon from Camarillo; and Jessie Graham and Gus Graham from Santa Paula. This year's concert will also have a few new surprises, including a 60 member children's choir under the direction of concert pianist Miriam Arichea. Glorious renditions of holiday carols and contemporary songs-of-the-season will be performed in styles including classical, pop, jazz and gospel. The result is an hour and a half of the best-performed holiday music you're likely to hear all season. Anyone in search of an instant dose of Christmas spirit need look no further than A Rubicon Family Christmas Concert, the best and brightest live "Holiday Special" in town.

Move over Grinch... Santa Claus is back in town! Thursday, December 20 through Sunday, December 23, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and the big jolly man himself reunite with the spectacular Rubicon Family Christmas cast for a joyous celebration at the Ventura College Theatre for seven performances only. The stellar cast includes Joan Almedilla, Teri Bibb, Dina Bennett, Trey Ellett, Anthony Manough and Brian Sutherland, who have starred on Broadway in such shows as Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, 1776 and Rent, among others. Get a first look at the show with the photos below!

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).

East West Players (EWP), the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, has partnered with the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) and USC Center for Japanese Religions & Culture (CJRC) for the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC.

Muny staff member Barb Echele shares her favorite memory from the 2012 summer season, the moving 'Shall We Dance' scene from the classic THE KING AND I. Watch the clip below!

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).

The Muny closes their 2012 season with the revival of a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, THE KING AND I. It's an elegant end to a very entertaining season that's been full of surprises. Here, the only surprise is how well this warhorse has aged, with its "East meets West", or "mismatched mates" device still working to perfection. Of course, it helps if you have quality performances from the leads, combined with the energetic direction of Rob Ruggerio.

Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam in St. Louis' currently running production of THE KING AND I, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). In this conversation with Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson, Gray discusses his varied career and his rexamination of this role, one he's played before, for The Muny's production. Watch the interview below!

The Muny presents the seventh and final show of its 94th season, The King and I, now through August 12, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins. Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). Making her Muny debut as Anna Leonowens is Laura Michelle Kelly. Rounding out the cast are Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, Joshua Dela Cruz as Lun Tha, and Alan Ariano as the Kralahome. Check out opening night highlights in the video below!

The Muny presents the seventh and final show of its 94th season, The King and I, August 6-12, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins. Making her Muny debut as Anna Leonowens is Laura Michelle Kelly. Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). Rounding out the cast are Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, Joshua Dela Cruz as Lun Tha, and Alan Ariano as the Kralahome. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below!

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns announces the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place tonight, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner Daniel Tatar kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites. Following intermission, Tatar will be joined by other members of the singing group The Company Men, who will mash the hits of six decades in tight four-part harmonies with choreography.

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns today announced the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner DANIEL TATAR kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites. Following intermission, Tatar will be joined by other members of the singing group The Company Men, who will mash the hits of six decades in tight four-part harmonies with choreography.

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns today announced the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner DANIEL TATAR kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists tonight, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

The Public Theater hosted the Public Sings! benefit last night, March 5. The evening featured David Byrne, Alan Cumming, Montego Glover, Gabriel Kahane, Ethan Lipton, Kelli O'Hara, Jesse L. Martin, Benjamin Walker, Jessica Phillips and more at Joe's Pub. Check out a few production shots from the event below!