Jon Engstrom News

Stepping Out by British TV writer Richard Harris is not a musical, although it was turned into one in 2010. It's a play with music and is set in Northern England in 1984, the same time period and place as Billy Elliot. It's the tale of eight women and one man who take a weekly local tap class in their church hall. Workers and mates by day, these folks are generally disillusioned and unhappy, each for a different reason, and without the class, they might just cash it in. What you see on stage, now at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido, are the amateur characters as they arrive at class and spill their guts for a brief time about their various issues and how they adapt themselves to each other and to learning how to tap. First efforts are rusty at best, but as the play proceeds, the group get to know and tolerate each other and to tap better, and eventually are given a chance to participate in a local one-night annual entertainment gala. My first misgiving with the play is that you never get to know each person thoroughly or totally understand their motivations, but after careful consideration, what you see is what you get: an entertainment that brings the people together, that brings a much needed joy into their lives ... and to the audience at large. It's real, funny and musically fun - about a mini Chorus Line but with amateur dancers whose stories do not involve the profession - and that by itself is enough to give it universal appeal.

One of the most popular and beloved stage musicals of all time, 'Annie,' will close at Norris Theatre on July 17.

One of the most popular and beloved stage musicals of all time, 'Annie,' comes to the Norris Theatre, for nine performances, July 8 - 17. Presented by the Norris Center's highly-acclaimed Education Program, the musical is based on the long-running comic strip, and follows the rags-to-riches story of a feisty red-haired orphan and her loveable dog, Sandy.

One of the most popular and beloved stage musicals of all time, 'Annie,' comes to the Norris Theatre, for nine performances, July 8 - 17. Presented by the Norris Center's highly-acclaimed Education Program, the musical is based on the long-running comic strip, and follows the rags-to-riches story of a feisty red-haired orphan and her loveable dog, Sandy.

ORIGINAL CAST 2, the 27th Annual musical presentation of the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), took place for one night only on Saturday, April 2 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex of California State University, raising money for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).

ORIGINAL CAST 2, the 27th Annual musical presentation of the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), took place for one night only on Saturday, April 2 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex of California State University, raising money for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).

Opening in less than two weeks at Starlight Musical Theatre's stage is Hello, Dolly!, the classic Broadway musical tale of Dolly Levi and her mischievous matchmaking ways. For Starlight's 3rd and final summertime show, Starlight has brought aboard a fantastic cast and creative team to ensure the season ends with a resounding 'bang'.

Opening in less than two weeks at Starlight Musical Theatre's stage is Hello, Dolly!, the classic Broadway musical tale of Dolly Levi and her mischievous matchmaking ways. For Starlight's 3rd and final summertime show, Starlight has brought aboard a fantastic cast and creative team to ensure the season ends with a resounding 'bang'.

Opening in less than two weeks at Starlight Musical Theatre's stage is Hello, Dolly!, the classic Broadway musical tale of Dolly Levi and her mischievous matchmaking ways. For Starlight's 3rd and final summertime show, Starlight has brought aboard a fantastic cast and creative team to ensure the season ends with a resounding 'bang'.

The grand curtain of Moonlight Amphitheatre's new stage house is set to rise on '42nd Street,' the ultimate Broadway musical which opens Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season of musicals under the stars on July 15.

The grand curtain of Moonlight Amphitheatre's new stage house is set to rise on '42nd Street,' the ultimate Broadway musical which opens Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season of musicals under the stars on July 15.

Artistic Director Kathy Brombacher has announced actor audition calls for Equity and non-Equity roles in all three shows of Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season of musicals. Actor Audition Appointments are scheduled for Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Avo Playhouse, 303 Main Street, Vista. Beginning Monday, March 23, actors may request an appointment by calling the Moonlight Production Office at (760) 726-1340 x1524.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with the grandest and most spectacular musical of all, 42ND STREET. Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain, Jon Engstrom, 42ND STREET features a cast of 40, a full professional orchestra, and some of the greatest songs and dances ever to hit the great white way.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with the grandest and most spectacular musical of all, 42ND STREET. Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain, Jon Engstrom, 42ND STREET features a cast of 40, a full professional orchestra, and some of the greatest songs and dances ever to hit the great white way.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with the grandest and most spectacular musical of all, 42ND STREET. Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain, Jon Engstrom, 42ND STREET features a cast of 40, a full professional orchestra, and some of the greatest songs and dances ever to hit the great white way.

Artistic Director Kathy Brombacher has announced actor audition calls for Equity and non-Equity roles in all three shows of Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season of musicals. Actor Audition Appointments are scheduled for Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Avo Playhouse, 303 Main Street, Vista. Beginning Monday, March 23, actors may request an appointment by calling the Moonlight Production Office at (760) 726-1340 x1524.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with the grandest and most spectacular musical of all, 42ND STREET. Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain, Jon Engstrom, 42ND STREET features a cast of 40, a full professional orchestra, and some of the greatest songs and dances ever to hit the great white way.

After several engagements at Sterling's Upstairs in Studio City, Sylvia Brooks is making her debut performance at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, with two new shows on Thursday August 30 at 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m...

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA - which presented its first talent search entitled LA's Next Great Stage Star November 20 through December 12, 2006 - is pleased to announce that after over a hundred submissions and auditions to become one of 17 contestants in what will become an annual talent competition, Merissa Haddad was voted LA's Next Great Stage Star

With an impressive cast of 28 children, it is the younger talent that proves to be the heartbeat of this Lionel Bart adaptation of Charles Dicken's novel...