Brandi Burkhardt News

The charming new regional production of the Disney/Cameron Mackintosh musical spectacular MARY POPPINS---currently playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through June 21---has found a lovely, practically perfect Poppins in Hart of Dixie's Brandi Burkhardt, who confidently channels the nanny we all love with her lovely singing voice and a pitch-perfect demeanor that's at times bold, at times cheeky, and altogether beguiling. As for the show itself, it's quite a delightful crowd-pleaser, filled with colorful first-rate visuals, spectacular dancing, festive songs, and an infectiously enthusiastic cast that tries its best to win over its audience. And, boy, they definitely do!

Based on the Broadway musical thriller written by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse, JEKYLL & HYDE RESURRECTION is a live concert -- slated for August 7 & 8, 2015 at 54 Below -- featuring the music and songs from the 2006 album starring Rob Evan, Kate Shindle and Brandi Burkhardt and produced by Frank Wildhorn and Jeremy Roberts.

Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, with original music & lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and book by Julian Fellowes, featuring new songs and additional music & lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, just opened at La Mirada Theatre and runs through June 21, 2015. Scroll down for photos from the musical's opening night festivities!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include coverage of Laura Osnes and Annaleigh Ashford at 54 Below, opening night of THE ELEPHANT MAN, Sting's return to Broadway in THE LAST SHIP, and more!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 7, 2014 - Sunday, December 7, 2014.

This week, 54 Below is celebrating the music of Frank Wildhorn with some of Broadway's best singers, a reunion of one of his Broadway shows, and songs from a catalog that goes from Whitney Houston to Julie Andrews, from Hootie and the Blowfish to Johnny Mathis, and from Sammy Davis, Jr. to The Moody Blues. The performances on Dec. 5 and 6 starred Leslie Odom, Jr., Brandi Burkhardt, Janet Dacal, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Adrienne Warren, and Jane Monheit (12-5 only). Check out photos from the event below!

Over the past two decades, Frank Wildhorn has given us timeless stories and countless classics set to soaring scores. 54 Below is proud to present a week in celebration of the acclaimed composer of Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War, Dracula, Bonnie & Clyde, Wonderland, and Victor/Victoria. With eight Broadway shows, twenty original international shows, and almost 100 million records sold of his songs, Frank is one of this generation's most important songwriters.

54 Below Celebrates Frank Wildhorn, a series of concerts spotlighting the music of composer Frank Wildhorn, will be presented at the intimate Manhattan nightspot tonight, December 2, through the 6th, backed by a band led by Wildhorn on piano.

This December and January 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Scroll down for details!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

54 Below Celebrates Frank Wildhorn, a series of concerts spotlighting the music of composer Frank Wildhorn, will be presented at the intimate Manhattan nightspot December 2-6, backed by a band led by Wildhorn on piano. Show times at 54 Below are scheduled for December 2-3 at 7pm and December 5-6 at 7pm and 9:30pm.

James Barbour and Laughing Dog Media present the music from Tony Award Nominee Frank Wildhorn's Broadway sensation DRACULA in a One Night Only Halloween Bash Concert on Oct. 30 at 8pm.

Today in 2008, A Tale of Two Cities opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 60 performances. A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.The Broadway production featured James Barbour, Natalie Toro, Aaron Lazar, Gregg Edelman, and Brandi Burkhardt.

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.

Today in 2008, A Tale of Two Cities opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 60 performances. A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.The Broadway production featured James Barbour, Natalie Toro, Aaron Lazar, Gregg Edelman, and Brandi Burkhardt.

Broadway veterans will perform in a new pilot reading of HOLLYWOOD AND VINE, a one-hour television series, on Tuesday Nov 13th at AFI. Mark Polish will direct the reading with a cast featuring Jason Alexander, Michael Urie, Jack Noseworthy, Heather Tom, Liz Larsen, David Furr, Nick Blaemire and Anthony Heald. They will be joined by Dan Gauthier and James Frances Gint.

Today in 2008, A Tale of Two Cities opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 60 performances. A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.The Broadway production featured James Barbour, Natalie Toro, Aaron Lazar, Gregg Edelman, and Brandi Burkhardt.