David Engel News

Broadway, television and film star CHEYENNE JACKSON will make his first appearance in the 30th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) "S.T.A.G.E. Goes to the Movies," being held on Saturday, May 10th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. LAINIE KAZAN, RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN, MITZI GAYNOR, and JASON GOULD will also be making their first S.T.A.G.E. appearances and Tony® Award winner BETTY BUCKLEY will make her second S.T.A.G.E. turn.

If life really is about not taking anything too seriously, as Mel Brooks would have us believe, then do yourself a favor and see 3DT's production of The Producers. It may be politically incorrect but it's the funniest version of this musical I've ever seen and it will push you to have a good time in spite of yourself. Yes, it's another one of my must-see musicals of 2014.

Kicking off 3-D's 2014 musical theatre season, The Producers opened February 1, 2014 at 8:00 pm. Performances will continue in Fullerton through Sunday, February 16. 3DT will then move the production to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for its first season of 'extended' performances February 21 - March 2. After being honored by the prestigious LA Stage Alliance with 15 Ovation Award nominations and 5 wins (including Best Musical) for their 2013 production of Jason Robert Brown's Parade, 3DT's Executive Producer/Artistic Director T.J. Dawson said 'What better way to begin a new year season than with the musical that has won more Tony Awards than any other show in history.' Check out the opening night photos below!

3-D's 2014 Musical Theatre Season Kicks Off with THE PRODUCERS tonight, January 31 - March 2, 2014

3-D's 2014 Musical Theatre Season Kicks Off with THE PRODUCERS January 31 - March 2, 2014

Pirate School rouses the audience's inner swashbuckler with interactive fun today, December 28th, as part of Symphony Space's 'Just Kidding' series. Details below!

Smithsonian Folkways artist ELIZABETH MITCHELL invites special musical guests (including Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs fame) for 'The Sounding Joy' NYC album release concert today, December 14th.

The fourth annual United Solo Theatre Festival concluded its run on November 24, 2013 at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City. An awards ceremony was held that night, following the eight-week-long lineup of the world's largest solo theatre festival, which offered more than 120 productions this season.

Smithsonian Folkways artist Elizabeth Mitchell invites special musical guests (including Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs fame) for 'The Sounding Joy' NYC album release concert on December 14th; Pirate School rouses the audience's inner swashbuckler with interactive fun on December 28th. Both performances are part of Symphony Space's 'Just Kidding' series. Details below!

How do you sum up almost seven months of experiences, seven months of friendship and memories?... You can't.

For today's blog I thought it would be fun if I talked about the art of getting ready for a show, but with a slight twist. Now that we are towards the end of our run here at Tuacahn our show time is at 7:30 with a half hour call time of 7pm. So without further ado I give you the Mary Poppins vs. Bert pre-show preparation.

A lineup of over 120 solo performers from six continents and 23 countries will present their shows during the fourth annual world's largest solo theatre festival, today, October 3 - November 24 at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. Twenty-five shows are currently sold out, with others set to reach that status over the next several days. Compared to the inaugural season three years ago, United Solo expanded its schedule four times, from two to eight weeks, gaining the status of a resident company at Theatre Row.

A lineup of over 120 solo performers from six continents and 23 countries will present their shows during the fourth annual world's largest solo theatre festival, October 3 - November 24 at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. Twenty-five shows are currently sold out, with others set to reach that status over the next several days. Compared to the inaugural season three years ago, United Solo expanded its schedule four times, from two to eight weeks, gaining the status of a resident company at Theatre Row.

Experience Pirate School!, the premier family-friendly pirate vaudeville in America performed in the magical setting of the historic Waterfront Museum, a floating nautical wonderland that's both a museum AND a fantastic, floating performance space!

Tuacahn Center for the Arts Presents Disney's Mary Poppins at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre May 30 - October 25, 2013. For Tickets call: 435-652-3300 or go to: www.tuacahn.org. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

Experience Pirate School!, the premier family-friendly pirate vaudeville in America performed in the magical setting of the historic Waterfront Museum, a floating nautical wonderland that's both a museum AND a fantastic, floating performance space!

Michael Childers' ONE NGHT ONLY performed on April 24 at the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts, with special guest Carol Channing. Watch the cast sing 'Hello, Dolly!' below!

Renowned hotelier Robert 'Toshi' Chan, owner of the Flatiron Hotel, in conjunction with producer Darrel Alejandro Holnes, presents Understudies & Swing(er)s at Toshi's Living Room. Taking place Monday nights from 6pm to 9pm when theaters are dark, Understudies & Swing(er)s features the talented understudy and swing performers of popular Broadway shows who have not yet been featured in starring roles on the Great White Way. Understudies & Swing(er)s will kicked off last night, March 11 with Genny Lis Padilla (In the Heights, Rent). BroadwayWorld has photos from last night's show. Scroll below!

This was not my first venture into the world of "Plaid" - I have seen the show over a dozen times over the past two decades, have directed it on multiple occasions and have the book and score pretty well etched on my brain. However, I will say that it was one of the best PLAID productions I have ever seen and, if you are in the vicinity of Palm Desert and The McCallum Theatre, it is not to be missed. FOREVER PLAID is really a near-perfect little musical with a wonderful score of 50's standards and clever dialogue and comedic bits that never grow old, if executed well. This incarnation of PLAIDS - Roger Befelor, Stan Chandler, David Engel and David Humphrey did just that. (Both Chandler and Engel starred in the original Off-Broadway production). The program gave no credit to a director, only that it was originally directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross, but whomever was at the helm delivered a spot on production!

San Diego Musical Theatre announces the final production of their 2012 season Irving Berlin'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, December 13-23, 2012 (press opening on December 14) at the Birch North Park Theatre. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaption features seventeen Irving Berlinsongs. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. Scroll down for photos from the show!