John Todd News

Season two of MAKING OF A MUSICAL, a four-part documentary event series from the creators of the TARA TREMENDOUS musical, will debut in early 2018, it was announced today by Jonathan Chase, development manager, Wonkybot Studios.

Feinstein's/54 Below will present a concert of highlights from The Year Of Living Dangerously, a thrilling new musical written by Thomas Tierney (Eleanor: An American Love Story, Narnia, and Off-Broadway's Pets!), and Jeffrey Haddow (Sense & Sensibility, Scrambled Feet, Chekhov in Yalta) today, November 28th at 9:30pm.

Feinstein's/54 Below will present a concert of highlights from The Year Of Living Dangerously, a thrilling new musical written by Thomas Tierney (Eleanor: An American Love Story, Narnia, and Off-Broadway's Pets!), and Jeffrey Haddow (Sense & Sensibility, Scrambled Feet, Chekhov in Yalta) on Tuesday, November 28th at 9:30pm.

Wonkybot Studios has released the children and family audio adventure story album Spooky Troop: The Last Halloween in digital format, immediately available today at Wonkybot.com, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and other retailers. Physical copies of the album can also be pre-ordered today, exclusively at wonkybot.com.

Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz, Matilda The Musical's MiMi Ryder, Orange Is The New Black's Annie Golden and a host of other Broadway stars headline the Original Studio Cast Recording of the new family musical Tara Tremendous - The Musical, which will be released from Wonkybot Studios in digital and physical formats on Friday, September 29. BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive first look at the cover art for the album, as well as a new promo. Check them out below!

The final episode of Wonkybot Studios' 4-part docuseries 'Tara Tremendous: Making Of A Musical' airs tonight.

Roundup: Check Out The Top Stories From Los Angeles You Might Have Missed 5/12 - MAMMA MIA and More!

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel. WEST SIDE STORY will preview on Friday, April 21, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 22) and run through Sunday, May 14, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Joining Broadway star Cortney Wolfson and Disney star Stephanie Renee Wall onstage this summer in the world premiere production of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion at The 5th Avenue Theatre is a sensational cast that's the coolest thing since the invention of Post-its!

Because it is arguably one the most beloved and critically-acclaimed musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY is revisited often by regional theaters across the country (and, frankly, the world). So it is no surprise that yet another large regional theater in Southern California is reviving this nostalgia-baiting, reliably-entertaining, and thematically-resonant show, this time by the talented folks over at McCoy Rigby Entertainment at their home base at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, where performances continue through May 14, 2017. The resulting show---while mostly and genuinely enjoyable---presented a few jarringly curious presentation choices that didn't quite sit well. Unfortunately, in its admirable quest to inject some 'new-ness' into the well-known retro musical, some of the slight staging reinventions did enough to really lessen the impact of certain scenes that have previously been significant highlights.

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT presented the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.

Indeed, West Side Story is the most acclaimed musical. And, ask musical actors/actresses what is their favorite Broadway musical of all time and most concur, West Side Story. Why? It has phenomenal music by Leonard Bernstein, with concise poetic lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a tight and gripping book by Arthur Laurents. The brilliant choreography established in 1957 by Jerome Robbins will never be forgotten. The book presents one of the most powerful love stories ever, next to Romeo and Juliet. With all these elements complementing one another, from the first downbeat of the orchestra and the appearance of the Jets creeping in one by one on a half-lit stage, the show pulls you in and doesn't let go for its two and a half hours ... and its message and images of love linger long after the curtain falls.

Wonkybot Studios today releases the trailer, key art and confirms a May 3rd launch date for its new original documentary web series Tara Tremendous: Making Of A Musical.

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.

Wonkybot Studios will launch its new original musical-based documentary web series Tara Tremendous: Making Of A Musical on May 3rd. Scroll down for the official trailer!

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.

As the world prepares for the Centennial of legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein this August, La Mirada Theatre and VPAC present perhaps his greatest musical and one of the most memorable love stories of all time, WEST SIDE STORY. Director Richard Israel shares his vision for the production, as powerful, poignant, and timely as ever, with the thrilling Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim score including "Tonight," "Maria," "America" and the classic "Somewhere" remaining one of the best ever written. In it, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City with two lovers, Tony and Maria, caught between warring street gangs; the Italian-American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.

While there are always rumors of closings and real estate transactions happening willy-nilly, Chaffin's Barn continues to thrive and to entertain and to give both audiences and theater folk an opportunity to get to know one another better and to be transported and transformed via the magic of live theater. I hope that Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre remains a vital part of Music City long after I've been reassigned to review shows in the afterlife.

The Theatre Centre announced today a number of major gifts to its $6.2 million capital campaign, including a $500,000 gift that will see its mainspace theatre named after Artistic Director and visionary Franco Boni.

Third Street Theatre has announced the next production in LA's hottest 99-seat theater, the Tony Award-winning musical YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.