John Iacovelli News

Ed Waterstreet, Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre announces that on the heels of their innovative revival of the musical Pippin, a co-production with Center Theatre Group, Deaf West will present a special 30th anniversary production of a play that brought deaf culture to the forefront of the theater world, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, written by Mark Medoff and directed by Jonathan Barlow Lee, who was the original stage manager for the Tony Award-winning play.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment in association with The Welk Resorts Theatre are proud to present the first production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, Cathy Rigby and Michael Learned starring in the funny and moving, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, written by Robert Harling and directed by La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite. STEEL MAGNOLIAS will begin performances on Friday, October 2 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 3) and will run through Sunday, October 18 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada.

Ed Waterstreet, Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre announces that on the heels of their innovative revival of the musical Pippin, a co-production with Center Theatre Group, Deaf West will present a special 30th anniversary production of a play that brought deaf culture to the forefront of the theater world, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, written by Mark Medoff and directed by Jonathan Barlow Lee, who was the original stage manager for the Tony Award-winning play.

La Mirada Theatre For the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre?s 2008-2009 season of shows, the West Coast Premiere of a new and completely revised production of Ring of Fire, created by Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived by William Meade, orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring one of the original cast members from the Broadway production, Jason Edwards. Ring of Fire will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and will run through Sunday, June 21 at La Mirada Theatre For the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre?s 2008-2009 season of shows, the West Coast Premiere of a new and completely revised production of RING OF FIRE, created by Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived by William Meade, orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring one of the original cast members from the Broadway production, Jason Edwards.

La Mirada Theatre For the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre?s 2008-2009 season of shows, the West Coast Premiere of a new and completely revised production of Ring of Fire, created by Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived by William Meade, orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring one of the original cast members from the Broadway production, Jason Edwards. Ring of Fire will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and will run through Sunday, June 21 at La Mirada Theatre For the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

San Jose Repertory Theatre is proud to conclude its 2008-2009 season with the smash hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Tony® award-winning musical comedy ? one of Broadways most talked about hits ? is in attendance at San Jose Rep. This hilarious tale of six adolescent outsiders vying for the Spelling Bee title is directed by Timothy Near. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee begins previews on May 9, opens on May 15 and closes June 7.

An upper class African American family wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Following a two-year hiatus, Joseph Stern's multiple award-winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast premiere of Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond, an important new play from one of America's freshest and most dynamic voices. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at The Matrix Theatre, April 4 through May 31, with previews beginning March 26.

An upper class African American family wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Following a two-year hiatus, Joseph Stern's multiple award-winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast premiere of Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond, an important new play from one of America's freshest and most dynamic voices. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at The Matrix Theatre, April 4 through May 31, with previews beginning March 26.

Filled with colorful criminals, biting social satire and a brilliant score, The Threepenny Opera opens International City Theatre's 2009 Season at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Jules Aaron directs Michael Feingold's translation of the trailblazing musical by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill that became one of the most influential plays of the 20th Century. Darryl Archibald is musical director and Kay Cole choreographs the five-week run February 20 through March 22; low-priced previews begin February 17. First performed in 1928, Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera was a revolutionary musical theater masterpiece that mocked the bourgeois political movement of pre-Hitler Germany. Brecht's brittle, sardonic tale of beggars, thieves and prostitutes, adapted from the 1728 play The Beggar's Opera by John Gay, was a fierce social and political critique, and Weill's innovative score that fused American jazz with German cabaret captured the ironic tone of the lyrics. Part acid social criticism, part bittersweet romance, the now eighty-year old saga of 'Mack the Knife' and his entourage of criminals and whores has never lost its theatrical punch. 'It's a satire on capitalism and corruption told from the viewpoint of the 'little people',' notes Aaron. 'If there was ever time to revive this show, it's now. Michael [Feingold]'s translation is earthy, gritty and very funny. I think it's going to strike a chord with audiences.'

NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn directed by Art Manke CREATIVE TEAM: John Iacovelli (Set Design), Angela Balogh Calin (Costume Design), York Kennedy (Lighting Design), Vincent Olivieri (Sound Design), Ken Merckx (Movement Consultant), David Nevell (Dialect Coach), Linda Sullivan Baity (Dramaturg) and Jamie Tucker (Stage Manager). CAST: Nancy Bell (Belinda Blair), Bill Brochtrup (Garry Lejeune), Kandis Chappell (Dotty Otley), Winslow Corbett (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Kaleo Griffith (Lloyd Dallas), Brian Hostenske (Tim Allgood), Timothy Landfield (Frederick Fellowes), Jennifer Lyon (Brooke Ashton) and Nick Ullett (Selsdon Mowbray). Michael Frayn's hilarious backstage farce follows an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night

NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn directed by Art Manke CREATIVE TEAM: John Iacovelli (Set Design), Angela Balogh Calin (Costume Design), York Kennedy (Lighting Design), Vincent Olivieri (Sound Design), Ken Merckx (Movement Consultant), David Nevell (Dialect Coach), Linda Sullivan Baity (Dramaturg) and Jamie Tucker (Stage Manager). CAST: Nancy Bell (Belinda Blair), Bill Brochtrup (Garry Lejeune), Kandis Chappell (Dotty Otley), Winslow Corbett (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Kaleo Griffith (Lloyd Dallas), Brian Hostenske (Tim Allgood), Timothy Landfield (Frederick Fellowes), Jennifer Lyon (Brooke Ashton) and Nick Ullett (Selsdon Mowbray). Michael Frayn's hilarious backstage farce follows an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2008-2009 season of shows, Neil Simon's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, LOST IN YONKERS, directed by Jeff Maynard, who starred in the cast of the original national tour/Los Angeles premiere. LOST IN YONKERS will begin performances on Friday, February 6 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 7) and will run through Sunday, February 22 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2008-2009 season of shows, Neil Simon's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, LOST IN YONKERS, directed by Jeff Maynard, who starred in the cast of the original national tour/Los Angeles premiere. LOST IN YONKERS will begin performances on Friday, February 6 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 7) and will run through Sunday, February 22 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2008-2009 season of shows, Neil Simon's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, LOST IN YONKERS, directed by Jeff Maynard, who starred in the cast of the original national tour/Los Angeles premiere. LOST IN YONKERS will begin performances on Friday, February 6 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 7) and will run through Sunday, February 22 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

Filled with colorful criminals, biting social satire and a brilliant score, The Threepenny Opera opens International City Theatre's 2009 Season at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Jules Aaron directs Michael Feingold's translation of the trailblazing musical by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill that became one of the most influential plays of the 20th Century. Darryl Archibald is musical director and Kay Cole choreographs the five-week run February 20 through March 22; low-priced previews begin February 17. First performed in 1928, Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera was a revolutionary musical theater masterpiece that mocked the bourgeois political movement of pre-Hitler Germany. Brecht's brittle, sardonic tale of beggars, thieves and prostitutes, adapted from the 1728 play The Beggar's Opera by John Gay, was a fierce social and political critique, and Weill's innovative score that fused American jazz with German cabaret captured the ironic tone of the lyrics. Part acid social criticism, part bittersweet romance, the now eighty-year old saga of 'Mack the Knife' and his entourage of criminals and whores has never lost its theatrical punch. 'It's a satire on capitalism and corruption told from the viewpoint of the 'little people',' notes Aaron. 'If there was ever time to revive this show, it's now. Michael [Feingold]'s translation is earthy, gritty and very funny. I think it's going to strike a chord with audiences.'

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2008-2009 season of shows, Neil Simon's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, LOST IN YONKERS, directed by Jeff Maynard, who starred in the cast of the original national tour/Los Angeles premiere. LOST IN YONKERS will begin performances on Friday, February 6 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 7) and will run through Sunday, February 22 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

Joseph Ruskin and Jacqueline Schultz star in Israel Horovitz's humorous and poignant pas-de-deux, Park Your Car in Harvard Yard, at International City Theatre. Hope Alexander directs the four-week run at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, May 2 through May 25. Low-priced previews begin April 29.

REVIEW: The National Tour of Camelot starring Lou Diamond Phillips runs at the Hippodrome in Baltimore through April 6.

Hal Ackerman takes a frank look at his own mortality in his play Testosterone: How Prostate Cancer Made a Man of Me. The playwright also takes center stage in his autobiographical work, joined by supporting cast members Dennis Lee Kelly and Lisa Robins. Michael Arabian directs a four-week run at The Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica April 18 through May 10.