Brittany Goldfield Rodrigues

Greenday's musical AMERICAN IDIOT is as close as most theatregoers will get to a rock concert - save for THE ROCK OF AGES. The Lower Ossington Theatre's production of the Tony Award winning musical written by Billie Joe Armstrong stays true to the show's rock and roll energy, but makes it its own with impeccable casting.

When you think pink, law, and music, it's hard to not think of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, the show based on the modern classic film of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon. The musical adaptation of the story features just as much sass and quirkiness, but just a little bit more singing and dancing. Wavestage staged a their own production of the much loved musical at the beautiful Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts which ran from Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13.

SPAMALOT may be based on the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but the musical differs greatly from the film on which it is based. While both the musical and film have hilarity in common, the story's transition onto stage provides some interesting differences. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2005 has since graced stages internationally and garnered three Tony awards. The original Broadway cast of the show that spoofs the Arthurian legend boasted Sara Ramirez, Christian Borle, Tim Curry and more! This may be quite the act to follow, but the Lower Ossington Theatre's current production of the laugh-out-loud show does a good job at creating a similar atmosphere and staying true to the overall show.

Based on the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail is SPAMALOT, a hilarious musical that parodies the legend of King Arthur. While the two have their differences, both have one thing in common - outrageous loud-out-loud antics. Now, the Lower Ossington Theatre is staging it's own production of the hilarious, larger than life musical.

Cult classic HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is making waves on Broadway right now with Neil Patrick Harris, so Torontonians will be happy to know that they can catch a production of the edgy rock musical. The Lower Ossington theater is currently staging its own production of the musical about an East German transgender singer who fronts a fictional rock and roll band. The high-energy story tackles emotional plot points as the story goes on, as the audience learns that Hedwig, formerly Hansel, suffered a botched gender reassignment surgery in order to wed his love who wanted to move to West Germany.

THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING) is an ode to many icons, but with well deserved special attention to Carole King. Each and every track was expertly chosen, and brilliantly executed by the extremely talented cast.

It has been 14 years since Sherie Rene Scott released a solo album. Succeeding her first solo record MEN I'VE HAD, which was released in 2000, is her digitally exclusive album ALL WILL BE WELL (THE PIECE OF MEAT STUDIO SESSIONS), which was released today. Scott is best known for her roles in the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows THE LITTLE MERMAID, EVERYDAY RAPTURE, AIDA, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, and more.

The cast recording for MURDER FOR TWO is just as eccentric, fun, and unique as one would expect. The most interesting part about this story and its score is that two actors voice the 13 characters in the story. Brett Ryback takes on the role as Marcus, acting alongside Jeff Blumenkrantz who plays all the suspects.

Currently on stage at the Lower Ossington Theatre is an innovative production of the classic musical, CABARET. Directed by Jeremy Hutton, CABARET at the LOT follows the iconic story you know and love, but does so with its own creative twists.

Although staged productions of the Kander and Ebb musical CABARET are plentiful, the production put on by the Lower Ossington Theatre is not one to miss. If you have seen the movie or the show in the past, you will still enjoy the show as every rendition of CABARET is different, and the LOT's production is creative, innovative, and packed with impeccable talents.

LOT regular Kylie McMahon who stars as the shows leading bombshell Sally Bowles took some time to talk to BWW about the nature of the LOT as well as the pressures that come with playing such a widely recognized role.

LITTLE SHOPS OF HORRORS tells the story about a down on his luck shopkeeper and his singing plant. This production of the show reunites NEXT TO NORMAL leads, Mark Willet and Kylie McMahon, who respectively play Seymour and Audrey.

Iconic performer Fred Astaire has a lengthy and impressive discography and filmography. The legendary singer, dancer, and actor has many memorable moments - all of which are part of Sony Masterwork's most recent Fred Astaire collection, FRED ASTAIRE: THE EARLY YEARS AT RK.

It's a big bright beautiful world for Andrew Di Rosa, the Picking actor who played Shrek in the Lower Ossington Theater's production of SHREK THE MUSICAL this fall. Di Rosa previously starred in the companys production of ALTAR BOYZ, and will be seen in the feature film thriller Fragile Minds in 2014. The actor took some time to sit down and talk with BWW to about his love for acting, being a Shrek fanboy, and his favourite musicals.

The fun new musical FIRST DATE boasts music from Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and a book by Austin Winsberg. The show tells the story of what happens when hipster serial dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez) and uptight Aaron (Zachary Levi) are set up for a blind date at a restaurant downtown. The investment banker and artist-type don't quite hit it off but they don't fall apart either. The other restaurant goers become every person who could stand in the way or influence a date, each one with a colourful song of their own. Sisters, ex's, best friends and more make an appearance during this dynamic blind date.

SHREK THE MUSICAL proved a lot of skeptics wrong when it ended up a Broadway Success. While some may have expected 'camp,' the show proved itself Broadway-worthy with it's stellar music, composition, as well as set and costume design. The star studded original cast brought the show to life with their stellar talents. Sutton Foster as Fiona, Daniel Breaker as Donkey, and Brian Darcy James as Shrek proved to all musical theatre nerds alike that yes, stage adaptations of children's movies can make it on the Great White Way.

Jason Robert Brown's musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS boasts a small cast of two, but tells a tale to remember. With a movie in the works, the show is a force to be reckoned with. The show's 2013 Off-Broadway production at Second Stage Theatre starring Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor is no different. Sh-K-Boom Ghostlight Records released the Off-Broadway production's recording today, and it is everything every THE LAST FIVE YEARS fan would want it to be. Wolfe and Kantor shine in the creative and innovative show, owning each and everyone one of the shows 14 catchy tracks.

Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's NEXT TO NORMAL is a Pulitzer prize winning and Tony award winning musical that continues to touch the hearts of many. The show about bipolar Diana Goodman and how her illness effects her and her whole family continues to touch peoples hearts. It takes a certain amount of passion, emotion, care, and overall talent to perform this complex piece. The LOT (Lower Ossington Theatre) seems to understand this, as its production of the show will leave its audience in tears.

Anyone who has ever visited Laura Benanti's Twitter page knows she is cute, sweet, funny, and quirky. Her new solo album released by Broadway Records, IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION: LIVE AT 54 BELOW, is just that. Cute, sweet, funny and quirky. It's extremley refreshing how representative the record is of her personality.

NEXT TO NORMAL is Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey`s Pulitzer Prize winning musical about Diana, a mother and wife, and how she, with her family, copes with her mental illness. The Lower Ossington Theatre is putting on a productuion of the emotional, tearjerker of a show. NEXT TO NORMAL is a show that has become iconic in the world of musical theater, and fans can now look forward to the LOT taking it on as it`s next project