David Manning News

Nearly $165,000 was netted from “Broadway Sings The Sound of Hammerstein,” an exclusive gala held on July 11, 2022 at The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, the former estate of George S. Kaufman, a contemporary of Hammerstein’s.

As part of the Women's History Month Celebration, OPERA EXPOSURES, the not-for-profit opera company founded by Edna Greenwich in 2004, will present The Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield Story, a Memorial Concert in honor of America's premier female vocalist in opera and contemporary music in the 19th century, on Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 3:00 PM at St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, 131 East 10th Street at Second Avenue.

OPERA EXPOSURES, the not-for-profit opera company founded by Edna Greenwich in 2004, will present a Memorial Concert in honor of the late Deborah Jackson, a lover of theatre and music who passed away in February after spending 33 years at the Metropolitan Opera Stage Door working the switchboard and greeting some of the world's greatest opera singers, on Sunday, October 23, at 3:30 PM at St. Marks Church in the Bowery, 131 East 10th Street at 2nd Avenue.

Reefer Madness, being staged by Conejo Players Theatre now through July 31, is inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name. This raucous musical comedy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex, and violence. 

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present If/Then leading man James Snyder in his one-man show, 'James Snyder: Prince Charming' on the historic stage Sunday, May 3. Scroll down for photos!

Long after the Waldos coined the term '420,' composer Dan Studney, lyricist Kevin Murphy, and actor/producer Christian Campbell decided that it was time to test the waters in New York City for the return of the hit cult musical REEFER MADNESS. Lighting up at 54 Below, they wanted to see just how high the 17-year-old material gets modern audiences while also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the film adaptation of the show.

Pandora Productions kicks off the spring season with the sexy-cheeky musical comedy The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical Thursday, March 13, through Sunday, March 23, at The Henry Clay Theater in Downtown Louisville.

Pandora Productions kicks off its 2013-14 season in just nine days with Naked Boys Singing!, the needs-no-explanation (but we will: audiences are gonna LOVE IT) musical originally slated for Pandora's '12-'13 season but postponed due to casting issues. But that didn't dissuade us from making this most requested of all time production - a celebration of the male body yet much, much more - happen as the hottest kickoff ever to start the season.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) will present itsfourteenth annual All-City Musical, AIDA to crown the District's 2012-13 series of All-City Arts Programming. The production features the talents of over fifty CMSD students from across the District and will take place on the stage of the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare,May 31 - June 2, 2013. Tony Sias, Director of Arts Education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, co-directs the production with Kimberly Brown. Aida, which features music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, is based on the book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. It was originally directed on Broadway by Robert Falls and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. The CMSD All-City Musical production is produced through special arrangement with Music Theater International (www.mtishows.com).

From the highly acclaimed authors of The Trials of Lenny Bruce, Ron Collins and David Skover's Mania: The Story of the Outraged & Outrageous Lives That Launched a Cultural Revolution (Top Five Books; 3/1/2013; $26.00) tells the mad, manic, drug-and-sex-fueled story of the writers and artists who shaped the cultural revolution that followed-Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and the others in their circle who rebelled against every norm society had to offer.

French Stewart, TV star ('3rd Rock From the Sun') and local theatre mainstay ('Stoneface': 'Voice Lessons') hosted the 44th annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Awards on March 18 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St. downtown.

Diversionary Theatre announces the addition of Justin Love, a new musical fantasy, to complete its 2013 roster of mainstage productions. Joining the currently running West Coast premiere of Birds of a Feather (through March 3, 2013) and the San Diego premiere of the literary romp, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabbler (March 28 - April 28, 2013), will be the West Coast premiere of Charles Busch's hilarious spoof The Divine Sister (May 23 - June 30, 2013), directed by Glenn Paris, and the world premiere farce She-Rantulas From Outer Space (October 24 - November 17, 2013), by Phil Johnson and Ruff Yeager. By popular demand, Diversionary will also bring back its twisted take on holiday tradition Scrooge in Rouge (December 5 - 29, 2013).

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre in 2012. The 44th annual LADCC Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18 at historic, heralded Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown L.A.

The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.

Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider have announced the first show of its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season, the smash-hit, critically-acclaimed world premiere musical, JUSTIN LOVE, book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, lyrics by Lori Scarlett, directed by Michael Matthews, choreography by Janet Roston and musical direction by Gregory Nabours is adding performances through Sunday, December 16 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. Watch interviews with the cast and creative team below!

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. With a book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, lyrics by Lori Scarlett, directed by Michael Matthews, choreography by Janet Roston, orchestrations by John Ballinger and musical direction by Gregory Nabours, JUSTIN LOVEwill be presented through Sunday, November 18 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

Very few new shows, especially musicals, have that extra special spark, that je ne sais quoi that makes them a surefire success. For starters, there must be a good book - with a story that's credible...and funny - and a pleasant score that keeps your fingers and toes tapping, at least while you are in your seats. Justin Love, based on a story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, is one such musical, that , in spite of its excess, is guaranteed to make you laugh nonstop and with a cast and crew to die for.