April Nixon News

Today's top stories: The Height of the Storm officially opens tonight, and more!

Cast Members John Battagliese, Neil Starkenberg and April Nixon take you backstage during rehearsals of the West Coast Premiere of TV legend & Tony winner Hal Linden, the beloved Cathy Rigby and Broadway's Ken Page starring in GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL! Check out their third vlog featuring Cathy Rigby!

Grumpy Old Men The Musical/book by Dan Remmes/music by Neil Berg/lyrics by Nick Meglin/adapted from the Warner Bros motion picture written by  Mark Steven Johnson/directed by Matt Lenz/choreographed by Michele Lynch/musical direction byBenet Bralin/La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts/through October 13 Taking place in Wabasha, Minnesota in present time, Grumpy Old Men The Musical follows many old-fashioned musical storylines like The Fantastiks, White Christmas and others that deal with a community of family and friends who live in a small town ... where everyone knows everyone else's business. Now in its West Coast premiere at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Grumpy Old Men is nice fun with a splendid cast headed by special guest star Hal Linden and featuring audience favorite Cathy Rigby.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin, (Adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson), additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, musical direction by Benet Braun and direction by Matt Lenz. GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, September 20, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 21 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 13, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Cast Members John Battagliese, Neil Starkenberg and April Nixon take you backstage during rehearsals of the West Coast Premiere of TV legend & Tony winner Hal Linden, the beloved Cathy Rigby and Broadway's Ken Page starring in GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL! Go inside rehearsals in their second vlog in this new video!

Today's top stories: The Devil Wears Prada sets its pre-Broadway engagement, Kristin Chenoweth will return to Broadway with her solo show, and more!

Cast Members John Battagliese, Neil Starkenberg and April Nixon take you backstage during rehearsals of the West Coast Premiere of TV legend & Tony winner Hal Linden, the beloved Cathy Rigby and Broadway's Ken Page starring in GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL!  They even found time to chat with Ken Page for this first rehearsal VLOG post!  Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a grumpy ride!

Feinstein's at Vitello's newest monthly series, mostly NEW musicals, returns Monday, 10.7.19 with selections from musicals by acclaimed composer and recording artist Kevin Ray, featuring a starry cast from LA and Broadway! Tickets are available now at www.feinsteinsatvitellos.com.

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment present the West Coast Premiere of GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin, (Adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson), additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, musical direction by Benet Braun and direction by Matt Lenz.

Broadway's next generation comes to LA in A Little New Music's 20th concert of new musical theatre songs in The Sorting Room's 2019 Summer Series at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on June 26th at 7:00 pm. Kathy Deitch (B'way WICKED, FOOTLOOSE) will host. Multiple LA Ovation Award-winning composer Gregory Nabours (THE TROUBLE WITH WORDS, MARILYN! THE NEW MUSICAL) returns as music director, leading the ALNM band. Ticket availability is extremely limited, but there will be a waitlist. Scroll down for photos of the cast in rehearsal.

Broadway's next generation comes to LA with featured performances by Jonah Platt (B'way: WICKED, "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Live"), Olivier Award nominee April Nixon (B'way SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, TOMMY), and Carrie Manolakos (B'way: MAMMA MIA) in A Little New Music's 20th concert of new musical theatre songs in The Sorting Room's 2019 Summer Series at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on June 26th at 7:00 p.m.  Kathy Deitch (B'way WICKED, FOOTLOOSE) will host. Multiple LA Ovation Award-winning composer Gregory Nabours (THE TROUBLE WITH WORDS, MARILYN! THE NEW MUSICAL) returns as music director, leading the ALNM band.

(mostly)musicals returned to Upstairs at Vitello's on Monday April 8, 2019 with an exciting evening featuring songs about change of all kinds. Scroll down for photos of the night!

(mostly)musicals returns to Upstairs at Vitello's TONIGHT at 7:30pm with a cabaret you'll flip for! Join music director Gregory Nabours for an exciting evening featuring songs about change! Scroll down for photos of the cast in rehearsal!

On Monday, November 19th, (mostly)musicals returned to Upstairs at Vitello's to celebrate the holidays with their 30th edition! Music director Gregory Nabours led a jingling (ring-ting-tingling too!) evening, featuring Alli Miller (CHERRY POPPINS), Amy Engelhardt (BASTARD JONES), Clent Bowers (B'way: CATS, BIG), Emily Clark (Stealing Focus), Gabriel Gonzalez (La Verdad), Iara Nemirovsky (National tour: SCHOOL OF ROCK), Jeffrey Polk (B'way: FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE), Kelley Dorney (IN A BOOTH AT CHASEN'S), Kristina Miller (JERSEY BOYS), Jonny Lee Jr. and Justin Anthony Long (CITY OF DREAMS), Juan Lozano (2 Cents Theatre Company), Keith and Laura Nicole Harrison (EMOJILAND), Natalia Vivino (CHILDREN OF EDEN at 5-Star Theatricals), and Shawn Ryan ('America's Got Talent'). The evening also showcased a guest performance from the cast of the critically acclaimed Greenway Court production of THE COLOR PURPLE, and, as always, the open mic afterparty! See videos here, and scroll down for photos of the festive evening!

I cannot even think of enough accolades to share about the current production being staged by Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors) at the Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles) through December 9. The totally entertaining and artistically brilliant production, directed and choreographed by NAACP Theater Award-winner Jeffrey Polk, pulled me in from the moment it started until the end, given the amazingly talented cast who bring the characters so realistically to life that you can actually feel all the emotions each is going through from moment to moment. You will laugh, be fearful, cry and celebrate with all of them by the time the show ends.

Join us for a conversation with Greenway Arts Alliance's Production of The Color Purple's very own April Nixon and Gabrielle Jackson. On stage here in LA until December 9th. After that, we catch up with West of Broadway Ensemble Member Jennifer Lynn O'Hara's review of Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's production of Guys & Dolls!

Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors) announced the cast and creative team for the THE COLOR PURPLE, which will play at the Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles). Performances run from November 9 through December 9 with the official press opening on Saturday, November 10. The Tony Award-winning musical features a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Directing and choreographing the cast of 15 is NAACP Theater Award-winner Jeffrey Polk (Smokey Joe's Cafe).

BROADWAY TO THE RESCUE is amping up for one of the most incredible nights in theatre in Los Angeles. In a special performance on October 13th, hosted by Broadway's Michael-Leon Wooley (Netflix's 'AJ and the Queen'). Following last year's epic Broadway night, this year, Broadway to the Rescue GOES DISNEY. On this special night, 25 of Broadway's brightest and best, along with an ensemble of over 50 performers, will take to the stage to sing songs and create show-stopping performances based on hits from your favorite Disney movies and musicals, including THE LITTLE MERMAID, MARY POPPINS, FROZEN, HERCULES, ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG and many more.

What's it like to play Sophie at Broadway At Music Circus? Francesca Arostegui (Sophie, Mamma Mia!) answers this and other fan questions in the video below!

A glorious two hours to lose yourself and revert to your carefree younger years-that is what Mamma Mia delivers with gusto. It's a sublime soundtrack of the 70's, complete with platform heels and free love. Comprised entirely of songs from the Swedish pop group, ABBA, Mamma Mia transports you from smoky California directly to the clear, cerulean seas of a fictional Greek island.