Kevin Odekirk News

For the first DG Conservatory of the new year, the Dramatists Guild is thrilled to team up with the writers who created Behind the Music-al, Kyle Ewalt and Michael Ian Walker, on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Dramatists Guild's New York office, in the Frederick Loewe Room, 1501 Broadway (between 43rd and 44th Streets), Suite 710. This free seminar is opening a limited number of seats to the public and reservations are required.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents The British Invasion, featuring songs from the UK musicals of the '60s and '70s today, July 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents The British Invasion, featuring songs from the UK musicals of the '60s and '70s on Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

In honor of comedy legend Carl Reiner's 75 years in the business, Center Theatre Group presented a staged reading of 'Enter Laughing, The Musical,' which is inspired by Reiner's experiences as a young man struggling to break into theatre in New York. The one night only event directed by Stuart Ross ('Forever Plaid'), was performed at the Mark Taper Forum on Monday, January 28, 2013.

As expected (thankfully) 2012 provided Southern California audiences--specifically here in Orange County and nearby Los Angeles and San Diego--a season full of outstanding, remarkable theater offerings from touring companies, impressive regional productions, and even some tiny black box theaters. And, of course, as is the common practice during the ushering of a new year, the enjoyable past-time of putting together a year-end 'best of' list is something contributor Michael Lawrence Quintos truly looks forward to doing, especially when there's a plethora of great work to choose from--many of which he had the pleasure of reviewing exclusively for BroadwayWorld.

The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.

The preview engagement of JEKYLL & HYDE celebrated its opening night performance on September 8, 2012, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, Calif. The limited pre-tour engagement will play through September 30, 2012. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night curtain call and photos of the cast-including Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox and more-at the after party!

The Coterie will present popular composer Georgia Stitt live in concert May 25th. Celebrating the release of her newest album, My Lifelong Love, Stitt is bringing her music back to Los Angeles.

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.

If you're looking for a good example of what great hidden gems are being produced at Southern California regional theaters these days, then look (and listen) no further than the enjoyable revival of the smash musical MISS SAIGON currently playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through May 6 (with three additional shows at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, CA starting May 11). Produced by McCoy Rigby Entertainment, this surprisingly full-scale production of the West End/Broadway hit is not only a feast for those with a penchant for big, grandiose theatrics, it will also please those seeking to hear a lovely, euphoric score performed by a talented ensemble.

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.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS held its MISS SAIGON press opening last night, April 14. Below, see photos of stars Lawrence Cummings, Cassandra Murphy, Jacqueline Nguyen, Aidan Park and more at the event!

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist. My Lifelong Love features thirteen of Stitt's original songs performed by some of the entertainment industry's most exciting singers, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson (TV's 'Modern Family,' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, Dreamgirls, TV's 'The Good Wife'), Brian d'Arcy James (TV's 'Smash,' Shrek, Titanic), Susan Egan (Beauty And The Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray), Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show], The Addams Family), Laura Osnes (Anything Goes, Bonnie and Clyde), Christopher Jackson (In The Heights, TV's 'The Electric Company'), Michael Arden (Bare, Source Code), jazz duo Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow) and Michael McElroy (Rent, Broadway Inspirational Voices). The recording will be available on November 29, 2011. You can pre-order the album at http://sh-k-boom.com/georgiastitt.shtml.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist.

On Sunday March 20 Broadway's former Young Cossette of Les Mis pretty Demaree Alexander brought her cabaret act to Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's with a bevy of talented guests on board. This young lady has a background not only in Broadway pop music but also in country; consequently, she nicely essayed a variety of musical styles alone and in duets with Kevin Odekirk, Dee Dee Magno-Hall, Jess Buda, Maura Hanlon Smith and brother Braden Danner. It was a lovely laid-back evening with Alexander's cute, easy going delivery and not without some exciting musical surprises.

ollowing its most lucrative successful January/February ever, Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA says 'We are blessed to have enjoyed the most lucrative beginning of any year since our 2006 opening. This success is largely due to the unprecedented advance sales of our annual 6-week musical theatre talent competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011, and a series of spectacular debuts by such outstanding Broadway/Nightclub headliners as Nita Whitaker, Jason Graae, Maxine Lapiduss, and Suzanne Petrela. Notable Southland Musical Directors such as James Lent, Nelson Kole, John Boswell, and Michael Orland (of American Idol) also contributed to our 2011 kickoff.'

ollowing its most lucrative successful January/February ever, Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA says 'We are blessed to have enjoyed the most lucrative beginning of any year since our 2006 opening. This success is largely due to the unprecedented advance sales of our annual 6-week musical theatre talent competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011, and a series of spectacular debuts by such outstanding Broadway/Nightclub headliners as Nita Whitaker, Jason Graae, Maxine Lapiduss, and Suzanne Petrela. Notable Southland Musical Directors such as James Lent, Nelson Kole, John Boswell, and Michael Orland (of American Idol) also contributed to our 2011 kickoff.'

ollowing its most lucrative successful January/February ever, Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA says 'We are blessed to have enjoyed the most lucrative beginning of any year since our 2006 opening. This success is largely due to the unprecedented advance sales of our annual 6-week musical theatre talent competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011, and a series of spectacular debuts by such outstanding Broadway/Nightclub headliners as Nita Whitaker, Jason Graae, Maxine Lapiduss, and Suzanne Petrela. Notable Southland Musical Directors such as James Lent, Nelson Kole, John Boswell, and Michael Orland (of American Idol) also contributed to our 2011 kickoff.'