Keaton Williams

On Sunday, December 4th, the brand new Queens-based theatre company, The Queensborough Theatre Project, will premiere the first production of their inaugural season, CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

There was a moment in Chance Theater's LOCH NESS, a new musical, when I realized I had fallen completely in love with it; when everything suddenly came together in the most wonderful of ways - the glow of the lighting on a handful of heart wide open actors, the lyrical swell of their singing voices soaring with hope, a fog rising from a sea of imagination brought to life with unexpected delight - all of it morphed into what can only be described as pure magic.

We've got a first look at the official press photos for the world premiere of Loch Ness, a new musical, which is the newest show from Ovation Award-winning writer/director Marshall Pailet and Ovation Award-winning choreographer Kelly Todd. The musical opens tonight and runs through March 1 at Chance Theater.

Chance Theater will present the world premiere of the bright, imaginative flight of fancy Loch Ness, a new musical. Music and book by Marshall Pailet, lyrics and book by AD. Penedo, with direction by Marshall Pailet, choreography by Kelly Todd and music direction by Mark Sonnenblick. Loch Ness, a new musical will preview from tonight, January 30 through February 5, regular performances will begin February 6 and continue through February 28 on the mainstage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater will present the world premiere of the bright, imaginative flight of fancy Loch Ness, a new musical. Music and book by Marshall Pailet, lyrics and book by AD. Penedo, with direction by Marshall Pailet, choreography by Kelly Todd and music direction by Mark Sonnenblick. Loch Ness, a new musical will preview from January 30 through February 5, regular performances will begin February 6 and continue through February 28 on the mainstage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.

One of the most exciting, edgy, in-your-face new musicals to have popped up in recent years, the electrically-transfused angst-rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON is making quite a splashy, enjoyable Orange County debut at The Chance Theater. Filled with clever barbs and super-silly gags, this bloody-good, uniquely original musical---a creatively-crafted retelling of the emotions, deeds and actions of our 7th U.S. President---continues performances through August 4 in Anaheim Hills.

Chance Theater presents the third show of its 15th Anniversary Season - the hilarious and irreverent emo rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson by Alex Timbers, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, and directed by Kari Hayter. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opens tonight, July 12 and continues through August 4 at Chance Theater.

Chance Theater presents the third show of its 15th Anniversary Season - the hilarious and irreverent emo rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson by Alex Timbers, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, and directed by Kari Hayter. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson began previews on July 5, and opens July 12, continuing through August 4 at Chance Theater. Check out a first look below!

Chance Theater presents the third show of its 15th Anniversary Season - the hilarious and irreverent emo rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson by Alex Timbers, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, and directed by Kari Hayter. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson begins previews on July 5, opens July 12 and continues through August 4 at Chance Theater.

If you've ever sat through Steven Spielberg's e-ticket cinematic blockbuster Jurassic Park and wondered to yourself… 'Gee, I wonder how those dinosaurs feel about this whole situation,' then this cheeky, oddly hilarious musical send-up is the perfect show for you. Silly and even surprisingly touching, TRIASSIC PARQ - THE MUSICAL -- now playing its West Coast Premiere to loud cheers at the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills through February 24 -- is a fresh new stage show that offers a mosquito-on-the-wall look inside the electrified fences of that fictional dino-populated island, but this time from the point-of-view of the dinosaurs themselves. The result? A laugh-riot from start to finish.

Chance Theater will present the first show of its 2013 season with a touching west coast premiere musical about dinosaurs and love, TRIASSIC PARQ - The Musical, music by Marshall Pailet, book by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, choreographed by Kelly Todd, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Marshall Pailet, who will be the Chance Theater's 2013 Resident Playwright (and will have two of his other works workshopped in Chance's new play reading series). TRIASSIC PARQ -THE MUSICAL opens tonight, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 and will continue through Sunday, February 24 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

Chance Theater will present the first show of its 2013 season with a touching west coast premiere musical about dinosaurs and love, TRIASSIC PARQ - The Musical, music by Marshall Pailet, book by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, choreographed by Kelly Todd, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Marshall Pailet, who will be the Chance Theater's 2013 Resident Playwright (and will have two of his other works workshopped in Chance's new play reading series). TRIASSIC PARQ -THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, January 25 & Saturday, January 26 at 8pm; Sunday, January 27 at 7pm; Tuesday, January 29 at 8pm; with press openings on Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 and will continue through Sunday, February 24 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

Once again making the audacious gamble to re-work one of musical theater's most sacred properties, the little award-winning theater company with big visions, the Chance Theater, is currently staging an admirable, revamped version of the Laurents/Bernstein/Sondheim classic WEST SIDE STORY for a just-extended run through August 19 in Anaheim Hills.

Anaheim Hills, California…Chance Theater is thrilled to present the third show of its 2012 season with the legendary musical of our time, like you have never seen it before, WEST SIDE STORY, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Robyn Wallace, choreography by Kelly Todd and directed by Chance Theater's Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen. WEST SIDE STORY will preview on Friday, July 6 & Saturday, July 7 at 8pm; Sunday, July 8 at 2pm; Thursday, July 12 & Friday, July 13 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, July 14 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, August 12 at the Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.