Drew Fitzsimmons

There are many reasons why THE FANTASTICKS original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical which continues to enchant audiences around the world. Aside from it being a 'Romeo and Juliet' type story we can all relate to, but with a much happier ending, its most well-known song, 'Try to Remember,' speaks to everyone wanting to go back to a time in our lives when all things were much more simple, romantic, and totally carefree.

Kentwood Players is presenting THE GINGERBREAD LADY, a dramedy by Neil Simon, opening Friday, July 14 through Saturday, August 19, 2017 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and produced by Jenny Boone and Lynn Gutstadt for Kentwood Players with rights secured from Samuel French. Featured in the cast (in alphabetical order) are Marco Garcia Ballare, Sara Bozin, Al Gomez, Ken MacFarlane, Lezlie Moore, and Genous Novin.

Los Angeles play development lab Fierce Backbone joins forces with Drive Theatre to launch audiences into a murder mystery on a mission to Mars. Amy Tofte's futuristic dramedy WOMEN OF 4G launched on May 19 for a four-week run and is now extended through June 17.

Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for THE GINGERBREAD LADY, a dramedy by Neil Simon, on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 12:00noon to 4:00pm and Sunday, May 14 from 7:00 to 10:00pm. Callbacks will be held on Monday, May 15 from 7:00 to 10:00pm by appointment only. This is a non-equity, non-paid production directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and produced by Jenny Boone and Lynn Gutstadt for Kentwood Players with rights secured from Samuel French.

Kentwood Players proudly presents THE IMAGINARY INVALID by Moliere, an outrageous satire of medicine and its practitioners, opening Friday, January 13 through Saturday, February 18, 2017 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. There will be a champagne and dessert reception between 7:00-7:30pm for season subscribers and members attending the Saturday, January 14 performance. The production is directed by Susan Stangl, who just happens to be a medical doctor adding her unique spin to the production, and produced by Sheridan Cole for Kentwood Players. Featured in the cast in alphabetical order are Harold Dershimer, Mitch Feinstein, Drew Fitzsimmons, Sydney Holliday, Daniel Kruger, Zachary Leonard, Aaron Merken, Lezlie Moore, Michele Selin, Beau Smith, and Jenna Tovey.

One of the basic rights of freedom in America is the right to free speech. This allows for anyone to state an opinion or belief whether or not anyone else likes what is being said - and hopefully to not be threatened or attacked. Certainly the ability to express yourself and believe in what you want to believe is a basic human right in American society. But challenging those who disagree with what the 'majority' believe often causes outrage and sometimes even violence against those who have the right to say whatever they want. Such is the case right now, given the political scene leading up to the Presidential elections this year, Lawrence Meyers' script really should be shared with school students today to remind them about what it takes to protect their basic rights and how Americans cannot allow the government or any industry to attempt censorship, and how important it is to allow others to state a differing opinion without stooping to violence against them. Be and let be. Why is this always so impossible?.

On Friday, March 11, Kentwood Players welcomed the multiple Tony Award winning musical "MAN OF LA MANCHA" with Book by Dale Wasserman, Music by Mitch Leigh and Lyrics by Joe Darion to the Westchester Playhouse where performances will continue through April 16. The production is directed by Susan Goldman Weisbarth with Musical Director Mike Walker and Choreographer Drew Fitzsimmons, produced by Margie Bates and Gail Bernardi by special arrangement with Tams Witmark Music Library. Here's your first look at onstage photos by Shari Barrett.

Kentwood Players proudly presents the multiple Tony Award winning musical "MAN OF LA MANCHA" with Book by Dale Wasserman, Music by Mitch Leigh and Lyrics by Joe Darion opening Friday, March 11 through Saturday, April 16, 2016 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm, with three Thursday night performances on March 31, April 7 and 14 at 8:00pm, at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Los Angeles, CA 90045. The production is directed by Susan Goldman Weisbarth with Musical Director Mike Walker and Choreographer Drew Fitzsimmons, produced by Margie Bates and Gail Bernardi by special arrangement with Tams Witmark Music Library.

Rivers and Sanders make a great team, bouncing bawdy one-liners off each other with fluid ease throughout the first act. There is lots of slapstick humor, ranging from the famous "walk this way" physical gag to several modern references that kept the audience entertained and laughing. There are moments of true hilarity in the production, especially the tango seduction dance performed by Sanders and Markus Cummings. That scene alone is worth the price of admission!

The San Pedro Theatre Club presents the World Premiere of FRACTURED BROADWAY: MADE IN LA. This hilarious parody with a big Los Angeles point of view is a satirical romp through your favorite musicals parodied to reflect the current affairs of live theatre in Los Angeles. With 24 original parodies set to favorite tunes from well-loved Broadway musicals, everyone from would-be actors to those struggling with auditions, from directors to producers to critics, audience members to old folks reminiscing about their past theatre glory days, has their moment to shine in the spotlight.

Sister community theater groups Kentwood Players and Theatre Palisades are working in tandem this summer to present all three plays in Neil Simon's Eugene Trilogy, beginning with "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Kentwood Players from July 10 through August 15, the just added staged readings of "Biloxi Blues" at Theatre Palisades on Saturday, August 29 at 8pm and by Kentwood Players on Sunday, August 30 at 7pm, and ending with "Broadway Bound" at Theatre Palisades from September 4 through October 11, 2015.

The Pirates of Penzance with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert is an hilarious and hopeful farce concerning Frederic (Chris Yeschenko), who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates led by the hot-shot Pirate King (the ultimate pirate Drew Fitzsimmons, who co-directed and choreographed the production with Michael-Anthony Nozzi). Performances continue through December 21 at the San Pedro Theatre Club.

Any actor can tell you what his or her dream role would be and how much they long to play it whenever they can. For Rocky Miller, his 20-year wait to play Don Quixote was well worth it as he fully embodies the heart and soul of Miguel de Cervantes and his Knight of the Woeful Countenance from the moment he takes to the stage in MAN OF LA MANCHA at the San Pedro Theatre Club, directed with emotional depth by Drew Fitzsimmons and choreographed for the small stage by Victoria Miller.

The San Pedro Theatre Club presents CABARET, a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The production is directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Victoria Miller, who also choreographed, with music directed by Leslie Sharp. The intimate 78-seat theater allows the actors to interact with the audience on several occasions, making it really feel as if we are inside the small German cabaret rather than watching a show about it.

When all the elements fall into place in perfect harmony, the resulting frivolity and laughter go far beyond the words on the page to reveal utter hysteria. Such is the case with Anglo-Franco Fusion Farce DON'T DRESS OF DINNER by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon, now onstage at Theatre Palisades through May 11.

Kentwood Players is delighted to present our next Kentwood Kids production, 'Mr. Potcher's Holiday,' a family musical comedy with book and lyrics by Bob Silberg, music by Barbara Klaskin Silberg. Performances will take place on Saturdays, November 30, December 7 and 14 at 11:00am and 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse.

The cast of THE KING AND I includes the incredibly talented and imposingly regal Ron Banks as the King of Siam, who has performed the role over 500 times in both national and regional productions. He was born to play the role and embodies the heart and soul of a King caught between loving his culture yet wanting to be accepted as a modern man.

For the 2012-2013 season, every cast member and technical designer for each show of the season (The Miracle Worker - Doubt, a Parable - Scream Queens, The Musical - Fortinbras - The 39 Steps - Ragtime) was nominated for a Marcom Masque Award in appropriate categories. This year's Marcom Masque Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday, June 29 at the Westchester Playhouse, home of the Kentwood Players.

The Kentwood Kids Production of Mark Billen's ALL IN THE STARS opened Saturday, June 1 at the Westchester Playhouse, directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Melodie S. Rivers, and produced by Bruce Starrett for Kentwood Players. Here's your first look at the kids onstage!