Andrea Somera News

Get ready for an unforgettable performance as Zachary Noah Piser takes the stage in Tiananmen: A Brave and Necessary New Musical at The Phoenix Theatre Company. Experience the emotional journey of this groundbreaking show as it explores the events of Tiananmen Square.

Snehal Desai, Producing Artistic Director of East West Players (EWP) the nation’s longest-running Asian American theater and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works, has announced the extension of the world premiere musical On This Side of the World.

Next up at East West Players, the world premiere of On This Side of the World co-produced with FilAm ARTS and opening May 14, 2023 (with previews beginning May 11th). Noam Shapiro directs the cast of Steven-Adam Agdeppa, Zandi De Jesus, Michael C. Palma, Cassie Simone, Andrea Somera and Shaun Tuazon, with understudies Melvin Biteng and Justine Rafael. East West Players alumni Michael took some time from his rehearsals and photography to answer a few of my queries.

East West Players, the nation’s longest-running Asian American theater and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works will present the world premiere of On This Side of the World.

Universally acclaimed for its innovative staging, whimsical costumes, original music and boundless good cheer, the delightfully festive, musically merry stage adaptation by Geoff Elliott of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns to A Noise Within this holiday season from December 3 through December 23.

East West Players has resumed LIVE performances with Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (already opened). East West Players’ producing artistic director Snehal Desai directs the cast which includes Trance Thompson, Gedde Watanabe, Adam Kaokept, Joan Almedilla, Max Torrez, Christopher Chen, George Xavier, Astoncia Bhagat, Arvin Lee, Aric Martin, Kym Miller, Andrea Somera, Jalen Lum, Michael Cavinder and Maya Nahree McGowan. I had the chance to toss a few questions to Gedde, this enduring, steadily working actor, about his long relationship with East West and his various other acting gigs.

East West Players has released production photos from Assassins, which is running from February 17 through March 20, 2022. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by John Weidman, Assassins is directed by East West Players’ Producing Artistic Director Snehal Desai, and musical direction by Marc Macalintal. 

East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for Spring 2020 production of the award-winning Broadway musical Assassins. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by John Weidman, Assassins will be directed by East West Players' Producing Artistic Director Snehal Desai, with musical direction by Marc Macalintal. Assassins begins performances on March 12th and runs through April 5th, 2020, with opening night on March 19, 2020.

Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT) presents the hilariously thought-provoking play 'No Child...' October 31-November 17. Written by Nilaja Sun 'No Child...' tells the story of Ms. Sun, a teaching artist in the Bronx at fictional Malcom X High School. In order to build community, Ms. Sun must navigate teenage angst and overworked administrators. 'No Child...' sheds light on the life changing impact one teacher can have in their students' lives.

Eight brand-new fifteen-minute musicals will have their world premiere on July 18 and 19 at the Broadwater Second Stage in Hollywood. These musicals are a decades-long tradition at New Musicals Inc., and one of the hottest tickets in town.

Celebration, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, and in association with Ryan Allen, Andrew Carlberg and Amy Miller Gross is thrilled to announce that the fastest selling show in its history and the second show in its 2017-2018 season, its critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE, Stage Raw RECOMMENDED), Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical, book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MAY 6 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, has announced that the fastest selling show in its history and the second show in its 2017-2018 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical, book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, APRIL 15 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the second show in its 2017-2018 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical,book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus.

Last year Casa 0101 produced a lovely dual language version of Disney's Aladdin, which was so popular it extended its run and eventually transferred to a larger venue. Hoping to repeat that success, they have set their sights on another Disney classic but, this time, the production proves too ambitious an undertaking for the company.

A tale as old as time will be making its way to Boyle Heights, CA on the Main Stage at CASA 0101 Theater when a young woman named Belle, from a provincial town meets up with a Beast, who is actually a handsome young Prince under the magic spell of an Enchantress.

The critically acclaimed smash hit musical, Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicion De Lenguaje Dual will be presented by Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and TNH Productions, in association with El Centro Del Pueblo and CASA 0101 Theater in a new expanded guest production.

The critically acclaimed smash hit musical, Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicion De Lenguaje Dual will be presented by Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and TNH Productions, in association with El Centro Del Pueblo and CASA 0101 Theater in a new expanded guest production.

The critically acclaimed smash hit musical, Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicion De Lenguaje Dual will be presented by Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and TNH Productions.

LETTERS TO EVE's creator Daniel Sugimoto has cast a stage-full of vocal knock-outs to more than ably assist in communicating his loving ode to his grandmother Midori, who was incarcerated in the American concentration camps during WWII. Sugimoto not only details interned life for the imprisoned Japanese-Americans, but cleverly counterpoints with innocents jailed under Nazi rule.

CASA 0101 THEATER and TNH PRODUCTIONS in association with COUNCILMEMBER GILBERT A. CEDILLO proudly announce the extension of the critically acclaimed hit musical, Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition, Edicion De Lenguaje Dual at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street, Boyle Heights, CA  90033.