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Musical Theatre West Presents THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, 4/17-5/2
by BWW News Desk - May 02, 2010
You're invited to the 1958 prom as MUSICAL THEATRE WEST ushers in spring with the Roger Bean smash Off-Broadway musical hit, The Marvelous Wonderettes. The Marvelous Wonderettes previews on Friday, April 16 and opens Saturday, April 17 with performances through May 2 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
Cotton, Malone, Malone & Roberts Close Musical Theatre West's MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, 5/2
by BWW News Desk - May 02, 2010
After a triumphant run Off-Broadway, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES will end its run in Southern California, in its Musical Theatre West premiere!
OC's Theatre Out Presents Martin Sherman's 'BENT' (4/9-5/1)
by BWW News Desk - May 01, 2010
Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre, presents BENT, with performances at The Empire Theatre in Santa Ana from April 9 - May 1. This gripping drama by Martin Sherman (A Madhouse In Goa, The Boy from Oz) examines the otherwise untold story of the treatment of homosexuals in World War II Nazi Concentration Camps.
Bloomingdales At South Coast Plaza Celebrates DREAMGIRLS 4/12-30
by BWW News Desk - April 30, 2010
To celebrate DREAMGIRLS' upcoming visit to the Center, Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza is creating a special 'Get the Look' boutique inspired by the stunning costumes from the sensational new stage production direct from Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City.
Musical Theatre West's THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Plays Through 5/2
by Charlie Piane - April 29, 2010
You're invited to the 1958 prom as MUSICAL Theatre West ushers in spring with the Roger Bean smash Off-Broadway musical hit, The Marvelous Wonderettes. The Marvelous Wonderettes began previews on Friday, April 16 and opened Saturday, April 17. The show will play through May 2 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
NVA's Ninth Season Closes With SUMMER AND SMOKE, Runs 5/27-6/20
by Gabrielle Sierra - April 29, 2010
NVA's Ninth Season concludes with Tennessee Williams's American classic SUMMER AND SMOKE, directed by NVA Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner. SUMMER AND SMOKE features Williams's most complex female character in Alma Winemiller, the minister's daughter caught up in a romantic relationship with the hedonistic doctor next door.
OCPAC presents Two Post-Show 'Talkbacks' with DREAMGIRLS Cast, Through 4/29
by Michael L. Quintos - April 29, 2010
To enhance Orange County theater-going when the national tour of the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS visits April 21 - May 2, the Center has scheduled two post-performance talkbacks with cast members on April 22 and 29. During the talkbacks, which will follow the performances in Segerstrom Hall, audience members can speak to the cast and ask questions. The talkbacks are free, but tickets to the April 22 and 29 performances of DREAMGIRLS are required.
BWW Reviews: 'BENT' Explores Holocaust Atrocities from A Different Perspective
by Michael L. Quintos - April 27, 2010
Many to this day may not be fully aware of the scope of the horrific events that transpired during Hitler's reign of tyranny over much of Europe during the Second World War. While the Jewish community was, by all accounts, the biggest targets of the Nazi's evil wave of terror, the German Gestapo also cast a wider net to include other 'undesirable' citizens they found to be non-conforming to the German/Hitler ideal of normalcy. Among these eventual victims of the Holocaust were homosexuals-particularly, gay men-whom they considered the most 'undesirable' of all. In Martin Sherman's stirring, powerful drama BENT (with performances now playing at Santa Ana's Theatre Out through May 1), we witness this incredibly appalling series of events through the eyes of a man caught between living openly and living fearfully to preserve his own survival.
BWW Reviews: DOCTOR CERBERUS Explores the (Funny) Horrors of Teen Life
by Michael L. Quintos - April 27, 2010
In South Coast Repertory's truly excellent World Premiere play DOCTOR CERBERUS (with performances continuing through May 2), playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa takes us back to the mid-1980's to witness the witty coming-of-age tale of one young awkward teen who is just a tad smarter than his years will allow. This, like in all misfits, causes him to be quite anguished by the very nature of his uniqueness in the world. Factor in a standard-issue dysfunctional family that can't quite understand him, and you have the makings of a winning narrative that has plenty of laughs, pathos and enough poignant moments that has us rooting for our hero to make it through to the end unscathed. Growing up different is scary. More broadly, life itself is scary.
BWW Reviews: They're Your DREAMGIRLS, They'll Make You Happy
by Michael L. Quintos - April 26, 2010
This fresh, entertaining reboot of the Tony® Award-winning stage musical DREAMGIRLS (now playing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through May 2) is exquisitely vintage, yet surprisingly modern all at the same time. It's a reverent homage to the soulful musical roots of pop music, displayed with a knowing wink and a contemporary eye that aims to be enthralling to both longtime fans of the original stage production and to new fans that have discovered it recently, thanks to Bill Condon's splashy Oscar®-lauded 2006 film adaptation. The iconic, memorable score that accompanies its all-too-familiar story, performed by truly gifted actor-singers within a vividly-conceived backdrop, all mesh together to make this new DREAMGIRLS quite a satisfying revamp.
3D Theatrical's 'ALTAR BOYZ' Ends 4/25
by Michael L. Quintos - April 25, 2010
One of Orange County's newest theater companies, 3D Theatricals, will present the final performances of ALTAR BOYZ Sunday, April 25 at the OC Pavilion in Santa Ana. ALTAR BOYZ, which won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, recently closed the original New York production this past January after 2,032 performances.
New Village Arts Theatre Hosts Auditions For INTO THE WOODS 4/25
by BWW News Desk - April 25, 2010
New Village Arts Theatre begins auditioning on April 25th for INTO THE WOODS by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine. The show is directed by James Vasquez.
THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE Ends Run at South Coast Rep, 3/25-4/25
by BWW News Desk - April 25, 2010
The Language Archive, written by Julia Cho will end its run April 25 at the South Coast Repertory Theatre. Recipient of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the show features Leo Marks, Betsy Brandt, Laura Heisler, Tony Amendola and Linda Gehringer.
3D Theatrical's 'ALTAR BOYZ' Plays Final Weekend (Ends 4/25)
by Michael L. Quintos - April 23, 2010
One of Orange County's newest theater companies, 3D Theatricals, will present the final performances of ALTAR BOYZ this weekend (thru Sunday, April 25) at the OC Pavilion in Santa Ana. ALTAR BOYZ, which won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, recently closed the original New York production this past January after 2,032 performances.
The KarmetiK Machine Orchestra Comes To CalArts 5/13
by Gabrielle Sierra - April 23, 2010
Global music joins the digital revolution. The KarmetiK Machine Orchestra combines traditional music from around the world with cutting edge engineering and high tech effects. Currently, its creators are building musical robots, digitally modifying traditional instruments and composing original music for an extravaganza at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:30 p.m.
Maverick Theater presents THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, 4/23 - 6/5
by BWW News Desk - April 23, 2010
Directed by Maverick Theater owner and artistic director Brian Newell, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE opens April 23rd and runs through June 5th. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is a story about the son of a prominent right-wing political family who has been brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.
SCR Announces 13th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival 4/23-25
by BWW News Desk - April 23, 2010
South Coast Repertory has lined up a slate of talented actors and directors to bring to life the five staged readings in this year's 13th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF), which takes place April 23-25.
SCR Announces 13th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival Lineup, 4/23-4/25
by BWW News Desk - April 23, 2010
South Coast Repertory's 13th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will shine the spotlight on seven new plays written by America's finest writers, including five who will be familiar to SCR audiences and two who are making their SCR debuts. This year's festival, which takes place April 23-25, will feature fully-produced world premieres by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Julia Cho and staged readings of brand-new works by Amy Freed, Itamar Moses, Bathsheba Doran, Sofia Alvarez and David West Read.
Musical Theatre West Presents THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Through 5/2
by Charlie Piane - April 22, 2010
You're invited to the 1958 prom as MUSICAL Theatre West ushers in spring with the Roger Bean smash Off-Broadway musical hit, The Marvelous Wonderettes. The Marvelous Wonderettes began previews on Friday, April 16 and opened Saturday, April 17. The show will play through May 2 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.
OCPAC presents Two Post-Show 'Talkbacks' with DREAMGIRLS Cast, 4/22 & 4/29
by BWW News Desk - April 22, 2010
To enhance Orange County theater-going when the national tour of the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS visits April 21 - May 2, the Center has scheduled two post-performance talkbacks with cast members on April 22 and 29. During the talkbacks, which will follow the performances in Segerstrom Hall, audience members can speak to the cast and ask questions. The talkbacks are free, but tickets to the April 22 and 29 performances of DREAMGIRLS are required.
OCA Upgrades Hearing Impaired System at Segerstrom Starting April 21
by Elisabeth Nebeker - April 21, 2010
The Orange County Performing Arts Center upgraded its Sennheiser audio system for the hearing impaired in Segerstrom Hall. The new system is radio frequency-based, replacing the original infrared system which will improve audio quality and availability throughout the hall with no dead spaces as could occur with infrared signals. Patrons with hearing impairment can take advantage of this free service at any performance. A lightweight traditional headset or earbuds plug into the receiver, which is the size of a cell phone and fits easily into a shirt or coat pocket. The new system will also be available for docent-led tours.
BWW Interviews: SYESHA MERCADO, An 'American Idol' Turned 'Dreamgirl'
by Michael L. Quintos - April 21, 2010
During what was called 'Andrew Lloyd Webber week' of the seventh season of the hit TV talent competition American Idol, Webber predicted to an audience of millions that Syesha Mercado will 'bring the house down' with a sexy, splashy take on one of his many musical hits. And that, she did. Then 21, she eventually lasted on the show to become the second runner-up. Fast forward two years later, and she is now in the midst of a multi-city national tour of the rebooted DREAMGIRLS stage musical, where she nightly plays Deena Jones, the beautiful and eventual front-woman of the semi-fictional musical group The Dreams. Before she takes the stage of The Orange County Performing Arts Center (April 21-May 2), Mercado spoke with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about life on the road, her American Idol roots, and what it takes to become Deena Jones night after night.
Orange County Performing Arts Center Offers Musical Theater Camp, 6/22-26
by Caroline Cole - April 20, 2010
The Orange County Performing Arts Center is offering local high school students the opportunity to join its brand-new weeklong musical theater summer camp from June 22 to 26 on the Center's campus. Students will be educated in musical theater technique and repertoire by some of the industry's leading professional artists and educators, including Tony®Award-nominated actress Erin Dilly and Danny Gurwin, Broadway star and faculty member of American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.
BWW Reviews: MTW's THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Is A Charmer
by Michael L. Quintos - April 20, 2010
There is a sort of darling, cheerful innocence associated with youth in the 50's, which, by contrast, is ridiculously tame by today's standards. Mixing old-fashioned values, quirky fashions, and infectious pop music that is oh-so-cute and saccharine, it is no wonder that many wax nostalgic for an era that came before the rise of cynicism, mistrust, and a disenfranchised counter-culture took hold of a nation still fixing itself. So upon seeing the sparkly, prom-decorated gymnasium set for Musical Theatre West's regional production of Roger Bean's Off-Broadway hit THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (continuing through May 2), one can't help but feel warm and fuzzy for what's about to happen. For a solid two hours-plus, it was certainly nice traveling back to pre-hardened times, and to be enveloped and shielded in the show's very cozy, comforting embrace.
BWW Reviews: Chance Theater's WELCOME HOME, JENNY SUTTER
by Michael L. Quintos - April 20, 2010
As newscasts take very brief pauses between disgraced pro-golfers and the latest political scandals to report on the conflict in the Middle East, Americans are fleetingly reminded that as long as the war rages on, many of these heroic military men and women are either about to deploy to, are in the middle of, or are coming home from the harshest of situations. One such woman mired in the latter is the basis for Chance Theater's Southern California premiere of Julie Marie Myatt's WELCOME HOME, JENNY SUTTER, a play that tackles the enormous task of dramatizing a soldier's troubled homecoming.

Videos


Doodle POP in Costa Mesa Doodle POP
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (3/14 - 3/15)
2026 Pageant of the Masters Casting Call in Costa Mesa 2026 Pageant of the Masters Casting Call
Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters (1/9 - 1/11)
Norbert Leo Butz in Costa Mesa Norbert Leo Butz
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (2/26 - 2/28)
SIX (Boleyn Tour) in Costa Mesa SIX (Boleyn Tour)
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (3/10 - 3/15)
The Phantom of the Opera in Costa Mesa The Phantom of the Opera
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (8/12 - 8/30)
The Shark is Broken in Costa Mesa The Shark is Broken
Ensemble Theatre Company (2/4 - 2/22)
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Non-Equity) in Costa Mesa Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Non-Equity)
Fox Performing Arts Center (2/2 - 2/3)
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