Gil Kaan - Page 40

The Muse Collective will stream the world premiere of Peter Gray’s THE KARENS beginning August 13, 2021. Muse Collective’s founder and artistic director Michael Alvarez directs the cast of Morgan Danielle Day, Felicia Santiago and LaurenSage Browning. Got the chance to chat with Peter on his KARENS and his creatively productive relationship with Michael and his Muse Collective.

That triple-threat talent named David Engel will once again grace the Musical Theatre West stage in FOREVER PLAID 30th ANNIVERSARY REUNION CONCERT beginning August 5th, but this time socially distancing at Blair Field near by. Since David originated the PLAID role of Smudge, he has performed on many a stage from Broadway to his home away from home Musical Theatre West. David managed to answer my queries while in the car on the way to his husband Larry Raben’s opening night of SCHOOL OF ROCK he directed at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah.

The Hollywood Bowl audience, filled with theatre aficionados and people with an appreciation for great singing, got their money’s worth and much more with a full-bodied, whole-hearted concert performance by the incredible Cynthia Erivo. Cynthia’s powerful vocals backed by her raw, genuine emotions ignited all her cover versions of other women’s definitive classics making them all distinctly her own.

Shane Scheel and his live show production company For The Record Live has found their new Hollywood home in The Bourbon Room. With their official re-opening, featuring Shoshana Bean, an impressive success (obvious from the love and applause flowing forth from The Bourbon Room audience.), FTR will follow up with be a concert from Alisan Porter (August 1st), and their new and improved production of TARANTINO LIVE, now TARANTINO LIVE: FOX FORCE FIVE & THE TYRANNY OF EVIL MEN (beginning August 5th). Had the chance to chat with Shane, FTR’s executive producer, on FTR staying connected during the pandemic, and their already planned shows and those hoped for scheduling.

The Bourbon Room was on a clear path to become the go-to cabaret nightclub in Hollywood when the pandemic hit. With a soft opening of shows REVERIE and Derek Klena earlier this month, the Bourbon Room celebrates its grand re-opening July 29, 2021 featuring Broadway stalwart Shoshana Bean. Had the chance to chat with Bourbon Room owner Matthew Weaver about the fateful past year and the hopeful future.

Ojai Playwrights Conference will be presenting online workshop performances of eight New Works Festival plays beginning August 5, 2021. Had the chance to chat with Yilong Liu, one of the 14 playwrights participating in OPC’s New Works Festival and Foundry Project for OPC’s 2021 Season.

Vs. Theatre Company & Circle X Theatre Co. presents the west coast premiere of John Kolvenbach’s STAND UP IF YOU’RE HERE TONIGHT, previewing on August 5, 2021. Ingeniously making lemonade out of lemons, John fashioned STAND UP around his pandemic restrictions. Had the chance to chat with John on STAND UP and highlights of his productive career.

Writer/director Luke Walker’s THE WAKE OF DICK JOHNSON will west coast premiere live onstage at the Hudson Theatres as part of the 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival. DICK JOHNSON begins its eight-performance run August 5, 2021. Had the chance to delve into Luke’s head on his journey to THE WAKE OF DICK JOHNSON.

The Actors’ Gang Theater has just begun streaming their live virtual production of WE LIVE ON, based on the 1970 Hard Times by Studs Terkel. Directed by Actors’ Gang’s artistic director Tim Robbins, WE LIVE ON is performed in three parts. Had a chance to have a fun chat with Patti Tippo, who’s playing legendary burlesque dancer Sally Rand.  

CHICO’S ANGELS’ Frieda Laye will return live to the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater stage in CHICO’S ANGELS director/creator Kurt Koehler’s latest FRIEDA THE 13th: CAMP BLOOD.  This short, five-performance run beginning August 6, 2021 will also feature Julie Brown, Dustyn Gulledge, Jenna Perusich, Craig Taggart, Lennon Hobson, Kalan Tauck, Hayes Dunlap and Reba Areba.

MSD Productions will premiere URINETOWN THE MUSICAL for free on YouTube August 1, 2021.  Marcus S. Daniel produces and directs a diverse cast from across the entire country; including Kennen Butler, Kevin Carranza, Ethan Daniel Corbett, Lisa Dyson, Grant Hodges, Erech Holder-Hetmeyer, Katie McConaughy, Kelly Lester, Loren Lester, Nathan Mohebbi, Ashley Arlene Nelson, Monika Pena, Greg Ramsey, Garrett Russell, Ashley Marie Samudio, and Jake Sung-Guk Sullivan.

Mount Wilson Observatory will resume their SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS IN THE DOME series with two concerts – on August 1st presenting the world premiere Eric Tanguy's piece, 'Le Lys et la Lyre,' especially written for cellist Cécilia Tsan; and on September 5th featuring a jazz program with Lounge Art Ensemble. Set in the magnificent vaulted dome of Mount Wilson Observatory’s 100-inch telescope, each CONCERT will have two performances each.

Center Theatre Group, in association with UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, presents 32 ACRES, an outdoor soundwalk through Los Angeles State Historic Park, now through September 29, 2021 during park hours (8am through sunset). Got the chance to chat with 32 ACRES creator Marike Splint on this unique interactive theatrical experience.

Christina Aguilera slayed the packed 17,500-seat Hollywood Bowl audience with her amazing vocals and her emotion-filled songs for the first of her two nights performing with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. At the top of her game, Christina looked great and sounded fantastic!

After many online shows these past pandemic months, The Groundlings will present their first LIVE show GROUNDLINGS LIGHTS UP July 23, 2021.  Got the chance to pick the witty brain of Groundlings main company member Lisa Schurga on her life with The Groundlings.  

Brian Justin Crum, a former finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, brings his cabaret revue REVERIE live to the once-again opened Bourbon Room July 16th and 17th. Had the chance to ask Brian about REVERIE and some of his career highlights.

Kritzerland will resume its LIVE presentations at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s with KRITZERLAND’s 114th July 28, 2021. Bruce Kimmel, the mastermind behind (and front center) of Kritzerland made some time available between his creative multi-taskings to talk about Kritzerland and his various other accomplishments.

Ailema Sousa’s FORT HUACHUCA will be presented live on stage at the Zephyr Theater July 14th and 16th as part of the 2021 SheLA Summer Theater Festival. Fans of SheLA will have seen an online version of FORT HUACHUCA last year as part of their virtual 2020 SheLA Summer Theater Festival. Ailema found some time between her rehearsals to answer a few of my inquiries. 

estival Opera will be offering their first hybrid online/in person event since the pandemic restrictions loosened up - UN RAGGIO DI SPEME (RAY OF HOPE) July 11, 2021. Got the chance to chat with Festival Opera’s general director Zachary Gordin on Festival Opera’s upcoming season and staying sane during these safer-distanced times.

Prolific playwright Peter Coy has recently published his latest collection of his plays A House In The Country and Other Plays.  I had the chance to pick deeply into Peter’s brain on his works and past schooling.