Los Angeles Civic Light Opera News

Melva Niles Barborka, a Broadway leading lady, passed away on March 12 in South Jordan, Utah. She succumbed to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a neurological disease, at age 86. As Melva Niles, she stared in the Broadway runs "Song of Norway" and "Magdalena," creating the role of Solis.

Today Broadway/L.A. announced its 2012-2013 season at the Pantages Theatre, and Dorothy Lucey spread the news today on Good Day L.A. Included in the upcoming season are: THE BOOK OF MORMON, DONNY & MARIE - Christmas in Los Angeles, Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN, Constantine Maroulis in JEKYLL & HYDE, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, SISTER ACT, CHICAGO starring Christie Brinkley, WEST SIDE STORY, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles.

James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas will present Kurt Peterson and Victoria Mallory in When Everything Was Possible, A Concert (with comments), for one night only, Sunday April 29th (7:30pm) at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues), as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They will be joined by a thirteen-piece band (Michael Rafter, Music Director), playing new orchestrations by Tony Award winner Jonathan Tunick. Larry Moss directs, with musical staging by Joshua Bergasse ("Smash"). Carolyn Wong will provide lighting design, with sound design by Leon Rothenberg and projection design by Telegraphicmedia.

West Coast Ensemble and director Richard Israel get ready to for a much-anticipated GYPSY that will run May 13 - July 3 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in Hollywood.

Patrick Cook, noted musical theatre composer, actor and author has been appointed Director of Musical Theatre and Jazz for BMI, it was announced today by Charlie Feldman, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations New York.

Mitzi Gaynor will bring her incomparable brand of showmanship back to the stage in this new theatrical production, a glittering multimedia one-woman tour-de-force of music and memories from her show-stopping life and career.

West Coast Ensemble and director Richard Israel get ready to for a much-anticipated GYPSY that will run May 13 - July 3 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in Hollywood.

Mitzi Gaynor will bring her incomparable brand of showmanship back to the stage in this new theatrical production, a glittering multimedia one-woman tour-de-force of music and memories from her show-stopping life and career.

Reprise Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season features two classic American musicals at UCLA's Freud Playhouse - "Cabaret" (September 13 to September 25, 2011), based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, Broadway production directed by Harold Prince; "The Baker's Wife" (February 14 to 26, 2012), with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, based on the film 'La Femme de Boulanger' by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono; and a third production to be announced, which will play April 17 to 29, 2012.

Reprise Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season features two classic American musicals at UCLA's Freud Playhouse - "Cabaret" (September 13 to September 25, 2011), based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, Broadway production directed by Harold Prince; "The Baker's Wife" (February 14 to 26, 2012), with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, based on the film 'La Femme de Boulanger' by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono; and a third production to be announced, which will play April 17 to 29, 2012. Jason Alexander is the artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, "Gigi", playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its star-studded Winter/Spring 2010 season with the New York city debut of Hollywood legend MITZI GAYNOR in a limited engagement from May 18 - 20.

Los Angeles' Reprise Theatre Company today announced it's 2010-2011 season, which features three classic American musicals at UCLA's Freud Playhouse: 'They're Playing Our Song' (September 28 to October 10, 2010), with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, and starring Jason Alexander, the company's Artistic Director; Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's 'Gigi' (February 15 to 27, 2011); and Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me, Kate' (May 10 to 22, 2011), with book by Samuel and Bella Spewack.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its star-studded Winter/Spring 2010 season with the New York City debut of Hollywood legend MITZI GAYNOR in a limited engagement from May 18 - 20.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its star-studded Winter/Spring 2010 season with the New York city debut of Hollywood legend MITZI GAYNOR in a limited engagement from May 18 - 20.

Mitzi Gaynor's one-woman show, Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins comes to The Parker Playhouse, Sunday, March 28th.

Mitzi Gaynor's one-woman show, Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins comes to The Parker Playhouse, Sunday, March 28th.

The Village Voice recently noted 'There's no business like Gaynor's show business' and now fresh on the heels of attracting a new generation of fans with her acclaimed PBS musical documentary, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, -- Green Isle Inc. has announced the world premiere of Mitzi Gaynor's all new one-woman show, RAZZLE DAZZLE! MY LIFE BEHIND THE SEQUINS opening Saturday, January 10th (8:00PM) at the historic Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.