Matthew J. Vargo

BWW REVIEW: Who Could Ask for Anything More of Ogunquit's NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT?
by Jan Nargi - Aug 2, 2015

You won't be slipped a Mickey Finn, but Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse will knock you off your feet with its 'delishious' production of NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT running through August 15. Chock-a-block full of bootleggers, playboys, dancing girls and temperance leaders, NICE WORK is a non-stop musical feast with non-stop screwball laughs.

Photo Coverage: First Look at Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID at Tuacahn Center for the Arts
by Lily Lim - Jul 20, 2014

Back by popular demand, go "under the sea" as Tuacahn presents Disney's Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical. This stage adaptation of the beloved Academy Award-winning 1989 film comes to life at Tuacahn in a magnificent stage production the entire family will enjoy. Tuacahn will be one of the first regional theatres in the country to present this updated version of Disney's The Little Mermaid, with new orchestrations which have enhanced this fabulous production.

Emma Degerstedt, Heidi Anderson, Lawrence Cummings Kari Yancy and James Royce Edwards Lead Tuacahn's LITTLE MERMAID and WIZARD OF OZ
by Courtnie Mele - May 31, 2014

Tuacahn has announced the cast lists for their productions of The Little Mermaid and The Wizard of Oz. Check below to see who's who!

San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Reveal 2013 Craig Noel Award Nominees
by Tyler Peterson - Jan 2, 2014

Dominating the nominations in the musical category is the current Broadway sensation 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder,' which made its world premiere in February 2013 at San Diego's The Old Globe (a co-production with Hartford Stage). The musical racked up 11 nominations, including nods for New Musical, its versatile star Jefferson Mays (a UC San Diego alumnus) and its director Darko Tresnjak (former co-artistic director and Shakespeare Festival director at The Old Globe).

Chryssie Whitehead, Chuck Saculla and More Star in Musical Theatre West's A CHORUS LINE, Beg. Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Apr 12, 2013

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, has announced the cast of A CHORUS LINE, previewing tonight, April 12, opening April 13 at 8pm, and continuing through April 28. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, A CHORUS LINE is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

Chryssie Whitehead, Chuck Saculla and More to Star in Musical Theatre West's A CHORUS LINE; Full Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Mar 29, 2013

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, has announced the cast of A CHORUS LINE, previewing April 12, opening April 13 at 8pm, and continuing through April 28. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, A CHORUS LINE is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

Photo Coverage: Musical Theatre West Opens OKLAHOMA! at Carpenter Performing Arts Center
by Lily Lim - Feb 17, 2013

Musical Theatre West presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, which opened last night, February 16, and continues through March 3, 2013. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent. BroadwayWorld's Lily Lim was at the opening and brings you photos from the event below!

Musical Theatre West Completes OKLAHOMA! Casting
by Kelsey Denette - Feb 7, 2013

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, has announced the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

Musical Theatre West Announces OKLAHOMA! Cast
by Kelsey Denette - Jan 29, 2013

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, is proud to announce the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

Photo Flash: SPAMALOT Celebrates Opening Night at Musical Theatre West
by Kelsey Denette - Jul 4, 2012

Musical Theatre West closes its 59th consecutive season with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT. MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT opened this week and will run through July 15, 2012. Get a look at opening night below!

BWW Reviews: MTW's THE WEDDING SINGER Revisits the '80's
by Michael L. Quintos - Jul 21, 2011

Buoyed by a charmingly droll book penned by Chad Beguelin and the film's original screenwriter Tim Herlihy, THE WEDDING SINGER--playing through July 24 at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach--isn't just a celebratory collection of 80's era sight gags, though it's chockfull of them. Rather, the musical is also quite an enjoyable, silly romp that's spiked with the kind of witty snarkiness and unexpected sweetness that fits snuggly alongside today's funniest sitcoms and rom-com movies. The fact that this wacky musical comedy is punctuated by some awesome singing and dancing is just pure, sugar-laced icing on a multi-tiered wedding cake. It's got plenty of laughs, and it easily earns every single one of them.

THE WEDDING SINGER Enters Final Five Performances at Musical Theatre West
by Kelsey Denette - Jul 18, 2011

Musical Theatre West closes its 58th season with the final five performances of the professional regional premiere of THE WEDDING SINGER at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. THE WEDDING SINGER previewed July 8 and runs through July 24, 2011.

BWW Reviews: MTW Scores with THE WEDDING SINGER
by Don Grigware - Jul 11, 2011

Fans of the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, which proved an unqualified hit for its stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, will relish seeing the quirky story revisited on the big stage of the Carpenter Center in Long Beach. In 2006 The Wedding Singer was turned into a Broadway musical with the identical Ridgefield, New Jersey characters, but with some alterations in plotline. What counts most is the upbeat 80s humor, which the stage version retains in spades, as well as unlimited heart. MTW (Musical Theatre West)'s regional premiere does the show proud under Larry Raben's dynamite direction and sporting a rollicking cast.

Photo Flash: THE WEDDING SINGER Plays the Carpenter Performing Arts Center
by Lauren Wolman - Jul 10, 2011

Musical Theatre West presents the professional regional premiere of THE WEDDING SINGER at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. THE WEDDING SINGER runs through July 24, 2011.

Musical Theatre West's WEDDING SINGER Opens 7/8
by Lauren Wolman - Jul 3, 2011

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the cast for the professional regional premiere of THE WEDDING SINGER directed by Larry Raben at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. THE WEDDING SINGER runs July 9 through July 24, 2011, with a low priced preview on July 8.

Ciaran McCarthy & More Set For MTW's THE WEDDING SINGER
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jun 13, 2011

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the cast for the professional regional premiere of THE WEDDING SINGER directed by Larry Raben at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Cabrillo Music Theatre Presents THE PRODUCERS, Closes 4/17
by BWW News Desk - Apr 17, 2011

Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces its brand-new production of the riotous musical by Mel Brooks, THE PRODUCERS. Marking the first time this show has been produced exclusively in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, THE PRODUCERS closes Sunday, April 17, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Cabrillo Music Theatre Presents THE PRODUCERS 4/8-17
by BWW News Desk - Apr 8, 2011

Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces its brand-new production of the riotous musical by Mel Brooks, THE PRODUCERS.

Cabrillo Music Theatre Presents THE PRODUCERS 4/8-17
by Gabrielle Sierra - Mar 16, 2011

Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces its brand-new production of the riotous musical by Mel Brooks, THE PRODUCERS.

'The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein' Opens Tonight!
by Beau Higgins - Oct 6, 2010

Spotlights will race across the sky, ticket holders will arrive on a red carpet, and the celebration of the Broward Center's 20th anniversary year will be launched Wednesday, October 6, at 8 P.M. with the season premiere of THE NEW MEL BROOKS MUSICAL YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN marking the first salvo of the excitingly diverse 2010 2011 Broadway Across America-Fort Lauderdale 8-musical theatrical season, presented by the Florida Theatrical Association at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.