GMCLA presents there own twist on a theatrical classic. Since actors of the Greek theatres in the city of Thespiae and long before Shakespeare had penned his very first stage play, men have been theatrically portraying women in productions. Now, in the tradition of Madam Butterfly and Hairspray, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) tackled the classic pageantry of the 'Nutcracker: A choral Fantasy' at the Alex Theatre in Glendale California with male chorus members doubling in the female roles. Among those in attendance include Loni Anderson, Kate Linder, Assembly member John Perez (46th District) and Dee Wallace.
The Magic Castle's LEGEND SERIES celebrates the life and career of some of stage and screens greatest Icons. The series began in January 2009 featuring Tony Curtis and later in the year Phyllis Diller and Rose Marie. The audience response was so overwhelming that series producer Matt Patton as well as Castle co-founders, Milt Larsen and Irene Larsen decided to continue the program with Ms. Tippi Hedren as she celebrates her 80th birthday.
The never 'BOOOORRRIIINNNGGGG,' JoAnne Worley opened her one-woman show entitled 'KEEP LAUGHIN!' on Sunday Oct 4th at the Cabaret at the Castle to an audience that was clearly there to bask in the brilliant light that is Miss Worley's Star.
'Bravo! A complete and total home run!!! Dori topped herself,? says Joan Van Ark. Dori Three-time Tony-winning Broadway producer Dori Berinstein has added another hit to her already extensive film and television producing and directing career with ?Gotta Dance.?
Upright Cabaret producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Sheel will present a trio of shows entitled Upright Cabaret's Wicked Summer Nights: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, beginning in June. The shows will star pivotal performers and figures that have created and shaped Wicked, the powerhouse Broadway musical which tells the story of the two witches of Oz long before Dorothy showed up. All three shows will be directed by Upright Cabaret Artistic Director Billy Porter.
Upright Cabaret producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Sheel will present a trio of shows entitled Upright Cabaret's Wicked Summer Nights: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, beginning in June. The shows will star pivotal performers and figures that have created and shaped Wicked, the powerhouse Broadway musical which tells the story of the two witches of Oz long before Dorothy showed up. All three shows will be directed by Upright Cabaret Artistic Director Billy Porter.
The near capacity performance of 'And The Award Goes To..' at the Alex Theatre celebrated Grammy, Oscar and, of course, TONY award-winning music as only the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles could.
Friends and colleagues including Bruce Vilanch, Valarie Pettiford, Rachel York, Rita McKenzie, Carole Cook, Thom Troupe, Kathryn Jootsen, Lily Tomlin, Florence Henderson, Donna Mills, Jackie Joseph, Channing Chase, Tippi Hedren, JoAnne Worley, Kate Linder and the Los Angeles cast of RENT among others were more than thrilled to turn out for this special engagement of 'The First 80 Years are the Hardest,' that marked Carol Channing's return to the stage after her accident last year that forced her, for the very first time in her 70 year career, to cancel all scheduled performances.
How The Entertainment Industry Can Be A Force For Good was the topic of the Fifth Annual PIRATES (Print Interactive Radio & Television Educational Society) Special Event at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences this year.
It's a story, of a lovely lady ... Florence Henderson gave audiences in Los Angele's Catalina Club an up close and 'Honest' night of entertainment with 'All The Lives Of Me,' under the musical direction of Broadway composer and Emmy Award winner Glen Roven.
Friends and colleagues included Carol Burnett, Donna Mills, Robert Wagner, Rita McKenzie, Mitzi Gaynor, Norm Crosby, and Bruce Vilanch (who is credited as a co writer of the program) among others, were on hand as Florence Henderson opened with a hysterically funny number entitled 'Lifted,' before treating audiences to a look at all of her lives. She prefaced that she didnt mean lives like Shirley MacLaine has lives, but rather as a young girl growing up in KY as the youngest of ten children.
With the sponsorship of Southwest Airlines, this amazing evening held at the Alex Theatre in Glendale CA and under the direction of Bruce Mayhall, brought festive song and dance that not only set the audiences feet to tapping and smiles to their lips, but also a tear or two to the eye as chorus members shared stories of Christmas' past.
STEVEN SCHWARTZ is, of course, one of the most important composers and lyricists for musical theatre and musical films working today, with an amazing career of stellar achievements. He has been nominated for six Academy Awards and the winner of three. His credits include the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as last year's smash Enchanted and DreamWorks' first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt. Alongside his film work, Schwartz' incredibly successful stage productions include Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show and the worldwide phenomenon WICKED.
On Thursday, October 23rd, a crowd gathered at a chapel, filling to standing room only capacity, in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to remember a man known to hundreds of millions simply as Mr. Blackwell.
Saturday night's Benefit Staged Radio Reading on Saturday Oct 25th was a success at GMT Studios (5751 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City, CA ). Rewriting the male roles for a female in the 1950's radio mysterys Tippi Hedren ( Hitchcock's The Birds & Marnie) played the street wise detective and Channing Chase (AMC's Mad Men) played the notorious racketeer, while Kate Linder (The Young & The Restless) tackled the three suspect roles including the thief. Co-Hosts for the evening included GMT Studios CEO Alan Hauge and Vice President and General Manager Terry Moretti. Drawing the winners name from the guests with correct answers was Lorretta Swit (M.A.S.H.).
Neil Patrick Harris, Penn & Teller, JoAnne Worley, Tippi Hedren, Richard Sherman, and Magic Castle co-founder's Milt Larsen and Irene Larsen were all on hand Friday, October 24th, 2008 for the unveiling of the refurbished Star on the Walk of Fame dedicated to the earliest and still often most recognized illusionist of stage and screen - MR. HARRY HOUDINI.
Held at the popular Skirball Center in Los Angeles, the Actors Fund's 12th annual TONY Award party was completely sold out well in advance and by far the most successful year ever by raising over $125,000, which is a tribute in itself to honoree Tommy Tune and host Florence Henderson, who was on hiatus from her own program on the RLTV network entitled 'The Florence Henderson Show.'
The Actors Fund kicked off its third year of intimate Musical Mondays celebrations Monday night in the lobby of Hollywood's Pantages Theatre as Broadway composer and musical director Ron Abel took center stage joined by a handful of all-star friends...
At a special ceremony in the historic El Portal Theater in North Hollywood on Tuesday January 29, nine legendary leading ladies of American motion pictures, television and Broadway productions donated objects from their award-winning careers to the National Museum of American History.
The Actors Fund's Musical Mondays in the lobby of The Pantages Theatre continued on Monday night with a performance by recording legend Melissa Manchester.
