Don Grigware - Page 14

What an incredible week this has been! First Matilda the Musical and now Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, both based on Roald Dahl's books. It most definitely is a world of pure imagination for kids of all ages. Currently at the Hollywood Pantages through April 14, The Chocolate Factory is a uniquely mesmerizing tale of little Charlie Bucket, who, like Matilda, is a genius who can create something out of nothing. Willy Wonka (Noah Weisberg) desperately wants an heir to his Chocolate Factory, so

If you look closely at the photo above, you see a woman looking at an image of herself in the mirror. However, the two womern are decidedly different in dress and demeanor. The image wears a smile and is happy; perhaps the woman on the opposite side wishes she were living her life on the other side. Juliet Fischer-Schulein, a former Rockette and Broadway dancer/actress/singer brought her Midlife crisis, excuse me, Cabaret to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Sunday evening, March 24 to a packed house of admiring fans and colleagues. This lady is a one.of.a.kind, knock.'em. dead performer, who, in spite of her real life pain and depression, enjoys being onstage so much, she gains at least momentary happiness from the experience. And what do we receive as her audience? A whole lot of entertaining stories, songs and even dance....and, more urgently, a desire to put ourselves in the driver's seat and forge ahead to find some balance in our own existence.

Brushes by co-playwrights Cathy Hamilton and Carol Starr Schneider is set to open at the Whitefire Saturday March 30. These gals recently sat down and chatted about the play.

How often do you get the chance to see a musical engineered for the entire family...one that is both entertaining and illuminating? Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical is a sumptuous treat for the eyes, ears and mind. Imagination runs amok in choreography, staging and the casting of some amazingly talented children. To get a bevy of child actors to essay these little 'maggots' so incredibly well for two and a half hours is no minor feat. It's like the song claims: it's a 'miracle!' Currently in its regional theatre premiere at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Kavli Theatre through March 31 only, the show is a big winner for 5 Star Theatricals.

ell me about the play. The Secret of Chimneys. How does it rate among Christie's masterpieces? Lost for thirty years, The Secret of Chimneys is one of Agatha Christie's least known plays and one of the most intriguing. While it does not have the sleek veneer and brilliant solution of a Murder on the Orient Express, it is a delightful comedy of manners with a very prestigious dead body. There is no Poirot or Miss Marple, but there is fun repartee between the leading could be lovers, Anthony and Virginia, as well as a sly game of cat and mouse with Anthony and the deceivingly pedestrian Superintendent Battle ('no flies on him' Anthony tells Virginia.) .And also the mystery humorously comments on itself ('Suspicious stranger, eh? So obvious you can hardly believe in it. A mysterious stranger with a beard': or, 'well, no handcuffs for one, Superintendent')

Tom Lowe is a pop singer/composer who recently released a short video entitled 'Polanco'. It's enchanting to watch this little miraculous film about a small Mexican city and what goes on in one of its popular bars. The story is based on a real life incident in which Lowe was robbed in the back of a taxi in Mexico City. His disgust of the people eventually turned to respect and love when many came forward, helped him to survive and to produce his video. The full story is at the next to last link at the bottom of our interview and is an exciting and humanely worthwhile read. Lowe, born in England and with a multi-cultural background both here and abroad, discusses 'Polanco'and also his fascinating career thus far as an international pop singer and musical theatre actor.

Actress/singer par excellence Rebecca Spencer has delighted audiences on Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde and played Madame Giry in Phantom in Las Vegas. Since 2014 when she moved to Los Angeles, she has performed her exquisite cabaret and done at least 3 shows for Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach: The Music Man, S'Wonderful, and Mary Poppins. She will open March 30th in their new production of Catch Me If You Can. Spencer took time out of a busy rehearsal schedule to talk about her role in the show and about her illustrious theatrical career thus far.

Director Cameron Watson is about to receive the Milton Katselas Award for distinguished achievement in direction from the LADCC for 2018. He is one busy director in LA theatre and recently sat down to discuss overseeing the new production of Steel Magnolias at Actors Co-op, set to open Friday March 22. Describe your association with Actors Co-op.

No No Nanette/book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel/adapted by Burt Shevelove/'music by Vincent Youmans; lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach/directed by John LaLonde/choreographed by John Vaughn/musical director: Douglas Austin/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, Claremont/through April 13 Based on Frank Mandel's 1919 play My Lady Friends, the musical version No No Nanette bowed on Broadway in 1925 and spawned many movies through the years. But it wasn't until 1971, in a rollicking revival adapted by Burt Shevelove, that the

Actress/singer/vocal coach Susan Edwards Martin, Lady Blues in Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway and star of many other musical shows, recently premiered her solo cabaret show at Upstairs at Vitello's. I reviewed the show and she was sensational.* She is taking the show to Feinstein's 54/Below in New York on March 23. Edwards Martin also has created an original show about the optimistic way she lives her life called, 'Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life!", that had a spectacular one night presentation and is currently waiting in the wings for a full production. Busy, busy, busy, Edwards also recently performed with Musical Theatre Guild as the lead in Minnie's Boys to rave reviews. Ms. Edwards Martin sat down and discussed her career thus far, and about the story behind Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life! and her latest cabaret show. Before we start to look back I always ask a few less relevant questions about musical theatre.

Actress/singer/vocal coach Susan Edwards Martin, Lady Blues in Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway and star of many other musical shows, recently premiered her solo cabaret show at Upstairs at Vitello's. I reviewed the show and she was sensational.* She is taking the show to Feinstein's 54/Below in New York on March 23. Edwards Martin also has created an original show about the optimistic way she lives her life called, 'Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life!", that had a spectacular one night presentation and is currently waiting in the wings for a full production. Busy, busy, busy, Edwards also recently performed with Musical Theatre Guild as the lead in Minnie's Boys to rave reviews. Ms. Edwards Martin sat down and discussed her career thus far, and about the story behind Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life! and her latest cabaret show. Before we start to look back I always ask a few less relevant questions about musical theatre.

William A. Reilly has been co-producer/ co-artistic director of Crown City Theatre going on 22 years. Crown has been located at St. Matthew's Church in NoHo for almost 12 years. April 1 the company must leave, as St Matthew's has received a grant to make the spaces a homeless shelter. Reilly sat down recently and talked about what the group will do as they look to the future. Close local spaces are being investigated as rentals until a new permanent space is relegated.

Tuesdays with Morrie/by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom/directed by L. Flint Esquerra/Sierra Madre Playhouse/through March 31 Was there a mentor apart from family who gave you the inspiration to change the way you lived your life? Based on Mitch Alboms book entitled Tuesdays with Morrie in which he details his relationship with Professor Morrie Schwartz at Brandeis U in Massachusetts in the late 70s, the two character play is currently receiving an insightful and enjoyable production at Sierra Madre Playhouse through March 31. With meticulous direction from L. Flint Esquerra and splendid performances from Larry Eisenberg as Morrie and Jackson Kendall as Mitch, the play should be a popular hit with audiences young and old.

D. Scott Eads, who made a big splash last fall at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in Legacy in the Key of Bing. returned to Sterlings Sunday February 17 with a brand new show entitled Love and Other Games. This show continued the musical journey with iconic singers/songwriters who established themselves in night clubs and 60s TV...and some on Broadway and film like Burt Bacharach. What a wonderful selection of music! Oldsters like myself really appreciate heaing great songs from the canon of American standards. Eads was backed throughout with a fabulous three piece combo: Todd Hunter, musical director, at the piano, Gary Wicks on bass and Kevin van den Elzen on drums. He was joined by special guest star Claude Hall, who simply sizzled onstage.

What amazes me about Oscar Wilde''s classic The Importance of Being Earnest is how well it holds up. First performed in 1895 it is a wildly funny satire on Victorian manners and customs. Lady Bracknell (Michael Mullen, pictured above) abhors the very thought of any engagement of marriage of her niece to someone beneath her class, but as the play progresses, Wilde's take on the whole idea of marriage becomes far less serious. Changing one's identity to meet and date a woman is practiced with the utmost glee, akin to contemporary deceit and infidelity. Currently onstage at Crown City Theatre in NoHo, Earnest receives a terrific production, directed with flair by Michaerl J. Marchak and boasting a deliciously comedic cast.

based on a novel by Roy Horniman/book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman/music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak/directed & choreographed by Peggy Hickey/musical director: Julie Lamoureux/3-D Theatricals/Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts/through March 3 Winner of 4 Tony Awards in 2014, A Gentlerman's Guide to Love and Murder is a devilishly clever musical sendup of the British aristocracy circa 1909. Produ

Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole/book by Colman Domingo & Patricia McGregor/music supervision:John McDaniel/directed by Patricia McGregor/Geffen/Gil Cates Theater/through March 17 A much anticipated musical in Los Angeles has been Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole, which has received previous tryouts back east. Penned by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, who also directs the piece, the show is supposedly based on real facts from Cole's life and includes most of his standard hits arranged by John McDaniel. Currently onstage at the Gil CatesTheater of the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Lights Out is spectacular entertainment, especially from Dule Hill as Cole and Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. but its book is in need of some major retooling. It is December 17, 1957 in the NBC Studio in Burbank where Cole's final  30 minute TV variety show is about to be presented live with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Randy Van Horn Singers. Fifteen minutes to air time, Cole is in a deep state of depression over this being the final show. Why? He has millions of fans. Southern states have refused to continue paying for advertising on the show. Cole is a Negro, pure asnd simple. In spite of his fame, it's Lights Out for him. Guest star Peggy Lee has not shown up and friend Sammy Davis Jr. comes in to replace her with his amazing style of frantic comed

Over the past six years International Recording Artist Lyn Stanley has sold more than 38.000.albums - currently worldwide, but before that time she had had absolutely no singing experience whatsoever. I, like practically all journalists, was amazed to hear this. 'Not even singing along to background music on the stereo or radio as a child?' I asked. Directly and sincerely she replied,

Oliver!/book. lyrics and music by Lionel Bart/ based on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist//directed by James A. Rocco/choreographed by Hector Guerrero/musical director: Ryan O'Connell/MTW (Musical Theatre West)/The Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach/through February 24 Oliver! is a devilishly fine musical by Lionel Bart who wrote the book, music and lyrics without collaboration. It's an uplifting story of an abused orphan who learns how to survive in 19th century London with the help of acquaintances from both sides of the track. Currently onstage via MTW at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, the musical boasts a superb cast headed by Davis Gaines as Fagin and 15 delightful and talented child actors.

Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson, is a staggeringly ambitious project for any theatre. First of all, it is a period piece taking place in a foreign country, in this case Russia and belongs in the realm of literary classics, requiring or better suited to classically trained actors. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op's Crossley Theatre. Anna is directed intelligently by Heather Chesley and boasts a fine cast, but somehow lacks the stature that it deserves.