Bruce Kimmel News

Kay Cole and Barry Pearl join the cast of the Group Rep's production of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's beloved farce THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, directed by Bruce Kimmel and produced by Doug Haverty.   The play runs December 6, 2019 through January 12, 2020 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

Jim Beaver joins the cast as Sheridan Whiteside in the Group Rep's production of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's beloved farce THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, directed by Bruce Kimmel and produced by Doug Haverty.  

What If? A Musical Revue directed by Bruce Kimmel, produced by Doug Haverty, with musical direction by Richard Allen, returns to Los Angeles for Two Nights only, Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24 at 8:00 pm, as a fundraiser for The Group Rep Theatre Company at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, one of the oldest producing theatre companies in greater Los Angeles.

The 101st Kritzerland show is also the ninth anniversary show!  Yes, it's Kritzerland's ninth anniversary and it's going to be a fun show, filled with classic songs from musical theatre and film, and, as always, some incredibly rare material you won't hear at any other shows.  Kritzerland did its very first show in September 2010 and the shows are still going strong. 

Girl-next-door makes good! Calabasas High School graduate Sami Staitman, who is entering her sophomore year as a musical theatre student at Pace University in New York, has already landed her first Off-Broadway starring role in the theatre-themed musical, 'The Green Book,' which opens September 27. We caught up with Sami during her summer 'break' (Sami never takes time off from acting!)

On Sunday June 2, Kritzerland celebrated its 99th performance with a special brunch matinee at Feinstein's Upstairs at Vitello's, entitled June Is Brunching Out All Over. It was supposed to be a tribute to Harry Warren, but as host Bruce Kimmel explained, it's often better to throw in a few other songs from different composers...so the show was a mix...and delightful with musical director Richard Allen at the keys and a bevy of exceedingly talented singers including special guest Bill Hayes...Kim Huber, Kelley Dorney, Jenna Lea Rosen, Robert Yacko, Damon Kirsche and Bruce Kimmel himself perfoming a lovely solo number 'Hushabye Mountain' by the Sherman Brothers for the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

The Group Rep presents A Cabaret Line, a Two Night Only! fun fundraiser cabaret show, directed and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, with music direction by Richard Allen, produced by Doug Haverty, June 11 and June 12 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

For the 99th Kritzerland show, it's an eclectic show that is so eclectic it's not even happening at the usual evening time. No, this Kritzerland show is happening at brunch. 

For the 98th Kritzerland show, it's our annual May madness show, which, like our crazy April Fools show, is equally mad and wild, with some pretty stuff thrown in, too. 

The Group Rep's Co-Artistic Directors, Larry Eisenberg and Chris Winfield announce the Group Rep's 45th Season (2019) with six eclectic and unique plays: Laundry and Bourbon & Lone Star, two one-act comedies by James McLure, directed by Barbara Brownell (January 25 - March 3),  The Secret of Chimneys, a long lost play by Agatha Christie, directed by Jules Aaron (March 29 - May 5), Avenue Q, the wry, Broadway musical written by Jeff Whitty, Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, directed by Patrick Burke (May 31 - July 7),  Loose Knit, a modern comedy by Theresa Rebeck, directed by L. Flint Esquerra  (August 2 - September 8), Night of the Living Dead, a gripping terror-filled drama based on the George Romero film, adapted by Gus Krieger directed by Drina Durazo (October 4 - November 10), and the beloved farce The Man Who Came to Dinner by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, directed by Bruce Kimmel (December 6, 2019 - January 12, 2020).  The six shows will be performed on the Main Stage, first floor 90 Seat Theatre.

A CAROL CHRISTMASbook by Doug Havertymusic & lyrics by Bruce Kimmeldirected by Bruce KimmelGroup Rep, NoHothrough December 30 So many versions of A Christmas Carol surface in November and December in local theatres, but most are really not worthy of your attention. This year exceptions are the Geffen's spectacular one-man version ... and... Group Rep is really turning up the heat with an original contemporary musical entitled A Carol Christmas. With a cast of 20 on their wide stage, Group Rep offers its audiences a terrifically enjoyable time this holiday season through December 30.

On November 16, a new musical version of A Christmas Carol entitled A Carol Christmas will open at Group Rep in North Hollywood. Doug Haverty wrote the book and Bruce Kimmel, the music and lyrics. Kimmel is also the director. In the conversation that follows both men discuss the new piece. Bruce Kimmel, what are your challenges in directing this piece?

'LAs Next Great Stage Star is more than a competition - it is an experience, deeply felt and expressed by these super-talented young people who are the new faces of our business. If this is any indication, the future of theatre is in good hands!!' - Multi-Million selling recording artist and author, Sam Harris

On August 27th, the Debbie Reynolds Main stage at the historic El Portal Theater will host the 12th annual LA's Next Great Stage Star(R), following a six week competition.  Creator, Michael Sterling, along with his Co-Executive Producer and Co-Sponsor, Barbara Van Orden, are proud to offer this annual opportunity to talented individuals seeking to spotlight their abilities. Presented by Princess Cruises LA's Next Great Stage Star(R) is the only competition of its kind in the Western United States.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Kay Cole in Souvenir on August 8, 2018. Souvenir is a wonderfully entertaining journey through a life in show business, from childhood to now.

The thespian spirits of the many theatrical greats that have graced the boards of at the historic El Portal Theater, including the main stage's namesake Debbie Reynolds, could be felt as the annual 6 week long production of LA's Next Great Stage Star launched last night (Monday, July 23rd) to standing ovations for the lucky few talented individuals selected from a long a grueling audition process.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Kay Cole in Souvenir on August 8, 2018. Souvenir is a wonderfully entertaining journey through a life in show business, from childhood to now.

For the 89th Kritzerland show it's the happiest show on Earth, our tribute to the songs of Disney. From Golden Age classics like Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Song of the South to the later classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Pocahontas, right up to Frozen, Disney has always come up with amazing songs for their films, both live action and animated and we're covering as many of them as we can, from the hugely popular, to the lesser known.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Kay Cole in Souvenir on August 8, 2018. Souvenir is a wonderfully entertaining journey through a life in show business, from childhood to now. Her career has spanned six decades and Souvenir features songs from the many shows she's done, including Bye Bye Birdie, The Music Man, Best Foot Forward, Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd, Hair, and, of course, A Chorus Line, but also features songs about life and love along the way.  It's a show filled with her unique humor and warmth and positivity.