Ed Krieger News

It just wouldn't be Christmas in Los Angeles without BOB'S HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTY bringing a lot of deranged hilarity into the mix. Fortunately the show is back for its eighteenth year of putting the laughter, as well as a bit of a drunken mess, into the holiday season.

The Norris Center for the Performing Arts presents the sparkling holiday musical, "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," for six performances, December 6-15. The lavish Broadway romantic comedy, which is adapted from the classic 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, features 17 of Irving Berlin's greatest songs, full orchestra, and even a live snowfall on stage.

Casa 0101 Theater, Josefina Lopez, Artistic Director, and Teatro Nuevos Horizontes, Abel Alvarado, Artistic Director will present a new production of the Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated musical, In The Heights, with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Rigo Tejeda at the new Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street directly across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Station), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 from November 22 - December 22, 2013.

Worst. Thanksgiving. Ever. A family gathering to celebrate the iconic American holiday turns into a scathing indictment of phony liberal values in The Pain and the Itch by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park), continuing through Dec. 1 at the Zephyr Theatre.

When You Wish/The Story of Walt Disney. It is high time that the life and career of iconic artist/animator Walt Disney be honored artistically. Of course, his films all stand the test of time, but we know little about the man, his persona and the early years of struggle. Wouldn't it be assuring to learn that success even for a genius does not come easy? And just plain fun to find out where and how Mickey Mouse came about? Instead of a biopic, the producers have decided upon an original stage musical. Therein lies the biggest flaw. This new tribute is labeled/described as a Pre-Broadway production. Let's reflect a moment or two on what makes for a successful Broadway show. Disney's own The Lion King, from screen to stage, is a perfect example of that kind of huge success. It is a spectacle with grand theatricality, giant universal family conflicts and dynamite appeal in sight and sound to sustain long lines at the box office. As endearing as it is, this little musical When You Wish falls short in these respects... in spite of the fact that it has a dream cast and a superlative creative team. Now onstage through November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, the show, nonetheless, does have a carload of merit. If Broadway is not the answer, it does deserve a place somewhere.

David Mirvish is pleased to announce the brand-new hit stage show adapted from the most beloved program in television history, I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE, which will play a strictly limited engagement from October 15 - November 3, at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre. Tickets for I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE, are now on sale at www.mirvish.com or by calling Ticketking at 416-872- 1212. Check out the photos below!

The Fountain Theatre's exclusive L.A. revival of The Normal Heart, which received extensive critical acclaim and has been playing to sold-out houses, will extend through Dec. 15.

The writer who gave television some of its favorite moments in entertainment with 'Flamingo Road,' 'Dallas,' 'Falcon Crest,' 'The Colbys,' 'General Hospital,' and 'Dynasty,' Frank V. Furino, has brought Marilyn Monroe back to life ... on stage in 'Marylin ... MADNESS & Me,' which is based on an original concept by Didier Bloch, under the direction of Joe Leonardo. Opening in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre on Sept 26th for a limited run, the overwhelming response from the public and press alike, has resulted in the production's extension through October 20th, 2013, at which point the destiny of the show, with an eye on Broadway's Great White Way, will be determined. Scroll down for photos from the show!

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE announces its full cast to join the previously announced Davis Gaines (Southern California's Longest-running PHANTOM) and Victoria Strong in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza premiere of Cole Porter's most raucous, sexy, and best loved musical ever, KISS ME, KATE! Cabrillo Music Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season kicks off with the popular favorite on Friday, October 18th, 2013, playing until Sunday, October 27th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Casa 0101 Theater, Josefina Lopez, Artistic Director, and Miguel Garcia, Festival Executive Producer, will present Casa 0101's 3rd Annual Brown & Out Theater Festival (BAOTF) featuring a collection of eight new comedic and dramatic short plays celebrating the Latino/a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning/Queer experience. The Festival will be presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., kicking off on Friday, October 11, 2013, National Coming Out Day, and continuing through Sunday, November 3, 2013 at The New Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033.

Frank V. Furino's world premiere play Marilyn MADNESS & Me, like the film My Week with Marilyn, puts a lesser known character in the lead and Marilyn is seen through his eyes, eyes filled with more than just lust and obsession...with real love for Norma Jean. Now at the El Portal Monroe Forum, the play, although still in the rough stages, presents an engrossing slant on the human side of Norma Jean, how she affected one average human being, as well as presenting a panorama of historical events of the 60s, woven together by a curiously fictional thread.

The Skylight Theatre Company is honoring multi-award winning playwright Terrence McNally in a weekend star-studded event. The festivities kicked off last night, September 26, and BroadwayWorld has photos of McNally and more below!

'Marilyn … MADNESS & Me', a new one and a half person play by Frank V. Furino from an original concept by Didier Bloch will be directed by Joe Leonardo at the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre, September 19 through October 20, 2013.

Casa 0101 Theater and Mexica Films present 'Light In The Darkness,' a story of young gang member's journey from self-destruction to self-realization. Written by Victor Tamayo and directed and adapted by Ramon 'Monxi' Flores, the play will be presented at the new Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 E. First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033. Pay What You Can Previews will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, September 4 and 5, 2013 at 8:00 p.m, followed by a four-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., September 6 - 29, 2013. Check out a first look below!

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are delighted to present Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera) and Vicki Lewis ('Newsradio') in I DO! I DO!, music and lyrics by Tom Jones, book by Harvey Schmidt and directed by Alan Souza. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Back By Popular Demand, Casa 0101 Theater will present the Return Engagement of Josefina Lopez's critically acclaimed play, 'Trio Los Machos,' a comedic Latino 'Bromance' with music made famous by the singing group Trio Los Panchos. Performances will be presented at the new Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 E. First Street (at Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., with Discounted Previews, July 12 - 14, 2013, followed by a four-week run, July 19 - August 11, 2013. The play will be presented with subtitles in Spanish.

Heart Song, the newest comedy/drama from Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist, Cyrano), will extend at the Fountain Theatre through August 25.

Casa 0101 Theater will present a new World Premiere play written by Josefina Lopez (of Silver Lake) entitled "Hungry Woman," based on an abridged adaptation of Lopez's novel, "Hungry Woman in Paris," to be presented in a Limited Run for four weeks from June 7 - 30, 2013 on the Main Stage at Casa 0101 Theater; 2102 E. First Street (at St. Louis Street); Boyle Heights, CA 90033.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's quirky and tender comedy Be a Good Little Widow. Directed by Hal Brooks, Be a Good Little Widow is currently running through June 9, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run May 11 - May 15. Opening night is Thursday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m. Check out the production photos below!

Josefina López, Artistic Director of Casa 0101 Theater based in Boyle Heights, CA, along with Miguel Garcia, Producer of Casa 0101 Theater's Brown & Out Theater Festival announced that Casa 0101 Theater has been invited to participate in the 10th Annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival to be held in Dublin, Ireland from May 6 - 19, 2013. Check out photos from the plays below!