Bruce Kimmel is a known record producer and director, but not everyone knows that he's a songwriter -- and a really good one. Aside from the songs he wrote for his musicals FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL and THE BRAIN FROM PLANET X, he's written some wonderful single songs -- some funny, some romantic, some charming.
Nominees for the 2011 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 19 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank; the complete list of nominees is as follows.
On Wednesday September 7 Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland at the Gardenia celebrated its first anniversary honoring the work of Frank Loesser. Loesser, if you recall, wrote Guys and Dolls, considered by many to be one of the most perfect musicals of all time. He also wrote music and lyrics for 1962's Pulitzer Prize winning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying currently receiving a sold out revival on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe, or as Kimmel referred to him, Harry Potter. Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, my personal favorite, incurable romantic that I am, has some of the most gorgeous songs of all time like 'My Heart Is So Full of You' and 'Somebody Somewhere'. Participating in the evening were an all female contingent: Laura Wolfe, filling in wonderfully and on short notice for the previously announced Shannon Warne, Kim Huber - such a great singer - Alet Taylor, Ruth Williamson - wonderful character actress and singer - Kelsey Scott, and of course, prolific little Melody Hollis, who has been appearing in Kritzerland shows for several months. And last but hardly least, musical director extraordinaire John Boswell.
David Elzer &Peter Schneider, producers of the smash-hit, award-winning productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Life Could Be A Dream, are thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed, smash-hit, Ovation Recommended, world premiere original musical, HAVING IT ALL, music by John Kavanaugh, book by David Goldsmith & Wendy Perelman, lyrics by David Goldsmith, conceived by Wendy Perelman, with musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel is EXTENDING through Sunday, May 29 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.
The subtitle of the world premiere musical Having It All - Take Flight - speaks volumes. Five women, from totally different walks of life, are in the waiting area of a New York airport, each with a problem that needs attention. What happens to them over the course of 100 minutes gives this introspective a la Sondheim or Jason Robert Brown musical its punch and substance. With five stellar singers/actresses and fluid direction from Richard Israel Having It All has hit written all over it. It truly soars.
David Elzer & Peter Schneider, producers of the smash-hit, award-winning productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Life Could Be A Dream, present a world premiere musical, HAVING IT ALL, music by John Kavanaugh, book by David Goldsmith & Wendy Perelman, lyrics by David Goldsmith, conceived by Wendy Perelman, with musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel. HAVING IT ALL will star Lindsey Alley, Kim Huber, Alet Taylor, Shannon Warne and Jennifer Leigh Warren. HAVING IT ALL will begin previews on Saturday, February 26 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, March 12 at 8pm and will run for eight weeks through Sunday, April 24 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood.
David Elzer & Peter Schneider, producers of the smash-hit, award-winning productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Life Could Be A Dream, present a world premiere musical, HAVING IT ALL, music by John Kavanaugh, book by David Goldsmith & Wendy Perelman, lyrics by David Goldsmith, conceived by Wendy Perelman, with musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel. HAVING IT ALL will star Lindsey Alley, Kim Huber, Alet Taylor, Shannon Warne and Jennifer Leigh Warren. HAVING IT ALL will begin previews on Saturday, February 26 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, March 12 at 8pm and will run for eight weeks through Sunday, April 24 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood.
On Wednesday, January 12 Kritzerland at the Gardenia, a series presented on the first Wednesday of every month - January being the exception, and which originated in September of 2010, offered The Sondheim Albums. The series, based on Bruce Kimmel's record label and albums, honors a composer's lesser known material, oft times cut from an original score. Nine skilled singers participated in the fine evening; they were: Damon Kirsche (photo at left), Kim Huber, Zachary Ford, Juliana Hansen, Alet Taylor, Shannon Cudd, Aleah Whaley, Holly Long, and very special guest artiste Millicent Martin.
According to a post made in Damon Kirsche's blog, the actor will be appearing with Jason Graae, Lesli Margherita, Pamela Myers and Alet Taylor at the Gardenia Lounge in West Hollywood on September 1. The show, Kritzerland at the Gardenia- Lost in Boston, is the first of the Gardenia's new series of Kritzerland at the Gardenia, a set of shows based on Bruce Kimmel's record label and albums. This show will be under the musical direction of Shelly Markham.
According to a post made in Damon Kirsche's blog, the actor will be appearing with Jason Graae, Lesli Margherita, Pamela Myers and Alet Taylor at the Gardenia Lounge in West Hollywood on September 1. The show, Kritzerland at the Gardenia- Lost in Boston, is the first of the Gardenia's new series of Kritzerland at the Gardenia, a set of shows based on Bruce Kimmel's record label and albums. This show will be under the musical direction of Shelly Markham.
Broadway veteran James Barbour (A TALE OF TWO CITIES, ASSASSIN, URINETOWN) will end the world premiere musical Nightmare Alley opening at the Geffen Playhouse on May 23, 2010.
Where's the nightmare? Not nearly as dark as it needs to be or musically enticing enough, Nightmare Alley at the Geffen, by its very nature should be diabolically thrilling like a Kander and Ebb musical but it doesn't cut the mustard, even with its exceptional cast including James Barbour, Larry Cedar and Mary Gordon Murray.
Sarah Glendening (Broadway's Good Vibrations), joins the colorful cast of
characters in the world premiere musical Nightmare Alley opening at the Geffen Playhouse on April 21, 2010.
Sarah Glendening (Broadway's Good Vibrations), joins the colorful cast of
characters in the world premiere musical Nightmare Alley opening at the Geffen Playhouse on April 21, 2010.
Broadway veteran James Barbour (A TALE OF TWO CITIES, ASSASSIN, URINETOWN) leads a colorful cast of characters in the world premiere musical Nightmare Alley opening at the Geffen Playhouse on April 21, 2010.
The guys are gambling, the dolls are dancing, and the audience will come up a winner when Cabrillo Music Theatre launches its 2009-2010 season with Guys and Dolls. Returning is Director Nick DeGruccio, whose previous Cabrillo production of Jekyll & Hyde led to three Ovation Awards, including Best Director. Returning with DeGruccio is Choreographer Roger Castellano, Ovation-nominated for Jekyll. Musical Direction is by Darryl Archibald, and the production will be overseen by Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld. Cabrillo?s production of Guys and Dolls, created exclusively for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, will open on Friday, October 16th, 2009 and run through Sunday, October 25th, for Cabrillo Music Theatre in the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.