Glenn Casale News

On the heels of his 1970 hit film The Out of Towners Neil Simon crafted The Prisoner of Second Avenue in 1971, which had a more than a healthy run on Broadway and filmed in 1975 with Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft. Towners has always been my favorite as it depicts how bright and enthusiastic small town people visit and view the living conditions of New York City as less than desirable. Anything that can go wrong does and the pair cannot wait to make a fast exit. In Avenue, it's a perspective from within as New York apartment dwellers Mel (Jason Alexander) and Edna (Gina Hecht) Edison must cope with high rent, noisy neighbors, unemployment, robbery, garbage strikes, the exorbitant cost of living and trying to keep one's sanity in the process. In this new production at the El Portal, Glenn Casale's fantastic pacing as director and a superb ensemble make The Prisoner of Second Avenue more topical than ever.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of New York City. Mel Edison (portrayed by Alexander), has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike, which just exacerbates Edison's plight to no end as he and his wife Edna (Hecht) deal with noisy neighbors, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets, and even a robbery of their apartment in broad daylight.

Producer Tom Brocato's Butterfield Road Productions has announced a special three-week engagement of the comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon, starring Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht.

Actors Annie Korzen, Ron Orbach, DeeDee Rescher, and Carol Ita White will join stars Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht in the special three-week engagement of the comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon, it was announced today by producers Tom Brocato, Butterfield Road Productions in association with Charles A. Eisler, Producers Network.

Vicki Lewis, best known for her role as the quirky Beth on the NBC sitcom "NewsRadio," will return to Sacramento on Sunday, May 8, to perform a benefit concert for California Musical Theatre at the intimate Cosmopolitan Cabaret.

Variety has revealed an extremely large slate of productions in development by Disney Theatrical Productions for potential Broadway and regional bows.

Producer Tom Brocato's Butterfield Road Productions has announced a special three-week engagement of the comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon, starring Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht.

California Musical Theatre is looking for performers for the 2011 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

Following six weeks of fierce competition among 20 of California's finest young musical theatre performers, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 celebrated Judy Mora's outstanding victory at the 5th annual competition's glittering Finale on Sunday, February 6, presented by Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in greater Los Angeles. Runners up included San Francisco's Michael David (2nd place); Matthew McFarland (3rd place); Emily Goglia (4th place); and Reba Buhr (5th place). Broadway World's Dean Butler was there to capture the three and a half hour event ... off and on stage - which also included a Special Guest Star performance by musical theatre, television star and pop composer/singer Blake McIver Ewing.

On Sunday February 6 LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 held its finale at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's beginning at 11:30 am. 20 contestants competed in a nonstop round and then the audience and judges voted for the top 5. Points were added together for the entire six weeks of the competition which began January 2. Those named were Michael David, Reba Buhr, Emily Goglia, Judy Mora and Matthew McFarland. There was a thrill-packed final round of singing and then Judy Mora emerged victoriously as the winner. James Lent served as musical director.

California Musical Theatre is looking for performers for the 2011 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

California Musical Theatre Executive Producer Richard Lewis has announced the line-up of shows for the 2011 summer season of Sacramento Music Circus, America's Theatre-in-the-Round.

Get your tickets now for 'A Grand Night for Singing,' the first production of the 2011 Cosmopolitan Cabaret season. Visit the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office at 1419 H Street, or purchase by phone at (916) 557-1999 or through Tickets.com (online fees apply). Single tickets start at $33. Previews: $25. 'A Grand Night for Singing' is presented by California Musical Theatre. See here for the complete performance schedule.

LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 rings in the New Year at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles. The fifth anniversary presentation of this distinguished musical theatre talent competition shines the spotlight on an unprecedented twenty (20) young contestants beginning Sunday, January 6.

Three-show season subscription packages for the full Cosmopolitan Cabaret 2011 season are available now, and single tickets for 'A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING' will be available December 11, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office at 1419 H Street, by calling (916) 557-1999, or online at Tickets.com. With the 2011 season, the Cosmopolitan Cabaret will be shifting its Wednesday and Thursday night curtain times to an audience friendly 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $33 for Wednesday or Thursday evenings or Thursday matinee and $38 for Friday and Saturday evenings or Saturday and Sunday matinees. (Premium first tier table seating is $5 extra).

Three-show season subscription packages for the full Cosmopolitan Cabaret 2011 season are available now, and single tickets for 'A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING' will be available December 11, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office at 1419 H Street, by calling (916) 557-1999, or online at Tickets.com. With the 2011 season, the Cosmopolitan Cabaret will be shifting its Wednesday and Thursday night curtain times to an audience friendly 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $33 for Wednesday or Thursday evenings or Thursday matinee and $38 for Friday and Saturday evenings or Saturday and Sunday matinees. (Premium first tier table seating is $5 extra).

The 2011 Cosmopolitan Cabaret season, California Musical Theatre's third in the 200-seat venue at 10th and K Streets in Sacramento, will feature the Tony-nominated Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II 'A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING,' the return of the battle-of-the-sexes comedy 'DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN' and a new musical comedy about friendship among women, 'BINGO.'

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce a second season of shows at the theatre and the performers for its first show of the season!

The 2011 Cosmopolitan Cabaret season, California Musical Theatre's third in the 200-seat venue at 10th and K Streets in Sacramento, will feature the Tony-nominated Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II 'A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING,' the return of the battle-of-the-sexes comedy 'DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN' and a new musical comedy about friendship among women, 'BINGO.'

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce a second season of shows at the theatre and the performers for its first show of the season!