Cassandra Murphy News

Melissa Dunham felt both thrilled and terrified when she made the decision to produce a full-scale musical production in LA. This is a completely new adventure for Melissa who is professional actor and singer, and a graduate of UC Irvine's BFA Musical Theater program. Her background has primarily been in the performance side of theatrical production, but when she listened to Daddy Long Legs' stunning score (music and lyrics by Paul Gordon) and read the script by John Caird, she knew the story needed to be told--and the thought of taking on a new challenge only made her more eager to jump into the experience.

The musical adaptation of Jean Webster's 1912 novel of the same name returns to LA for the first time in years, unfolding on the stage of the Two Roads Theater for one weekend only September 21-24, 2017. With music & lyrics by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre, Emma) and book by John Caird (LES MISERABLES, Jane Eyre), Daddy Long Legs transports us back to 1908 and the dreary existence of orphan Jerusha Abbott, just before a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college and change her life forever. What transpires over the course of this intimate, two-actor play is a heartwarming story of human connection, kindness, and charity.

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT presented the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2016-2017 season, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, starring Devin Archer and Natalie Storrs, with musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio. BroadwayWorld has a first look at opening night below!

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the second show of its 2016-2017 season: Davis Gaines starring in the hilarious comedy LEND ME A TENOR, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Art Manke. LEND ME A TENOR opened on October 22 and runs through Sunday, November 13, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the opening night pics below!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Chicago, South Bend, New Zealand and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include the opening of HAMILTON in Chicago, SWEENEY TODD in South Bend, and BILLY ELLIOT in New Zealand, just to name a few.

If you have the opportunity to see Cabrillo Music Theatre's splendid production of Evita this weekend, you will no doubt be drawn to the electrifying performances by its stars, Cassandra Murphy, as Eva Peron, and Marc Ginsburg, as Che (profiled in our October 4 story - http://vconstage.com/marc-baron-ginsburg-talks-about-playing-che-in-cabrillos-new-production-of-evita/ ). But there is another, younger, performer who we predict will be a big star, whether it is on the stage, in films, or on television. Her name is Isa Briones. Isa, who is just 17, is a high school senior who comes out of the ensemble to play the part of Argentinean dictator Juan Peron's unnamed mistress, who gets shooed out of the president's palace by Eva and sings the lament, 'Another Suitcase in Another Hall.' It is one of the most quietly exquisite moments in the entire musical. Prior to playing in Evita, Isa was astonishing in Pico Playhouse's production of Next to Normal, in which she played the part of confused teen Natalie Goodman. We had a chance to visit with Isa, and found out that not only is she no novice in the world of performing, she has a perceptive and mature perspective on performing and working within a character in a musical. VCOS: Isa, when I looked at your website and checked out your credits, I was stunned by all the things you've done and that you are still only seventeen. It helps when your parents are in show business, too, doesn't it?

Tim Rice's & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita has had a thirty-eight year international love affair with the public since it  premiered in 1978 in London and in 1979 on Broadway. The newest revival in regional theatre is currently at Cabrillo in Thousand Oaks until October 23 only. An operetta based on Eva Duarte Peron and husband Juan Peron of Argentina, the story documents the rise to power of a simple peasant girl to the rank - almost - of Vice-President of her country. I say almost because she became too ill to accept the nomination in 1951 and passed into immortality in 1952 after a seven year reign as First Lady of Argentina, which began in 1946. Evita: criminal or saint? has been the topic of books and documentaries. Eva

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre. 

In Cabrillo Music Theatre's new production of Evita, the role of Che, the narrator figure based on Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, is played by Marc Baron Ginsburg. A Philadelphia native, Ginsburg has enjoyed a varied career on both coasts prior to coming to Cabrillo. His favorite roles include Aaron (First Date,) Lord Farquaad (Shrek), Lawrence Jameson (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and Quixote/Cervantes (Man of La Mancha), among many others. He also played Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's First National Tour of Oliver! Marc and his wife Liza, who is also a performer, are recent parents of a son, Phoenix, who was born in June. We talked to Marc about his career and his approach to the key role he is playing in Evita.

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre. 

The 2015 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement during the past 12 months, were presented on Monday, November 9 at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center. Among the many winners were the stars and creative team of Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING, now on Broadway. Scroll down for photos from the arrivals, ceremony and after-party!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), present the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics byJonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins). Check out photos from the show's first curtain call below!

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!

So. Cal audiences should check out Musical Theatre West's rather admirable regional production of LES MISERABLES, which continues its limited run at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through April 26, 2015. This highly-commendable, local production features a superb-sounding 30-person cast, an impressive arsenal of lighting, set, and costume designs, and strikingly lush musical accompaniment from a 16-piece live orchestra. Despite some choppy-ness in its narrative flow, the ear candy produced by this exceptional collective had me floating in euphoria.

Musical Theatre West (MTW) presents the exhilarating musical masterpiece, LES MISERABLES at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center tonight, April 10, through April 26.

The 2014 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement during the past 12 months, were presented on Sunday, November 2 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.

The famous Rockwell Table and Stage Los Angeles presents its inaugural competition cabaret; THE BROADWAY CAGE MATCH tonight, August 26th at 8 pm.

The famous Rockwell Table and Stage Los Angeles presents its inaugural competition cabaret; THE BROADWAY CAGE MATCH on August 26th at 8 pm.