Leslie Jordan News

THE 2012 ALL FOR ONE THEATER FESTIVAL, which begins September 14th at the 179 seat Cherry Lane Theatre/Mainstage, 38 Commerce Street, NYC, will feature 10 extraordinary solo performers presenting their own works.

Baby Tiger Productions, Daniel Wallace and Trish Whitehurst in association with the Falcon Theatre present the American premiere of The Gronholm Method written by Jordi Galceran Ferrer, translated by Anne Garcia-Romero and Mark St. Germain and directed by BT McNicholl, the first production of the Falcon Theatre's 2012-2013 Subscription Season.

As we arrive at and move beyond the 4th of July Holiday, I hope you have made plans to attend a couple of the shows that are being presented at some of the live performance and theatre venues located here on the Central Coast of California!

After recent star turns on Failed Intervention and Semi-Celebrity Rehab, Varla Jean Merman has bottomed out. With nowhere to go but up, everyone's favorite deluded diva sets her sights on the ultimate challenge: topping herself! Submitting to her star power, can Varla's legion of fans take bigger wigs, bottomless talent, throatier singing, and lower standards? Snatch up your tickets now to see if Varla can give as well as she takes. Varla Jean Merman in Topping Myself featuring Gerald Goode at the piano runs June 29th - Sept 1st at The Art House in Provincetown. For tickets, visit www.ptownarthouse.com.

Mischievous musical comedy twosome MEL & EL invite all of the Citizens of New York to avoid heat stroke by stepping into the luxuriously air-conditioned theatre at their raucous monthly extravaganza, MEL & EL: OUR TIME OF THE MONTH, at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street, NYC on Thursday, July 12th at 7:00PM.

As we come to the last week of June, and get serious about our plans for the 4th of July (on a WEDNESDAY this year!), I trust you are planning on attending some of the productions currently playing at any of the several theatre and live performance establishments here in the heart of the California Central Coast!

After recent star turns on Failed Intervention and Semi-Celebrity Rehab, Varla Jean Merman has bottomed out. With nowhere to go but up, everyone's favorite deluded diva sets her sights on the ultimate challenge: topping herself! Submitting to her star power, can Varla's legion of fans take bigger wigs, bottomless talent, throatier singing, and lower standards? Snatch up your tickets now to see if Varla can give as well as she takes. Varla Jean Merman in Topping Myself featuring Gerald Goode at the piano runs June 29th - Sept 1st at The Art House in Provincetown. For tickets, visit www.ptownarthouse.com.

As we arrive at the OFFICIAL beginning of summer, and make our way into the "lazy hazy crazy days" that lie ahead, I hope you will want to plan on going to a couple of shows at some of the numerous live performance and theatre venues that can be found here on the Central Coast of California!

As we come to the middle of June and continue to move ever closer to the OFFICIAL beginning of summer, I trust your plans will include attending some productions at any of the several theatre and live performance establishments that make their home here on the California Central Coast!

Tonight, June 12, 2012 at 9:00pm, (with repeat airings every night for 2 weeks beginning at 1am), the only PBS station still originating from Los Angeles (KLCS-TV) will host its first ever pledge drive in 40 years. Recognizing that the Los Angeles community deserves a special event around something this important, the station is proud to announce they will air the world television premier of the acclaimed film 'Hollywood to Dollywood'. This documentary swept the festival circuit and has won 24 awards around the globe. With appearances by Leslie Jordan, Chad Allen, Beth Grant, Dustin Lance Black, Ann Walker, and music icon Dolly Parton, it's a heartwarming, civil rights odyssey.

As we make our way on into June and move ever closer to the OFFICIAL beginning of summer, I hope you will plan on including going to a couple of shows at any number of the various live performance and theatre venues here on the Central Coast of California!

President George HW Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush honored the Ogunquit Playhouse by attending yesterday's (June 3rd) Matinee performance of Always, Patsy Cline, now playing through June 16. Sally Struthers (as Louise) and Carter Calvert (as Patsy Cline) welcomed them backstage during intermission, where President and Mrs. Bush exalted both leading lady's performances. The former President and First Lady "loved" the show, and the cast, musicians and audience members loved seeing them as well. Check out the photo below!

The Waterfront Playhouse presents Emmy Award-winner Leslie Jordan as part of Key West Pride Week. Mr. Jordan will be bringing his critically-acclaimed new show, "Fruit Fly" to the Waterfront stage on June 8th and 9th at 8 pm. Tickets are $45, and they are going fast. Mr. Jordan is best known for his performance in the stage and film versions of "Sordid Lives," and his Emmy-winning turn as Beverley Leslie, the comic foil to Megan Mullally's Karen Walker on "Will and Grace."

Men Alive - The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus concludes its successful 11th Season with VON TRAPPED!, a uniquely entertaining, wholly original tribute to the Tony® and Oscar®-winning musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC... the way only Men Alive can do it! The concert event opens Friday, July 20 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre with two additional shows on Saturday, July 21. The chorus will transform this beloved musical into a one-of-a-kind stage extravaganza featuring moving orchestrations, genre-crossing remixes, fabulous costumes, buoyant choreography, and even a few rowdy, yodel-loving goats! And nuns. Lots and lots of nuns.

The Waterfront Playhouse presents Emmy Award-winner Leslie Jordan as part of Key West Pride Week. Mr. Jordan will be bringing his critically-acclaimed new show, "Fruit Fly" to the Waterfront stage on June 8th and 9th at 8 pm. Tickets are $45, and they are going fast. Mr. Jordan is best known for his performance in the stage and film versions of "Sordid Lives," and his Emmy-winning turn as Beverley Leslie, the comic foil to Megan Mullally's Karen Walker on "Will and Grace."

What happens when two downtown divas pair up for one night of magic? A double bill of epic old-timey proportions. This 1940's themed cabaret/radio show is presented byJoe's Pub (425 Lafayette NYC, NY 10003) tonight, May 27th at 7pm. Tickets ($15) are available online (www.joespub.com) and at the door.

The 80th Anniversary Season at the Ogunquit Playhouse kicked off with Always, Patsy Cline on May 23, and we have the production photos below, starring Carter Calvert as Patsy Cline and Sally Struthers as Louise Seger. Check them out!

I've been writing a weekly article for BroadwayWorld.com about all of the theatre happenings here on the heart of the California Central Coast for nearly 3 years now. On any given week, there are somewhere between 15 and 20 live entertainment and theatre venues offering quality entertainment to the residents of the Central Coast and those who come to visit our little piece of Paradise!

Varla Jean Merman aka Jeffery Roberson plays the title role in Menotti's THE MEDIUM at The Art House directed by Donna Drake. Produced by Provincetown Counter Productions in association with Mark Cortale this production runs from tonight, May 18th - June 3rd. Elizabeth Hastings who has conducted for both New York City Opera and College Light Opera on Cape Cod will music direct. The cast also includes Stefanie Izzo as Monica, Edmund Bagnell as Toby, Shannon Carson as Mrs. Gobineau, Peter Kendall Clark as Mr. Gobineau and Maria Elena Armijo as Mrs. Nolan. This production is slated to transfer to the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre in NY for a limited engagement in the fall. For Art House tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.