BroadwayWorld has just learned that casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements.
When I first heard that Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow, the story of the demise of Judy Garland during her gig in December, 1968 at Talk of the Town, London, was going to be produced at ICT, Long Beach, I remember thinking 'They'd better get a super dynamic actress. Not everyone can play Judy Garland!' Whether you believe that the events that happen onstage really did occur seems irrelevant in ICT's production; what is all wrong is the casting. Unfortunately, Gigi Bermingham, a fine actress/singer, just does not make the cut. Within five minutes of her first entrance, I saw a woman playing an actress/singer with emotional problems, but that woman might as well be herself; it is not Judy Garland.
International City Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with a tour de force musical drama about the final days of Judy Garland. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter opens Feb. 20, directed by John Henry Davis (ICT'sTrying) and starring Gigi Bermingham (Ovation Award-winner for her performance as Maria Callas in ICT's Master Class) in the role of the legendary singer.
International City Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with a tour de force musical drama about the final days of Judy Garland. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter opens tonight, Feb. 20, directed by John Henry Davis (ICT's Trying) and starring Gigi Bermingham (Ovation Award-winner for her performance as Maria Callas in ICT's Master Class) in the role of the legendary singer.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT announce the complete cast as they present pure 'electricity' with the third show of their 2014-2015 season, the Southern California Regional Premiere of the ten-time Tony Award-winning musical, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Brian Kite. BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, January 16, 2015 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 17) and run through Sunday, February 8, 2015 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
International City Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with a tour de force musical drama about the final days of Judy Garland. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter opens Feb. 20, directed by John Henry Davis (ICT's Trying) and starring Gigi Bermingham (Ovation Award-winner for her performance as Maria Callas in ICT's Master Class) in the role of the legendary singer.
The Best in LA Theatre for 2014
(alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed)
(artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories)
Loud repetitious music usually is a turnoff to me, in spite of the fact that the rock and roll of the 60s and 70s constitutes a large part of my musical background. I grew up listening to it and like much of it, but in later years have narrowed my preferences to pop standards, jazz and Broadway fare, which always make me happy. Although Irish, I have learned to love Celtic music more recently; since Once, I have become increasingly enamored of that sound especially at Christmas. When you add violin to keyboard, drums and guitar, as do the creators of Striking 12, now in its Orange County premiere at the Laguna Playhouse through December 28, you get that joyful sound loud and clear, and that plus the brilliance of the four musicians/actors (Brent Schindele ...
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the third show of their 2014-2015 season and the perfect confection for the Holiday season, the Orange County Premiere of STRIKING 12, with book music and lyrics by Brendan Milburn,Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda and directed by Janet Roston. Check out a first look below!
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the third show of their 2014-2015 season and the perfect confection for the Holiday season, the Orange County Premiere of STRIKING 12, with book music and lyrics by Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda and directed by Janet Roston.
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the third show of their 2014-2015 season and the perfect confection for the Holiday season, the Orange County Premiere of STRIKING 12, with book music and lyrics by Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda and directed by Janet Roston.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT opened the first production in its 2014-2015 season with the Tony Award-winning GOOD PEOPLE, written by David Lindsay-Abaire(Rabbit Hole, Fuddy Meers) and directed by Jeff Maynard(Broadway Bound, Boeing-Boeing). GOOD PEOPLE will feature Katie MacNichol, Anne Gee Byrd, Gigi Bermingham,Wyatt Fenner, Sophina Brown and Martin Kildare. Check out the pics from opening night below!
Continuing its 8 year reign as the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway Performers and Nightclub Artists in concert, Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal welcomes Broadway's David Burnham and Valerie Perri in their co-headlining concert debut of Together Again for the First Time, an evening of non-stop Broadway showstoppers with Musical Direction by Mark Vogel at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood Sunday, September 21, 2014.
The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) will follow up LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LUNACY with another exciting cabaret offering - HE LOVES AND SHE LOVES, starring Erica and Brent Schindele, this weekend, August 9 and 10.
The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) will follow up LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LUNACY with two more exciting cabaret offerings - BUBBLEGUM's ANONYMOUS - CHEW ON THIS!, a tribute to the music of the 50's, 60's and 70's starring Gilmore Rixxo, this weekend, July 18-20, and HE LOVES AND SHE LOVES, starring Erica and Brent Schindele, August 9 and 10.
The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) will follow up LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LUNACY, which stars Broadway Veterans Alix Korey, Janene Lovullo and Sal Mistretta and runs June 27-29, with two more exciting cabaret offerings - BUBBLEGUM's ANONYMOUS - CHEW ON THIS!, a tribute to the music of the 50's, 60's and 70's starring Gilbert Rixxo, July 18-20, and HE LOVES AND SHE LOVES, starring Erica and Brent Schindele, August 9 and 10.
What do the 1950s have in common with 1912? Ages of innocence, both. When Meredith Willson wrote his story with Franklin Lacey about a con artist bamboozling an Iowa town in 1912, which formed the substance of his musical The Music Man (1957), the effect became like that of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. People were jubilant, ecstatic and welcomed Professor Harold Hill, as they craved a good old-fashioned love story coated with ironic excitement. He was a charmer, and they saw way past his bad side. Now in a jubilant new production at GCT, the company pulls out all the stops and yet presents a delightfully down.to.earth show that keeps the flavor of Meredith Willson in tact. With fast-paced direction from Valerie Rachelle and a terrific cast led by Brent Schindele, The Music Man offers a refreshing look at the way life should be.
Lamb's Players Theatre announces their upcoming event '100 Hours of Stories.' From today, May 8 - 12, 2014, LAMB'S will make history. With the help of favorite local theatre artists, and community members, the San Diego nonprofit will present 100 consecutive hours of play and musical readings to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Marathon Theatrical Performance and celebrate Lamb's.
Lamb's Players Theatre announces their upcoming event '100 Hours of Stories.' From May 8 - 12, 2014, LAMB'S will make history. With the help of favorite local theatre artists, and community members, the San Diego nonprofit will present 100 consecutive hours of play and musical readings to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Marathon Theatrical Performance and celebrate Lamb's.
