J. Elaine Marcos News

This Thursday, June 9th at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, an elite cast of Broadway veterans will take to the stage for a one-night only benefit concert performing numbers from the award-winning Broadway shows that put them on the map. 100% of the proceeds from this stellar night of song and dance will benefit the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission. Panera Bread has graciously come on board to sponsor the evening.  Currently in rehearsals, the cast of over 50 Broadway performers, ensemble singers, and dancers is prepping for what is sure to be a thrilling night of theatre in Los Angeles.

Casting for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of A Chorus Line, which won the Tony® Award for Best Musical, has been announced: Sabrina Bryan as Valerie Clark, Robert Fairchild as Mike Costa, Spencer Liff as Larry, Ross Lynch as Mark Anthony, in addition to Mara Davi as Maggie Winslow, Denis Lambert as Gregory Gardner, J. Elaine Marcos as Connie Wong, Jason Tam as Paul San Marco, and Leigh Zimmerman as Sheila Bryant. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Just days before New York City gathers to honor Broadway at the 70th Annual Tony Awards, the best and brightest Broadway performers are being assembled to celebrate and give back right here in Los Angeles.

After a two-month absence, (mostly)musicals returned to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, April 25, with IT'S ABOUT TIME, the company's 17th entry in their series of themed cabarets. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

It's nearly time! After a two month absence, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, April 25 with IT'S ABOUT TIME, the company's 17th entry in their series of themed cabarets. Scroll down for a peek at the company's rehearsal time!

Though that comedy device of rewritten song lyrics is (unfortunately) not utilized for the film's musical stage adaptation, still, much of the spirit and basic plot architecture of the original movie remains in SISTER ACT - THE MUSICAL, which features all-original songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, as well as a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (with additional material contributed later by playwright Douglas Carter Beane). Currently, Musical Theatre West's admirable regional production of this Tony-nominated Broadway musical comedy is finishing out its final weekend of performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through April 24. Goofy and full of cutesy charm MTW's regional production definitely brings in the (joyful) noise and the funk to Long Beach. So what makes the show enjoyable? Well... for lack of a better phrase... it's all about the nuns.

Sister Act the Musical started out in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse, premiered in London's West End in 2009 and then underwent serious revisions before coming to Broadway in 2011. I remember liking the first mounting in 2006 with many reservations. Since I loved the 1992 film so much, I didn't feel that the stage version was particularly faithful...no pun intended. Well, with all the 2011 changes, MTW's revival of the Broadway version is tops, a joyful, tuneful, splashy romp that never lets down, with a tremendous cast, stellar direction from Michael Matthews and soulful choreography from Daniel Smith. Douglas Carter Beane, who penned the screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the Tony nominated play The Little Dog Laughed, added new book material for the national tour, included here, and this contributes substantially to molding a sleek and unforgettable show.

Musical Theatre West (MTW) presents Sister Act, Broadway's feel-good musical comedy at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center April 8-24.  Based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg hit film, written by Joseph Howard, the five-time Tony nominated Broadway sensation features an award winning creative team with original score and music by composer Alan Menken (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors), lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Tangled), book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (Cheers), additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed ).  The reinvented musical adaptation is filled with heavenly music with a disco beat, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!  Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.  Tickets start at $20.

With the creative team of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire at the helm, I had high hopes for the new musical 'Waterfall' currently playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre. With a pedigree like those two have there would have to be something to grab onto in the show, right? Unfortunately this adaptation of the Thai musical 'Behind the Painting' based on the novel by Siburapha offered nothing but a clunky story and nuance free music and lyrics that elicited no passion or romance, which for a love story is deadly.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, WATERFALL, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. The production officially opens tonight, October 15.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June. Check out a first look below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June.  Check out a first look at highlights below!

Rehearsals start this week at The 5th Avenue Theatre for the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June. 

One of the most exciting nights in LA is back! Triple Threat, a concert series at ' The E Spot Lounge,' in Studio City is back, the only show of its kind to exclusively feature performers that have graced the stages of Broadway. July's performers throughout the evening have nearly 20 Broadway credits under their belts!

WATERFALL, the epic new Broadway bound musical love story, which had its world premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps) on June 7, 2015, will play its final performance on Sunday, June 28. The production will next play Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre October 1-25, 2015.

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in welcoming Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit lead the cast of the world premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Check out a first look at highlights below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in welcoming Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit to the cast of the world premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story. Performances at Pasadena Playhouse take place now through June 28, 2015.  Let's see what the critics had to say...

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in welcoming Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit lead the cast of the world premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20.  Check out a first look below!

The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps) presents the World premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, starring Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit and featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20.  

If you have a hankering for romance and you love the old-fashioned musicals of a by-gone era, Waterfall is a perfect fit. Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire have created a beautiful glimpse of passionate love that develops amidst the turmoil of divergent cultures, east and west before WWII. Currently onstage at the Pasadena Playhouse, Waterfall is sumptuously breathtaking with an extraordinary director and ensemble.