Stage Alliance News

The Conduct Of Life traverses the volatile relationships and status woes of Orlando, an ambitious climbing lieutenant commander, his vigorous and trusting wife, Leticia, and their collection of servants, friends and/or prisoners. In this dark, gritty exploration of how people live complicit with an improvident government, we witness five characters use sex, violence, power, class struggle, and their own humanity to feed The Beast.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. 'What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel,' remarks Wood. 'It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews tonight, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

WAKE, written by New York-based Carey Crim, will have its west coast premiere presented by LA's critically acclaimed SeaGlass Theatre company today, April 26 through Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the beautiful Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena, CA, it was announced by Ovation nominated actor and SeaGlass Theatre Managing Director Paul Stroili, along with SeaGlass Artistic Director Kimberly Van Luin. WAKE'S five all-star member ensemble will feature Nancy Berggren, Alison Blanchard, Michael Connors, Allie Costa, and Lauren McCormack. Matt Kirkwood has been set to direct.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production in its 2013-1014 season of shows with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the Tony award-winning, LES MISERABLES, music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Brian Kite.

Defending Champions The LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are headed back to the softball field to defend their title against The West Hollywood Cheerleaders in the Drag Queen World Series on May 10, 2014 from 1-4pm.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to welcome star of stage and screen, Megan Hilty, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Today, April 12 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, April 13 (7 p.m.). From Broadway to TV, Hilty's extensive resume includes starring roles in Wicked, 9 to 5: The Musical, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 'Smash' and, most recently, 'Sean Saves the World.'

Deborah Lewis, an exceptional and highly regarded arts administrator with three decades of experience, has been appointed Executive Director of the renowned Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC) effective April 21, 2014, following a nationwide search, it was announced by LACC Board Chair Jennifer Terry. Lewis previously served as Executive Director of Angels Gate Cultural Center, the acclaimed visual and performing arts organization located San Pedro heralded for its broad reach throughout Southern California and beyond. Prior to that she was the executive director of the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, for which she administered its national grant and scholarship programs and also provided arts organizations with key technical assistance in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. "What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel," remarks Wood. "It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Saturday, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

WAKE, written by New York-based Carey Crim, will have its west coast premiere presented by LA's critically acclaimed SeaGlass Theatre company Saturday, April 26 through Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the beautiful Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena, CA, it was announced today by Ovation nominated actor and SeaGlass Theatre Managing Director Paul Stroili, along with SeaGlass Artistic Director Kimberly Van Luin. WAKE'S five all-star member ensemble will feature Nancy Berggren, Alison Blanchard, Michael Connors, Allie Costa, and Lauren McCormack. Matt Kirkwood has been set to direct.

From a field of 12 local high school students, Jonah Gould, Mykaela Sterris and LeafRickard have been selected as the winners of the 2014 August Wilson Monologue Competition Los Angeles Regional finals. Contestants this year featured high school students from nine Southern California cities, who performed in the regional finals at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Tuesday night, March 11, 2014. The top three student performers received scholarships and the opportunity to perform again in New York City. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is presented by the Center Theatre Group Affiliates, a volunteer organization that supports Center Theatre Group's education and community partnerships programs.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

As part of Artists at Play's mission to present stories of underrepresented communities, they will develop and showcase two new works to the L.A. theatre community. This upcoming event features readings of Marabella by local playwright Boni B. Alvarez, whose Dallas Non-Stop was recently Ovation Recommended; and Qui Nguyen's She Kills Monsters, named one of the Best 10 Plays of 2013 (TimeOut Chicago, Edge Boston).

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Megan Hilty, was a breakout star of NBC's 'Smash' and starred on Broadway in 'Wicked' and '9 to 5: The Musical.' She currently stars as Liz on NBC's 'Sean Saves The World' with Sean Hayes of 'Will & Grace' fame. She makes her South Florida concert debut when she joins the WinterStage Concert Series at the Broward Center's Parker Playhouse on February 20 at 8:00 PM for one show only - following on the heels of January's sold-out launch of the series with 'Will & Grace' star Megan Mullally. Series host and Sirius/Radio star Seth Rudetsky will join Ms. Hilty at the piano. For tickets please visit the Parker Playhouse ticketing page or call 954-462-0222.

Murder, mayhem and poetry. Award-winning, visionary playwright Murray Mednick brings his unique sensibility to the hair-raising, sometimes violent, and often hilarious exploits of medieval poet Francois Villon in a world premiere production directed by the playwright. Villon opens tonight, Feb. 15, presented by Padua Productions in a guest production at the Odyssey Theatre.

The Los Angeles Premiere of the critically acclaimed DERBY DAY written and directed by Samuel Brett Williams opens Saturday, February 22nd at 8 PM. There will be two previews on February 20th and February 21st. at 8 PM. The show runs Thursday's, Friday's and Saturday's through March 22nd at the Elephant Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, 90038). Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.plays411.com/derbyday or by calling 323.960.7779.

Kicking off 3-D's 2014 musical theatre season, The Producers opened February 1, 2014 at 8:00 pm. Performances will continue in Fullerton through Sunday, February 16. 3DT will then move the production to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for its first season of 'extended' performances February 21 - March 2. After being honored by the prestigious LA Stage Alliance with 15 Ovation Award nominations and 5 wins (including Best Musical) for their 2013 production of Jason Robert Brown's Parade, 3DT's Executive Producer/Artistic Director T.J. Dawson said 'What better way to begin a new year season than with the musical that has won more Tony Awards than any other show in history.' Check out the opening night photos below!

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to welcome star of stage and screen, Megan Hilty, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Saturday, April 12 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, April 13 (7 p.m.). From Broadway to TV, Hilty's extensive resume includes starring roles in Wicked, 9 to 5: The Musical, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 'Smash' and, most recently, 'Sean Saves the World.'

3-D's 2014 Musical Theatre Season Kicks Off with THE PRODUCERS tonight, January 31 - March 2, 2014

At Saturday's grand opening of Chance Theater's Bold New Home, Wylie Aitken, a major arts supporter and chair of the California Arts Council, announced that he has made a $250,000 contribution to name the new home of the Chance after his lovely wife, Bette Aitken. The new name will be the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center. The official dedication ceremony will be scheduled soon.