Marion Ramsey

Broadway historian and self-proclaimed theatre nerd Jennifer Ashley Tepper is here to help with her new series, Broadway Deep Dive. This month, the reader question was: Have any Broadway musicals ever closed before they opened?

Stage and screen actor Marion Ramsey, best known for her role as Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy franchise, passed away today in Los Angeles at the age of 73. 

Maurice Hines, who starred in the original production of EUBIE!, the Tony-nominated musical from 1978 that celebrates the songs and stories of celebrated music titan Eubie Blake, will host the show's 40th-anniversary celebration at Feinstein's/54 Below today, July 10th, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

Maurice Hines, who starred in the original production of EUBIE!, the Tony-nominated musical from 1978 that celebrates the songs and stories of celebrated music titan Eubie Blake, will host the show's 40th-anniversary celebration at Feinstein's/54 Below on Tuesday, July 10th, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

EUBIE!, the Tony-nominated musical from 1978 that celebrates the songs and stories of celebrated music titan Eubie Blake, will celebrate its 40th anniversary at Feinstein's/54 Below on Tuesday, July 10th, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

Sharks, more sharks – and tarantulas! Syfy's second annual Sharknado Week (July 18-25) will showcase seven original wild and gory movies featuring heroes such as Ian Ziering, Steve Guttenberg, Casper Van Dien and Danny Trejo battling bloodthirsty creatures and saving humanity.

Chuck Faerber's world premiere Counter Men, now onstage at the Whitefire Theatre, is peculiarly intriguing with a 14-character cast and just about as many plotlines. On the plus side, it's entertaining - to a point - with a mostly wonderful ensemble. On the negative side, its big picture gets bogged down by too many unnecessary stories. It can work in a soap on TV, but not on a tiny stage.The setting? The rump section of a diner-like restaurant in Glendale - great realistic set design by Davis Campbell - where an odd assortment of men hang out daily: an actor, a screenwriter, and a musician are among the brood. This is a suburb of Hollywood, after all, so it's not unusual for show biz folks to find a second home where they can dish the dirt, kind of like Dupars in Studio City. There are a couple of waitresses who know the men quite well, so, for the most part, what we see is a big extended family, except of course, for those making quick entrances/exits to and from the restroom, one of whom is branded a terrorist. A couple of the men are vets and have conflicting opinions with the younger guys about the war in Iraq. Mackie (Paul Haitkin) has a macho streak and brags about picking up women and videotaping his sexual trysts with them. Carl (Bart Braverman) has some serious issues with cancer. Joyelle (Marion Ramsey), the older and motherly waitress, has a son in Iraq and is in a constant state of anxiety for his safety. Ludy (Vanessa Herrera), the younger waitress, with a black eye and bruises on her arms, is clearly having some problems at home. Teo, a homeless filipino musician, who uses one of the booths to sleep in as well as a studio in which to compose, is attracted to Sackie (Naila Browne), a gal from Glendale's Water and Power, but he's timid about taking the first step to meet her. One of Mackie's conquests, Sheila, a real estate tycoon, gives up the business and eventually becomes a nun (Anna Nicholas). The stories go on and on, endlessly.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Chuck Faerber's world premiere Counter Men, now onstage at the Whitefire Theatre, is peculiarly intriguing with a 14-character cast and just about as many plotlines. On the plus side, it's entertaining - to a point - with a mostly wonderful ensemble. On the negative side, its big picture gets bogged down by too many unnecessary stories. It can work in a soap on TV, but not on a tiny stage.The setting? The rump section of a diner-like restaurant in Glendale - great realistic set design by Davis Campbell - where an odd assortment of men hang out daily: an actor, a screenwriter, and a musician are among the brood. This is a suburb of Hollywood, after all, so it's not unusual for show biz folks to find a second home where they can dish the dirt, kind of like Dupars in Studio City. There are a couple of waitresses who know the men quite well, so, for the most part, what we see is a big extended family, except of course, for those making quick entrances/exits to and from the restroom, one of whom is branded a terrorist. A couple of the men are vets and have conflicting opinions with the younger guys about the war in Iraq. Mackie (Paul Haitkin) has a macho streak and brags about picking up women and videotaping his sexual trysts with them. Carl (Bart Braverman) has some serious issues with cancer. Joyelle (Marion Ramsey), the older and motherly waitress, has a son in Iraq and is in a constant state of anxiety for his safety. Ludy (Vanessa Herrera), the younger waitress, with a black eye and bruises on her arms, is clearly having some problems at home. Teo, a homeless filipino musician, who uses one of the booths to sleep in as well as a studio in which to compose, is attracted to Sackie (Naila Browne), a gal from Glendale's Water and Power, but he's timid about taking the first step to meet her. One of Mackie's conquests, Sheila, a real estate tycoon, gives up the business and eventually becomes a nun (Anna Nicholas). The stories go on and on, endlessly.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners presents the World Premiere dramedy, COUNTER MEN written by Chuck Faerber, directed by Richard Kuhlman.

Moving on from a third summer of sold-out performances highlighted by such LA-based artists as Popera singing star Jamie Angelise; Nightclub, recording and television stars Craig Heath and Jeanne Page; the irresistible Broadway star and film star Marion Ramsey (from the hilarious Police Academy series 1 - 6); Disney's Danyelle Bossardet (Beauty and the Beast); and the revered musical comedy duo of BaulPointPen (Paul Peglar and Ben McLain); Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA ushers in October and November with seven sensational leading men.