Michael Quintos - Page 27

Recent events in the American political arena have certainly illustrated that, even to this day, there is--and perhaps, always will be--a conflict between the strict doctrine of most factions of organized religion and the equal-rights-seeking gay community. This heated, often deeply painful struggle is even more pronounced for those caught in the middle of these two opposing worlds. This internal conflict it causes--to stay truthful to one's sexual identity, as well as abide by the long-ingrained teachings of their church's gospel--is the subject of Del Shores' stirring SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, presented by Theatre Out, Orange County's sole gay and lesbian theatre company, at Santa Ana's Empire Theatre through September 2.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center's enormously popular 'FREE Movie Mondays' will continue its series of outdoor, big-screen presentations of film classics next summer. Now OCPAC has opened up online voting to help the public select some of the films to be featured for the Center's presentations in 2011.

The National Flute Association will host its 38th Annual Convention in Anaheim, California, August 12 - 15, 2010 at the Anaheim Marriott with over 3,000 flutists, composers, flute scholars and flute enthusiasts from all over the world. The public is invited to attend the concerts and workshops that are offered Thursday through Sunday during the convention. The theme for the NFA convention this year is 'Illuminating Tradition,' paying homage to the NFA's heritage as an organization that serves to inspire, enrich and educate.

In celebration of his first solo CD release, former JERSEY BOYS star Erich Bergen will debut his new club act in Los Angeles at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles on September 15, and also at the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco on September 24.

On the weekend of August 6-8, the infamous 17,000-seat Hollywood Bowl plays host to a forcibly-scaled-up version of Jonathan Larson's Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT, directed by none other than Neil Patrick Harris. Harris' challenge-besides honoring a beloved show as well as living up to his stunt casting choices-was to take a relatively-intimate rock musical about financially-strapped bohemians living in the less-than-luxurious Lower East Side enclave of New York City and expand it on the massive stage entrenched in the Hollywood Hills. The results-a mixed bag of technical gaffes, surprisingly excellent performances, and a few disappointments-prove to be admirably and genuinely entertaining overall.

The Chance Theater is pleased to announce that it has selected the innovative rock musical THE WHO'S TOMMY as its third production of the 2010 season, scheduled to run July 2 through August 8. Based on The Who's classic 1969 double album rock opera about a 'deaf, dumb and blind boy' who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, THE WHO'S TOMMY tells the dramatic story of a young boy's journey to manhood through the muted pain of catatonia after witnessing the murder of his mother's lover by his father. Tommy finds his calling as a pinball champion who becomes idolized by the public and the press, but his celebrity machine eventually begins to fall apart.

Is it actually possible to like something more on repeat viewings? In the case of the traveling national tour production of IN THE HEIGHTS--now performing for a limited engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through August 15--the answer is a very qualified 'yes.' That's quite a feat, considering the show just played an extended run in Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre, featuring its original creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda reprising the lead role. With Miranda's charms and undeniable hip-hop skills on full display, the much celebrated Los Angeles stop was a dazzling thing to behold. So how will the show fare without its main impresario dramatizing this entertaining tale?

On the surface, taking over the lead role of Usnavi in the National Tour of IN THE HEIGHTS-now performing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through August 15-seems like a daunting task to tackle, especially after observing first-hand the man who created the role reprising it for six weeks in the tour's celebrated Los Angeles stop. But for actor Joseph Morales, assuming the role full-time directly following Lin-Manuel Miranda is nothing short of a realization of a dream. Morales spoke briefly with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos to talk about what it means for him to play the lead role in one of musical theater's biggest new hits.

The latest to produce a full production of the rock opera THE WHO'S TOMMY is The Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, the little store-front black box theater that, over the years, have managed to do quite a lot with its small space. In this fast-paced, tightly-directed new revival, THE WHO'S TOMMY-with sold out performances extended through August 15-hits with the ferocity of a full-on rock concert and features a confident, spirited cast. And, in somewhat of a nice surprise, the show utilizes newer technology unseen (or unaffordable) in many smaller theaters.

One of Orange County's newest theater companies, 3D Theatricals, will present HELLO, DOLLY! from July 9 through August 1 at the O.C. Pavilion Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Santa Ana. The hit stage and screen musical marks 3D Theatrical's fourth production for 2010. Starring in the iconic role of Dolly Levi will be Broadway vet (and L.A.-area stage favorite) Ruth Williamson (Guys and Dolls).

The Orange County Performing Arts Center's enormously popular 'FREE Movie Mondays' on the community plaza continues its series with a big-screen presentation of the 1987 hit film DIRTY DANCING on Monday, August 2. Before the start of the movie, members from the national tour of IN THE HEIGHTS (which performs at OCPAC from August 3-15) will present a free live performance from the show.

Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre, presents the Orange County Premiere of the musical ZANNA, DON'T! This musical fairy tale follows magical match-maker Zanna as he tries to find love for his friends at Heartsville High. But things go awry at Heartsville High as the drama club tackles the important social issue of heterophobia in their school musical, only to find out there might be heterosexuals living among them. The production plays at the Empire Theater in Santa Ana from June 25 through July 31.

The Maverick Theater is squeezing one of Broadway's biggest musicals on to their 20' foot stage and letting all the comedy pour into the laps of the audience. THE PRODUCERS opens June 11th and runs through July 31st with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 3:00 p.m. starting June 19th. The Maverick Theater is located in historic Downtown Fullerton, CA.

There is no denying that Mel Brooks is a comedy legend. Brooks' oeuvre--particularly his hilarious film work--harkens back to a time when getting laughs meant less cynical snark but, rather, more outlandish farce and the endless use of double-entendres and wordplay. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Brooks' stage musical iteration of his cult hit film--now performing at the Pantages Theatre through August 8--features plenty of Brooks' signature silliness, now paired with several relatively amusing songs, all penned by Brooks. However, the show somehow just stops short of becoming the universally beloved musical that Brooks' earlier show (The Producers) managed to be so much more effortlessly. But rest assured, this show will still coax a lot of smiles and many loud bursts of laughter out of you.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center's enormously popular 'FREE Movie Mondays' on the community plaza continues its series with a big-screen presentation of the 1968 musical OLIVER! on Monday, July 26. The film is based on the hit 1960 stage musical of the same name (and exclamation point) with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1969, winning 6 statues including Best Director (Carol Reed) and Best Picture. OCPAC's screening of OLIVER! is co-presented with media sponsor KCRW.