Don Grigware - Page 74

Actress/singer Rita McKenzie accomplishes something quite rare: she channels the charisma and voice of Broadway legend Ethel Merman. This is more than just capturing the essence of a character; in McKenzie's case, it is really becoming that person. She looks like Merman, sounds like her, sings like her and has all the body movements down pat. In this latest version of Ethel Merman's Broadway, that she has been doing for some 20 years, there are some delightful additions, including a 7 piece onstage orchestra, a huge video screen and several colorful costume changes. There's also more dialogue about the 4 marriages, Merman's daughter, who died under questionable circumstances, and a more casual and realistic look at the woman, whom many feared and despised, as well as adored. Dynamic McKenzie lets it all hang out and makes us feel like we are in the presence of a star and a lady.

It is practically impossible to get the images of Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold out of one's mind when seeing Gigi, as they, in the original film (1958) lifted the musical to a higher, more colorful level of interest. It's not that the musical isn't in some ways delightful, but it is certainly not on a par with Lerner and Loewe's triumph My Fair Lady. The stage musical came along long after the movie (1973), and this version has been scrupulously improved by director David Lee who bases the script on the 1985 West End production. All this considered, the current cast @ Reprise and director Lee are all top pros who do their best to make Gigi a pleasurable experience.

'We are the world. We are the boomers'...sing the cast to the tune of 'We Are The Children', and like the new and clever lyrics to this oldie but goodie, 90% of the show indeed boasts some very clever material. Conceived and written by Debbie Kasper and Pat Sierchio, who also direct, Boomermania will appeal most to... baby boomers like me who lived through the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s and have fond memories of growing up with the music and pop culture of that era. Like any parody, it means more to you and you appreciate it, if you lived it! Now on stage @ the Forum Theatre of the El Portal, Boomermania's highly entertaining sketches and cast make it devilishly worthwhile.

'Freedom is a fool's illusion' prove wise words for the life of a courtesan in 16th century Venice as it affects Veronica Franco (Jenny Powers) in the premiere of the new musical Dangerous Beauty at the Pasadena Playhouse. Lush sets and costumes, a lovely contemporary operatic score and fine performances catapult this scintillating venture into corruption to a captivating height.

Moises Kaufman has created a hypnotic dramedy with music called 33 Variations, that spans two centuries. Parallel: in 1822, Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven's (Zach Grenier) hearing was slowly deteriorating and in 2011, musicologist Dr. Katherine Brandt (Jane Fonda) is physically deteriorating from the devastating effects of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's Disease: both struggle against time for the sake of art. Jutting back and forth in time, Kaufman's play exudes astounding compassion for the human condition.

Soap heartthrob and Broadway star Matt Cavenaugh has done Urban Cowboy and more recently Tony in the 2009 revival of West Side Story on Broadway. He will costar in Reprise's Gigi opening @ The Freud Playhouse at UCLA on February 16. He took time from his hectic schedule of rehearsals to speak briefly about Gigi, his other work and his new CD.

The play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, which was written in Germany in the late 19th century was censored for a time due to its portrayal of masturbation, abortion, homosexuality, rape, child abuse and suicide. Treating the rocky sexual coming of age of a group of teenagers, its helter-skelter but life-affirming journey is explored in the 2006 Tony Award winning musical of the same name Spring Awakening through folk based and alternative rock, and boasts some expertly staged storytelling, singing, choreography and exuberant performances at the Pantages for one week only.

'Not very Christlike!' responds TV talk show hostess Jenny (Tracy Chimo) in Neil LaBute's The Break of Noon now receiving its West coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse through March 6. LaBute is known for his abrasive, edgy, in-your-face material that is simultaneously irreverent and thought provoking. This West coast production under Jo Bonney's fine direction will have people facebooking and twittering

Pedro Antonio Garcia's hard-hitting Firehouse, based on a real-life incident of the past decade, receives its world premiere at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. Under the steady hand of director Bryan Rasmussen (who also costars as the Captain), the play packs a punch as a razor-sharp indictment of racism in the South Bronx police and fire departments.

On Sunday February 6 LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 held its finale at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's beginning at 11:30 am. 20 contestants competed in a nonstop round and then the audience and judges voted for the top 5. Points were added together for the entire six weeks of the competition which began January 2. Those named were Michael David, Reba Buhr, Emily Goglia, Judy Mora and Matthew McFarland. There was a thrill-packed final round of singing and then Judy Mora emerged victoriously as the winner. James Lent served as musical director.

For those of us who watched The Lawrence Welk Show regularly every Saturday night from December 1955 through 1967, The Lennon Sisters were the darlings of the airwaves. Here was a quartet of singers - Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet - emanating sweetness and beautifully balanced harmony, who catapulted to stardom mainly through these weekly TV appearances. They did have success with a recording of 'Tonite You Belong To Me', but it was primarily TV and Mr. Welk, as they still so politely refer to him, that gave them their big break. Now, 55 years later, Dianne and Peggy have retired, leaving Kathy and Janet and their younger sister Mimi, who joined them in the late 90s, as a trio. They look terrific and sound better than ever.

Playwright Pedro Antonio Garcia will bring his fascinating Firehouse, based on a real-life incident, in a World premiere, to the Whitefire Theatre, with artistic director Bryan Rasmussen as director, opening Friday, February 4. The piece will play Fridays only at 8 pm. In our conversation Garcia talks about his roots, how the play developped and its prospects for the Los Angeles audience.