Michael Matthews

Kirsten Vangsness Leads Staged Reading of THE PARENTS

BESPOKE PLAYS - a bicoastal new play development series - announces Michael Matthews (The Color Purple, Failure; a Love Story) to direct Kirsten Vangsness (CRIMINAL MINDS; Mess; Cleo, Theo, & Wu) in the first staged reading of a new brute farce by Phinneas Kiyomura (Supper, Lydia in Bed). June Carryl (Y: THE LAST MAN HELSTROM, MIND HUNTER), John Colella (BROOKLYN 99, SILICON VALLEY, FAMILY GUY) and Feodor Chin (BIG LITTLE LIES, Overwatch, League of Legends) complete the cast, with stage directions by Dana Shaw.

BWW Review: NATIVE GARDENS at CVRep

The last play of CVRep's 2021/2022 season, Native Gardens by playwright Karen Zacarias begins with all of the best intentions, but with change comes a perceived as well as a real cost. It is a slow grower, but the penultimate moment is well worth the burn.

CVRep Concludes Its Play Season With NATIVE GARDENS By Karen Zacarias

CVRep's 2021-2022 play season of Hopes, Dreams, and Expectations concludes with Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias, directed by Michael Matthews and starring: Marta Portillo, Andrew Joseph Perez, Dennis Gersten and Janellen Steininger.

Echo LABFEST 2022 Readings to Take Place Online

The Echo Theater Company has moved the previously announced Echo LABFest 2022, readings of seven new plays developed in the company's Playwright's Lab under the leadership of Brian Otaño and Hannah Wolf, online.

CVREP Announces Exciting Post-Pandemic Season To Include CLOSER THAN EVER and BAKERSFIELD MIST

After more than 15 months of a darkened stage as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Coachella Valley Repertory is welcoming back live audiences. “Welcoming patrons back to the Playhouse is an incredible feeling. Live arts are so important to the community, and the entire board, staff and volunteers are so excited to return,” said Ron Celona, Artistic Director.

BWW Interview: Ryan Spahn's NORA HIGHLAND Aiming The Spotlight On The Industry's Homophobia

The Celebration Theatre's program of celebrating new works returns with Ryan Spahn's NORA HIGHLAND airing Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 7:30pm PT on Celebration Theatre's YouTube Channel. NORA HIGHLAND chronicles the casting of a notable gay character in an upcoming Broadway revival, while challenging the phenomenon of straight performers being lauded for their work in queer roles.

Casting Announced For Week Two Of The Blank Theatre's 28th Annual Young Playwrights Festival

Casting has been announced for week two of The Blank Theatre's 28th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. Being presented this year as digital shorts, the next three of 13 winning plays by young playwrights aged 15a?"19 from nine different states will be available to stream on Vimeo August 15a?"22.

The Blank Theatre Presents 28th Annual Young Playwrights Festival

Now celebrating its 28th Anniversary, The Blank Theatre's Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival is set to present 13 plays by playwrights aged 15a?"19 from nine different states. These plays will be presented as digital shorts on Vimeo by professional actors and directors, running from August 8 through September 19. They will then migrate to The Blank's 3rd Stage on Patreon.

Photo Flash: Laguna Playhouse's BAREFOOT IN THE PARK

Laguna Playhouse will present RITA RUDNER and PAUL RODRIGUEZ in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, written by Neil Simon and directed by Michael Matthews. 

BWW Interview: Actor/Director Michael A. Shepperd Stepping Off-Stage to WEST ADAMS

A creative staple of the Los Angeles Theatre community, director/actor Michael A. Shepperd will next be exhibiting his directorial talents in the world premiere of playwright Penelope Lowder's WEST ADAMS, opening February 1, 2020 at the Skylight Theatre. This dark comedy on race, class, and a bouncy house in the West Adams neighborhood features Andrés M. Bagg, Allison Blaize, Clayton Farris and Jenny Soo. Michael managed to find a spare moment between his multi-tasking to answer a few of my inquisitive queries.

VIDEO: Get a First Look at Footage From MATILDA at La Mirada

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT presents the second show of their 2019-2020 season, Roald Dahl's MATILDA, THE MUSICAL, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Kate Dunn and directed by Michael Matthews. MATILDA, THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, October 25, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 26 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, November 17, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

BWW TV's Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group were on hand to produce exclusive television coverage for Broadway World at the Finale of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013 which broke all previous years attendance records during its six week run at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in the NoHo Arts district of North Hollywood, CA January 6 through February 10. Check out the video below!

The Blank Theatre's annual holiday production of "The Santaland Diaries" by David Sedaris, now in its fourth year, will again star Paolo Andino and be directed by Michael Matthews. "Santaland" begins preview performances on Friday, November 16, and opening night is set for Saturday, November 24 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek of the show below.

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. Watch interviews with the cast and creative team below!

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. With a book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, lyrics by Lori Scarlett, directed by Michael Matthews, choreography by Janet Roston, orchestrations by John Ballinger and musical direction by Gregory Nabours, JUSTIN LOVEwill be presented through Sunday, November 18 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.