Rachael Lawrence

Last year’s Garry Marshall Theatre production of Cindy & The Disco Ball returns reincarnated as Cindy & The Disco Ball: The Musical opening October 7, 2023. Both Joseph Leo Bwarie and Christine Lakin reprise their co-directorial roles of this retro retelling of the classic Cinderella story. Christine managed to break away from rehearsal to answer a few of my queries.

This retro retelling of the Cinderella story whisks us back to the sun-kissed days and lava lamp lit nights of 1976 with an original musical score that blends the sounds of disco rhythms and Broadway musical magic.

The original musical comedy is resonating with, and reaching audiences of all ages across Los Angeles. The live band fills the beautiful Burbank theatre with a funky 1970s sound, the songs show off stunning vocals from the dazzling cast. The show stars Christopher De'Vonte Baker, Jasiana Caraballo, Malynda Hale, Hayden Kharrazi, and Abigail Kate Thomas.

Cindy & The Disco Ball: The Musical is set to kick off GMT's live, indoor season with a superfly Cinderella story. So break out the bell-bottoms and platform shoes because Garry Marshall Theatre is gettin' down with the boogie!

Tony-winner & Emmy-winner Billy Porter (Pose, Kinky Boots) to join Broadway's award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell for a one-night only fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre. Tony-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother, Hairspray) will lead the conversation with Mitchell on stage.

The 'Bandits' are back! The Root Beer Bandits – A Rootin' Tootin' Wild West Musicale, reopens the Garry Marshall Theatre with a limited engagement.

The shiny new and improved version of the Garry Marshall-mentored THE ROOT BEER BANDITS re-opens the Garry Marshall Theatre stage on October 2, 2021. As with any Garry Marshall production, re-vamps and rewrites are also welcomed and encouraged. Original creators Joseph Leo Bwarie and Lori Marshall (book and lyrics) and Rachael Lawrence (music) have polished the 2019 production even further for this 2021 show with more songs, more story, and more live music. Had the chance to shoot some questions at Kelly Brandeburg, who’s reprising her role as Copper Penny, on her BANDITS history and her brush with the Smithsonian.

LIFE IN BOOBS, the original musical journey, will have a landmark, four-month run at the celebrated Rockwell Table & Stage in the heart of Los Feliz, CA. Opening on Saturday, March 7th, LIFE IN BOOBS will play the first Saturday of every month on the same stage that graced the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Janel Parrish, Frankie Grande, Garrett Clayton, Emma Hunton, among others.

This February, the comedic musical, LIFE IN BOOBS arrives at Pico Playhouse for an exclusive, limited run. With Books & Lyrics by Casey Christensen (The Donkey Show), composed by celebrity vocal coach Rachael Lawrence (Grey's Anatomy, Glee), and conceived by Jennifer Goodman, the celebrated musical showcases true trials and tribulations of women everywhere, with original songs, comedic vignettes and dramatic monologues. LIFE IN BOOBS will run two nights only on Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 at 8:00pm in west Los Angeles.

The dynamic story shared through comedy skits and songs deals with the journeys many women face from admiring their mother's chests (a?oeOne day I'll be like Mommy or Barbie!a??), to training bras and cup sizes, dating while dealing with wandering eyes (a?oeCleavage'), to pumping at work and breastfeeding in public (a?oeDon't Blame Me, My Baby is Hungrya??), to facing breast cancer. The energetic songs incorporate humorous pieces like a?oeLife in Boobs,a?? a?oeWife Beater Tank Top,a?? and a?oeSuck It, Cancera?? to the inspirational a?oeI'm Dianea?? which will tug at your heartstrings and inspire you to accept yourself exactly the way you are.

Joseph Leo Bwarie is one of the artistic directors of the nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, California. He is a Sherman Oaks native and a recording artist popular on Siriusly Sinatra on SiriusXM Radio. JLB is widely known for his record-breaking turn as Frankie Valli in the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys (over 2,000 performances - Las Vegas, 1st National Tour and Broadway). Bwarie's career began at age nine, appearing in the television series Highway to Heaven and Mama's Family. He is a longtime member of Troubadour Theater Company (recent: co-director and 'Ziggy' in Little Drummer Bowie and 'Octavius' in Julius Weezer). A directorial highlight was serving as associate director alongside Garry Marshall for the world premiere of Billy & Ray and its New York premiere at the Vineyard Theatre. GMT directorial: A Funny Thing Happened a?? Forum starring Paul C. Vogt and Joey McIntyre, and The Root Beer Bandits: A Rootin' Tootin' Wild West Musicale - an original family musical he co-created with Lori Marshall and Rachael Lawrence. Bwarie is getting ready to open a live radio play at Actors Co-op Friday November 1. In our conversation, he talks in depth about this new production of Miracle on 34th Street.

On September 21st the new, comedic musical, LIFE IN BOOBS, debuts at Second City Hollywood. With Books & Lyrics by Casey Christensen (The Donkey Show), composed by celebrity vocal coach Rachael Lawrence (Grey's Anatomy, Glee), and conceived by Jennifer Goodman, LIFE IN BOOBS highlights true trials and tribulations of boobs everywhere, with original songs, comedic vignettes and dramatic monologues. The celebrated musical comedy will run from Saturday, September 21st to Saturday, December 14th at 10pm at Second City Hollywood in Los Angeles in their Studio Theater. The Second City Hollywood will also be donating a percentage of the show's ticket sales to Susan G. KomenR Los Angeles. 

The marshallARTS Family Series presents The Root Beer Bandits - A Rootin' Tootin' Wild West Musicale, at the Garry Marshall Theatre in a new, updated pull-out-all-the-stops version complete with live band, added songs, a revised book, and all-new costumes for its 15th anniversary.

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the delightful doggy tale Gaston, the spring edition of the popular marshallARTS Family Series program Storybook Pages, for two free presentations on Saturday, March 2. The first presentation at 11 am SOLD OUT and so we have added a just announced additional presentation at 1 pm. New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio wrote Gaston.

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the delightful doggy tale Gaston, the spring edition of the popular marshallARTS Family Series program Storybook Pages, a free event on Saturday, March 2 at 11am. New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio wrote Gaston.

 Audiences now have a chance to see why the new, comedic musical, LIFE IN BOOBS, got a standing ovation from its first workshop this past October. With Books & Lyrics by Casey Christensen (The Donkey Show) and composed by celebrity vocal coach Rachael Lawrence (Grey's Anatomy, Glee), LIFE IN BOOBS highlights true trials and tribulations of boobs everywhere, with original songs, comedic vignettes and dramatic monologues. This extended workshop will be on Sunday, December 16th at 8:30pm at Pico Playhouse Theater in Los Angeles.

The nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre celebrates starting its second year with support from the entertainment industry and both the Broadway and Los Angeles theatre community for the Second Annual Founder's Gala.

The nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre celebrates starting its second year with support from the entertainment industry and both the Broadway and Los Angeles theatre community for the Second Annual Founder's Gala with performances including the reuniting of Hairspray stars, Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Broadway favorite Paul C. Vogt.

The nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre celebrates starting its second year with support from the entertainment industry and both the Broadway and Los Angeles theatre community for the Second Annual Founder's Gala with performances including the reuniting of Hairspray stars, Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Broadway favorite Paul C. Vogt.

The nonprofit Garry Marshall Theatre celebrates starting its second year with support from the entertainment industry and both the Broadway and Los Angeles theatre community for the Second Annual Founder's Gala with performances including the reuniting of Hairspray stars, Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Broadway favorite Paul C. Vogt.