54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Ilene, Randy, and Todd Graff, and Nikka Graff Lanzarone in "The Graff Family Holiday Special," on Saturday, December 14th at 11 P.M., and in a sold out show on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 7 P.M. This talented family will perform a host of holiday favorites and tunes from their various forays on the Great White Way in the tradition of the Andy Williams Christmas specials that mesmerized them as children. Expect tight, four-part harmonies, color coordinated hats and mufflers, indoor sleigh rides, audience participation, mistletoe, and plenty of high belting.
Please help salute renowned music historian Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary sheet music store Hollywood Sheet Music, and pillar of the entertainment community. Rick offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers over the years.
Co-Producers Juliana Hansen and Jonathan White will present a one night only benefit performance, ONE STARRY NIGHT: Hollywood and Broadway Come Together to Fight ALS, on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 8pm, hosted by The Pasadena Playhouse. The evening will also include a silent auction and VIP post-show meet-and-greet. Proceeds will provide critical funding for The ALS Association Golden West Chapter's mission priorities in care services, public policy, and cutting-edge global research toward treatments and cure.
One night only - Please help salute renowned musicologist Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary Hollywood Sheet Music. Rick was a pillar of the entertainment community who offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers. All proceeds will be donated to The Actors Fund. Directed by David Galligan, celebrated director of the famed annual S.T.A.G.E. Benefit Concert Series. Musical director, Tom Griep, along with Randy Landas on bass and Denise Fraser on drums, leads an outstanding line-up of performers singing songs chosen for them by Rick. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund.
Among the guests attending the opening night gala for the West Coast theatrical premiere of 'Marylin ... MADNESS & Me' were those who worked with the plays subject matter, Marilyn Monroe, such as Dawn Wells who appeared as an extra in Monroe's last film, 'The Misfits' and Oscar winner George Chakiris, who danced with Monroe in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.' Other noted guests in attendance for the celebration included Judy Tenuta, Ilene Graff, Jerry Mathers, Florence Henderson, Michael Learned, Geri Jewell, Erin Murphy, Kate Linder, Jane Kean, Mrs. Dick 'Cari' Clark and more. Scroll down for photos from the production and the festivities!
Broadway Icon and nine time TONY Award winner, Tommy Tune, hosted The Actors Fund's 17th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party at the Taglyan Cultural Complex on Sunday, June 9th, 2013. Produced and written by David Rambo and directed by Luke Yankee, the event featured the only approved live TONY Award feed direct from New York to California, allowing guests of the Actors Fund to view the awards before the rest of West Coast viewed the delayed broadcast.
The independent horror film SPEAK NO EVIL made its Los Angeles premiere screening on May 30, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Music Hall in Beverly Hills. Check out photos and footage from the debut below!
Brooklyn transplants and Broadway favorites, Ilene Graff (Promises, Promises / Grease / I Love My Wife) along with her husband/musical director, Ben Lanzarone, not to mention the parents of stage success Nikka Lanzarone (Chicago / Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) presented 'Make the Song Your Own', a salon style performance this week before an equally eclectic crowd, which included such noted patrons as screen stars Tippi Hedren and Dee Wallace, cabaret sensation Barbara Van Orden, Daytime Drama personality Kate Linder, commedienne Geri Jewell and ABC Entertainment reporter George Pennacchio. Scroll down for photos from the event!
'Don't get mad - get everything!' is the mantra for DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell...and Back! from the producer of the Off-Broadway hit, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL. DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell...and Back! celebrated its West Coast premiere engagement at the El Portal Theatre on March 3. Celebrities in attendance on opening night included Tippi Hedren, Lindsay Wagner, Loretta Devine, Dr. Estella Sneider, Barry Livingston, Morgan Brittany, Ilene Graff, Kate Linder, Judy Tenuta, Alison Argrim, Dee Wallace, Barbara Van Orden, Erin Murphy, Jeri Jewell, Anika Noni Rose, and the show's producers Mark Schwartz and Amy Botwinick. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night arrivals below!
Frank Wildhorn returned to his roots at the Pantages Theatre, where he got his start in the lobby of the Pantages and played to a group that included J. Nederlander 'on a completely out of tune piano,' with the most recent Actors Fund's Musical Monday installment entitled FRANK WILDHORN & FRIENDS. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!
More than 50 film and television stars performed Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in an intimate theatrical setting for three performances only, February 14, 15, and 16, 2013, at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Among the long list of luminous actresses who will perform in the three benefit performances are Alison Arngrim, Ilene Graff, Geri Jewell, Gates McFadden, Susan Olsen, Angel Parker, Eve Sigall, Barbara Tarbuck, Ann Walker, Dee Wallace, Allee Willis, and Kim Yarbrough. Scroll below for photos of the actors in action!
More than 50 film and television stars will perform Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in an intimate theatrical setting for three performances only, tonight, February 14, 15, and 16 at 8pm, at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles.
More than 50 film and television stars will perform Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in an intimate theatrical setting for three performances only, February 14, 15, and 16 at 8pm, at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced and directed by Sheena Metal for Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, all proceeds will benefit V-Day, A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and Protect.org, a national pro-child, anti-crime association committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
On January 17th, TCL (formerly Grauman's) Chinese Theatre presented a public screening of 'THE BIRDS' featuring a Q&A with cast co-stars Tippi Hedren and Veronica Cartwright. Hosted by Red Line Tour's owner, Tony Hoover, the screening celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hitchcock's Masterpiece released in January, 1963. Check out photos from the event below!
The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.
Voting is now underway for the Los Angeles Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.
Voting is now underway for the Los Angeles Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.
Voting is now underway for the Los Angeles Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below
Voting is now underway for the Los Angeles Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!
Voting is now underway for the Los Angeles Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!