Michael Quintos - Page 2

When it comes to the Hollywood Bowl's Summer 2025 production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice classic rock musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR—which opened August 1 for three sold-out performances playing throughout the weekend—there are just not enough superlatives to bestow upon one of the most astonishing, incredibly entertaining summer musical revivals this historic venue has ever presented on this stage. Seriously, this is so insanely good, buoyed by amazing performances from its entire cast, led by Cynthia Erivo in the title role and Adam Lambert as Judas. A ferociously-performed, mesmerizingly robust new iteration that feels like an intentionally mind-blowing hybrid of arena-rock concert and musical theatre in its most explosive sense, this glorious production—directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo—is appropriately amped-up both visually and sonically.

Overall, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE—now on stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through August 10, 2025—comes off as guaranteed musical candy for Neil Diamond devotees, thanks to its current form as a polished, tidy, nostalgia-baiting jukebox musical loaded with familiar hits, sprinkles of sparkle, and enough vocal authenticity to make fans of his music swoon. The impressive performances—from the lead vocals to the 'Beautiful Noise' ensemble's hypnotic, lyrical dance moves—bring a measurable level of enjoyment. But as a deep-dive drama? It's, well… just fine. The show's narrative stakes are satisfactory, but a bit paper-thin. While certainly clever in concept, the book often sacrifices real, emotional complexity for palatable, crowd-pleasing moments, and this therapy-session-as-framing-device never truly develops into the kind of character exploration one hopes for in a definitive bio-musical.

Bursting with powerful, beautifully-rendered musical performances and emotionally-stirring characterizations from a terrific ensemble cast, Chance Theater's incredible-sounding, fiercely-acted, deeply searing new production of SPRING AWAKENING is, according to this critic, one of the best, most satisfying productions of this musical I have seen in a while. With characters you care for and a stunning score that stays with you, the show remains a favorite. And, most of all, the show still f**king rocks.

Musically entertaining though rather light on narrative heft, Musical Theatre West's otherwise rousing, concert-like new production BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY—now on stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through July 27, 2025—is a straightforward, nostalgic jukebox musical that chronicles the meteoric rise and tragic early death of rock-and-roll pioneer Buddy Holly. If you're looking for a feel-good musical with fierce live performances, this show should definitely fit the bill. You might just have to look up a Buddy Holly documentary on your own to fill in the missing story gaps.

To kick off the official start of its 2025 season, one of the world's most iconic venues, the Hollywood Bowl, welcomed more than 10,000 guests on the evening of June 7, 2025 for its opening night concert 'An Evening With Hugh Jackman,' featuring the celebrated Australian-born stage-and-screen star performing high-energy numbers accompanied by the lush, grandiose sounds of the Hollywood Bowl orchestra under the direction of Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins, as well as the Senior graduating musicians of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) who joined them on select numbers. A rousing display of talent and energy, Jackman's concert proved once again why this award-winning star is quite a 'showman.'

Touted as the first 'non-replica' regional production of this Disney stage musical mounted in Southern California, La Mirada Theatre's fresh iteration of FROZEN - THE MUSICAL still has plenty of Disney-esque magic to offer young and old audience members alike seeking to revisit the land of Arendelle. Enhanced significantly by an energetic ensemble cast led by a pair of compelling lead actresses, this entertaining new production is lively, colorful, and grand-sounding overall, making it stand as a respectable modern musical filled with likable characters, relatable emotions, and some genuine laughs. This new Los Angeles premiere production—directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges—continues performances through June 29 in the city of La Mirada.

There is definitely an easy-to-surmise draw behind the now-touring version of the Tony Award-winning play LIFE OF PI, now currently enchanting audiences at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through June 15, 2025. Filled with innovative visual trickery and remarkable, human-powered puppetry, this impressive, great-looking drama—playwright Lolita Chakrabarti's admirable stage adaptation of Yann Martel's bestselling novel—wows with its non-stop eye-popping theatrics that combine technical cleverness with breathtaking human physicality. And though the play's central narrative conceit—teen boy gets stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger—is fairly simple, its dazzling execution is its primary, most valid reason to experience this play in person.

Set in the part of the 'real' Hawaii that tourists are unlikely to ever see, THE STAIRCASE—the World Premiere play from Noa Gardner directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch—is an admirable new play that features a superb acting ensemble, relatable themes, beautifully authentic cultural representation, and an intriguing (if slightly predictable) premise. Using many long stretches of orations to un-peel its surface layers, the play is mostly commendable in artistic execution and cultural specificity, but could, perhaps, use some more editing in its hopefully ongoing evolution.

Filled with catchy, pop-infused songs, engaging characters, vibrant choreography, and a not-so-subtle message of female empowerment and self-confidence, LEGALLY BLONDE - THE MUSICAL is back in SoCal in a brand new, awesomely-entertaining, Broadway-caliber regional production at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through May 18th that's filled with non-stop laughs, lively musical numbers, a ridiculously good-looking and musically-talented cast, and production values that make it all just a genuinely fun time all-around. I have to say that this cheery, unabashedly joyful production was genuinely the most fun I have had at a musical so far this year.

Now ten years old, HAMILTON—which was birthed during a more welcoming time when such a creative, innovative endeavor felt like a step in necessary progress—still lives up to its initial hype, but also now feels more groundbreaking and particularly poignant than ever before.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of two groundbreaking, iconic musicals CHICAGO and A CHORUS LINE, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in association with Spot-On Entertainment presented a one-nigh-only star-studded concert featuring the music of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Marvin Hamlisch. The lineup included Tony Award nominees Tony Yazbeck and OC native Eden Espinosa, plus Max Clayton, Jason Graae, and original A CHORUS LINE cast member Kay Cole. The event was hosted by Scott Coulter and featured pianist John Boswell and the Fabulous 50 orchestra under the direction of Rob Istad.

With a notable career that spans stage and screen, musically-gifted actor Cheyenne Jackson delivered a wonderfully charming, wickedly hilarious OC solo debut set during his three-night run at Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Samueli Theatre from April 10-12, 2025. Backed by the superbly talented Willy Beaman behind the piano, Jackson not only showcased his impressive, Broadway-honed singing chops but also his knack for touching and comedic storytelling, providing OC with a program that was as magnificent as it was swoon-worthy—with plenty of emotion, laughs, and ribald cheekiness generously served in between.

Poignant, hopeful, sardonic, jubilant, and hilariously wicked, YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE END OF THE WORLD! is a brilliant new World Premiere play that revels in its eccentricity yet, thankfully, doesn't quite shield you from genuine, gut-wrenching emotions that tug at your heart strings. Buoyed by a terrific ensemble cast and magical theatricality, Keiko Green’s bold and emotionally resonant new theatrical work is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The play continues at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through May 3, 2025.

For Musical Theatre West's new, winning large-scale production—now on stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through April 13, 2025—director Kari Hayter and a company of terrific performers have revived the musical in an expected, true-to-the-classic staging, bursting with the color and aura of a storybook fairy tale come-to-life. While, sure, nothing necessarily new is presented in MTW's vibe, this lively, genuinely spirited presentation reminds old and new fans exactly why the show—for many theatergoers—continues to be a beloved show decades after it first conjured itself on stage.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from experiencing RENT - IN CONCERT—a symphony orchestra-backed concert version of Jonathan Larson's iconic musical which recently played to a full-capacity crowd for a one-night-only performance on March 15, 2025 at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa—is that this Tony and Pulitzer-Prize-winning 1996 show truly deserves to always have a full symphony orchestra playing its memorable score. Aided by a talented ensemble led by Coby Getzug, Abigail Barlow, and Frankie Rodriguez, this beautifully-presented music showcase proved to be an entertaining evening.

For his debut OC cabaret engagement, Broadway actor Claybourne Elder—who recently played Andy in the Tony Award-winning 2021 revival of Stephen Sondheim's (mostly) gender-bent COMPANY—brought his witty charm and sublime musicality to Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Samueli Theater for three performances on February 20-23, 2025. Filled with personal stories spanning from his early Mormon roots to his work in musical theater, the actor charmed the audience with a cheeky stand-up set sprinkled with wonderfully-performed songs that came off surprisingly wholesome.

Fresh off her final set of performances in the L.A. transfer of the new Broadway revival of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, the two-time Tony Award winning stage and screen star recently returned to Orange County, CA for a one-night-only sold out concert at the Irvine Barclay Theatre accompanied by music director Michael Rafter. Foster dazzled the audience with selections that ranged from traditional showtunes to classic pop hits and even a lullaby or two inspired by her daughter Emily.