Don Grigware - Page 88

Singer Henry Prego wanted to produce a staged Christmas show that is reminiscent of the nostalgic 60s TV specials at the Hollywood Palace with himself as host singing Frank Sinatra holiday favorites and introducing some talented guest star acts. Well, that he has achieved with A Sinatra Christmas currently onstage at Encore Dinner Theatre in Tustin through December 29 only. It's an overall fun entertainment replete with dancers and kids - what's Christmas without kids! It may be missing a beat or two here and there, but fun just the same.

Todd Robbins classifies Play Dead as a spooky entertainment; it may or may not scare you. I am vulnerable and open, but not that readily frightened and certainly not squeamish at the sight of blood; many are, however. And...Play Dead's stylish theatricality, off-color and fun stories, great intense magic, which includes some very exciting visuals... and a disarming performance by genuine showman Todd Robbins make for a truly enjoyable evening.

On Sunday, December 1 Kritzerland Records presented its 40th show and annual Christmas presentation entitled A Kritzerland Christmas III at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with special guest star Terri White. It was a beautiful evening of mostly familiar Christmas music with a few lesser known but still great tunes. This is the whole point of Kritzerland to spotlight those songs that somehow got away without becoming hits. On hand as well as dynamic Terri White were songsters Dan Callaway, Robert Yacko, Ashley Fox Linton, Lisa Livesay, Jenna Lea Rosen, Sarah Staitman, Kelsey Scott and nine year-old Hadley Belle Miller, under the super musical direction of Richard Allan.

ust having completed her stint as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein at MTW in Long Beach at the Carpenter Center, versatile actress/singer/dancer Tracy Lore is in rehearsal to assume a strong featured role in the new musical based on Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory at Laguna Playhouse, Laguna opening December 7. In our chat, Lore talks about the role and others she has played.

Tom Dudzick's Miracle on South Division Street is an eclectically funny holiday comedy whose characters could easily be your next door neighbors, if you live in a small city like Buffalo, NY on the East Coast, where in a cockeyed way it seems almost politically correct to be ethnic, intolerant, and behind the times. Locked into their religious beliefs, the Nowaks are Roman Catholics, and their barber grandfather built a shrine in honor of the Virgin Mary. In fact, he had a statue sculpted of her, having claimed that she appeared to him on the spot. That was 1943. Grandpa has passed on -so has grandma, and the barber shop is now a soup kitchen where the needy of the community are fed twice a week.

The Lion King/book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi/music & lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice/additional music & lyrics by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M. Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Julie Taymor/directed by Julie Taymor/Pantages Theatre/through January 12, 2014

No matter how you feel about the vast number of liberties Matthew Bourne takes in creating his scenario for The Sleeping Beauty, you must admit the end result is vibrantly imaginative, magical and fascinating to watch. Now at the Ahmanson Theatre for two weeks only through December 1, Sleeping Beauty does indeed have beauty in more ways than one.

Actress/singer Spider Saloff will appear at Rockwell in Hollywood December 3 with her award-winning Cool Yule Christmas show. A big hit artist on the jazz/cabaret scene in Chicago, Saloff is considered one of the greatest song interpreters of Ella Fitzgerald. In our talk, she discusses her roots and her love of music.

Side Show/book & lyrics by Bill Russell/music by Henry Krieger/directed by Bill Condon/La Jolla Playhouse/through December 15

Barrymore/by William Luce/directed by Janet Miller/Good People Theatre Company (GPTC)/Greenway Court Alliance Theatre/through December 1

Presented by Upright Cabaret (led by Chris Isaacson) which brings the best of Broadway and pop once a month to GLEH (Gay Lesbian Elder Housing) on Ivar in Hollywood in the form of a charitable concert to raise awareness of GLEH through song.

On Monday evening November 11 striking actress/singer Sandy Bainum presented a concert and launch party for her new CD Simply. This album, as well as her last one from 2012 One Christmas, were both produced by Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records. It is difficult to think of Bainum simply. She is a tall, statuesque, elegant beauty who offers so much talent in a single breath.

After 23 years of entertaining the world, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies will be closing their doors May 18, 2014 after completion of this their last season The Last Hurrah!

Creditors/by August Strindberg/a new version by David Greig/directed by David Trainer/Odyssey Theatre Ensemble(OTE)/New American Theatre/at the Odyssey/through December 15

What are you afraid of? Lifetime member of the Magic Castle and accomplished actor Albie Selznick poses this question just in time for Halloween with a special Thursday night performance tonight, Oct. 31, the same day Harry Houdini died in 1926.

On Sunday, October 27 Charlotte Mary Wen, winner of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013, made her long awaited cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with Time to Take a Breath directed by Peter Welkin and with musical direction by Dr. James Lent. Petite, pretty and ultra confidant, the terrific singer truly soared, leaving past anxieties far behind her.

The Mystery of Irma Vep/A Penny Dreadful/by Charles Ludlam/directed by Jenny Sullivan/Falcon Theatre/through November 17

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers/book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay/music by Gene De Paul/lyrics by Johnny Mercer/new songs by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn/based on the MGM film and 'The Sobbin' Women' by Stephen Vincent Benet/directed and choreographed by Janet Renslow/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, Claremont/through November 24

Evita/lyrics by Tim Rice/music by Andrew Lloyd Webber/choreographed by Rob Ashford/directed by Michael Grandage/tour director Seth Sklar-Heyn/tour choreographer Chris Bailey/Pantages Theatre/through November 10