Justin Huertas News

A shout out to a few theatrical favorites in San Diego from 2016!

Village Theatre's Village Originals program, under the leadership of Associate Artistic Director Brandon Ivie, has announced the new Village Originals Writers Residency aimed at developing new musicals from their earliest stages. New York writing team Danny Larsen and Michelle Elliott, Seattle-based composer Orlando Morales, and local collaborators Kirsten deLohr Helland, Justin Huertas, and Sara Porkalob will make up the inaugural group of resident writers. 

The new musical Lizard Boy, which took Seattle by storm with its world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015, will receive two private industry readings directed by Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland) at The Peter J. Sharp Theatre (416 West 42nd Street) on November 15, 2016, at 12:00pm and 3:00pm.

LIZARD BOY is a comic book inspired musical that is taking San Diego by storm. So in honor of this musical, here are a few fun questions with Justin about theatre, comic books, and what inspired this show.

LIZARD BOY is a comic book inspired musical that is taking San Diego by storm. So in honor of this musical, here are a few fun questions with William A. Williams about theatre, comic books, and his character.

LIZARD BOY THE MUSICAL is a unique and creative musical that fits the pop culture time that we live in. In a world where comics inspire movie blockbusters and HAMILTON seems to have reminded people that musical theatre can be current and innovative, LIZARD BOY is the musical that we both want and deserve. This sweet and funny musical is playing at the Diversionary Theatre through October 30th.

Three best friends from Washington got together and decided to make a musical. The rest is history - or at least it will be when the cast of LIZARD BOY makes their San Diego debut at Diversionary Theatre this September. Kirsten deLohr Helland, Justin Huertasand William A. Williams make up the entire cast and band of LIZARD BOY, a fantastical comic-book rock concert-slash-theatrical explosion. Director Brandon Ivie originally staged the show at Seattle Repertory, and will return to stage it fresh for Diversionary.

Three best friends from Washington got together and decided to make a musical. The rest is history - or at least it will be when the cast of LIZARD BOY makes their San Diego debut at Diversionary Theatre this September.

Well it may have been hotter than blazes this past weekend but I managed to spend the weekend inside at one of my favorite events of the year, The Village Theatre Village Originals Festival of New Musicals. They presented concert stagings of five musicals still in the works. It's a great opportunity for the authors to get to see their shows in front of an audience and for us to get a sneak peak at amazing musical theater to come. Now as they are still being workshopped I can't really review any of them but I can tell you what I saw.

Three best friends from Washington got together and decided to make a musical. The rest is history - or at least it will be when the cast of LIZARD BOY makes their San Diego debut at Diversionary Theatre this September.

Village Theatre kicks off its 16th Annual Festival of New Musicals with COST OF LIVING BY  Timothy Huang, taking place in Issaquah on August 12-14, 2016. It will be the first Festival of New Musicals led by newly appointed Associate Artistic Director Brandon Ivie.  BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at a photo from rehearsal below! 

On August 9th at 7:00pm, Forward Flux Productions will present a reading of Sarah Saltwick's new play, “Tender Rough Rough Tender” at the XV Flux Salon gathering in Seattle. 

New York/Seattle-based director Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland, Lizard Boy) has been named as the new Associate Artistic Director of Village Theatre. Ivie's main role will be as creative lead on new musical development through the company's Village Originals program, beginning July 1.

A few months back another group in Seattle put up an immersive production of "Romeo and Juliet" that blew me away and finally gave me the chance to see a completely solid production that I liked. But even while watching that I knew that Seattle Shakespeare Company would be closing out their season with their own intimate production of the show and I worried that the chances of getting another great production might be tempting fate or the theater Gods or the odds or whatever. Well unfortunately my fears were well founded as this new staging, while having a few stand out supporting performances, ultimately falls flat with a severe lack of passion or love (crucial for a love story) and an overarching theme that at best feels confusing and tacked on and at worst, pretentious.

Seattle Shakespeare Company presents ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, directed by Vanessa Miller, opening this Today, May 6, 2016 and closing May 22, 2016 at the Cornish Playhouse (201 Mercer Street, WA 98109). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company presents ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, directed by Vanessa Miller, opening this Friday, May 6, 2016 and closing May 22, 2016 at the Cornish Playhouse (201 Mercer Street, WA 98109). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

It's a story so familiar that it is practically part of our DNA. A boy, a girl, and a love that tries to beat the odds. For Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of ROMEO AND JULIET, director Vanessa Miller will use the play and stage space as a portal for a group of players trapped in a game that races to its final conclusion. 

It's a story so familiar that it is practically part of our DNA. A boy, a girl, and a love that tries to beat the odds. For Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of ROMEO AND JULIET, director Vanessa Miller will use the play and stage space as a portal for a group of players trapped in a game that races to its final conclusion. 

The new folk-rock musical LIZARD BOY, which took Seattle by storm in its world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015, will receive two private industry readings directed by Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland) at Playwrights Horizons today, March 10.

The new folk-rock musical Lizard Boy, which took Seattle by storm in it's world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015, will receive two private industry readings directed by Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland) at Playwrights Horizons on March 10.