Happy End Photos - Off-Broadway

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series of interviews with some of am the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the arts alive in the City of the Angels. And like all of us, how are they dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved? This Spotlight focuses on Anzu Lawson, an Asian-American Actress, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, and Yoko Ono doppelganger who I first met during the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

There's nothing more endearing than a little girl and her dog, especially when it comes to a red-headed orphan who reminds kids of all ages that positivity is the only road to resilience!  Slidell Little Theatre is opening its' 55th season with the timeless classic, Annie, based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray. Adapted for the Broadway stage in 1977, Annie was the winner of seven Tony Awards, and continues to be a worldwide phenomenon today. The sun has definitely come out on this entire cast, especially two remarkable actresses, Elizabeth Burris and Piper Hall, who share the title role of Broadway's favorite belting ragamuffin.  Despite their marked star quality, there is another salient stray who is commanding equal respect-Annie's beloved dog Sandy!  The four legged character, portrayed by rescued K-9 Jen-Ai, once declared unredeemable, is stealing hearts on and off the stage. The golden's trainer, Margaret Cromwell say the script is not much different than their own life story, and is excited about the affect her beloved may have on audiences.  Regardless of number of legs the actors have, the talent in this production is awe inspiring, and the relationship between the two may require a few tissues. Their genuine affection definitely pulls you into the theme of what it means to value someone or something, all the while highlighting the meaning of family love, however that is defined for each of us.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are delighted to present the second show of its 2016-2017 season:  Davis Gaines starring in the hilarious comedy LEND ME A TENOR, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Art Manke.  LEND ME A TENOR will preview on Friday, October 21, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 22) and run through Sunday, November 13, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.   

Moderated by the New York Times' (NYT) chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, who plays the titular role of the tone-deaf operatic soprano Florence Foster Jenkins in the movie of the same name, recently talked about the connection between acting and music; her desire to work on an original theater piece on the Broadway stage, among other things, in 'TimesTalks.'

Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2015.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 83 new American plays in its 22-year history - just celebrated its 2014-2015 Season with ABINGDON: WHERE THE STARS ALIGN, its annual benefit gala and dinner,on October 20 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan). The entertaining evening honored Emmy Award-winning talk show host and actor Dick Cavett, star of Hellman v. McCarthy at Abingdon last season, and philanthropist Dr. Vijay K. Anand, a world-renowned endoscopic sinus surgeon and avid supporter of the arts.

East bound and down Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida on Saturday, March 22nd, a long line of custom cars and vintage Trans Ams followed a tractor trailer emblazoned with scenes from the old West into Pennock Industrial Park. The reason - the grand opening of Bubba's East Coast Rods and Customs - home toreality tv stars Bubba and Tom Lloyd and some of the most beautiful automobiles ever built. Bubba, 25, is an exceptionally talented master craftsman and designer, with a reputation for building some of the best cars in the industry. He and his dad already have a successful show on the Velocity channel - Hot Rod Reality - now airing its sixth season. The show won a coveted Silver Telly Award. Soon, a second show will begin airing on a major television network.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

The Flea Theater (www.theflea.org) presents the World Premiere of Creation Production Company's 'A WORLD APART' by Susan Mosakowski.

American Stage Theatre Company continues its first full season in the Raymond James Theatre with Noel Coward's hilariously classic farce, BLITHE SPIRIT, running Jan. 20 thru Feb. 14. 'Pay-What-You-Can' nights are Tuesday, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Sean Mathias directs Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot which is his first production as Artistic Director of the 2009 Theatre Royal Haymarket Company. Waiting for Godot will tour the UK prior to its opening in London in April.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms?marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 ? February 22 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.