George Forrest News

When a cabaret show is promoted as containing 'an eclectic mix of style and sound,' I generally don't expect to hear 8, count 'em 8, Rodgers and Hart classics, but who am I to question Christian Hoff's good taste in music?  Though never officially announced, Hoff was to star in a proposed Broadway revival of Pal Joey, and though that project has been placed on hold, his one-night gig at The Metropolitan Room this past Monday night, titled 'Exiled,' often seemed like a preview of how he'd play the title role.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza. 'Man of La Mancha' is written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court. 'La Mancha' will play at the Freud Playhouse from February 14-March 1 (press opening February 15).

Reprise Theatre Company presents Brian Stokes Mitchell Sings Broadway, a program especially created for Reprise. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 11 at 8 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza.

Various reports indicate that the 2009 Reprise Theatre Company season which was to present the world premiere of CHESS with a new book by Tony? winner Richard Maltby, Jr., has cancelled the production. THE FANTASTICKS, a musical they were planning for next season will now take it's place. CHESS was to play May 5th through 17th, 2009. Reprise is getting ready to open the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' it begins performances on Feburary 14th.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Gary Griffin - fresh from the success of his recent Broadway production, 'The Color Purple' - has returned to London (where his Donmar Warehouse production of Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' won him a richly deserved Olivier Award in 2003) to present a revival of the 1950s musical, 'Kismet' at the London Coliseum for the ENO. The show, originally staged at the Ziegfield theatre in New York in 1953, has music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from musical themes by Borodin. The original book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis has been reworked by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Griffin's colourful, energetic and beautifully paced production, magnificently complemented by the set design by Ultz and Wolfgang Gobbel's lighting design, breathes new life into a classic.

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, Bells are Ringing, TV's 'Spin City' and 'House') will make her London stage debut as 'Lalume' in the new English National Opera (ENO) production of Kismet at the London Coliseum.

English National Opera announces that Michael Ball will perform the role of Hajj/Poet in the new production of Robert Wright & George Forrest's KISMET. Based on themes of Alexander Borodin and the play by Edward Knoblock, the book is by Charles Lederer & Luther Davies. This is the first new West End production for almost 30 years.

Toronto Operetta Theatre's production is a feast for the ears, though the show still creaks. * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

On February 9th, the Encores! production of Kismet, starring Brian Stokes Mitchell as Hajj the Poet and Marin Mazzie as the seductive Lalume, will open to run through February 12th

Tom Aldredge, Danny Gurwin, Marcy Harriell and more will join Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie in the star-studded Encores! presentation of Kismet from February 9th through 12th