Constance Jewell Lopez News

What did our critic think of CROWNS at Center Repertory Company? Can a play centered around hats sustain interest for an extended period – in the case of Regina Taylors spirited Crowns, the answer is a resounding yes. These hats, worn by African American women, are so much more than an accessory to their outfits, representing cultural traditions, family histories, and pride.

Join in at the Center Repertory Company for an unforgettable musical experience with 'Crowns.' Don't miss out on this roof-raising celebration filled with vibrant performances and captivating storytelling.

Ensemble Theatre Company is presenting CARMEN JONES, music by Georges Bizet with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, choreography by Lisa Ruffin, musical direction by William Foster McDaniel, and directed by Jonathan Fox. CARMEN JONES runs through Sunday, October 23, 2022 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara. See photos here!

Celebration Theatre announced its first-ever online theatre festival CELEBRATING PRIDE. The nation's oldest continuously-producing LGBTQ+ theatre will host a FULL SEVEN DAYS of online programming dedicated to remind the community to live out loud, to be proud of our past and to look forward to the future!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second show of their 2019-2020 season, Roald Dahl's MATILDA, THE MUSICAL, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Kate Dunn and directed by Michael Matthews. MATILDA, THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, October 25, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 26 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, November 17, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second show of their 2019-2020 season, Roald Dahl's MATILDA, THE MUSICAL, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Kate Dunn and directed by Michael Matthews. MATILDA, THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, October 25, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 26 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, November 17, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second show of their 2019-2020 season, Roald Dahl's MATILDA, THE MUSICAL, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Kate Dunn and directed by Michael Matthews.

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum continues its mission to resist and struggle against the forces of inequality and injustice by presenting socially conscious classics that speak to today. A new version of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, freely adapted by artistic director Ellen Geer and co-directed by Geer and Melora Marshall, joins Theatricum's 2019 summer repertory season beginning Saturday, June 22.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced the recipients of its 50th annual awards for distinguished achievement in theatre last night, Monday, April 8, 2019, at Pasadena Playhouse. Wenzel Jones presided over the festivities, and Christopher Raymond served as music director.

Keep the holiday spirit going into 2019 - celebrate the new year, and (mostly)musicals' 5th anniversary, with songsforaHAPPYnewyear on January 7th!

Get HAPPY with (mostly)musicals on our 5th anniversary!

Don't let your holiday sparkle fade - celebrate the new year, and (mostly)musicals' 5th anniversary, with songsforaHAPPYnewyear!

On Monday, November 19th, (mostly)musicals returned to Upstairs at Vitello's to celebrate the holidays with their 30th edition! Music director Gregory Nabours led a jingling (ring-ting-tingling too!) evening, featuring Alli Miller (CHERRY POPPINS), Amy Engelhardt (BASTARD JONES), Clent Bowers (B'way: CATS, BIG), Emily Clark (Stealing Focus), Gabriel Gonzalez (La Verdad), Iara Nemirovsky (National tour: SCHOOL OF ROCK), Jeffrey Polk (B'way: FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE), Kelley Dorney (IN A BOOTH AT CHASEN'S), Kristina Miller (JERSEY BOYS), Jonny Lee Jr. and Justin Anthony Long (CITY OF DREAMS), Juan Lozano (2 Cents Theatre Company), Keith and Laura Nicole Harrison (EMOJILAND), Natalia Vivino (CHILDREN OF EDEN at 5-Star Theatricals), and Shawn Ryan ('America's Got Talent'). The evening also showcased a guest performance from the cast of the critically acclaimed Greenway Court production of THE COLOR PURPLE, and, as always, the open mic afterparty! See videos here, and scroll down for photos of the festive evening!

Celebration Theatre announces that the third and final show in its 2017-2018 season, the smash-hit, critically acclaimed production of CABARET

Celebration Theatre is thrilled to announce that their smash-hit third and final show of its 2017-2018 season, CABARET, is extending through Sunday, August 5 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles (now known as the Kit Kat Klub!).

Celebration Theatre presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, present the third and final show in its 2017 2018 season, CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Anthony Zediker and directed by Michael Matthews. CABARET will begin previews on Friday, May 25 at 8pm; will open on Friday, June 1 at 8pm, with tickets on sale through Sunday, July 15 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

2Cents Theatre Group's popular 3-day festival of female playwrights is back for year FIVE! We are once again gathering around 100 artists for this one-of-a-kind event, from playwrights to directors to actors and street artists, to celebrate the FEMALE PLAYWRIGHT and ART! The Fest will take place March 9-11 at the Hudson Theatres in Hollywood, right in the heart of Theatre Row and the Los Angeles 99-seat community.

The 28th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

TROUBLE IN MIND, the scathingly funny and thought-provoking backstage drama about interracial politics by pioneering African American playwright Alice Childress, is currently enjoying a brilliant revival at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum in Malibu thanks to director Ellen Geer's vision of the groundbreaking 1955 satire in which an integrated theater company in rehearsal for a “progressive” anti-lynching drama marks the first opportunity for gifted African American actress Willetta Mayer (portrayed by multiple NAACP Award-winner Earnestine Phillips who commands the stage) to play a leading lady on Broadway. This could be her dream come true, but what compromises must she make to succeed?

Trouble in Mind, the scathingly funny backstage drama about interracial politics by pioneering African American playwright Alice Childress, will get a revival at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum beginning July 29.