Katharine McDonough

Spring 2022 Educational And Community Events Coming Up At Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse, The State Theater of California offers an exciting line up of educational and community events this spring. 

AN EVENING OF CLASSIC BROADWAY Returns to LA's Rockwell Table and Stage

Fraser Entertainment Group's AN EVENING OF CLASSIC BROADWAY will be back at LA's Rockwell Table and Stage with another new cast of performers. Nominated for multiple BroadwayWorld.com Awards for Special Theatre Event, the show tune songfest will take place on Thursday, March 19th at 8PM (doors open at 6:30).

BWW Review: THE MUSIC MAN Is What Great Musical Theatre Is All About

What do the 1950s have in common with 1912? Both were ages of innocence. When Meredith Willson wrote his story with Franklin Lacey about a con artist bamboozling an Iowa town in 1912, which formed the substance of his musical The Music Man (1957), the effect became like that of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. People were jubilant, ecstatic and welcomed Professor Harold Hill, as they craved a good old-fashioned love story coated with ironic excitement. He was a charmer, and they saw way past his bad side. Now in a spectacular new production at 5-Star Theatricals, this company headed by Tony nominee Adam Pascal, keeps the show fantastically rousing and musically. almost perfect yet grounding the love story within the realm of  kitchen.sink believability. With splendid director Larry Raben, divine choreographer Peggy Hickey and fab musical director Brad Ellis at the helm, a marvlous 40 member cast takes the The Music Man and offers a much needed take on the way life should be, whether it's 1912, 1955 or 2019.

BWW Photo Exclusive: Adam Pascal Stars In THE MUSIC MAN At 5-Star Theatricals

Tony nominee Adam Pascal stars as Professor Harold Hill in the first show of the 5-Star Theattricals 2019-2020 season, THE MUSIC MAN.

5-Star Theatricals Announces Full Cast To Join Adam Pascal In THE MUSIC MAN

5-STAR THEATRICALS has announced the full cast to join previously announced Tony nominee ADAM PASCAL (Broadway's original a?oeRogera?? in Rent and original a?oeRadamesa?? in Aida) who will star as Professor Harold Hill in the first show of its 2019-2020 season, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, musical direction by Brad Ellis, choreography by Peggy Hickey and directed by Larry Raben.

BWW Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID Enchants at Musical Theatre West

Currently docked at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 28 is Musical Theater West's wonderfully vibrant new regional production of THE LITTLE MERMAID, Disney's Broadway stage adaptation of their hit 1989 animated classic, which itself was adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. The resulting show achieves a cheerful, pleasant, and often charming hybrid that honors the original Disney-esque qualities of the film, but also shows what one may call a 'director's cut'---wherein the new 'extras' expand the musical even further in size, elements, and thematic mood. MTW's production is a visual treat.

BWW Review: RAGTIME at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse's vibrant re-thinking of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's masterpiece, 'Ragtime' is a triumph of innovation and imagination. The show has been extended until March 7.

RAGTIME Extends At Pasadena Playhouse Through March 9

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California is extending its an all new version of Ragtime: The Musical through Saturday March 9.  With strong critical acclaim and audience reviews, performances have already been selling out.  Six more performances have been added March 5-9.

BWW Review: RAGTIME Revival Couldn't Come at a Better Time

How do you scale down an epic musical like RAGTIME for a smaller stage and a different time? When it opened at the Shubert Theatre in Century City in 1997, the cast numbered nearly fifty, the same as it would for its Broadway debut later that year. The stage was enormous and the production filled every inch of it. I still remember how the sheer volume of the choral numbers gave me chills.

Photo Flash: Brian Stokes Mitchell Drops In On RAGTIME At Pasadena Playhouse

Broadway's original 'Coalhouse' Brian Stokes Mitchell dropped in on Pasadena Playhouse's production of Ragtime! See photos from his visit below!