Michael Quintos - Page 4

Now on stage through April 10, 2022 at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, Christine Quintana's searing, bilingual two-character play CLEAN / ESPEJOS is a riveting drama showcasing how two different women of different cultures cope with past trauma.

Even without dazzling special effects and spectacular theatrics, or histrionic high drama, THE BAND'S VISIT---the Tony Award-winning stage musical now on stage at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through April 3---still provides a powerful show that is quietly poetic in its precious, slow-burning delivery.

Playwright Pearl Cleage's WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS---now on stage at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through March 19, 2022---takes place during the historic win of Atlanta's first black mayor in 1973 and focuses on a romantic triangle between a young campaign staffer and two much older men she works with at the election HQ.

Accompanied by her music director Matt Hinkley, Broadway and West End theater favorite Caissie Levy's lovely, powerful, stunning vocals were live and on display for her rapt audience, who were treated to an acoustic, no frills, intimate, candlelit show that was essentially a musical résumé of her past work--from RENT and LES MIS to GHOST and FROZEN

What better way to ease ourselves back (again) to live theater than with a tried-and-true bonafide hit like the musical WICKED, the 19-year-old global stage phenomenon now back for a nice, long stay in Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through March 6, 2022. Still as vibrant, as thrilling, and as emotionally satisfying as ever, the show boasts a pair of impressive leading ladies that give fresh new life to these memorable characters. Lovely bonus: a trio of Broadway vets are along in supporting roles, too!  

While most Southern California theatergoers are likely more aware of the 'big deal,' direct-from-Broadway production of Charles Dickens' classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL now playing in Los Angeles featuring big star names in its roster, many should not necessarily bypass the other, less star-studded mounting now entertaining audiences in Costa Mesa through December 26, 2021---that's more subtle in its grandeur, but still just as enchanting and timeless at its core. SCR's 41st annual production now features Richard Doyle in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Originally scheduled back in September, the wait was worth it to hear Laura Benanti sing selections from her roles on Broadway and a few tracks from her 2020 self-titled studio album in her debut Cabaret at the Center which was part uproarious stand-up comedy act, and part beguiling Broadway/Jazz concert. Continues through November 13, 2021.

Far more concerned with style over (narrative) substance, this brand new '50th Anniversary' re-staging of the 1971 musical that recounts the final days leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ is undeniably entertaining. The palpable, intentional vibe of this new US National Tour---directly imported from the well-received 2016 Regent's Park Theatre London production helmed by director Timothy Sheader that won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival---is to emphasize the show as a series of high-decibel, highly-stylized Big Musical Production Numbers where the 'story' acts as merely a way to organize the songs in a linear order. Overall, it's a fascinating hybrid of a rock opera arena concert, a Sunday morning modern-hipster MegaChurch service, and some, I suppose, after-thought musical theater-izing that mesmerizes the audience not with its central story but with high-budget music video production values, beautiful modern choreography, and bombastic vocal stylings from an extremely talented cast.

Some stage shows just refuse to retreat into the sunset, and one of those is MAMMA MIA!, that enduring, unapologetically giddy jukebox musical, now getting a fun, vibrant new staging at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, under the direction of T.J. Dawson. With performances continuing in the city of La Mirada, CA through Sunday, November 21, this infectiously peppy show---featuring a book by playwright Catherine Johnson that wraps around songs made famous by ABBA---is certainly an invigorating way to welcome theatergoers back for live, in-person performances, especially those looking for a silly, non-serious respite from our current realities. If you're looking for some cute laughs paired with some terrific singing and dancing, this show should fit the bill.

It's not a stretch to say that it was quite a treat to witness the undeniable talents of Kristin Chenoweth live and in-person again at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA for a one-night-only concert on October 23, 2021 in support of her most recent studio album For The Girls---a tribute to some of her favorite female singers of all time. In front of a full house of masked and (hopefully, thoroughly screened) vaccinated audience members, the Tony and Emmy-winning star of stage and screen sang, belted, and entertained with a solid 90-minute set filled with familiar, Girl-powered favorites, sprinkled with plenty of wit, humor, and heart in between. Her frequent musical director Mary-Mitchell Campbell joins her again for this concert.

Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (TAKE ME OUT, THREE DAYS OF RAIN) has been commissioned to write A SHOT RANG OUT: A PLAY IN ONE MAN, which continues its World Premiere production at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA through November 6. Featuring ecstatic delivery by SCR Artistic Director David Ivers, this one-man extended lecture-slash-monologue disguised as a play is dense in meandering thoughts and good intentions, but sorely lacking in theatrical bang.

Based on the well-known board game distributed in North America by Parker Brothers (which was later folded into toy and game manufacturer Hasbro) that itself inspired a cult 1985 Paramount Pictures film of the same name written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, CLUE--the stage play--features the same infamous names and, yes, weapons and rooms synonymous with the classic whodunnit game. Writer Sandy Rustin, along with additional writers Hunter Foster and Eric Price, have revived the same colorful characters and personalities of the film and have transposed them into a madcap, 90-minute puzzle that's mostly silly and engagingly fun. The comedy's West Coast Premiere production continues at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through October 17, 2021.

There are certainly plenty of movie-to-stage adaptations that have appeared (and continue to pop up) on Broadway, but few can boast being one of the most jubilant and unabashedly open-minded as the gloriously glam 2012 hit KINKY BOOTS, the Tony Award-winning stage musical adaptation of Geoff Deane and Tim Firth's 2005 independent cult film inspired by actual true events. The critical and audience favorite---which features memorable music from Grammy-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein---enjoyed a healthy run on Broadway and in several national tours that followed, spreading its genuinely heartwarming yet cheekily-delivered message of acceptance and empathy. Now back in Southern California for its flashy, beautifully remounted West Coast regional premiere for 3-D Theatricals, KINKY BOOTS---now continuing performances through March 1, 2020 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts---is just as fun and fabulous as ever.

A deeply complex father-daughter dynamic is the central narrative that drives the searingly poignant and emotionally absorbing musical FUN HOME, the Tony Award-winning stage adaptation of Alison Bechdel's 2006 autobiographical graphic memoir now appearing in an admirable new intimate theater production at Anaheim's Chance Theater through March 1, 2020. Under the thoughtful and attentive direction of Marya Mazo, the production's smaller footprint automatically enhances the musical's rich, engrossing story and its lovely musical score.

Fifteen years after its first production of the musical, Musical Theatre West revisits the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME for only its second time---smartly reviving the musical in a similarly lavish production that beautifully converges the show's classic staging and vibe with wonderfully integrated 21st Century tech upgrades that help elevate the material rather than hinder its storytelling. Under the enlightened direction of Paul David Bryant (who also provides the production's high-energy choreography), this brand new, spectacularly engrossing production bellows with an emotional fervor and is one of my favorite iterations of this musical I have seen in recent years. This local revival---which continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through February 23, 2020---is a feast for the senses.

Though SCR's admirable new production of the 1963 Broadway musical SHE LOVES ME, for the most part, still has many charming, beautifully-staged, and well-sung moments, it also somehow feels like it is slightly reigned in, as if there was a purposeful attempt to downscale some of its built-in whimsy and spirited vivaciousness---particularly in the first act where emotional expressions all seem to sit in the same middle areaa?? never tipping over to too angry or too sad or too happy or too, well, anything. Now on stage in Costa Mesa through February 22, 2020, the production---directed by the theater's own artistic director David Ivers---is genuinely entertaining, but still needs a huge shot of joy, romance, and pep to make it feel complete.

During the opening night performance of her fun return engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Cabaret Series at the Samueli Theatre, Tony Award winner Lillias White felt strongly about putting on a a?oehappy show,a?? as a way to combat all the sadness and fear that have overtaken our world. Joined on stage by her talenteda?"and gleefully playfula?"artistic director/accompanist Abdul Amid, Ms. White definitely accomplished her goal of making us smilea?? while also gifting us with a heaping portion of exactly why she has remained one of musical theater's most treasured voices. Ms. White's show continued for two additional shows on January 24-25, 2020.

In their continued and laudable feat of presenting diverse voices in theater, Orange County's South Coast Repertory is currently staging another stirring new drama, this time from playwright Donja R. Love entitled FIREFLIES, which continues performances through January 26, 2020 in Costa Mesa under the admirable direction of Lou Bellamy. At times heartbreaking and devastating, but ultimately empowering and (slightly) hopeful for future generations, FIREFLIES is a must-watch drama with searing emotions and real-world importance, highlighted by powerful performances from its two talented leads.

The family-friendly fun of Lythgoe Family Productions' annual holiday British Panto returns to the Laguna Playhouse, this time with the reimagined Yuletide re-telling of PETER PAN & TINKER BELL: A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, which continues through December 29, 2019 in the city of Laguna Beach. Overall, the show is an amusing, energetic Panto, though admittedly not as over-the-top as the two previous holiday Panto's that I have seen staged here. Still, the show had me smiling the whole time, and it's safe to say that you and your family will like sharing the experience, too.

Here's my understatement of the year so far: Broadway star Megan Hilty is one of the most delightful creatures that has ever graced a stage. This was wonderfully confirmed all throughout the Tony Award nominee's Segerstrom Center for the Arts Cabaret series solo debut, which recently opened to an enthusiastic, candlelit crowd Thursday night and continues for two more performances through November 16, 2019 at the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa. Beautiful, quirky, bawdy, self-deprecating, and undeniably talented, Ms. Hilty was thoroughly engaging and entertaining during her nearly 80-minute acoustic set backed by musical director and principal pianist Matt Cusson and her bassist/guitarist husband, fellow Broadway performer Brian Gallagher.