Matthew Henerson News

Romance, mistaken identities, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics served up with a generous dash of comedy are at the heart of Shakespeare in Love, adapted by Lee Hall from the Oscar-winning film written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, with music by Paddy Cunneen. South Coast Repertory Artistic Director Marc Masterson directs the production on the Segerstrom Stage, Jan. 13-Feb. 10. Tickets are now on sale: www.scr.org.

134 West has announced a benefit reading of CONFIDENCE (and The Speech), a new play by Susan Lambert Hatem, on Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30pm. The play was a second round finalist in this year's Austin Film Festival Playwriting Contest. Donations will benefit Emily's List and She Should Run, two organizations which work to get more women into political office.

Laguna Playhouse presents the third show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season: TWELVE ANGRY MEN, written by Reginald Rose and directed by Ovation Award-winning director Michael Matthews. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the third show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, written by Reginald Rose and directed by Ovation Award-winning director Michael Matthews.

Laguna Playhouse has announced the third show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, written by Reginald Rose and directed by Ovation Award-winning director Michael Matthews.

Celebration Theatre presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the third and final show in its 2016-2017 season, CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff  (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Anthony Zediker and directed by Michael Matthews.  CABARET will begin previews on Friday, May 26 at 8pm; will open on Friday, June 2 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, July 2 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present the contemporary comedy An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, which performs on the Waxlax Stage from January 17 - February 5, 2017.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present the contemporary comedy An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, which performs on the Waxlax Stage from January 17 - February 5, 2017.

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below, along with behind the scenes with the cast and celebrities!

Like all of August Wilson's plays, this one contains more dialogue than perhaps is needed, with the first act seemingly bogged down at times as you listen to four musicians (Damon Gupton as Cutler, Glynn Turman as Toledo, Keith David as Slow Dawg, Jason Dirden as Levee) stuck in a rehearsal room as they banter about life, women, music, and a much-loved pair of new shoes. It's a shame these brilliant musicians were not allowed to share their skills in more than just one song during the show as they rocked the house. Make no mistake; this play is NOT a musical but a hard-hitting drama about the inequities of life.

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Now in previews, August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Center Theatre Group presents August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews tonight, August 31, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum.

Rehearsals have begun for August Wilson's blazing masterpiece 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews September 1, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Center Theatre Group has announced the casting for August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews August 31, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum.

Musical Theatre West (MTW) opens its 2015-2016 season with Lerner and Loewe's Tony Award-winning musical My Fair Lady, October 23 - November 8, 2015, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are now on sale, as well as season subscription packages (to include West Side Story, Sister Act, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) for subscription savings.   For tickets, go to www.musical.org or call (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.  Tickets start at $20.  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Fourth time's the charm for Musical Theatre West as the award-winning regional theater company opens its 63rd season with the 1956 Lerner and Loewe Broadway classic MY FAIR LADY. Retaining the effervescent wit and jubilant spirit of the original, MTW's irresistibly beguiling, top-notch local revival---now on stage at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach, CA through November 8---is a thoroughly enjoyable production from start to finish. Filled with wit, charm, memorable tunes, and timeless, often uplifting humor, MY FAIR LADY is basically the comfort food of classic musicals... and MTW wisely sticks with this winning formula. After all... why mess with a near-perfect classic?

Called by many the perfect musical, My Fair Lady based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion has perhaps the wittiest and showiest debate between the sexes. Shaw despised marriage and loved to magnify human frailty, both female and male. And with Lerner and Loewe to create the book, music and lyrics, the result is a creation with music and story that flow together in ideal harmony. Even when it's at its abrasive best, it's funny; even when Professor Henry Higgins (Martin Kildare) is obnoxious, selfish and self-centered to the hilt, we cannot help but laugh with him...and love him. Despite what a man says about a woman, he cannot live without her, and vice versa. We were born to live in  a love/hate relationship, to be at each other's throats and in the next second, rolling around in the hay. It's all a part of life and Shaw, and Lerner and Loewe displayed the ups and downs of romantic living better than anyone else...period. Now in an absolutely loverly production at MTW, Long Beach, the show plays through November 8 only.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.