Christopher Maikish News

? LA's popular concert series featuring the latest songs in new musical theater is making a big move to the Catalina Bar & Grill in the heart of Hollywood.  In this classic and charming venue, A Little New Music (ALNM) will be able to accommodate a growing audience and build on its success over the past three years. 

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series, ON THE ROOF by Donna Hoke, directed by Christopher Mikish and performing one night only, Today, April 19 at the West Hollywood City Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente in West Hollywood.   It's 1955-post WWII, amid McCarthyism, years before Stonewall. In this dangerous and difficult era, Mitzi operates a cabaret and gay bar where she, Cruz, a playboy bartender; Levi, an aspiring Broadway composer; Bob, a WWII vet; Mac, a guy who just wants camaraderie with his Coke; and Andy, a newcomer with a law degree struggle to find solidarity and courage-maybe even love. 

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series, ON THE ROOF by Donna Hoke, directed by Christopher Mikish and performing one night only, Tuesday, April 19 at the West Hollywood City Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente in West Hollywood.   It's 1955-post WWII, amid McCarthyism, years before Stonewall. In this dangerous and difficult era, Mitzi operates a cabaret and gay bar where she, Cruz, a playboy bartender; Levi, an aspiring Broadway composer; Bob, a WWII vet; Mac, a guy who just wants camaraderie with his Coke; and Andy, a newcomer with a law degree struggle to find solidarity and courage-maybe even love. 

Celebration Theatre at the Lex is thrilled to announce that its second play in its new home, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the critically acclaimed, Los Angeles premiere of DREAM BOY by Eric Rosen, based on the novel by Jim Grimsley and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (The Color Purple, Failure: A Love Story) is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, APRIL 2 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration Theatre solidly mounts (as they're always known to do) a stunning production of the Los Angeles premiere of DREAM BOY. All the acting and tech elements flawlessly gel in this intriguing drama, firm-handedly and smoothly directed by Michael Matthews, mesmerizingly guiding you through the everyday life of Nathan (the Dream Boy), even with the foreboding sense of some inevitable heartrending events to come.

A LITTLE NEW MUSIC brought the house down on December 8th at Rockwell Table and Stage in LA with a landmark 10th showcase of fresh and exciting musical theater material. Special guest host John Tartaglia (Broadway's AVENUE Q and SHREK THE MUSICAL), brought his sparkling humor to this dynamic evening celebrating the next generation of musical theater artists. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Celebration Theatre at the Lex presents its second play in its new home, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the Los Angeles premiere of DREAM BOY by Eric Rosen, based on the novel by Jim Grimsley and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (The Color Purple, Failure: A Love Story).

(mostly)musicals returns to the E Spot Lounge on Wednesday, October 7 with TAKE FLIGHT, the company's 14th entry in a series of themed cabarets. Check your baggage at the door, and enjoy first class accommodations, plenty of leg room, and full meal service available. And get a sneak peek at rehearsals below!

Following popular shows in July and August, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge on Wednesday, October 7 with TAKE FLIGHT (a cabaret with wings!), the company's 14th entry in a series of themed cabarets. 'We've had a wonderful time with our shows at the E Spot Lounge this summer and are delighted to return for our October show,' explains producer amy francis schott.

One of Stephen Schwartz's failures The Baker's Wife, which toured extensively across the US in 1976 but never made it to Broadway, had a cast recording with Patti LuPone, Paul Sorvino and Teri Ralston and has had a few revivals including the UK. Why did it bomb? It's a simple, sweet show with a lovely message about human connection and a few pretty ballads, especially the hit 'Meadowlark', but there's a spark missing, nothing really exciting to get people into the seats; it's most definitely not commercial enough for Broadway. Based on the 1938 French film La Femme du Boulanger, that may be the main reason that the show is rarely performed. Now onstage at Actors co-op, Baker's Wife is mounted scrumptiously with terrific direction from Richard Israel and a superlatively cast ensemble.

(mostly)musicals returned to The E Spot Lounge on Monday, August 24, 2015 for LUCKY NUMBER 13 (a cabaret that COUNTS). The diverse musical selections all featured numbers, and were performed by an exponentially talented array of singers under the music direction of the award winning Gregory Nabours. Check out the photos below from the memorable night below!

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE will preview on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series 'Like Drowning' tonight, March 17 at 7:30pm at the West Hollywood City Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood. 'Like Drowning' takes place in an upper East Side Manhattan apartment, switching back and forth in time from the early 1990s to present day. The earlier scenes explore the relationship of Richard, a handsome, irresponsible actor in his 40s, and Rodney, a slightly older, attentive, well-off member of a theater's Board of Directors. In the present-day scenes, some 25 years later, an older version of Rodney brings an older version of Richard to his apartment to care for him as he faces his greatest personal challenge.

CELEBRATION THEATRE presents as part of its New Works Reading Series 'Like Drowning' on Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30pm at the West Hollywood City Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood. 'Like Drowning' takes place in an upper East Side Manhattan apartment, switching back and forth in time from the early 1990s to present day. The earlier scenes explore the relationship of Richard, a handsome, irresponsible actor in his 40s, and Rodney, a slightly older, attentive, well-off member of a theater's Board of Directors. In the present-day scenes, some 25 years later, an older version of Rodney brings an older version of Richard to his apartment to care for him as he faces his greatest personal challenge.

A Cuppa Tea Theatre Company will make its debut at the Hollywood Fringe Festival with the beautiful SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD directed by Christopher Maikish and starring Scott Weston, Keith Montanez, Sherry Mandujano and Emily Morris, with percussionist Indigo Smith

[title of show] is the story of two musical theatre guys who aren't anywhere close to making it but decide to write a musical about writing a musical, starring themselves and their two best friends.

Hollywood Fringe coverage continues with a look at a musical satire based on the world of pocket monsters and a popular musical about four friends writing a new musical. And in big news, the brand new Hollywood Fringe Festival App is now available for free download.

A new rock musical, Manson's Girls, based on the true story of Charles Manson killings in the late 1960's, will be presented the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA for four nights only, July 30-31 and August 6-8.

Voting is now open for the 2011 Los Angeles Awards! Now it's time for you to get out and vote for your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Award. No time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday November 14, 2011.

'Jumping gingerbreads!' proclaims Prince of Sunshine Copernicus (Christopher Maikish) to just about anything that proves a consternation. You see Copernicus is not an ordinary Prince, and The Next Fairy Tale is not your ordinary musical. They abound in the world of fantasy. It's about a Prince in love with...a Prince, and the Mistress of Fairy Godmothers is not in the least pleased to accept and publish this newest fairy tale in a long line of traditional fairy tales for children of the next century. What happens to Minerva, her inept charge Hazel and to Copernicus and his love interest Helio is at the core of this world premiere by Brian Pugach at the Celebration Theatre through April 24. For the most part, it succeeds with a marvelous cast, fabulous direction by artistic director Michael A. Shepperd and spot-on production values. One thing that's needed is more humor. As is, it's witty and entertaining, but not nearly as funny as it could or needs to be.