Janna Cardia News

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Suzanne Mayes, who started out thinking she would pursue the stars as an astronaut and wound up shining onstage!

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the third show of its 2019-20 Season, with a musical adaptation of the gloriously romantic comedy, JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA, book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Daddy Long Legs, Jane Eyre), adapted from the novel by Jane Austen, musical direction by Brent Schindele, choreography by Jean Michelle Sayeg and directed by Andrew Barnicle.

Even if you have seen many productions of the totally entertaining Broadway musical-comedy HAIRSPRAY, do not miss the larger?than?life production, with its infectious music, show?stopping dance numbers and uplifting story, now at the Norris Theatre on the Palos Verdes Peninsula through May 12. With a talented cast of 28 local triple-threat performers, directed to perfection by Kari Hayter with some of the most demanding and athletic constant choreography by Christopher M. Albrecht, producer Chris Gilbert is to congratulated for bringing one of the best total packages to the stage!

How often do you get the chance to see a musical engineered for the entire family...one that is both entertaining and illuminating? Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical is a sumptuous treat for the eyes, ears and mind. Imagination runs amok in choreography, staging and the casting of some amazingly talented children. To get a bevy of child actors to essay these little 'maggots' so incredibly well for two and a half hours is no minor feat. It's like the song claims: it's a 'miracle!' Currently in its regional theatre premiere at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Kavli Theatre through March 31 only, the show is a big winner for 5 Star Theatricals.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA, adapted by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin (Groundhog Day), musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Heather Castillo and directed by Lewis Wilkenfeld.  ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA opens on Friday, March 22, 2019 and runs through Sunday, March 31, 2019 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

3-D Theatricals of Los Angeles concludes its 2017-2018 Season with the international smash hit Mamma Mia!, dazzling audiences on stage through August 26 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Somewhere in the world tonight there are 7 performances of the hit musical MAMMA MIA! onstage entertaining audiences. In fact, the show based on the music by Swedish pop group ABBA, has become so popular that the only continent where a regional or touring production has not occurred is Antarctica, and the show has set the record for premiering in more cities faster than any other musical in history. And after seeing the current 3-D Theatricals production, it's easy to see why audiences continue to fill theaters to experience the fun, spectacle, great music, and overall happy atmosphere generated by this feel-good musical.

3-D Theatricals of Los Angeles concludes its 2017-2018 Season with the international smash hit Mamma Mia!, dazzling audiences on stage from August 3 - 12 (with an official press opening August 4) at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and August 17 - 26 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Disney/Cameron Mackintosh's stage adaptation of MARY POPPINS, the closing production of Musical Theatre West's 64th season is mostly jolly good fun. Full of palpable joy, wonderfully-performed songs, and smile-inducing moments, MTW's buoyant, crowd-pleasing production of the London-set musical continues performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through July 23.

BABY, now playing at Coachella Valley Repertory is a sweet, sentimental musical about a universal topic - pregnancy. Despite what I consider to be flaws in the book (by Sybille Pearson) and lyrics (by Richard Maltby, Jr.), the show is well worth seeing; David Shire's music is engaging and CVRep has mounted an excellent production.

Coeurage Theatre Company are known around town as the rebels, the 'pay what you want' company. Their motto? 'Nobody should have to pay high prices to see good theatre'. Nice reminder in these depression era times where our government is wracked by the entree of a despicably inept political leader and the majority of our middle-class struggle to make ends meet. The locale of this satirical musical comedy Urinetown, which had its Broadway run in 2001 with 10 Tony nominations, is a typical small city in a futuristic time where a drought has caused a water shortage and its citizens no longer have private amenities. They must urinate in public places and pay a fee to do so. The greedy Urine Good Company controls the enterprise, and if people pee in the bushes, they are arrested and thrown into Urinetown. Now in a striking production by the Coeurage Theatre Company at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, the rarely revived Urinetown strikes s chord in our troubled times, as audiences laugh away problems that, when it comes right down to it, may not be that unimaginable.

Coeurage Theatre Company, LA's Pay What You Want Company, has announced the final production of its seventh season, three-time Tony Award-winner Urinetown: The Musical. With music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, book by Kotis, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, and directed by Kari Hayter, there will be one preview performance on November 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, November 5 at 8pm. Urinetown: The Musical will play through December 3 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center. 

The destination for girls' night out in Southern California this month is definitely Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton. That's where 3-D Theatricals' revival of David Yazbek and Terrence McNally's THE FULL MONTY kicks into high gear for the next two weekends.

Based on the hit motion picture, 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, California puts its award-winning spin on The Full Monty... one of Broadway's most hilarious, yet truly touching family musicals April 15 - 17 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA; and April 22 - May 8, 2016 at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA.  Official "press" openings in Redondo Beach and Fullerton will be Saturday, April 16 and Saturday April 23, respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson,  with Choreography by Leslie Stevens; and  Musical Direction by Conductor Corey Hirsch.  Ryan Ruge serves as Assistant Director. Check out a first look at the opening night curtain call and cast party below!

Based on the hit motion picture, 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, California puts its award-winning spin on The Full Monty... one of Broadway's most hilarious, yet truly touching family musicals April 15 - 17 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA; and April 22 - May 8, 2016 at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA.  Official 'press' openings in Redondo Beach and Fullerton will be Saturday, April 16 and Saturday April 23, respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson,  with Choreography by Leslie Stevens; and  Musical Direction by Conductor Corey Hirsch.  Ryan Ruge serves as Assistant Director.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2015 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, or technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

Happy Holidays! It's the last week to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Voting is fully underway for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 11. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.