Don Hanna News

It's hard to imagine the existence of the modern musical comedy without the likes of Mel Brooks. In 2001, his first major foray into the art form premiered on Broadway: The Producers. It went on to win a record 12 Tony Awards, and solidified his role as someone to be reckoned with in the genre. 6 years later, arguably his best, funniest and most popular movie YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN was transformed into a musical on the Great White Way. And if you are lucky enough to see the Ogunquit Playhouse's amazing production of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, you'll wonder why the Broadway production ever closed.

Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC) continues their fantastic season with the Tony Award winning musical Anything Goes. Patrick Grossman wonderfully directs (and does the sets and choreographs) the Cole Porter classic running through May 19th at the Oakdale, Long Island venue.

Little Women, the current musical at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC), is indeed a pleasant production. This incarnation, directed by Ronald R. Green III, who also does sets and costumes, runs through March 10th at the Oakdale venue and boasts a very talented cast of 10.

Omigod, you guys! The most fashionable lawyer is currently holding court at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC) in Oakdale, Long Island. Legally Blonde, The Musical opened this past weekend, complete with pink carpet arrivals, to a very talented cast and wonderfully enthusiastic audience.

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

My journey with the cast of A Christmas Carol, The Musical, now playing at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CMPAC), comes to end with their opening. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Ms. Ahrens and Mike Ockrent, this wonderful cast surely didn't disappoint. Now playing through December 30th at the Oakdale, Long Island, theatre, you're in for a wonderful evening when you see this Timothy Pappalardo directed production originally presented by Madison Square Garden.

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Voting is now underway for the Long Island Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

The Tony winning musical, Man Of LaMancha, is truly a force to be reckoned with. Now playing at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC) on Long Island, Director Noel Ruiz, the cast, and creative team are certainly up for the challenge. This production features an amazing cast, wonderful set, and, of course, a beautiful and classic score.

At Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC) in Oakdale, director Patrick Grossman wonderfully replicated the Tony nominated Broadway production of 9 TO 5. Now playing through August 26th, this adorable musical hilariously shows the journey of three women who've had enough of their overbearing boss.

It is truly gratifying to experience a quintessential musical like Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's Tony-winning, Showboat -- especially when it has a great cast like CM PAC's current production. Initially presented in 1927, this Noel Ruiz directed production has performances through May 20th. The story follows the lives of the patrons of the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River performance boat over a span of nearly fifty years as they endure the trials of everlasting love and racial prejudice.

The last few shows I've attended have featured, in part, a terrific, young cast. The members of the company of "Annie" at CM PAC in Oakdale, NY were no exception. Timothy Pappalardos' adaptation shows a bright future for Long Island theater and a true team coming together to put on a fun show running now through January 15th.

When you present a production of 'Phantom', you have to get it right. Noel Ruizs' incarnation at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, Long Island marvelously delivers the classic tale of the Phantom and Christine Daae'.