Andy Umberger News

Nominees for the 2014 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 22 at Native Voices at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The nominations were revealed by past Ovation Award recipients Gigi Bermingham, Brighid Fleming, Parmer Fuller, Jennifer Haley, Brian Kite, Glynn Turman, and John Zalewski, along with LA STAGE Alliance Chief Executive Officer Terence McFarland.

When You Wish/The Story of Walt Disney. It is high time that the life and career of iconic artist/animator Walt Disney be honored artistically. Of course, his films all stand the test of time, but we know little about the man, his persona and the early years of struggle. Wouldn't it be assuring to learn that success even for a genius does not come easy? And just plain fun to find out where and how Mickey Mouse came about? Instead of a biopic, the producers have decided upon an original stage musical. Therein lies the biggest flaw. This new tribute is labeled/described as a Pre-Broadway production. Let's reflect a moment or two on what makes for a successful Broadway show. Disney's own The Lion King, from screen to stage, is a perfect example of that kind of huge success. It is a spectacle with grand theatricality, giant universal family conflicts and dynamite appeal in sight and sound to sustain long lines at the box office. As endearing as it is, this little musical When You Wish falls short in these respects... in spite of the fact that it has a dream cast and a superlative creative team. Now onstage through November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, the show, nonetheless, does have a carload of merit. If Broadway is not the answer, it does deserve a place somewhere.

When You Wish: The story of Walt Disney officially opened October 16 at UCLA's distinguished Freud Theatre following four successful previews (October 11 - 13). BWW TV's Los Angeles correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans were invited to visit with the cast and creative team as the world premiere musical was approaching its first preview performance. When You Wish is the first ever musical about Walt Disney who is considered not only one of the most universally celebrated, award-winning figures in entertainment history, but one of the greatest showmen on earth. The long anticipated project features an original score of 17 songs with Music and Book by Dean McClure; Direction by Broadway's Larry Raben; and Choreography by Lee Martino. Still an active performer, author and business man... film and television star, and former pop recording superstar Pat Boone co-produces When You Wish with Dean McClure and Robert Rudolph. Check out the video below!

The life and times of Walt Disney, perhaps the most universally celebrated, award-winning figure in the history of entertainment, comes to the stage in When You Wish, the first ever musical about one of the greatest showmen on earth. When You Wish previews October 11 - October 13 followed by its official world premiere October 16 - November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA.

The Los Angeles Company of the Off-Broadway smash hit Silence! The Musical at the Hayworth Theatre ends its run today, December 9, 2012.

The final block of tickets is now on sale for the Los Angeles Company of the Off-Broadway smash hit Silence! The Musical at the Hayworth Theatre. SILENCE! is now playing through December 9, 2012.

Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts present Happily Ever After?, a concert exploring fairy tales in the American musical theatre. For two nights only, tonight, November 9 and tomorrow the 10th at 7PM, the Liberty Theatre will come alive with music from some of Broadway's favorite fairy-tale based musicals including Into the Woods, Cinderella, Once Upon a Mattress and The Little Mermaid. This enchanted evening, directed by R.L. Rowsey and John Glenn, features several of Broadway's most dynamic artists.

On November 9 and 10, Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts present Happily Ever After?- an enchanting concert at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey that explores fairy tales in the American musical theatre. Happily Ever After? will feature music from some of Broadway's favorite fairy-tale musicals including Into the Woods, Cinderella, Once Upon a Mattress and The little Mermaid. R.L. Rowsey and John Glenn direct an ensemble cast of extraordinary talent-from Broadway and the Wood River Valley-to create the happiest of evenings. This program has been fully sponsored by Jeri Wolfson and all tickets revenue will support the evolving partnership between the Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

On November 9 and 10, Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts present Happily Ever After?- an enchanting concert at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey that explores fairy tales in the American musical theatre. Happily Ever After? will feature music from some of Broadway's favorite fairy-tale musicals including Into the Woods, Cinderella, Once Upon a Mattress and The little Mermaid. R.L. Rowsey and John Glenn direct an ensemble cast of extraordinary talent-from Broadway and the Wood River Valley-to create the happiest of evenings. This program has been fully sponsored by Jeri Wolfson and all tickets revenue will support the evolving partnership between the Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts present Happily Ever After?, a concert exploring fairy tales in the American musical theatre. For two nights only, November 9 and 10th at 7PM, the Liberty Theatre will come alive with music from some of Broadway's favorite fairy-tale based musicals including Into the Woods, Cinderella, Once Upon a Mattress and The Little Mermaid. This enchanted evening, directed by R.L. Rowsey and John Glenn, features several of Broadway's most dynamic artists.

Musical Theatre West presents the professional regional premiere of THE WEDDING SINGER at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. THE WEDDING SINGER runs through July 24, 2011.

Paul Garman, Producing Executive Director, and Steven Glaudini, Producing Artistic Director of Musical Theatre West, are proud to announce its production of 1776. 1776 will run July 9-25, 2010 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Paul Garman, Producing Executive Director, and Steven Glaudini, Producing Artistic Director of Musical Theatre West, are proud to announce the cast of its production of 1776. 1776 will run July 9-25, 2010 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

In addition to the previously announced Steven Glaudini (John Adams), Tami Tappan Damiano (Abigail Adams) and Davis Gaines (Richard Henry Lee), Musical Theatre West is pleased to announce the full cast of 1776 including Steve Vinovich (Benjamin Franklin), John Bisom (Thomas Jefferson), Andy Umberger (John Dickinson), and Robert J. Townsend (Edward Rutledge).

Paul Garman, Producing Executive Director, and Steven Glaudini, Producing Artistic Director of Musical Theatre West, are proud to announce its production of 1776. 1776 will run July 9-25, 2010 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

History buffs aside, most people would probably cringe at the thought of sitting through what could be-on the surface-a boring, classroom-like history lesson disguised as a stage musical that runs more than two and a half hours long.But yet, almost immediately, those fearful first impressions wonderfully faded away as soon as the curtain rose to reveal a stage full of men, of varying shapes and sizes, dressed in impeccable 18th-Century period garb.What could have been a long, excruciating theatrical exercise, is instead a riveting, edge-of-your-seat drama with plenty of heart and soul and a generous amount of genuinely comical moments. Musical Theatre West's production of '1776' (with performances running through July 25) is unquestionably brilliant, intensely affecting, and deeply moving-from its rousing beginning to its glorious end.

You say you want a REVOLUTION? Musical Theatre West kicks off the summer and the celebration of the birth of our great nation with its upcoming production of 1776.

In addition to the previously announced Steven Glaudini (John Adams), Tami Tappan Damiano (Abigail Adams) and Davis Gaines (Richard Henry Lee), Musical Theatre West is pleased to announce the full cast of 1776 including Steve Vinovich (Benjamin Franklin), John Bisom (Thomas Jefferson), Andy Umberger (John Dickinson), and Robert J. Townsend (Edward Rutledge).

You say you want a REVOLUTION? Musical Theatre West kicks off the summer and the celebration of the birth of our great nation with its upcoming production of 1776.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming production of 1776, running July 9-25, 2010 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.