Eric Kunze News

In the Golden Age of Broadway, Ethel Merman was the Queen of Broadway. She sang all the great songs, played all the great plays and knew all the great personalities! Ethel Merman's Broadway recreates a theatrical era filled with charm, wit, personality, and most of all, wonderful music.

The Muny is presenting a very good production of GODSPELL that's buoyed by a talented and energetic cast. Even if you're not a particularly religious person, you'll still find plenty to appreciate in this family-friendly show.

James A. Blackman, III, Executive Producer of the CLOSBC proudly presents JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the groundbreaking theatrical masterpiece by the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center April 22 - May 10th. Directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin, award winning CLOSBC Artistic Director with Musical Director Alby Potts and Choreographer Marc Oka.

James A. Blackman, III, Executive Producer of the CLOSBC proudly presents JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the groundbreaking theatrical masterpiece by the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center April 22 - May 10th. Directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin, award winning CLOSBC Artistic Director with Musical Director Alby Potts and Choreographer Marc Oka.

Stephen Schwartz, who is currently working on a revival of PIPPIN at The Los Angeles Musica Center, will take time out to be the guest of honor at an all-star tribute to his celebrated songbook. Shoshana Bean (Broadway and LA 'Wicked'), Rex Smith ('Pirates of Penzanze', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Scarlet Pimpernel'), Eric Kunze ('Miss Siagon', 'Les Miserables', 'Damn Yankees'), Marissa Perry ('Hairspray'), Lindsay Mendez ('Grease'), Terron Brooks ( 'The Lion King' and NBC-TV's movie 'The Temptations') and Tony-nominated actors Cathy Rigby ('Peter Pan', 'Seussical') and Jonelle Allen ('Two Gentlemen of Verone') will join 40 talented students from The California Conservatory of the Arts and its sister school, The McCoy Rigby Dance Academy, in 'Defying Gravity --- The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' for two performances, January 24 and 25, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. Stephen Schwartz has had a career spanning four decades and has written music and/or lyrics for such stage musicals as Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker's Wife, Working, The Magic Show and the animated features Pocahontus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted. He has won three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and received six Tony nominations. 'Defying Gravity - The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' will feature songs from the entire Schwartz songbook, from Godspell to Wicked, performed by these celebrated Broadway artists and the talented Conservatory students. Additional Broadway actors joining the cast will be announced soon. Tickets range from $15. to $35, and are available at The Barclay Theatre or through Ticketmaster. For further information about the concert or The California Conservatory of the Arts, call 949-487-7253 or visit the Conservatory's website at www.ccarts.net.

Shoshana Bean (Broadway and LA 'Wicked'), Rex Smith ('Pirates of Penzanze', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Scarlet Pimpernel'), Eric Kunze ('Miss Siagon', 'Les Miserables', 'Damn Yankees'), Marissa Perry ('Hairspray'), Lindsay Mendez ('Grease'), Terron Brooks ( 'The Lion King' and NBC-TV's movie 'The Temptations') and Tony-nominated actors Cathy Rigby ('Peter Pan', 'Seussical') and Jonelle Allen ('Two Gentlemen of Verona') will join 40 talented students from The California Conservatory of the Arts and its sister school, The McCoy Rigby Dance Academy, in 'Defying Gravity --- The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' for two performances, January 24 and 25, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Irvine.

Stephen Schwartz, who is currently working on a revival of PIPPIN at The Los Angeles Musica Center, will take time out to be the guest of honor at an all-star tribute to his celebrated songbook. Shoshana Bean (Broadway and LA 'Wicked'), Rex Smith ('Pirates of Penzanze', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Scarlet Pimpernel'), Eric Kunze ('Miss Siagon', 'Les Miserables', 'Damn Yankees'), Marissa Perry ('Hairspray'), Lindsay Mendez ('Grease'), Terron Brooks ( 'The Lion King' and NBC-TV's movie 'The Temptations') and Tony-nominated actors Cathy Rigby ('Peter Pan', 'Seussical') and Jonelle Allen ('Two Gentlemen of Verone') will join 40 talented students from The California Conservatory of the Arts and its sister school, The McCoy Rigby Dance Academy, in 'Defying Gravity --- The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' for two performances, January 24 and 25, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. Stephen Schwartz has had a career spanning four decades and has written music and/or lyrics for such stage musicals as Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker's Wife, Working, The Magic Show and the animated features Pocahontus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted. He has won three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and received six Tony nominations. 'Defying Gravity - The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' will feature songs from the entire Schwartz songbook, from Godspell to Wicked, performed by these celebrated Broadway artists and the talented Conservatory students. Additional Broadway actors joining the cast will be announced soon. Tickets range from $15. to $35, and are available at The Barclay Theatre or through Ticketmaster. For further information about the concert or The California Conservatory of the Arts, call 949-487-7253 or visit the Conservatory's website at www.ccarts.net.

The special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER has broken the house record for the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater. Grossing $650,997 for the week ending January 4, 2009, it was the second and final week of the two-week engagement. A previous edition of the concert event sold out the Kennedy Center's Opera House for a single week in 2004. Both editions were produced by Jeffrey Finn Productions.

Shoshana Bean (Broadway and LA 'Wicked'), Rex Smith ('Pirates of Penzanze', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Scarlet Pimpernel'), Eric Kunze ('Miss Siagon', 'Les Miserables', 'Damn Yankees'), Marissa Perry ('Hairspray'), Lindsay Mendez ('Grease'), Terron Brooks ( 'The Lion King' and NBC-TV's movie 'The Temptations') and Tony-nominated actors Cathy Rigby ('Peter Pan', 'Seussical') and Jonelle Allen ('Two Gentlemen of Verona') will join 40 talented students from The California Conservatory of the Arts and its sister school, The McCoy Rigby Dance Academy, in 'Defying Gravity --- The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz' for two performances, January 24 and 25, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Irvine.

Jeffrey Finn Productions is presenting a special return holiday engagement of THE Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center.

Jeffrey Finn Productions presents a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater. The production runs through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces final casting for the special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004. The official Opening Night will be Saturday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

On September 22nd, the 2008 Ovation Award Nominees were announced. Now in its 19th year, the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards will celebrate the 168 theatre companies, 390 registered productions, and over 2,000 individual artists who participated in the September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008 season

California Musical Theatre's Music Box will present the third and final collaboration between British musical theatre legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Reagle Players located in Waltham, MA announces its 40th anniversary summer season and the guest artists making appearances.

The Muny has announced that for their upcoming production of Miss Saigon, Francis Jue will star as The Engineer, Ma-Anne Dionisio will star as Kim and Eric Kunze as Chris.

The tour of Whistle Down The Wind makes a brief stop in Toronto. Despite strong performances by the leads this is another muddled musical from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. * * (out of 5)