Don Grigware - Page 86

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker played La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts on December 23, 2009.

White Christmas played the Cabrillo Music Theatre @ Thousand Oaks. The show features a book by David Ives & Paul Blake, music & lyrics by Irving Berlin and direction by Todd Nielsen. The production ran December 26-29 only.

House of Besarab is conceived and written by Terance Duddy & Theodore Ott produced and directed by Terance Duddy The Hollywood American Legion Theater through January 17, 2010 (possibly beyond).

The Best in LA Theatre for 2009 brought to you by L.A.'s Don Grigware.

The unequalled Julia Migenes brought her holiday show Julia Migenes' Holiday Magic from Bach to Pop! to the Upright Cabaret on Vermont St in Hollywood Sunday December 20; this diva could sing the phone book and I'd show up. Dressed in black velvet and quoting from Stephen Nissenbaum's book The Battle for Christmas (1997), Migenes was nothing less than enchanting on both sophisticated and pure entertainment levels, as she made her way through close to 25 tunes from Mozart's 'Laudate Dominum' to Mel Torme's 'The Christmas Song.'

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's is presenting its annual LA's Next Great Stage STAR! What a terrific event! Not unlike TV's American Idol, talented artists compete before judges and a live audience. At Sterling's they go head to head for 6 Sundays: the first was November 29 with the finale to take place on January 3, 2010 at 12pm. At that time 13/18 contestants will be eliminated and the 5 remaining contestants will go on to compete once more. From these 5 the winner will be announced. The winner will receive $1000 in cash as well as a paid headlining engagement at Sterling's, and a variety of auditions for local musical theatres such as the outstanding Musical Theatre West and Cabrillo Music Theatre. The 4 runners up will also get headlining engagements at Sterling's and various private auditions as well.

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles presented their annual holiday concert extravaganza at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Saturday, December 19 @ 3pm and 8pm and again on Sunday, December 20 @ 3pm.

James Barbour brought his holiday concert straight from New York to the Colony Theatre in Burbank for one performance only Monday December 21 at 7pm. The benefit for the Colony co-starred rock/jazz singer Michelle Wolf with husband, brilliant musician Peter Wolf accompanying. Barbour referred to him as 'Chopin at the piano!' The hour and a half set gave singer par excellence Barbour a chance to show his lighter side - he is one helluva funny storyteller - as he engaged the audience in an interactive '12 Days of Christmas', the Hawaiian 'Mele Kalikimaka' and the 'Dreidel Song' ('Growing up in New Jersey, mine was the only house that had Christmas lights.'). On a more serious note, Barbour performed stunning renditions of 'O Holy Night' (his late mom's favorite), Frank Wildhorn's 'Measure of a Man', 'Believe' and 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year'.

Polyester The Musical book by Phil Olson; music: Wayland Pickard lyrics by Olson & Pickard Directed by Pickard & Doug Engalla Actors Forum Theatre through December 20

An evening of holiday music and frolic for the entire family at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre. through December 27

Frosty the Snow Manilow conceived and written by Matt Walker & The Troubies directed by Matt Walker Falcon Theatre through January 17

gay apparel: A Christmas Carol adapted and directed by Jason Moyer Lyric Hyperion Theatre through December 20

How to describe The Two & Only!? Well, for starters, it's a one-man show about the life and career of comic/actor/artist/ventriloquist Jay Johnson. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, this show has a lot more to offer than your average solo show.

Beautiful Susan Anton is in the 19th edition of the Palm Springs Follies through December 31 performing her jubilant Christmas act. She just recorded a Christmas CD, on sale at the show, which you must add to your collection! I was overwhelmed by Anton's charm and warmth as she sang 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus', a lovely medley of 'Count Your Blessings' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and a sing-a-long in the audience with 'Winter Wonderland', 'Let It Snow!', 'Jingle Bell Rock' and 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'. Her finale Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young' is a mind blower, as she assures us, like the great George Burns, that we all grow older, but not necessarily old.

Tea at Five by Matthew Lombardo directed by Jenny Sullivan Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara through December 27

Actor/singer Alan Cumming, Tony Award Winner for his role of Emcee in the smash revival of Cabaret (1998) is a singular performer and humanitarian. He reopens his brilliant cabaret solo show I Bought A Blue Car Today for one week only December 13-18 on the second stage of the Geffen Playhouse, where his initial engagement (end of September-beginning of October) was SRO for all performances. I caught up with him after his return from Australia and his appearance on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Winter Wonderettes, written & directed by Roger Bean musical arrangements by Brian Baker, Moulton Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, through December 30.

For gays, it's a camp! For straights - after all, this is a sendup of the prison exploitation films of the 50s seen by a mainstream audience -it's satirical fun! Tom Eyen's WBB has some great oneliners and visual laughs, but does have a tendency to be on one note and is somewhat dated: prison life... shocking? We've seen and heard it all. Nonetheless, the Celebration's revival has a great cast, smooth direction...and with clips of the actual 50s movies on a screen behind to set the tone, the whole ambience is a blast!

Bonnie & Clyde book by Ivan Menchell music by Frank Wildhorn; lyrics by Don Black directed by Jeff Calhoun La Jolla Playhouse Mandell Weiss Theatre through December 20.