Michael L. Quintos News

Arguably, director Diane Paulus' greatest triumph to date is the spectacular new production of PIPPIN, the 2013 Tony-winning revival of Stephen Schwartz's trippy but winsome musical about the angst-riddled but hyper-aspirational young son of King Charlemagne, and his erratic, sometimes frustrating journey of self-discovery. In her marvelously inventive, re-imagined update---now playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 9---Paulus brilliantly orients the topsy-turvy machinations of the entire story within the canvas-lined confines of a big-top circus. Here, the over-the-top performance troupe that 'guides' our hero's search for self-fulfillment aren't merely just actors (or 'players') but are also all agile, athletic circus performers that tumble, leap, and balance themselves for our (and Pippin's) entertainment pleasure. As expected, both Pippin and the audience are equally lulled into submission.

Admirably directed by 3-D Theatricals co-founder and resident artistic director TJ Dawson, this ambitiously impressive regional revival of RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL, continues through October 26 at its home-base at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton before moving north for its set of performances at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, November 1-9. A stunning, beautifully-rendered production enhanced by a supremely talented cast and Broadway-caliber production values, this rarely-produced musical is a Southern California must-see!

For 90 solid minutes, Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Brian Stokes Mitchell---under the guise of a showtunes-centric cabaret concert themed around his most recent studio album Simply Broadway---provided his enthralled Costa Mesa audience a virtual master class in musical theater performance. Not only did he sing every selection beautifully (as expected), he performed the heck out of each song with electric, palpable passion. Instead of merely parking himself in front of a mic, the seasoned pro of film, television and the Broadway stage chose to actually disappear into each song's character with purposeful yet effortless ease. It's not difficult to be awed by Mitchell.

The appeal of trading in the hustle and bustle of a 21st Century lifestyle for a 1955 throwback downgrade is the focus of Jordan Harrison's wonderfully intriguing play MAPLE & VINE, now having its Los Angeles/Orange County premiere production at the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills through October 19. Directed by Mark Ramont, the dark dramedy traces the story of an interracial married couple and the drastic steps they take on to not only escape their respective present-day ruts but to further ignite their hopeful pursuit of happiness.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire's thoughtful, riveting character study GOOD PEOPLE continues at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts through October 12. Buoyed by impressive performances, this excellent regional production of the Tony Award-winning play shines the spotlight on the class divide and examines the lengths some go to for self-preservation.

Something completely enchanting is happening right now on a stage in Costa Mesa. Kicking off its 51st season, South Coast Repertory---in association with the American Repertory Theatre and the Smith Center---is currently staging the remarkable, re-envisioned new take on William Shakespeare's classic play THE TEMPEST created by Aaron Posner and magician Teller. The visually-stunning, wonderfully magical production continues its Southern California premiere performances through September 28.

Going above-and-beyond your typical museum diorama or theme park animatronic showcase, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - THE ARENA SPECTACULAR is a dino-lover's dream: a wondrous feat of technology, theatrical magic, and imagination---bringing to (virtual) life those figures that continue to scare/fascinate every kid (and kid-at-heart). Kid-friendly, big budget edu-tainment, the show's North American tour has swung back to Southern California, first at the Honda Center in Orange County through September 7, then later at the Staple Center in Los Angeles from September 11-14.

Subtle and, at times, molasses-slow in execution---yet ultimately powerful in impact---ONCE is a beautifully-staged, soul-searing musical that interchanges romantic entanglement for creative fulfillment---and how the line that separates these emotions are often blurred. The eight-time Tony award-winning musical---featuring a book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova---continues performances in Costa Mesa through August 31.

When you've been given the privilege to watch and, of course, listen to legendary Tony winner Jennifer Holliday sing live---in that signature inimitable style---it's practically akin to a religious experience. She is, to put it mildly, still one of the world's most treasured, gifted musical voices. Even more awesome? Holliday served as the finale headliner that capped off an impressive line-up of Broadway stars that included Erich Bergen, Rogelio Douglas, Jr., Danny Gurwin, and Tony nominee Chad Kimball. And the highly entertaining evening---a pleasant mixture of amusing anecdotes and enthralling showtune performances---was hosted by Holliday's Tony nominated DREAMGIRLS co-star, Obba Babatunde.

On the surface, GHOST, the ultra-romantic 1990 Oscar-nominated box office hit, seems every bit the perfect motion picture to be repurposed into a flashy stage musical. Unfortunately, the musical that eventually emerged (now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through August 10) is a chaotic, schizophrenic melange of random adult contemporary pop rock songs intermixed with an amped-up mystical mystery where the swoon-worthy aspects of the original gets diluted in favor of dazzling effects and abstract dance numbers. Why water down the romance?

If you've seen the touring company of GHOST: THE MUSICAL recently, either at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood or its current stop at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa (through August 10), then you'll no doubt recognize the vivacious Carla R. Stewart, who serves up quippy one-liners and sassy comebacks nightly as Oda Mae Brown in the stage musical version of the popular film. While the tour settles into its final week in Orange County, we thought we'd play 20 (silly) questions with her...

Directed by Adam Shankman and featuring a talented, impossibly photogenic cast that includes Kristen Bell, Hunter Parrish, Benjamin Walker, Amber Riley, Mario, Jenna Ushkowitz and Jonah Platt, the Hollywood Bowl production of the 60's hippie-centric HAIR is lively and unabashedly joyful to the core. This must-see event continues for additional performances through the weekend, August 2 and 3.

A buoyant, truly impressive local revival directed by Alan Souza, 3-DT's DAMN YANKEES is a true audience pleaser, highlighted by an enthusiastic cast and spirited re-imagined sequences that are truly Broadway-caliber. This all-new production is now playing at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through July 27, then travels to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from August 2-10.

Lively and electrified by its talented, winsome lead actors, this new admirable local production of the Tony Award-winning IN THE HEIGHTS has just been extended for additional performances in its Anaheim Hills home through August 8---and deservedly so. Overall, this new OC production crackles with an electric, infectiously appealing pulse, offering a genuinely entertaining, praiseworthy go at Lin-Manuel Miranda's multi-layered material.

Currently playing Nick Massi, a member of the talented quartet better known to the world as The Four Seasons, Adam Zelasko is now in his third year of touring with JERSEY BOYS, the hit Tony award-winning musical, which will be returning to Orange County for a two-week engagement at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts starting June 24. Before the show's arrival in Costa Mesa, Zelasko agreed to play 20 questions with us...

So what's the big selling point for this new national touring production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, which continues its three-week stop at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through June 22? Well, how about a pair of better-known American Idol alums in the lead roles... a pair that also just happens to be married to each other in real life? Though Diana DeGarma (as the Narrator) and Ace Young (as Joseph) may be the names on the marquee, it's the fun party atmosphere exuded by the show's terrific ensemble cast that really makes this show pop.

First to take on this brave task of bringing a regional production of the hit musical LES MISERABLES to the L.A./O.C. area is McCoy-Rigby Entertainment, that regional theater powerhouse that has consistently and successfully put on some magnificent, Broadway-caliber productions at their home base at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. In this theatrical company's very capable hands---particularly the pair attached to the production's Ovation Award-winning director Brian Kite---this impressive, locally-gestated LES MIS is confident, gutsy, and even quite rousing.

This Summer, Orange County, CA---which includes Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Santa Ana, Irvine, and even cities just a hop over the county line like La Mirada and Long Beach---is so chock-full of hot stage goodies, that you may have to earmark a lot more time in the next three months to properly satisfy all your theatrical cravings. Here's our Top 5 Summer Must-See picks, plus a few other noteworthy shows to check out around the area, too!

After being on the road for almost two years now, the hilarious Tony Award-winning Broadway musical hit THE BOOK OF MORMON has finally made its way inside the OC... And, man, it's about frikkin' time. All that hype and hyperbole about just how amazing this show is isn't an exaggeration; every accolade this show has received since its bow is indeed much-deserved. The giddy, uber-devilish musical continues its two-week mission at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through May 25.

Bursting with magic, wit and whimsy, INTO THE WOODS---the sprightly Tony Award-winning musical that features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine---is currently on stage at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through May 18. Produced by OC's Ovation Award-winning 3-D Theatricals, this sardonic, often funny, metaphor-heavy dark musical comedy disguised as a family-friendly play is indeed an enjoyable, funny romp, marred only slightly by the theater's ever pesky sound system that renders many of the show's rapid-fire lyrics all but decipherable as the too-loud (albeit hard-working) orchestra drowns out the characters' voices. Still, this trip is worth the journey.