Harold Wheeler News

Ray Charles Live! -- A New Musical, a musical biography of soul legend Ray Charles, will receive its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse on November 9th for a run through December 9th

Slightly subdued road company needs a bit more rüffhousin' to match the manic merriment of Broadway's outlandish con job

Big girls and big hair set North Shore Music Theatre rockin' to the Sixties

La Jolla Playhouse has announced a two-week extension of Des McAnuff's re-imagination of the Tony Award-winning classic, The Wiz

Tony Award-winner Lillias White, Keith David and the cast of Drumstruck will appear at Joe's Pub in Nativity: A Life Story this holiday season.

The eagerly anticipated La Jolla Playhouse reimagining of The Wiz began previews on September 26th and opens on October 11th

The eagerly anticipated La Jolla Playhouse revival of The Wiz begins previews on September 26th for an October 11th opening

Members of Performance & Cocktails, a young professionals group designed for those seeking a retreat from the usual night out, will be able to see The Wiz at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse for a discount price

Due to scheduling conflicts, Wayne Brady has withdrawn from the eagerly anticipated La Jolla Playhouse revival of The Wiz; Rashad Naylor has replaced him as Scarecrow

Variety reports the casting for the upcoming La Jolla production of The Wiz, directed by Des McAnuff. The show will feature Wayne Brady (Scarecrow), David Alan Grier (the Wizard), Nikki M. James, (Dorothy), Tituss Burgess (the Lion) and Michael Benjamin Washington (Tin Man).

On his website, Tituss Burgess--currently on Broadway in Jersey Boys--has announced his casting in the La Jolla Playhouse's upcoming revival of The Wiz, which is possibly Broadway-bound.

Broadway L.A. launches its 2006-07 season with the Los Angeles premiere of the Tony Award winning musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for a two week run this summer (August 15-27) at the Pantages Theatre. Headlining the engagement is Norbert Leo Butz who recreates his Tony Award winning role as Freddy Benson.

Over a dozen stars--among them Jason Alexander, Kate Burton, Megan Mullally and Lainie Kazan--will perform in a Funny Girl benefit in LA on March 8th

Talent abounds, but a few too many spritzes of megahold have made this stylish do a bit stiff

Written and directed by Don Scardino, the cast includes Will Chase, Chuck Cooper, Julie Danao-Salkin, Mandy Gonzalez, Marcy Harriell, Chad Kimball, Terrence Mann, Julia Murney, and Michael Potts.

Click in for the complete list of 2005 Tony Award Winners. By the numbers, the Light in the Piazza led the pack followed by Doubt, and Spamalot (which won Best Musical).