News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Costa Mesa Interviews

The latest interviews about live + streaming theatre in Costa Mesa.

BWW Q&A: Diane Challis Davy on Á LA MODE: THE ART OF FASHION at Pageant of the Master Photo
BWW Q&A: Diane Challis Davy on Á LA MODE: THE ART OF FASHION at Pageant of the Masters
by Joshua Wright - July 23, 2024

The Pageant of the Masters is an annual theatrical celebration that brings famous works of art to life through live reenactments, transforming classical and contemporary pieces into living masterpieces accompanied by original live music and storytelling. The Pageant began in Laguna Beach in 1932 where its continued to grow and evolve for over 90 years, continuing to attract over 200,000 patrons each summer....

LISTEN: Podcaster Ashton Marcus and Roberto Williams Discuss George Orwell's 1984
by Ellen Dostal - November 23, 2022


Roberto Williams stars as the 'Courage is Cowardice' Winston in George Orwell's 1984 at the Grand Annex, San Pedro. Enjoy!...

LISTEN: Podcaster Ashton Marcus and A.J. Holmes Discuss YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
by Ellen Dostal - September 29, 2022


A.J. Holmes stars as the hilariously eccentric Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts....

VIDEO: Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West) Is Hitting the Road Again in HAIRSPRAY
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - September 03, 2022


Watch as RuPaul's Drag Race star Nina West checks in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to chat about returning to the touring production of Hairspray and so much more!...

Listen: Podcaster Ashton Marcus and Jared Machado Discuss AMERICAN IDIOT
by Ellen Dostal - August 03, 2022


Jared Machado discusses his portrayal of Johnny in the musical American Idiot at Chance Theater....

VIDEO: Meet the HADESTOWN Tour's New Orpheus- Chibueze Ihuoma
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - June 26, 2022


There's a new Orpheus coming to a town near you! Chibueze Ihuoma, previously an understudy in the national tour of Hadestown, just officially took over the role during its residence in San Francisco. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge is chatting with Ihuoma about how he got the part, what his Orpheus is...

Listen: BWW Podcaster Ashton Marcus and Benjamin Perez Discuss IN THE HEIGHTS at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
by Ellen Dostal - June 08, 2022


Director Benjamin Perez (as Kevin Rosario - whether it's shoe polish or his daughter’s education, he knows the right investment) discusses the character he plays in IN THE HEIGHTS at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts....

Kristin Chenoweth's For The Girls & Everybody Else
by Gil Kaan - October 16, 2021


Broadway favorite Kristin Chenoweth returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts with an evening of songs October 23, 2021. Kristen will be performing heartfelt tributes to some of her female friends and heroines with tunes from her most recent album For The Girls....

LISTEN: BWW Podcaster Ashton Marcus and TL Forsberg Discuss THE BOOK THAT WON'T CLOSE
by Ellen Dostal - August 24, 2021


Actress, TL Forsberg (Olivia in Switched At Birth) discusses the character she plays in THE BOOK THAT WON’T LOSE: CONFESSIONS OF A LOVE ADDICT at Broadwater Black Box. ...

LISTEN: BWW Podcaster Ashton Marcus and Willow Geer Discuss JULIUS CAESAR
by Ellen Dostal - August 23, 2021


Actress, Willow Geer discusses the character she plays in JULIUS CAESAR at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Enjoy!...

Listen: BWW Podcaster Ashton Marcus and Jackie Nicole Discuss A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by Ellen Dostal - August 10, 2021


Actress, Jackie Nicole discusses the character she play in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Enjoy!...

Songstress/Songwriter Extraordinaire Ann Hampton Callaway Riffs on Linda, Liz, Barbra & More
by Gil Kaan - July 05, 2021


Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents for one performance only ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY THE LINDA RONSTADT SONGBOOK July 25, 2021. The platinum singer/songwriter will demonstrate her take on some of Linda’s classic songs with her melodious vocals. Ann will be backed by Trey Henry on bass, MB Gordy on ...

VIDEO: Christopher Sieber Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - November 05, 2020


Tune in right here as he chats with one of Broadway's most beloved actors, Christopher Sieber, who will perform a very special concert tonight, November 5 (7pm), as a part of the Radio Free Birdland series....

VIDEO: Beth Malone Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 29, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 29 (3pm ET), as he chats with one of Broadway favorite Beth Malone. Beth will soon join Seth Rudetsky for two very special concerts on Sunday, November 1 (8pm) and Monday, November 2 (3pm)....

VIDEO: Rafael Casal & Adrienne Warren Visit Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 28, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 28 (12pm ET), as he chats with Rafael Casal and Adrienne Warren, who star in one-night-only virtual Halloween benefit concert presentation of The Nightmare Before Christmas, benefitting the Actors Fund and the Lymphoma Research Foundation. ...

VIDEO: LaChanze Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 21, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 21 (12pm ET), as he chats with one of Broadway's favorite leading ladies, LaChanze. LaChanze will soon join Seth Rudetsky for two very special concerts on Sunday, October 25 (8pm) and Monday, October 26 (3pm). ...

VIDEO: Company of STICKS & STONES Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 16, 2020


Tune in right here as he chats with composer John McDaniel, Javier Muñoz, George Salazar, and Joshua Colley from Stick and Stones, which premieres today, October 16, 2020, as part of National Bullying Prevention Month....

VIDEO: Jennifer Holliday Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 16, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 16 (12pm ET), as he chats with Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday, who celebrates her 60th birthday in concert on Monday, October 19 (8pm)!...

VIDEO: Keala Settle Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 15, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 15 (4:30pm ET), as he chats with Broadway beltress Keala Settle. Keala will soon Seth Rudetsky for two very special concerts on Sunday, October 18 (8pm) and Monday, October 19 (3pm)....

VIDEO: Jenn Colella & Chilina Kennedy Visit Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 14, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 14 (5pm ET), as he chats with Broadway couple Jenn Colella and Chilina Kennedy about Divas For Democracy: United We Slay, which streams this Sunday, October 18 (8pm). ...

VIDEO: Heidi Schreck & Oliver Butler Visit Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 14, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 14 (3:30pm ET), as Richard chats with Heidi Schreck and Oliver Butler, whose What the Constitution Means to Me premieres Friday on Prime Video!...

VIDEO: Kate Rockwell Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 14, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 14 (12pm ET), as Richard chats with the wonderful Kate Rockwell. Kate who headlines a concert with Radio Free Birdland on Thursday, October 15 at 7PM ET....

VIDEO: Tiler Peck Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 13, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 13 (3:30pm ET), as Richard chats with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Tiler Peck, curates and stars in A New Stage. Available to stream starting October 16, A New Stage gives you a front-row seat to experience world-class artistry from the comfort of your hom...

VIDEO: Beth Leavel Visits Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 08, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 8 (12pm ET), as he chats with Tony winner Beth Leavel who will headline concerts with Seth Rudetsky on October 11 (8pm) and 12 (3pm)....

VIDEO: Boy•Friends' Noam Ash, Mike Heslin and Jay Armstrong Johnson Visit Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - October 07, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 7 (12pm ET), as Richard Ridge chats with Noam Ash, Mike Heslin and Jay Armstrong Johnson from the new web series, BoyFriends....

VIDEO: Orfeh & Andy Karl Visit Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge
by Robert Diamond - October 01, 2020


Tune in right here today, October 1 (12pm ET), as he chats with Broadway's favorite couple, Orfeh and Andy Karl, who will headline concerts with Seth Rudetsky on October 4 (8pm) and 5 (3pm)....

The GOING DARK Series - The Stories behind the COVID-19 Impact on the Performing Arts
by Adrienne Proctor - March 18, 2020


The GOING DARK Series continues with three more UCO performing arts students. Their take on the impact of COVID-19 and the response of theatres around the world to postpone and cancel all shows for the foreseeable future is here in an honest and unfiltered interview. These are the human stories behi...

Scott Coulter Helms The Latest Iteration Of Michael Childers' One Night Only
by David Green - February 10, 2020


Michael Childers' presents One Night Only benefitting the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center. a?oeThe Way We Were: Songs of the '70'sa?? features the best of Broadway and pop music from that era, for one performance only on April 22 at 6:30 pm, at The McCallum Theatre. With Direction & Choreography b...

Fran Drescher of SCHMOOZING WITH FRAN at Outlandish Palm Springs
by David Green - October 09, 2019


Outlandish launches its third season on Saturday, October 12 with America's favorite Nanny Fran Drescher, performing a show for the first time in Palm Springs. In a?oeSchmoozing With Fran Dreschera??, the legendary actress/comedian/activist shares, in her unique voice, both hilarious and poignant st...

A Conversation with Matt Walker and Beth Kennedy, the King and Queen of Troubie Land
by Ellen Dostal - May 02, 2019


When it comes to developing a loyal fan base, Troubadour Theater Company has found the secret: do outstanding work, stay true to your aesthetic, and give the people what they want - a great time at the theater. Artistic Director Matt Walker started the troupe and, with the help of longtime friend an...

We Play 20 Questions with ALADDIN's Clinton Greenspan
by Michael Quintos - March 10, 2019


The national tour of the hit stage adaptation of Disney's ALADDIN has finally arrived in Orange County, playing a three-week engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through March 23, 2019. The talented, terrifically nimble actor that can currently be found in the title role wearin...

RENT'S Joanne, Lencia Kebede, Talks The 20th Anniversary Tour At The McCallum Theatre and More
by David Green - February 06, 2019


The McCallum Theatre presents the 20th Anniversary Tour of Rent for five performances, Friday, February 8, through Sunday, February 10. In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan L...

BWW Interview: The King Of The Forest! Nick Pearson Opens Up About Playing The Cowardly Lion In THE WIZARD OF OZ At The McCallum
by David Green - January 10, 2019


The greatest family musical of all time, The Wizard of Oz, travels over the rainbow to Palm Desert for five performances at the McCallum Theatre. Performances are Friday, January 25, at 8:00pm; Saturday, January 26, at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday, January 27, at 2:00pm and 7:30pm. This magical pro...

Michael Childers Brings A Star-Studded Tribute To Andrew Lloyd Webber To Palm Springs in April
by David Green - December 13, 2018


Celebrated Producer Michael Childers will bring his latest edition of One Night Only to The McCallum Theatre on April 24, 2019 with a star-studded cast including Christine Andreas, John Barrowman, Liz Calloway and more. This season's ONO is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber and proceeds will benefit ...

Christine Toy Johnson Utilizing the Arts To Make You COME AWAY More Knowledgeable & Compassionate
by Gil Kaan - December 12, 2018


Already a few cities into their 27-city national circuit, the touring company of COME FROM AWAY has landed in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson. Helmed by its Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley, COME FROM AWAY runs through January 6, 2019. Still fresh and reeling from the audience's passiona...

Pasquale Esposito Opens Up About His Incredible Career, PBS Specials And His Upcoming Concert At The Annenberg
by David Green - November 29, 2018


Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito returns to The Annenberg Theatre, located at The Palm Springs Arts Museum, for his fifth appearance on December 7 at 8:00 pm. The concert celebrates Italian Piazzas and is the live version of his newest PBS special. I had the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Esposito ...

NOT THAT JEWISH! A Chat With Comic Monica Piper As She Prepares For Her One Woman Show In Palm Springs
by David Green - November 07, 2018


JFS Desert is proud to present an incredible afternoon with Emmy® Award winning comedy writer and stand-up comic Monica Piper for one performance only. This dynamic comedian who has written for Roseanne, Mad About You, Veronica's Closet and was the head writer of the #1 children's animated series Ru...

Catching Up With Dezart Performs' Artistic Director Michael Shaw As He Prepares To Kick Off Eleventh Season With CHURCH AND STATE
by David Green - November 06, 2018


Award-winning Dezart Performs opens it's eleventh season in the desert with the 'serious comedy' CHURCH AND STATE on November 9 at The Pearl McManus Theatre in donwtown Palm Springs. Production notes state: 'Three days before his bid for reelection, a Republican U.S. senator makes an off-the-cuff co...

Julie Makerov and the Fine Art of Balancing Music and Life
by Ellen Dostal - November 05, 2018


How does a busy soprano balance career, family, motherhood, and art? If that soprano is Julie Makerov, it's all about scheduling and planning ahead of time. Makerov, who will be appearing as one of four soloists with LA's Verdi Chorus this weekend at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, sa...

DEAR EVAN HANSEN's Ben Levi Ross & Jessica Phillips Connecting Truthfully
by Gil Kaan - October 18, 2018


DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the winner of six Tony Awards (including Best Musical) makes its second stop of its 23-city national tour at the Ahmanson Theatre with opening night set for October 19, 2018. I had the opportunity to sit down with two of the leads of DEAR EVAN HANSEN. I joined Ben Levi Ross (Evan H...

Pageant Of The Masters Artistic Director Diane Challis Davy Shares Her Vision Of An Incredible Summer UNDER THE SUN
by David Green - August 17, 2018


The world-famous Pageant Of The Masters, a theatrical celebration of great art recreated in tableaux vivants, and celebrating its' 85th anniversary of 'living pictures' as part of Laguna Beach's Festival of Arts, is in full bloom in Laguna Beach, with performances nightly through September 1. This s...



Videos


Joaquina Kalukango in Costa Mesa Joaquina Kalukango
Samueli Theater (9/19 - 9/21) Tracker
My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical & Dr. Love's Rom-Com Experience in Costa Mesa My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical & Dr. Love's Rom-Com Experience
Canvas (7/26 - 8/10) Tracker
The Old Man and the Old Moon in Costa Mesa The Old Man and the Old Moon
South Coast Repertory (7/20 - 8/11) Tracker
Danish String Quartet in Costa Mesa Danish String Quartet
Irvine Barclay Theatre (2/1 - 2/1)
& Juliet in Costa Mesa & Juliet
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (9/9 - 9/21)
LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL NIGHT THREE CAROLINE SHAW & GABRIEL KAHANE in Costa Mesa LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL NIGHT THREE CAROLINE SHAW & GABRIEL KAHANE
Laguna Playhouse (2/16 - 2/16)
Mrs. Doubtfire in Costa Mesa Mrs. Doubtfire
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (9/24 - 10/6)
Pageant of the Masters 2024 Production - “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion” in Costa Mesa Pageant of the Masters 2024 Production - “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion”
Festival of Arts (12/4 - 8/30)
ITZHAK PERLMAN IN THE FIDDLER'S HOUSE in Costa Mesa ITZHAK PERLMAN IN THE FIDDLER'S HOUSE
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (1/21 - 1/21)
The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity) in Costa Mesa The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity)
Fox Performing Arts Center (1/28 - 1/29)
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