Bruce Kimmel News

'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.

For the 88th Kritzerland show we turn to one of the greatest composers of the 20th century - the one and only George Gershwin.  There is simply nothing like a Gershwin tune and we've got plenty of them - from the classics to the lesser-known Gershwin, with lyrics by brother Ira.  The songs are romantic, funny, moving, perky, and let us tell you you can strike up the band for our fantastic cast.  So, join us for this joyous, s'wonderful evening that you won't want to miss.  We may even have a surprise or two up our Kritzerland sleeves. Kritzerland is produced and hosted by Bruce Kimmel and co-produced by Doug Haverty.

For our 87th show, it's May, it's May, the lusty month of May and we are doing our usual irreverent and wacky May show, where, as Cole Porter once said, anything goes. We have an amazing cast plus two great guest stars. You'll hear some very rare songs from shows like The Grass Harp, Grover's Corners, Personals, Bring Back Birdie, A Broadway Musical, plus some rare cut songs from shows, plus some classics, both from shows and The Great American Songbook.

Souvenir.... An Evening with Broadway's Kay Cole... Souvenir celebrates her Los Angeles solo cabaret debut last year with an Encore performance. This is an intensely personal journey through songs that resonate with Ms. Cole's life and career, and that she loves singing. A true collaboration between her... her producer Bruce Kimmel, and her amazing Musical Director John Boswell, the evening will be filled with great songs some Broadway, some pop, but all wonderfully melodic, funny, touching, and lovingly sung. The voice, the purity, the power, the subtlety and the nuance are all there. 

For our 86th show we once again celebrate April Fools and all things April Foolish, one of our favorite shows to do. After a year and three months of doing the initial Kritzerland shows, we inaugurated the Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal room on April 1, 2012, so this is our sixth anniversary in the room. That, of course, is reason enough to come but it's also always a wild and wacky show.

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

For the 84th Kritzerland show, they have their annual all-young people show, one of our favorites to do every year. From the very beginning of Kritzerland shows back in 2010 they've always featured young performers in our shows - in fact, they were the first cabaret show to ever do so and opened those doors. They love young performers - their energy and joy and spirit - and we've had some brilliant ones over these eight years. But this is the night that they all get to shine on their own. Some of this year's young people have been with then before, some are new, and all are extremely talented.

For the 83rd Kritzerland show it's time to haul out the holly, it's time for tinsel and glamor and mistletoe as we head into the holidays with our annual Kritzerland holiday show, the best way to begin any holiday season - accept no substitutes.

Look in your closet. How many pairs of jeans have the renowned Levi Strauss patch sewn above the back right pocket? I have quite a few pairs but neglected to wear a single one to the premiere of LEVI! A NEW MUSICAL. Although I was disappointed in myself for this missed opportunity, I was not disappointed by this endearing, yet educational, show.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The Los Angeles City College (LACC) Theatre Academy and Kritzerland Entertainment present the world premiere of LEVI!, a classic fit new musical based on the life of Levi Strauss. The production opens tonight, November 17, at LACC'S Camino Theatre. The production will continue through December 2, 2017.

The Los Angeles City College (LACC) Theatre Academy and Kritzerland Entertainment present the world premiere of LEVI!, a classic fit new musical based on the life of Levi Strauss with a book by legendary cult Film Writer/Director Larry Cohen and Janelle Webb Cohen; and music and lyrics written by Disney's most celebrated Oscar-winning Composers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.

Known for his rich baritone voice on LA stages for the past several years, Robert Yacko made his solo concert debut entitled Opening Doors at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Sunday October 29. In spite of the Dodger game, he attracted a good sized audience who hung on very note and lyric. Skillfully directed by Bruce Kimmel, who is no stranger to Yacko, as he has appeared in many Kritzerland shows, the concert/cabaret explored the highlights of Yacko's life and career from South Philly to New York and on to LA.