Craig McEldowney News

Actors Co-op announces its first show in its 2014-2015 season (and 23rd year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with an immersive and environmental production of the five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Whodunit,' THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, choreography by Julie Hall, musical direction by Jake Anthony and directed by Stephen Van Dorn. THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD will begin previews on Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 19 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 26 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

The 9th longest-running off-Broadway musical of all time, ALTAR BOYZ is a foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy satire about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national 'Raise the Praise' tour during which they attempt to reduce the number of burdened souls in the theatre to zero by the end of the concert.

Chromolume Theatre has announced Altar Boyz, the 9th longest-running off-Broadway musical of all time, as its next production. The show has a book by Kevin Del Aguila and music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, and will be directed for Chromolume by Kristin Towers-Rowles. With choreography by Samantha Whidby and music direction by Richard Berent, opening is set for Friday, April 4 at 8pm. Altar Boyz will play a strictly limited engagement through May 11 only.

Talk about quirkiness and how it can be used to its best advantage in a musical! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is terribly funny in a smart, slick, offbeat manner with prize worthy characterizations of lively eclectic people.It may be a tad long like the actual spelling out of words (that are not to be believed!)yet the exaggeration and contestants' varied reactions give rise to some great comic moments...and I love the audience involvement! Some of the contestants are picked from the audience and their ad-libs lend one.of.a.kind hilarity. The unpredictability in denouement is another big plus in the overall enjoyment of the show. It's like a real contest.

Kelrik Productions will present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE playing February 14 - March 1 at the Monroe Forum Theatre, bringing children's programming to the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change/ book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro/music by Jimmy Roberts/directed by Gary Lee Reed/musical director: William A. Reilly/Crown City Theatre/through October 20

Crown City Theatre Company presents the musical theatre comedy 'I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE', with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music by Jimmy Roberts and direction by Gary Lee Reed.

Crown City Theatre Company presents the musical theatre comedy 'I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE', with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music by Jimmy Roberts and direction by Gary Lee Reed.

In opera and operetta, the storytelling is completely through music; there are few or no spoken words. Steven Cagan's world premiere Love Songs is a modern day operetta of sorts with a line or two of spoken dialogue here and there, but composed of 99% music. Now through July 28 at the Attic Theatre, Love Songs boasts a profoundly rich score, a wonderfully adept musical cast and superior direction from Kay Cole.

Chromolume Theatre has announced its next production, the world premiere of Love Songs, A Musical with book, music and lyrics by Steven Cagan, and directed by Kay Cole. Featuring orchestrations and arrangements by Doug Walter and music direction by Richard Berent. Opening is set for tonight, June 22 at 8pm. Love Songs will play a limited engagement through July 28 only.

Southern California Lyric Theater and Alison Eliel Kalmus present a World Premiere of an Award winning, critically acclaimed new work, ÆSOPERA, featuring music by Jonathan Price and libretti by Jeff Goode, Jan Michael Alejandro and The Composer.

Chromolume Theatre has announced its next production, Love Songs, with book, music and lyrics by Steven Cagan, and directed by Kay Cole. Featuring orchestrations and arrangements by Doug Walter and music direction byRichard Berent, there will be one preview performance on June 21, andopening is set for Saturday, June 22 at 8pm. Love Songs will play a limited engagement through July 28 only.

With modern flair, these lush and lyrical mini-operas take inspiration from Aesop's classic fables of human nature's essential truths and are sure to add a unique presence to this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival. How does a composer begin to develop five mini-operas based on the fables of Aesop?

Southern California Lyric Theater and Alison Eliel Kalmus present a World Premiere of an Award winning, critically acclaimed new work, ÆSOPERA, featuring music by Jonathan Price and libretti by Jeff Goode, Jan Michael Alejandro and The Composer.

The Triad plays host to 'The Songs of Robert Rokicki,' Monday, March 19, 2007 at 9:00pm. The evening showcasing the work of composer/lyricist Robert Rokicki, will feature performances by Nikki Renee Daniels and Tituss Burgess, among other Broadway talents.