James Lawrence News

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training concludes its 2017-18 season with William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing: a classical comedy about two intellectual sparring partners, whose individual pride masks their true love. Much Ado About Nothing opens on Wednesday, April 18 and plays through May 5 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. A special pay-what-you-can preview performance will be offered to the public on Tuesday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m. with a $3 minimum. Much Ado About Nothing is made possible with support from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota Observer, and WUSF Public Media.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training continues its 2017-18 season with Stephen Adly Giurgis' The Motherf***er with the Hat: a dark comedy about addiction, betrayal, and revenge. The Motherf***er with the Hat opens today, January 3 and plays through January 21 in the Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. A special pay-what-you-can preview will be offered to the public on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a $3 minimum.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training continues its 2017-18 season with Stephen Adly Giurgis' The Motherf***er with the Hat: a dark comedy about addiction, betrayal, and revenge. The Motherf***er with the Hat opens on Wednesday, January 3 and plays through January 21 in the Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. A special pay-what-you-can preview will be offered to the public on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a $3 minimum.

Christmas is coming (oh yes it is!) which can only mean one thing, it's panto time! This year's festive treat at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Beauty and the Beast is the fastest-selling pantomime in the theatre's history. With a phenomenal 24, 291 tickets already sold, audiences should book now to avoid disappointment! It runs from 30 November - 7 January.

Christmas is coming (oh yes it is!) which can only mean one thing, it's panto time! This year's festive treat at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Beauty and the Beast is the fastest-selling pantomime in the theatre's history. With a phenomenal 24, 291 tickets already sold, audiences should book now to avoid disappointment! It runs from 30 November - 7 January.

Christmas is coming (oh yes it is!) which can only mean one thing, it's panto time! This year's festive treat at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Beauty and the Beast is the fastest-selling pantomime in the theatre's history. With a phenomenal 24, 291 tickets already sold, audiences should book now to avoid disappointment! It runs from 30 November - 7 January.

Fresh from the sold-out premiere at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Philadelphia, the brand new, innovative docu-musical AN ENCHANTED EVENING: A NIGHT WITH OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II is coming Off-Broadway for a limited December 2017 engagement.

In this day and age, musicals have transcended the limits of what they are expected to be. Shows such as DEAR EVAN HANSEN, THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, and HAMILTON break the traditional mold of Golden Age musicals with significant innovation that paves that way for even more creativity in this ever-evolving field. However, these new advancements should by no means overshadow the classics; rousing ensemble numbers and sweeping ballads will always have a special place in the hearts of many a theatre fanatic. These well-known and well-loved tropes of the standards of musical theatre are exactly what Oyster Mill Playhouse brings to life in their latest production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. The show is filled with mishaps and mayhem galore, and reminds the audience of the sheer entertainment that musicals have the power to provide.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fifth show of its 2016-2017 season, Davis Gaines starring in his Ovation award-winning role as Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA, with book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Patti Colombo and directed by Glenn Casale. MAN OF LA MANCHA will preview on Friday, June 2, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 3) and run through Sunday, June 25, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

The Mac-Haydn Theatre (MHT), after a successful run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, continues its 49th season with the 2004 musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Based off of the 1988 movie of the same name, the 10-time Tony nominated musical by David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane will be a MHT premiere.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fifth show of its 2016-2017 season, Davis Gaines starring in his Ovation award-winning role as Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA, with book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Patti Colombo and directed by Glenn Casale. MAN OF LA MANCHA will preview on Friday, June 2, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 3) and run through Sunday, June 25, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Actor/singer Davis Gaines is perhaps the most revered singing star on Los Angeles stages. He is the longest running Phantom in Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Phantom of the Opera and is about to return to Man of La Mancha. The new production from McCoy/Rigby plays the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge Friday, May 5, Saturday May 6 and Sunday May 7 and then moves to La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in early June. In our chat Gaines discusses musical theatre and his favorite roles from Broadway to LA.

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth show of its 2016-2017 season, Davis Gaines starring in his Ovation award-winning role as Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA, with book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Patti Colombo and directed by Glenn Casale.

The musical theatre scene is filled with adaptations of Hollywood movies, to the point of overflowing. Some of these musical stage versions of popular movies have not translated well (Ghost and Flashdance, I'm looking at you). On the other hand, a number of them have gone on to become highly successful Broadway musicals, winning a number of Tony awards as well as critical and audience raves. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is part of the latter group and is now getting a breezy and extremely fun production at Sooner Theatre in Norman.

To say this city has a passion for the Arts is an understatement. Just walk into the welcomingly intimate Urbanite Theatre. You may possibly be greeted with a complimentary glass of wine and a thank you for coming, delivered in the form of a warm hug by founder, Harry Lipstein.

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre. 

In Cabrillo Music Theatre's new production of Evita, the role of Che, the narrator figure based on Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, is played by Marc Baron Ginsburg. A Philadelphia native, Ginsburg has enjoyed a varied career on both coasts prior to coming to Cabrillo. His favorite roles include Aaron (First Date,) Lord Farquaad (Shrek), Lawrence Jameson (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and Quixote/Cervantes (Man of La Mancha), among many others. He also played Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's First National Tour of Oliver! Marc and his wife Liza, who is also a performer, are recent parents of a son, Phoenix, who was born in June. We talked to Marc about his career and his approach to the key role he is playing in Evita.

Walnut Street Theater opens its 208th season with the classic SOUTH PACIFIC with a stellar cast of Philly favorites and Broadway talent.

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre.