Jeffrey Rockwell News

The Group Rep presents producer/director/writer Bruce Kimmel’s L.A. Now and Then, a brand new musical revue celebrating the City of Angels opening April 1, 2022. Cast features the vocals talents of Bita Arefnia, Lottie Arnold, Lisa Dyson, Harrison Fahn, Liz Grannis, Tim Hearl, Haruna Kajino, Marcel Licera, Danika Masi, Hisato Masuyama, Alariza Nevarez, Alec Reusch, Jeffrey Rockwell, Margaret Staedler and Tamir Yardenne, with musical direction by Richard Allen. I had the chance to find out some behind-the-scenes details on L.A. Now and Then from Richard, as well as some highlights of his long musical career.

The Group Rep presents L.A. Now and Then, a brand new musical revue celebrating the City of Angels, its past and present, directed by Bruce Kimmel, with musical direction by Richard Allen, produced by Kathleen Delaney and Doug Haverty for the Group Rep.  

Join Sierra Rep for a very special concert, Sunday, June 25, 2017. Directed by SRT Artistic Director Scott Viets, this one of a kind show reunites many past and present SRT stars who are coming from all over the country to honor Dennis and Sara Jones as they prepare to retire from Sierra Rep after 38 years of leadership. This "not to be missed event" is a dream come true for all SRT fans.

With the impressive resumes and awards the REUNION team of writers and director/choreographer possesses, one would expect a first-rate show with dazzling choreography, wonderful songs and an involving plot. The world premiere of REUNION greatly benefits from the sensational, though sadly underused, vocal talents of their twelve-member cast. 

This melodic, memorable and quirky pop score provides biting social commentary along with a little romance and an outrageously good time for all. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll cringe.

This melodic, memorable and quirky pop score provides biting social commentary along with a little romance and an outrageously good time for all. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll cringe.

Gunmetal Blues at North Coast Repertory Theatre showcased a Los Angeles crew of first-rate actors who thoroughly enjoyed bouncing plot lines and ballads off of each other.

While watching the opening night performance of Musical Theatre West's lively (haha) regional premiere of Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, something struck me almost immediately: I'm laughing hysterically. Though previous productions have certainly entertained in the past, much of the jokes and silly lyrics have been rendered inaudible. Thankfully, MTW's remount fixes the problem. Who would have guessed that a combination of good diction, under-emphasized accents, and working microphones---performed by a wonderful cast---would be a real, honest-to-goodness asset for a show? The show continues through November 17 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA.

A big, splashy Mel Brooks musical has arrived in Long Beach and Musical Theatre West has created a monster of a good time to go with it. It's YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and this luscious regional premiere stars a terrifically talented cast, featuring Susan Stroman's original direction and choreography recreated by Lauren Kadel.

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA opened its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelleyclassic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Check out the opening night shows below!

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA opens its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA proudly opens its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA opens its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.

As Autumn begins to stake its claim on Houston's weather and the 2012-2013 theatre season is coming into full swing, I was invited backstage to chat with Cameron Bautsch, playing Skip Henderson, and Adrian Coco Anderson, playing Lois Franklin, in Stages Repertory Theatre's lauded and loved production of Roger Bean's crooning jukebox musical, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM. With just under an hour until curtain, backstage was buzzing with crewmembers making sure everything was in place and ready to go for that evening's performance. Underscoring our conversation was beautiful classical pieces being perfectly played on the pianos on the Yeager stage, where the cast and crew of 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS were also preparing for that evening's performance.

Who has not worked hard to achieve a dream and later had to swallow the bitter pill of a dream lost? This authentic and original play charms its way into the heart of the audience, tickling their ribcages as skillfully as the actors tickle the keys of the two pianos.

Locals may best know Canada's exports in the oil and gas industry, in agriculture, and certainly maple syrup. In the entertainment sector we certainly love Martin Short or want to marry Ryan Gosling, but arguably the most successful Canadian export in entertainment is the international phenomenon 2 Pianos 4 Hands which, since its fledgling workshop days in 1994, has seen productions all over the world. Houston will be experiencing 2 Pianos 4 Hands for the first time at Stages this fall.

Locals may best know Canada's exports in the oil and gas industry, in agriculture, and certainly maple syrup. In the entertainment sector we certainly love Martin Short or want to marry Ryan Gosling, but arguably the most successful Canadian export in entertainment is the international phenomenon 2 Pianos 4 Hands which, since its fledgling workshop days in 1994, has seen productions all over the world. Houston will be experiencing 2 Pianos 4 Hands for the first time at Stages this fall.

Portland Stage Company concludes their 2011-12 season with a hilarious, heartwarming production about two pianists and their (mis)adventures en route to becoming musical masters of the 88 piano keys.