Don Grigware - Page 48

My association with Scott Dreier dates back to a cabaret for his first album named aptly Scott Dreier.  I was exceedingly impressed with his fine voice, boyish charm and affability.Then followed his show Doris and Me, which I reviewed once in Escondido and later in Los Angeles. The show about Doris Day and his love for her went beyond what I would call an ordinary cabaret presentation. He literally blew me away. It is really two shows in one: a biography of Doris's career told through the songs she made famous and then a semi-biography of Dreier, who grew up from a young age loving Doris Day, her songs, and her movies. It is the second show that makes it all work so beautifully, because, as fans of Doris Day, we see and appreciate the effects that her persona has had on all of us. As an individual Scott Dreier is expressing what we all feel, that intense love and admiration for one of the greatest screen legends of all time.

Ashley Argota , whose credits include The Fosters; True Jackson, VP; Lab Rats and Michael Viruet (pictured) , boasting Pitch Perfect and Hunkappella, are set to star in a hyper-styled new musical entitled Hipster Sweatshop. Argota and Viruet play love interests from opposite sides of the track in this musical set in downtown LA's hottest jewelry boutique. Viruet, who plays the sexy delivery guy Jesus for whom Argota's Siri falls hard, says that Hipster Sweatshop is "a fun concept with some great characters. Its duets will blow your socks off!"

Playwright John Pielmeier's Agnes of God, written in 1982, was based upon a real life police case of a novice nun in Boston, accused of murdering her baby. Coyote StageWorks just closed a stellar 10 performance only run of the play at the Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs. Under the direction of veteran actor/director Don Amendolia, Agnes of God proved itself as topical today as it did in the 80s, and Broadway is ripe for a revival.

Once in a great while an extraordinary performer comes along, one that not only moves us, but also affects meteoric changes within our culture. Peter Allen, born Peter Woolnough in 1944 in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia and who died young in 1992, was one such mega-talented singer/dancer/musical composer, who appealed to a wide audience.Not at first, mind you; it took a few years in the 60s for him to realize his bisexuality and to understand who he was.

On Thursday April 21, Prime Time Players presented their second of three Magical Musical Matinees at the Whitefire Theatre. It was a delightful show full of talented people 60 years young or older. There was dancing, singing and comedy all wrapped up with a pink bow in the name of Jackie Goldberg, the Pink Lady. Goldberg stands for Senior Star Power 'Get Up, Get Out and Get a Life!' The talent in this show are prime examples of people who are still vital and full of performing glee.

Playwright Phil Olson, who is best known for his outrageous Don't Hug Me musical comedies, is taking a look at a typical American family on Thanksgiving Day in A Nice Family Gathering, currently onstage in the black box theatre of Group rep in Noho through May 29.

Wham! Pow! Boom! Up and away, it's Superman! Growing up in the 50s I couldn't wait for the next weekly adventure-filled installment of Supie and Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and the Daily Planet on the small television screen. It was thrilling to see a man go into a telephone booth and change from street clothes into tights - even if they were baggy - and fly off - imagine! - to save the world from crime and destruction. It didn't matter that it was pure fantasy and that he he was only a comic book hero. Superman brought lots of excitement into our young lives. In 1966, the same musical composers who wrote the successful Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, penned It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman! The New Musical Comedy and in spite of the great reviews, it did not catch on with the public, so quickly fizzled. Now 50 years later, what a camp to look back and laugh at all the silliness and innocence of that era, for the Superman musical is loaded with clumsy, goofy, campy laughs. Now onstage in a rare revival ... It's Superman receives a terrifically entertaining production at the Grove Theatre in Upland.

The longest running musical in the world The Fantasticks is always at its best when produced and performed with simplicity. When I first saw it in New York in the 60s, it was performed in a cabaret space against a brick wall, with the suspension of a paper moon above. You can't get much simpler than that. In their revival Crown City Theatre keep it simple with minimal blocking from director Lisaun Whittingham and boasting a fine cast...

Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks has the uncanny ability to get under your skin and really make you feel the turmoil and misery of the black soul. In her latest play, now onstage at the Mark Taper Forum through May 15 entitled Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3), Parks takes the audience back to 1862 and the slave involvement in the Civil War starting with the anticipation and fear of going off to war, then witnessing the horrors of the actual war itself, and the aftermath for returning soldiers and their families. Under the sturdy hand of director Jo Bonney, the cast is amazing... and the play is mostly fascinating to watch, mainly because Parks' style does not repeat itself from part to part.

Local Playwright Willard Manus' Joe & Marilyn: A Love Story, a new play about the troubled relationship between baseball great Joe DiMaggio and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, debuts this Saturday, April 23rd at 8:00 pm, runs April 23 - May 22, produced by John Lant and Anne Mesa, directed by T.J. Castronovo and starring Rico Simonini and Emily Alicia Low, produced by Write Act Rep@TheBrickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. The play was developed at the Actors Studio Playwrights/Directors Unit (West Coast), where Manus and Castronovo are fellow-members. He shared with us a bit about the play and quite a bit about his life.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at the Ahmanson Theatre. He chats with us about the challenges of playing the role and other theatrical interests. What is the biggest challenge in playing Monty 8 times a week? Staying hydrated!  I have to make sure I drink enough water during the day. I hardly have a chance to drink any water during the course of the show, because I am onstage 99% of the time!  

Following in the footsteps of La Cage Aux Folles, Billy Elliott and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, all foreign films turned into Broadway musicals, Kinky Boots, the 2013 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, brings its spirited message of 'Just Be Who You Wanna Be' in a return to the Pantages for two weeks through April 24. Replete with splashy direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell and a splendid cast, it's top.of.the.line entertainment fare.

On Tuesday April 12 I eagerly returned to Rockwell Table and Stage for the third time to see An Evening of Classic Broadway. The show comes to Rockwell for one evening every couple of months. Why do I keep coming back? Produced by Dianne Fraser and musically directed by extraordinarily talented Brad Ellis ... and with a bevy of great singers on board, it's guaranteed fun, extra high on entertainment, and it incorporates Broadway standards both classic and contemporary. If that isn't enough, the structure is laid back and spontaneous, allowing one to sit back, relax and just savor the sounds.

Sister Act the Musical started out in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse, premiered in London's West End in 2009 and then underwent serious revisions before coming to Broadway in 2011. I remember liking the first mounting in 2006 with many reservations. Since I loved the 1992 film so much, I didn't feel that the stage version was particularly faithful...no pun intended. Well, with all the 2011 changes, MTW's revival of the Broadway version is tops, a joyful, tuneful, splashy romp that never lets down, with a tremendous cast, stellar direction from Michael Matthews and soulful choreography from Daniel Smith. Douglas Carter Beane, who penned the screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the Tony nominated play The Little Dog Laughed, added new book material for the national tour, included here, and this contributes substantially to molding a sleek and unforgettable show.

About eight months ago, actress/singer Kathleen Wilhoite began performing the first Monday of every month at the E-Spot Lounge, formerly Upstairs at Vitello's, with a show entitled Wilhoite's Living Room. It is described as an evening of music, poetry reading, guest stars and comedy. I was curious. I had long been a fan of Wilhoite from her TV appearances on ER and in several MOWs. She is a helluva character actress, edgy, quirky and always an engaging standout. When you see her onscreen, regardless of the size of the role, you remember her long afterwards. What I did not realize was that she is also a fine musician... until I googled and read about her background growing up in Santa Barbara and singing in choirs. She eventually produced two CDs and several of her original songs have been recorded for movie soundtracks. So, exceedingly interested in hearing her, I decided to check out Wilhoite's Living Room on Monday, April 4 at 7: 30 pm. What a fun and exciting surprise was in store!

You cannot beat the Old Globe Theatre for its audacity in mounting the challenging musical Rain, based on a short story by W. Somerset Maugham. Rain was made into three separate films, a silent in 1928 starring Gloria Swanson, and then in 1932 starring Joan Crawford as Miss Sadie Thompson, and finally in 1953 Rita Hayworth assumed the role of the prostitute stranded on the South Pacific Island of Pago, Pago in 1924. This much anticipated musical version with book by Sybille Pearson and music by Michael John LaChiusa is the second time Rain has been performed onstage, the first being a play in 1922. For the entire cast and creative team in San Diego this enterprise has been enormous. It is truly an outstanding ensemble headed by Eden Espinosa as Sadie, and the set designed by Mark Wendland is by itself worth the price of admission.

Irish actress Lisa Dwan, the premier interpreter of Samuel Beckett, is about to step down from the position this spring, but before she does, she will make  an appearance with the Beckett Trilogy at the The Broad Stage in Santa Monica in April. Why is this the first time that all 3 plays have been performed together? Well I guess one reason is that Not I is rarely performed and Footfalls has never been performed by one actress playing both roles of Mother (off stage) and May (on stage), and to my knowledge no other actress has tried to perform all three roles in one evening. Up until I tried it, I didn't even think it was possible. 

Playwrights Phil Scarpaci and T.L. Shannon are from opposite sides of the pond. Scarpaci is American and Shannon, British. When they wrote Baby Oh Baby, they decided to leave the setting England, as the British are expert farceurs and know a thing or two about delivering comedy. Surprisingly, the play projects a very contemporary perspective on artificial insemination...and becomes quite serious midway through its 80 minute playing time. Not to say that a serious topic cannot be funny. Of course, we must laugh at everything, but sometimes the topic deserves a bit more exploration at the core, and frivolity is not always the best way to handle it. Now onstage on Saturdays only, at 8 pm through June 4, Baby Oh Baby has a terrific cast who make the material rise off the printed page with a nice entertainment high.

Winner of 4 Tony Awards in 2014, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a devilishly clever musical sendup of the British aristocracy circa 1909. Production-wise it's a class act all the way, and for its adult audiences, it's a delicious odyssey of. nonstop laughter. Now at the Ahmanson through May 1, the infectiously broad satire will have you on the edge of your seat throughout its two and a half hours. Skillfully executed by director Darko Tresnjak and his awe-inspiring cast, it's a surefire knock 'em dead hit.

On Tuesday, March 22 Alexis Gershwin brought her cabaret show to the Catalina Jazz Club for one night only to a sold out audience. The show entitled Gershwin Sings Gershwin was a delightful evening of many of the priceless standards that made George and Ira Gershwin two of the best composers of all time. Alexis is the niece of the brothers, so, as a member of the family, she knows a thing or two about their music and how to sing it. Petite and gracious, Alexis Gershwin captivates with her charm and wonderful phrasing. She really calls attention to the lyrics and makes you understand the meaning of a Gershwin tune. For a female singer past middle age, it is not always easy to hit the high notes with alacrity; we accept that and look for other attributes that make the performance worthy of attention. In Alexis' case, it's her delivery that consists of full, almost sensual whispers that are simultaneously attractive and effective in pulling you into the songs. When she sings 'I've Got a Crush on You' almost every male member of the audience can feel her seduction or in 'A Foggy Day (in London town)' her expressive intonations truly set the ambiance and mood for the piece