Audrey Liebross - Page 9

Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep) in Rancho Mirage, California, starts its 2015-16 season on October 28th with the world premiere of HAPPY HOUR, written by George Eastman, starring Gavin MacLeod and John Hawkinson, and directed by CVRep's artistic director, Ron Celona.

MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE, a one-woman play with music, starring Sunny Thompson, is coming to the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside. The show will run for one performance at 8 pm, on Saturday, October 24, 2015, as part of the Broadway in Riverside series. Sunny Thompson stars as Marilyn Monroe. Playwright Greg Thompson developed the script from Marilyn Monroe's own words.

esert Theatreworks, Palm Desert's acclaimed 501(c)(3) community theatre, will present STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Robert Harling's 1987 off-Broadway sensation, which subsequently became a hit motion picture. STEEL MAGNOLIAS is the story of the outspoken clientele of Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana

LOOT, a 1965 satirical farce -- a bizarre, dark parody of an English drawing room comedy -- by British enfant terrible Joe Orton, is a difficult production. Desert Rose Playhouse, in Rancho Mirage, California, pulls it off. Excellent acting and directing result in a great deal of hilarity.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL-THE SURVIVOR TOUR is a great deal of fun. Each bouncy number has plenty of clever lyrics and deliberately silly choreography to keep the audience laughing. It is almost impossible not to clap and dance along with the performers as they perform such antics as playing instruments consisting of kitchen implements while singing 'The sheets are wet, the sheets are wet,' in a send-up of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.'

Palm Desert's Desert Theatreworks has mounted a must-see production of Sarah Ruhl's edgy, comedic, metaphysical play, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE.The director has created such a visual and musical feast that it doesn't matter if anyone understands the story, any more than it does with a ballet.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW) is presenting Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl's dark, but madcap, romantic comedy, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE. The play will run from September 18th through the 26th, 2015, at the Arthur Newman Theatre, in the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL (MTM), which has been delighting audiences for years, is coming to Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center (Fox PAC). The four performers on what is subtitled THE SURVIVOR TOUR have all either survived cancer themselves or served as caregiver for a family member with cancer. The two performances will allow attendees to laugh for a good cause because MTM's SURVIVOR TOUR will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Frank Ferrante brings his one-man show to the Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), in the last of CVRep's summer 2015 cabaret series. 'Groucho,' as played by Mr. Ferrante, will entertain audiences for three performances on the weekend of August 28th through the 30th.

The new touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, currently playing at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, is a must-see. The music, costumes, and sets are hauntingly beautiful and the performances are generally superb. Katie Travis, as Christine Daae, is a standout.

The new version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, opening at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa on August 5th, differs from the original. Broadway World spoke to Katie Travis, who plays Christine Daae about her take on the character and the production.

The touring company of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA performed a magnificent self-produced cabaret titled OSCAR UNMASKED, consisting of performances from Oscar winning songs and scores. In addition, audience members had the chance to bid on three items in a live auction. The cabaret raised about $10,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and The Actors Fund.

VITAMIN Q, a revue comprised of musical numbers by Eric Lane Barnes, now appearing at Desert Rose Playhouse, is hilariously funny and appropriate for gay-friendly audiences from teenagers on up.

Desert Theatreworks presents the California premiere of the new romantic comedy FUNNY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE, at the Arthur Newman Theatre, in Palm Desert, beginning June 19, 2015.

The Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), as part of its 2015 summer cabaret series, will feature a three-performance return engagement of DORIS AND ME! The program is billed as a 'sentimental journey' involving one man's 'obsession with music and movie icon, Doris Day,' starring Scott Dreier.

A brilliant production of LES MISERABLES by Theatre Royale appeared at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside. In addition to top-notch performances, the production of LES MIZ features stunning visuals.

Broadway World interviewed David Reuther, of Theatre Royale's production of LES MISERABLES, about playing Jean Valjean and about the show's appeal.

Daniela Ryan, director of Desert Theatreworks' production of THE MIRACLE WORKER, is the mother of 11-year-old Violet Feath, who plays Helen Keller. Broadway World asked them about what it is like to work together, and talked to executive director Ron Phillips-Martinez about how the company solves difficulties.

Desert Theatreworks has mounted a splendid production of William Gibson's THE MIRACLE WORKER, directed by Daniela Ryan. The cast turns in performances befitting a professional production.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, in Rancho Mirage, California, is presenting yet another fine production - its last show for the 2014-15 season. Douglas Carter Beane's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED is an edgy comedy which raises serious questions and which contains serious moments, especially in the second act. It is well-acted and superbly staged. I recommend this show for adults with one caveat: It contains brief moments of full frontal male nudity, and is therefore not suitable for everyone.