John Todd News

To close out its 60th Season in grand fashion, Musical Theatre West has commissioned a lush new revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning musical SUNSET BOULEVARD on its home stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Directed by Larry Raben and featuring musical direction by David Lamoureux and choreography by John Todd, this impressive, admirable 20th Anniversary Southern California production continues its limited engagement through July 28.

BWW TV Los Angeles correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans visit with the cast of Musical Theatre West's (MTW) much anticipated Southern California 20th Anniversary revival of Sunset Boulevard on stage now through July 28, 2013 at the 1,070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. The production previewed for one performance only on July 12, 2013 exactly 20 years to the day after the show's world premiere. Valerie Perri and David Burnham star, with Norman Large and Ashley Fox Linton are interviewed along with MTW Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman. The critically acclaimed revival is directed by Larry Raben with Musical Direction by David Lamoureux and Staging by John Todd. Check out the video below!

1993's rarely produced Sunset Boulevard is a flawed, somewhat boring musical play that satisfies best with the casting of an actress of great star quality as Norma Desmond, one whose face could have convincingly lit up a silent film screen. MTW has found its star in Valerie Perri, and under Larry Raben's strong, resourceful staging, Sunset Boulevard is 5-star entertainment.

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's international hit musical Sunset Boulevard opened last Friday, July 12, exactly 20 years to the day after the show's world premiere. The production will run through July 28, 2013 at the beautiful 1,070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. Valerie Perri and David Burnham star, with Norman Large and Ashley Fox Linton. Check out a look back at the curtain call and opening night festivities below!

Actress/singer Valerie Perri, best known for her role of Eva Peron in Evita, will open as Norma Desmond in MTW's Sunset Boulevard Saturday July 13 in Long Beach. In our chat she discusses the challenges of portraying bigger than life fictional silent movie queen Norma Desmond.

Casting for Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's international hit musical Sunset Boulevard , has been announced by MTW Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman and Director Larry Raben. The 1950 Oscar-winning motion picture of the same title first starred screen legends Gloria Swanson (as Norma Desmond) and William Holden (as Joe Gillis) before it opened as a musical in London's West End starring Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson at the Adelphi Theatre July 12, 1993 where it ultimately ran for 1529 performances.

Sunset Boulevard, the Musical Theatre West (MTW) production of the Broadway hit based on the 1950 Oscar-winning movie about a former star of the silent screen era living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street, has its much anticipated Southern California 20th Anniversary revival July 12 through July 28, 2013 at the exquisite 1,070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. MTW Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman has appointed Larry Raben as Director with Musical Direction by David Lamoureux and Musical Staging by John Todd. MTW's Sunset Boulevard opens exactly 20 years to the day of the show's world premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre where it ran for 1529 performances.

In its 1970 Broadway incarnation Company with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth reinvented the Broadway musical. Based on a series of short plays, it was the first time a musical could boast a nonlinear plot interweaving the stories of 5 distinctive married couples, all friends of a central character named Bobby, still a bachelor at 35 and incapable of a relationship. Now at Crown City Theatre in NoHo, the rarely revived Company is receiving a handsomely mounted production through March 31.

Third Street Theatre has announced that its second production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house; its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed production of the Tony award-winning musical THE FULL MONTY, with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Johanna Kent and direction by Richard Israel is extending again through Sunday, November 11 at the Third Street Theatre, 8115 W. Third Street in West Hollywood.

Third Street Theatre has announced that its second production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house; its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed production of the Tony award-winning musical THE FULL MONTY, with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Johanna Kent and direction by Richard Israel is EXTENDING through Sunday, October 28 at the THIRD STREET THEATRE, 8115 W. Third Street in West Hollywood.

The Full Monty/book by Terrence McNally/music & lyrics by David Yazbek/choreography by John Todd/directed by Richard Israel/Third Street Theatre/through October 14

Third Street Theatre announces its second production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house, the Tony award-winning musical THE FULL MONTY, with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Johanna Kent and direction by Richard Israel. THE FULL MONTY will open tonight, September 7 and run through Sunday, October 14 at the THIRD STREET THEATRE, 8115 W. Third Street in West Hollywood.

Third Street Theatre announces its second production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house, the Tony award-winning musical THE FULL MONTY, with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Johanna Kent and direction by Richard Israel. THE FULL MONTY will open on Friday, September 7 and run through Sunday, October 14 at the THIRD STREET THEATRE, 8115 W. Third Street in West Hollywood.

In fact, director Kate Adams and musical director Ginger Newman have crafted Nashville's own lovely and, I daresay, star-studded version of the musical which simply proves once again that Into the Woods is one of the most enchanting, most entertaining and most moving examples of contemporary musical theater at its best

The more I see Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo, now Leading Ladies), the more I realize that he is one of a dying breed of American farceurs. How many presently exist? In the UK, yes, there are many. Farce is their specialty, but not in the US. So, that given, Leading Ladies is a uniquely special ode to the theatre, to Shakespeare and to that band of traveling actors who make little money but devote their lives to entertain us, and to comedy put forth at a breakneck pace. Thanks to Ken Ludwig and his Leading Ladies our lives are that much brighter. Now in a splendid production at ICT, Long Beach, Richard Israel exhilaratingly guides a fiercely talented cast through July 1.

BELLS ARE RINGING, the next staged reading of MUSICAL THEATRE WEST'S REINER READING SERIES, will take place tonight, May 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

BELLS ARE RINGING, the next staged reading of MUSICAL THEATRE WEST'S REINER READING SERIES, will take place on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Dan McGeachy directs Nashville actress Pat Rulon as Maria Calls in Terrence McNally's Master Class, running February 10 and 11 at Nashville Opera's Noah Liff Opera Center, continuing a run that opened at Darkhorse Theatre in mid-January.

Imperious and commanding, confident and resolute, Maria Callas is the quintessential opera diva-Leonard Bernstein referred to her as "The Bible of opera"-and with her oversized personality and regal bearing, she remains a force to be reckoned with almost 35 years after her death. ACT 1 continues its remarkable 2011-12 season with Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class, a revealing and intimate portrait of la Divina in the latter years of her storied life and career.

Pat Rulon is cast in the enviable role of Maria Callas in the production, arguably her biggest challenge in a stage career that has included any number of enviable roles. This time, playing opposite her daughter Emily Apuzzo, may be more special in some ways, in others it's just another day (or night) at the office for the versatile actress who's played roles both classical and contemporary, both dramatic and comedic. One of the region's most versatile theater types, she's certain to attack the challenge of playing the operatic diva with relish and her trademark sincerity and sparkling wit.