Joey D'Auria News

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final show of its season, Laurie Veldheer as 'Belle' and Todd Adamson as 'The Beast' starring in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, musical direction by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Robbie Roby and direction by Michael Heitzman. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will preview on Friday, May 31, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 1 at 8 pm) and run through Sunday, June 23, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Sexy and poignant, Plan-B Entertainment's production of Cabaret remains as relevant as it did when the show premiered in 1966. Cabaret-featuring classic music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Joe Masteroff-is the third and final musical of the season put on by the Anchorage Concert Association at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

'Tale as old as time' nails the complex simplicity of Beauty and the Beast the quintessential story of true love, the most difficult to obtain and sustain.  Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale with its sweepingly imaginative spectacle won over even the hardest of hearts. The animated film was such a tremendous hit in 1991 that it was adapted for the stage in 1994 with new songs by Tim Rice added to the Academy Award-winning movie score by deceased Howard Ashman. It ran worldwide until 2007 and proves undoubtedly that fairy tales retain a popularity that never dies... and that the story  translates beautifully to the stage with vibrant actors recreating all the animated figures.. This new production by 3-D Theatricals of Beauty and the Beast, which closed Sunday at the Redondo Performing Arts Center, was every bit as joyful and elegant as the original. I cannot say enough about T. J. Dawson's fabulous direction and casting and Mela Hoyt-Heydon's spectacular costumes that were built completely from scratch by 3-D Theatricals.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, opened at the Los Angeles Ovation Award- winning 3-D Theatricals Co. of Orange County, CA. Performances will be presented at both Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium, Feb 5 - 21; and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center February 26 - 28, 2016. Official "press" openings in Fullerton and Redondo Beach will be Saturday, February 6 and Saturday, February 27 respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson, with Choreography by Billy Sprague, Jr. Julie Lamoureux serves as Musical Director and Conductor.  Check out the photos from opening night below!

Leave it to the creative folks over at 3-D Theatricals, Orange County's award-winning Broadway-caliber theatrical company, to be the entity responsible for this splendid new regional production of DISNEY's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST---the 1994 stage adaptation of the studio's gorgeous Academy Award-winning 1991 animated film that features music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. 3DT's rather complex mounting---directed by 3-DT co-founder and artistic director TJ Dawson---is a marvelously-enchanting reboot, even despite the myriad of unfortunate opening night technical gaffes and (almost) forgotten/missed lines of dialogue that occasionally interrupted some of the wonderment. Of course, surely the kinks will be ironed out for the remainder of its scheduled run at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through February 21 (which will then transfer for a weekend of shows at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from February 26-28).

OC's award-winning regional theater company 3-D Theatricals' latest effort is a remarkably admirable, visually-stunning iteration of Disney's TARZAN® THE MUSICAL that defiantly dazzles and entertains despite the inherent, unavoidable shortcomings of its licensed source material (a problematic book and mostly forgettable score). Thanks to the incredible combined efforts of the show's creative team of brilliant theatrical artisans, its richly striking orchestra, and its top-notch, super-talented ensemble cast (led by Devin Archer and Daebreon Poiema), this ultimately winning local production has certainly earned all its well-deserved cheers. Under the showmanship-style guidance of director Rufus Bonds Jr., 3DT's vividly colorful TARZAN manages to rise (at times literally) high above the original show's weak plotting, Hwang's sometimes stale dialogue, and Collins' run-of-the-mill lyrics... and triumphantly emerge as a wonder-filled, visually-stunning treat for all ages.

TARZAN THE MUSICAL is the latest winner in a string of ambitious musicals by the Dawson producing team at 3-D Theatricals (Gretchen, Daniel, Jeannette and T.J.). Perhaps it isn't surprising that a family run company would know the kind of heart it takes to bring to life a Disney adventure musical about the power of family and finding one's place in the world. In any case, TARZAN is one big show that succeeds beautifully under their care.

From the masters of family entertainment, who brought you The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins, 3D Theatricals (3DT) of Orange County is pleased to present the first, major, fully-produced Southern California regional premiere of the Tony nominated TARZAN The Stage Musical based on the Disney Film at both Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium, now through July 26, and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, August 1 - 9, 2015. Click below to go behind the scenes with the cast & creative team!

From the masters of family entertainment, who brought you The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins, 3D Theatricals (3DT) of Orange County is pleased to present the first, major, fully-produced Southern California regional premiere of the Tony nominated TARZAN®  The Stage Musical based on the Disney Film at both Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium July 11 - 26 and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center August 1 - 9, 2015.  A Los Angeles Ovation Award-winning production company, 3D Theatricals was also the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.   Check out a first look at opening night below!

The Fantasticks/book & lyrics by Tom Jones/music by Harvey Schmidt/directed by Janet Miller/Good People Theater Company/at The Lillian Theatre/through June 29

Despite an injury, good sport Davis Gaines---who plays the title role in Musical Theatre West's new production of Meredith Willson's ever-enduring Tony Award-winning musical THE MUSIC MAN---continues the 'show must go on' mantra and plows through, turning in a rousing performance that does not disappoint. Added bonus: the huge cast also helps play up this local regional revival's family-friendly cuteness factor. Remaining performances of this nearly 60-year-old musical theater staple continue through Sunday, March 2 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Thirty years after directing and choreographing the Odyssey Theatre's award-winning West Coast premiere, and following a wildly successful off-Broadway revival at the York Theatre last season, Bill Castellino reunites with musical director Gerald Sternbach to charm audiences with a revitalized, updated version of Ionescopade at the Odyssey Theatre, beginning May 31. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Taken from the plays, playlets, journals and poetry of "Theatre of the Absurd" playwright Eugene Ionesco (Rhinoceros, The Bald Soprano, Exit the King), IONESCOPADE is a zany musical vaudeville featuring mime, farce and parody - all hilariously balanced on the edge of madness.

Bill Castellino returns to the Odyssey Theatre this month to direct and choreograph IONESCOPADE, based on the work of playwright Eugene Ionesco (Rhinoceros, The Bald Soprano, Exit the King); a project that reunites him with his old pal, musical director Gerald Sternbach.

Thirty years after directing and choreographing the Odyssey Theatre's award-winning West Coast premiere, and following a wildly successful Off Broadway revival at the York Theatre last season, Bill Castellino reunites with musical directorGerald Sternbach to charm audiences with a revitalized, updated version of Ionescopade at theOdyssey Theatre beginning May 31.

Richard M. Sherman, two-time Oscar and Grammy winning composer of the scores of "Mary Poppins" and "The Jungle Book" and more than 150 songs heard in Disney films and theme parks, will make a rare personal stage appearance, singing and telling the stories behind his songs, in "A Supercalifragilistic Evening with Richard M. Sherman," for three performances only, February 26 and 27 at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre.

Richard M. Sherman, two-time Oscar and Grammy winning composer of the scores of 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Jungle Book' and more than 150 songs heard in Disney films and theme parks, will make a rare personal stage appearance, singing and telling the stories behind his songs, in 'A Supercalifragilistic Evening with Richard M. Sherman,' for three performances only, February 26 and 27 at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre.