John Caird News

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

Laguna Playhouse announces its 2010-2011 schedule.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy. The musical, with book, music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon and direction by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun, will run in the Old Globe Theatre Jan. 15 - Feb. 27. Preview performances run Jan. 15 - Jan. 22. Opening night is Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

Cameron Mackintosh's 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables, presented by The Paper Mill Playhouse, has finally hit the friendly American shores after touring Britain, and perhaps symbolic of its Atlantic crossing is the new opening picture devised by co-directors Laurence Conner and James Powell.  Sure, 24601 (a/k/a Jean Valjean) is still a prisoner in chains for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister and her family, but he and his fellow inmates are now rowing oars on a galley ship.  The music (Claude-Michel Schonberg) and words (Herbert Kretzmer, based on the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel) of this world-famous adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, set against the backdrop of Paris' 1832 student revolution, are unchanged, but the new locale not only starts the evening off with a visually striking image, but signals to the musical's two-and-a-half decades worth of fans that this will not be just another variation of the original Trevor Nunn/John Caird production they are accustomed to.  (A production that can still be enjoyed on the West End.)

While there's certainly plenty to enjoy in the new musical version of Pedro Almodóvar's 1988 film, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown - David Yazbek's jaunty Latin-based score, the winning performances of a star-studded cast (three Tony winners and four other nominees) and the kinetic flashiness of Bartlett Sher's kicky production - the show is also a prime example of how the sum of the pieces can add up to more than the whole when the missing ingredient is a strong book.  Not that the talented Jeffrey Lane doesn't make a game try at it.  Sticking closely to the source, his work is frequently clever and he and Yazbek concoct some quirkily fun musical scenes, but the odds are working against him in this one.

The Les Miserables 25th Anniversary O2 concert, which played its last performance on October 2, 2010 starred Ramin Karmiloo, Samantha Barks, Alfie Boe, Nick Jonas,Norm Lewis, Matt Lucas, Lea Salonga, Jenny Galloway, and Katie Hall. Click below to watch a sneak preview of the DVD, which was released November 29.

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

Casting has been announced for The Laguna Playhouse's World Premiere co-production (with Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Michael Jackowitz) of the romantic musical Daddy Long Legs, running November 30 - December 26 at The Laguna Playhouse.

From Tony Award-Winning playwright John Caird (Nicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables) and Tony nominated composer Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre) comes the World Premiere of the romantic musical Daddy Long Legs, running November 30 - December 26 at The Laguna Playhouse.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye in UK Daily Mail, Alfie Boe is in talks with Cameron Mackintosh to reprise the role of Val Jean in the West End next year. When approached about the engagement, Boe replied, 'It's something that might well happen.'

Casting has been announced for The Laguna Playhouse's World Premiere co-production (with Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Michael Jackowitz) of the romantic musical Daddy Long Legs, running November 30 - December 26 at The Laguna Playhouse.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second production of their 2010-2011 season of shows - a brand new musical event from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and the creator of Jane Eyre, DADDY LONG LEGS, based on the novel by Jean Webster, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), book and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Les Miserables), original musical direction by Laura Bergquist, musical direction by Julie McBride and starring Megan McGinnis and Robert Adelman Hancock.

From Tony Award-Winning playwright John Caird (Nicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables) and Tony nominated composer Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre) comes the World Premiere of the romantic musical Daddy Long Legs, running November 30 - December 26 at The Laguna Playhouse.

The Les Miserables 25th Anniversary O2 concert, which played its last performance on October 2, 2010 starred Ramin Karmiloo, Samantha Barks, Alfie Boe, Nick Jonas,Norm Lewis, Matt Lucas, Lea Salonga, Jenny Galloway, and Camilla Kerslake. Click below to watch a sneak preview of the Valjean Quartet - from the forthcoming DVD out 29 November.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second production of their 2010-2011 season of shows - a brand new musical event from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and the creator of Jane Eyre, DADDY LONG LEGS, based on the novel by Jean Webster, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), book and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Les Miserables), original musical direction by Laura Bergquist, musical direction by Julie McBride and starring Megan McGinnis and Robert Adelman Hancock.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second production of their 2010-2011 season of shows - a brand new musical event from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and the creator of Jane Eyre, DADDY LONG LEGS, based on the novel by Jean Webster, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), book and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Les Miserables), original musical direction by Laura Bergquist, musical direction by Julie McBride and starring Megan McGinnis and Robert Adelman Hancock.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, November 2, ETAI BENSHLOMO will assume the role of Boq and TOM FLYNN will assume the role of Dr. Dillamond in the musical blockbuster WICKED.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second production of their 2010-2011 season of shows - a brand new musical event from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and the creator of Jane Eyre, DADDY LONG LEGS, based on the novel by Jean Webster, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), book and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Les Miserables), original musical direction by Laura Bergquist, musical direction by Julie McBride and starring Megan McGinnis and Robert Adelman Hancock.