Don Grigware - Page 90

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 on Oct. 31, the same day Harry Houdini died in 1926. Come for the magic, the mystery and more new illusions in Smoke and Mirrors, the critically acclaimed show extended due to popular demand through Dec. 29 at the Road on Lankershim in the NoHo Arts District.

Upon exiting Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal on Sunday October 20, I overheard someone say 'There are no cabaret shows like this anymore.' Sad, but true! Dominic Morra, at 80 years young, proves that he is vocally every bit as good as he was some 50 years ago. With a face like Anthony Quinn and a voice like John Raitt, Morra has a vocal instrument akin to a silver flute. On Broadway in Call Me Madam and having crossed country on many National tours of such shows as Camelot, Morra spent most of the 70-minute set of Keep the Music Playing reminiscing about his career through some of the greatest music of all time. With an unassuming style, he is a true gentleman and doesn't need a big outgoing approach to reach his audience. His friendly manner and great voice say it all. With fine musical direction from Paul Cady at the piano, Morra presented a cabaret, which one can only hope is a new beginning for him.

A Party to Murder by Marcia Kash and Douglas E. Hughes/directed by Zoe Bright/GCT (Glendale Centre Theatre)/through November 23

On Saturday October 19 the inimitable Patti LuPone brought her exquisite talent, intelligence and sense of humor to the Broad stage in Broadway @ the Broad: Patti LuPone featuring Seth Rudetsky as pianist/host. Rudetsky, best known as the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's On Broadway and LuPone presented this semi-improvisational program last summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts and later for a week in London, to unanimous acclaim.

Kiss Me Kate/book by Sam & Bella Spewack/music & lyrics by Cole Porter/directed by Richard Israel/Cabrillo Music Theatre, Thousand Oaks/through October 27

Frederick Knott's psychological thriller Wait Until Dark first premiered on Broadway in 1966 with Lee Remick in the title role and was later turned into a film with Audrey Hepburn. The latest adaptation of the play at the Geffen is by Jeffrey Hatcher, who has moved the action from the 60s to the 40s. The concept has piqued a lot of interest, but upon seeing the finished product, the whole business seems curious.

When You Wish/The Story of Walt Disney. It is high time that the life and career of iconic artist/animator Walt Disney be honored artistically. Of course, his films all stand the test of time, but we know little about the man, his persona and the early years of struggle. Wouldn't it be assuring to learn that success even for a genius does not come easy? And just plain fun to find out where and how Mickey Mouse came about? Instead of a biopic, the producers have decided upon an original stage musical. Therein lies the biggest flaw. This new tribute is labeled/described as a Pre-Broadway production. Let's reflect a moment or two on what makes for a successful Broadway show. Disney's own The Lion King, from screen to stage, is a perfect example of that kind of huge success. It is a spectacle with grand theatricality, giant universal family conflicts and dynamite appeal in sight and sound to sustain long lines at the box office. As endearing as it is, this little musical When You Wish falls short in these respects... in spite of the fact that it has a dream cast and a superlative creative team. Now onstage through November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, the show, nonetheless, does have a carload of merit. If Broadway is not the answer, it does deserve a place somewhere.

The Laramie Project Ten Years Later/by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber/produced by Jon Imparato/directed by Ken Sawyer/The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center,Davidson/Valentini Theatre/through November 16

The Liar/adapted by David Ives from the comedy by Pierre Corneille/directed by Casey Stangl/The Antaeus Company/review of the Tangerine Cast*

For diehard theatre aficionados Neil Simon's greatest plays are his autobiographical BB trio Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. The first depicts his boyhood growing up in a poor Jewish family on the outskirts of New York City during the Depression, followed by his army experiences, and finally a farewell to Brighton Beach as his career as a comedy writer in radio and television was about to take off. Now onstage at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through Sunday October 13 only, Broadway Bound is a welcome glimpse of nostalgia circa 1949 performed by a dynamite cast under the steady direction of Jeff Maynard.

War Horse/based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo/adapted by Nick Stafford/in association with Handspring Puppet Company/original co-direction by Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris/US tour directed by Bijan Sheibani/music by Adrian Sutton/Pantages Theatre/through October 13 only

Casting director John Frank Levey is the director of the Road Theatre Company's current production of Lake Anne at their second theatre space on Magnolia in the NoHo Senior Arts Colony. He has directed many shows over a 45 year period; in fact, Levey had the NEA Directors Fellowship in 1980 at the Mark Taper Forum here in Los Angeles.

Ah, Wilderness!/by Eugene O'Neill/directed by Thom Babbes/Actors Co-op, Crossley Theatre, Hollywood/through October 13

On Sunday September 29 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Los Angeles theatre actor/singer Will Collyer presented Will Collyer in Concert directed by Mandy Kaplan and with musical direction by Brett Ryback. The 75-minute set featured guest appearances from Kaplan and Melissa Lyons. Collyer is an exceedingly affable 34 year-old openly gay actor who looks more like 19. Cute, drole and consistently mobile, Collyer did a retrospective of his life so far, which included his birth - very amusing segment on the music his mother was listening to in hospital when she gave birth to him - boyhood background, college days, his first kiss with another boy, local musical theatre, and a tribute to his life partner of 14 years... a mixture of banter and songs that he grew up with, some of which he actually performed in shows.

The Normal Heart/by Larry Kramer/directed by Simon Levy/Fountain Theatre/through November 3

Frank V. Furino's world premiere play Marilyn MADNESS & Me, like the film My Week with Marilyn, puts a lesser known character in the lead and Marilyn is seen through his eyes, eyes filled with more than just lust and obsession...with real love for Norma Jean. Now at the El Portal Monroe Forum, the play, although still in the rough stages, presents an engrossing slant on the human side of Norma Jean, how she affected one average human being, as well as presenting a panorama of historical events of the 60s, woven together by a curiously fictional thread.

Lorenzo Pisoni is such a damn agile and talented clown that the 90-minute set goes by in a flash, replete with tricks, virtuoso displays of ultimate precision and a lesson or two about the ups and downs of life learned from a father... that many, many can relate to.

Tall and sexy 'matinee idol' handsome Broadway and London West End actor/singer Jeremiah James performed at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Sunday September 22 with his all-new show Choose Love. As special guest star, James made a wise choice with his high school friend the beautiful Cherish Lee. So, with two very appealing looking artists onstage, how can you miss? The show was more than off to a grande start, before it began. Add as musical director the prolific David O, and it doesn't get much better than this. On bass Oliver Steinberg accompanied, and on percussion, Emiliano Almeida.

Awake and Sing!/by Clifford Odets/directed by Larry Eisenberg/Group rep/through November 3