The 2015-16 Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company concludes with a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
The 2015-16 Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company concludes with a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
The con is on! With plenty of wit, charm, and double entendres galore, Musical Theatre West's new regional production of the 2004 Broadway musical comedy 'DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS' is one enjoyably silly romp. The show which features a book by Jeffrey Lane and music and lyrics by David Yazbeck continues its final weekend at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 24. Based on the 1998 film comedy starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, the stage adaptation eventually garnered 11 Tony nominations during its run. For MTW's fun new local revival, the title roles---a couple of con men who've taken to swindling the riches off of easily-seduced women in the French Riviera---are embodied by stage vets Davis Gaines (now a multiple fixture at MTW) and the incredibly funny Benjamin Schrader (The Book of Mormon).
Based on a 1980s film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is terribly silly and much of the dialogue & lyrics imbued with an overabundance of sexual innuendos, but that's AOK, as this is not Stephen Sondheim, but a jazzy, feel good, laugh out loud type of show. As many times as I've seen it, I always fall directly into the trap...like most audience I'm hooked, especially if the two male leads are properly cast. In this new production at MTW, Davis Gaines plays Lawrence Jamison, the king of cons, and could not be more perfect. At his side is Benjamin Schrader as Freddy Benson, the rubber-faced comedic schmuck who pleads with Jamison to take him on and teach him the ropes, the tricks of the trade. These two head up a glorious cast under the uber skilled direction'choreography of Billy Sprague Jr., and what results is a triumphant hit for MTW... through July 24 only.
Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24. The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera,Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q), and OvatioBroadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances tonight, July 8, through July 24.
Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24. The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera,Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q), and Ovation Award nominee (for MTW'sYoung Frankenstein) Rebecca Ann Johnson. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at them in character below!
The Falcon Theatre and Roger Bean Productions are proud to present The Real Housewives of Toluca Lake: The Musical, book, music, and lyrics by Molly Bell, arrangements and additional music by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and directed by Roger Bean, the fifth production of the Falcon's 2015-2016 Season, now extended through May 1st.
With a title like THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TOLUCA LAKE: THE MUSICAL you wouldn't expect to see high art, but I at least thought this new musical would kill it in the comedy department. Instead, it trades on desperate humor, trite songs, stereotypical characters, and a storyline you've seen before. What could have been a smart, cheeky parody of The Real Housewives television franchise instead ends up feeling rather desperate. Even an audience packed with friends and family on opening night grew tired of applauding and a fair number of one-liners made no impact at all.
More than 100 local and national theatre artists representing nearly than 60 San Diego theatrical productions will compete for the 2015 Craig Noel Awards, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.
There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2015 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, or technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.
Some shows I can see again and again, especially those composed by the forever upbeat Jerry Herman. Hello Dolly bowed on Broadway when I was a teenager in the 60s and it had a long run with original star Carol Channing, followed by turns with Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey, Martha Raye and Molly Picon, to name a few. Every major star wanted to do it because the role offers a female actress the chance to sing, dance and act the hell out of it. It's a big, splashy gut buster about a woman who has more moxy than the Pied Piper and enough wisdom and panache to win over an army or a whole kingdom, for that matter...and, for the audience, it's one of those extra-special feel-good musicals that just doesn't quit... for a moment. You leave the theatre actually humming the tunes.Welk Resort's current production of Dolly! in Escondido through November 15 is right on target...it's wondrously delectable.
Michael Sterling recently spoke with LA and off-Broadway playwright Doug Haverty, who is enjoying a very successful revival on the West Coast of the musical INSIDE OUT, which debuted at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City 20 years ago.
Inside Out/book by Doug Haverty/music by Adryan Russ/lyrics by Haverty & Russ/directed by Bruce Kimmel/The Grove Theater Center, Burbank/through March 22 Celebrating its 20th anniversary the little musical Inside Out by Doug Haverty and Adryan Russ throws a boldly bright spotlight on the positive loving effects of group therapy. Based on the actual accounts of women who joined a group in the early 90s, Inside Out shares their stories...and the music is not only part of the plot, as pop singer Dena (Leslie Stevens) agonizes over the challenges of making a comeback, but more urgently becomes the almost guaranteed therapeutic force of nature for the entire piece. Six outstanding singers/actresses under the uber skilled direction of Bruce Kimmel dispense advice and sing and move with electrifying verve. Now onstage at the Grove Theater Center in Burbank, Inside Out may very well prove to be a better tonic than a gospel revival. In fact, it's assuredly the most effervescent all-girl group in town!
The critically acclaimed New York, Off-Broadway hit musical Inside Out will celebrate its 20-year anniversary at the Grove Theatre Center in Burbank, CA tonight, February 12th - March 22nd, it was announced by Kritzerland Entertainment and PlayWorks Music.
The critically acclaimed New York, Off-Broadway hit musical Inside Out will celebrate its 20-year anniversary at the Grove Theatre Center in Burbank, CA February 12th - March 22nd, it was announced today by Kritzerland Entertainment and PlayWorks Music. Veteran TV/Film/Theatre/Actor/ Author/Performer/Playwright and CEO of Kritzerland Records Bruce Kimmel has been set to direct the musical by Doug Haverty (book and lyrics) and Adryan Russ (lyrics and music). An all-star female ensemble/cast of six features Sandy Bainum, Cynthia Ferrer, Stephanie Fredricks, Dana Meller, Leslie Stevens and Adrienne Visnic. Preview performances are February 12th and 13th with the show's official opening scheduled for February 14th.
A buoyant, truly impressive local revival directed by Alan Souza, 3-DT's DAMN YANKEES is a true audience pleaser, highlighted by an enthusiastic cast and spirited re-imagined sequences that are truly Broadway-caliber. This all-new production is now playing at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through July 27, then travels to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from August 2-10.
The award-winning 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, CA opened Damn Yankees at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA on July 11. Check out the opening night photos below!
Belonging to the Golden Age of Broadway musicals, Damn Yankees opened in New York in 1955, winning 7 Tony Awards and was made into a feature film in 1958, starring its original Tony winners Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon. In fact, Damn Yankees sparked the long-time fruitful collaboration between Verdon and choreographer Bob Fosse. Legendary stuff! Now in a dazzling revival at 3D Theatricals in Fullerton, America's number one sport baseball - well, in the 50s anyway - is given a finely honed treatment...the perfect summer entertainment.
Just in time for the country's favorite pastime, the award-winning 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, CA will not only present a rousing revival of the eternally effervescent American Broadway classic Damn Yankees at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA tonight, July 11 - July 27 for eleven performances, but an additional six performances at South Bay's Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA August 2 - 10, 2014.
Just in time for the country's favorite pastime, the award-winning 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, CA will not only present a rousing revival of the eternally effervescent American Broadway classic Damn Yankees at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA July 11 - July 27 for eleven performances, but an additional six performances at South Bay's Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA August 2 - 10, 2014.
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