Joshua Finkel News

Panic! Productions begins its third season with the classic musical fable, The Fantasticks, tonight, September 5 through 21, at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

"The Fantasticks" is the world's longest running musical, having played for over 52 years in Manhattan and entranced generations of audiences the world over. Many actors have appeared in the show over those five decades, and when Panic! Productions mounts this beloved classic in Thousand Oaks, directed and choreographed by Joshua Finkel, three accomplished actresses who played the lead role of Luisa in New York will be special audience guests.

Panic! Productions begins its third season with the classic musical fable, The Fantasticks, September 5 through 21, at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

They are all the topics of brand new fifteen-minute musicals that will have their world premiere on June 23 and 24 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. The annual 15 Minute Musicals are a decades-long tradition at the Academy for New Musical Theatre, and one of the hottest tickets in town.

Tony Monaco's one-man musical, The Road to Damascus, leads to Los Angeles just in time for Easter and Passover. Inspired by the dramatic conversion of Rabbi Saul of Tarsus - the man who turned from murderer to saint (the Apostle Paul) - and the persecution of Jesus' followers after His crucifixion, Monaco's historical portrayal incorporates music, song and dance with Biblical themes, bringing to life this world-changing story in a characterization that shows why biographers refer to the Apostle Paul as 'The man who shook the world.'

Tony Monaco's one-man musical, The Road to Damascus, leads to Los Angeles just in time for Easter and Passover. Inspired by the dramatic conversion of Rabbi Saul of Tarsus - the man who turned from murderer to saint (the Apostle Paul) - and the persecution of Jesus' followers after His crucifixion, Monaco's historical portrayal incorporates music, song and dance with Biblical themes, bringing to life this world-changing story in a characterization that shows why biographers refer to the Apostle Paul as 'The man who shook the world.'

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Tony Monaco's one-man musical, The Road to Damascus, leads to Los Angeles just in time for Easter and Passover. Inspired by the dramatic conversion of Rabbi Saul of Tarsus - the man who turned from murderer to saint (the Apostle Paul) - and the persecution of Jesus' followers after His crucifixion, Monaco's historical portrayal incorporates music, song and dance with Biblical themes, bringing to life this world-changing story in a characterization that shows why biographers refer to the Apostle Paul as 'The man who shook the world.'

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

On Sunday evening September 1, Kritzerland celebrated its third anniversary and 37th show at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Entitled The Songs That Got Away II, it featured a batch of songs from various composers/musicals that Bruce Kimmel considers great but that over time have received far less airplay than deserved. In short, they have just not attained a solid popularity. Many of these songs are familiar like 'Some People' from Gypsy, but, it certainly did not gain the fame of, say, 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'... but should have. Some of the lesser known but beautiful tunes like 'It Must Be Spring' by Michel Legrand and the Bergmans are so good that it seems a shame it did get nominated for awards. Featured on this stellar program were dynamic singers Valerie Perri, Kay Cole, Jane Noseworthy, speciaLguest star Sharon McNight, Dan Callaway, Joshua Finkel, Jenna Lee Rosen, and sisters Sami and Sarah Staitman. John Boswell brilliantly served as musical director at the piano throughout the 90-minute set.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents its third anniversary show, THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY - II today, September 1, 2013 - 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents its third anniversary show, THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY - II SUNDAY, September 1, 2013 - 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents its third anniversary show, THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY - II, set for Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

If you're a singer who has always wanted to create your own solo show, here is a great place to begin. Joshua Finkel has created a successful method of putting together a cabaret act and talks about the growth his students experience once they begin to focus on building their own act.

Panic! Productions closes its second season with the musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, tonight, June 1 through 16, at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. The popular musical farce, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, is directed by Broadway veteran Joshua Finkel, with music direction by Diann Alexander and choreography by Mona King.

Panic! Productions closes its second season with the musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, June 1 through 16, at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. The popular musical farce, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, is directed by Broadway veteran Joshua Finkel, with music direction by Diann Alexander and choreography by Mona King.

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers present concert-staged readings the international hit CHESS. The opening performance took place, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. A second, and final, performance will occur on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum. BroadwayWorld has a first look below.

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers who present concert-staged readings of seldom seen musicals, will continue its 17th season with the international hit CHESS. The opening performance will take place tonight, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. A second, and final, performance will occur on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum.