Bruce Kimmel News

For the 109th Kritzerland show, roll out the ribbons, throw the confetti, because Kritzerland is celebrating its tenth anniversary. 

Kritzerland will present its 108th show SING HAPPY! THE SONGS OF KANDER & EBB as a benefit for Group Rep this Sunday August 9, 2020 at 5p PST via their Facebook and YouTube pages. This tribute to legendary composers John Kander and Fred Ebb (hosted by its incomparably witty producer Bruce Kimmel and co-produced by Doug Haverty) will feature Brent Barrett, Debbie Gravitte, Peyton Kirkner, Karen Mason, Kerry O'Malley, Hartley Powers, Jennifer Simard, Sami Staitman, Adrienne Stiefel, Robert Yacko and Karen Ziemba. got the chance to ask of few queries of Kerry, who in Kritzerland #107 performed a show-stopping duet with herself in a tongue-twisting, speed-singing 'All For The Best' from GODSPELL. Simply brilliant!

For the 108th Kritzerland show, it's a tribute to one of the most beloved songwriting teams in Broadway history, Kander and Ebb. The music and lyrics of John Kander and Fred Ebb have been delighting people since their Broadway debut, Flora, the Red Menace, which began their long association with Liza Minnelli.

For the 107th Kritzerland show, Kritzerland stays home once again with another talent-packed song-filled show Kritzerland Influencers. The free benefit show will feature classic theater and film songs, some rarities, and a few songs that might be completely unfamiliar.

For the 107th Kritzerland show, Kritzerland stays home once again with another talent-packed song-filled show. Kritzerland Influencers is the show title and to say more than that would spoil the fun. But as with all Kritzerland shows, there'll be classic theater and film songs, some rarities, and a fews songs that might be completely unfamiliar.

Krizterland's a?oeJune is Bustin' In All Overa??, free concert of an eclectic mix of songs that are romantic, funny and touching, produced and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, musical direction by Richard Allen with technical expertise by Hartley Powers.   Via Live Stream on Sunday, June 7th at 5:00 PM (PST), 8:00 PM (EST)

For the 106th Kritzerland show, Kritzerland is once again doing the show on Facebook and YouTube Live. For the June show, there's a great cast, it's more ambitious than the May show, and once again any donations would go to the Group Rep Theater in North Hollywood, non-profit 501 (c) (3).

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Robert Yacko, one of the busiest triple-threat performers in Los Angeles!

For the 105th Kritzerland show Kritzerland is staying home. Rather than miss the May show, Kritzerland will be doing the show on Facebook and YouTube on Sunday May 3rd at 5:00pm PST/8:00 EST.

Need something new to read or watch? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases!

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World Los Angeles which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the arts alive in the City of the Angels. And like all of us, how are they dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved? This Spotlight focuses on Michael Mullen, an award-winning and always busy costume designer, writer and actor who often steps onstage in a variety of roles, both male and female.

Because we all need a little Christmas, Group Rep has posted a full production video of its original musical A Carol Christmas.

We are first introduced to a young girl, a very assertive, opinionated young girl, definitely with a strong sense of identity, and self worth. She is heard speaking, which we come to find out is us hearing her inner thoughts and feelings, through her a?oeMind's Eye,a?? her vocally taped diary, into a recorder. The time is 1968. We first view her as she runs, into, outside ~ an elderly man who has fallen in their garden, helping him up and, concerned, guides him inside her home, where she spends much of her sheltered life. Patty, played quite brilliantly by Peyton Kirkner, is both honest and earnest in her connection with her new and only friend, Calhoon (played wonderfully and with much heart by Lloyd Pedersen). They were instant friends; and even though Patty is legally blind they easily shared conversation. The actors totally conveyed that feeling, so it was all the more heart-wrenching when her mom, Lola Henderson, played determinedly by Maria Kress, who, understandably, is ultra protective, comes home and just couldn't fathom this new connection ~ having been the caretaker-mom all of Patty's life, this was a concern she had not yet encountered. Flash forward, and back and forth, throughout the rest of the play, this played out and developed one of the underlying themes while at the same time we were fast-forwarded to Patty (aka now renamed by herself, Trish) as a school teacher in 1981.

The Group Rep will present the revival of Doug Haverty's award winning play IN MY MIND'S EYE, directed by Bruce Kimmel, and produced for the Group Rep by Bita Arefnia. The play will run February 7 through March 15 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

A riotous script and a veteran cast who know their way around comedy highlight a bravura production of 'The Man Who Came To Dinner,' Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's classic 1939 play about a sidelined theater critic, forced to be wheelchair bound in a house in small town Ohio. Jim Beaver, Barry Pearl, and Kay Cole starr in this outrageously funny revival.

The Group Rep presents Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's beloved farce THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, directed by Bruce Kimmel, produced by Doug Haverty. The comedy classic takes place a few weeks before Christmas in small town USA, after a famously outlandish NYC radio personality is invited to dine at the house of the well-to-do local factory owner. But this sharp-tongued celebrity slips on a patch of ice outside the front door and injures his hip. Confined to the house for a month, he drives his hosts mad by insulting them, monopolizing their world, wreaking havoc with romantic antics and receiving a constant stream of bizarre guests, including performers, scientists, penguins and even paroled convicts. As Christmas Day approaches mayhem ensues and fate delivers a comeuppance. 

The Group Rep presents Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's beloved farce THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, directed by Bruce Kimmel, produced by Doug Haverty. The comedy classic takes place a few weeks before Christmas in small town USA, after a famouslya??outlandish NYC radio personality is invited to dine at the house of the well-to-do local factory owner. Buta??this sharp-tongued celebrity slips on a patch of ice outside the front door and injures his hip. Confineda??to the house for a month, he drives his hosts mad by insulting them,a??monopolizing their world, wreaking havoc with romantic antics anda??receiving a constant stream ofa??bizarre guests, including performers,a??scientists, penguins and even paroled convicts.a??As Christmas Day approachesa??mayhem ensues and fate delivers aa??comeuppance.a??

Actor/director/author Bruce Kimmel is best known to audiences for his tremendous work with Kritzerland, his own company that produces updated albums of classic musicals as well as recordings of new ones like his A Carol Christmas, produced last year at Group Rep and currently nominated for several BroadwayWorld Awards. Kimmel is about to open The Man Who Came to Dinner at Group Rep on December 6. In our convesation he talks about his fondness for the play and gives us his vision for a successful production of it. How do you envision The Man Who Came to Dinner onstage? BK: Fast. Funny. I love the play, have played Banjo twice, so it's really fun to come back to it as a director. The comedy is as funny as it's always been and it's also great to be able to bring whatever we can bring to it. But, for me, pace is key - the play can run long, but I'm making sure that doesn't happen here. Why do you think it has endured all these years even though it's a period piece with the mention of many, many names people today do not recognize? BK: The central situation is so relatable - someone takes over your house and your life, and disrupts everything, but, in the end, ends up being helpful to people. Add to that, the assortment of crazies who populate Sheridan Whiteside's wo

Jason Graae is soon to star once again as the title character in a?oeScrooge in Love!a?? at 42nd Street Moon, where has found a sort of Bay Area artistic home in recent years. This eternally youthful performer is now a veritable showbiz veteran, having starred on Broadway several times, toured the country with legendary composer Jerry Herman, recorded almost 50 CD's and most recently played The Wizard of Oz in the national tour of a?oeWicked.a?? Known for his spirited comic performances and sterling vocals, you might expect Mr. Graae to be a lot of fun to talk to, and you would be right about that. While quick to express heartfelt gratitude to colleagues, he is also the irrepressible imp who can't resist entertaining you with his mischievous sense of humor.