Karen Carpenter News

Aurora Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of lauded Chicago playwright Joel Drake Johnson's THE FIRST GRADE. Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross directs this new play from Johnson, whom The Chicago Reader declared 'balances gallows humor with acute insight and compassion. He creates characters so real you wonder what will happen to them after the final blackout.' Featuring Julia Brothers and Warren David Keith, along with Rebecca Schweitzer, Paul Santiago, Tina Sanchez, and Adrian Anchondo, THE FIRST GRADE plays January 22-February 28 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Following on from the hugely successful run in summer 2009, the hit music-hall musical Frank's Closet returns to London's Hoxton Hall for a limited six-week Christmas run. The perfect outing for the festive season, Frank's Closet flings open its doors from December 3-January 10, 2010.

Rhea Perlman and daugther Lucy DeVito will unite onstage for the first time in the production of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE. The two joined the rotating cast for the November 18th through December 13th leg of the show. The two will play a host of roles, including several mother-daughter relationships.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' is featured in the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash Rent are available now.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award-Winning Broadway Smash, RENT. Rent will run December 11-20, 2009 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore, an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, directed byKaren Carpenter and based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman, opened October 1, 2009 to rave reviews at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street, NYC) and has been extended through March 2010.

The New York Times reports that for tonight's performance of 'Love, Loss, and What I Wore' an absent Kristin Chenoweth will be replaced by Katie Finneran, who has previously appeared in the show. The press representative remarked that Chenoweth was out due to illness and is expected to return to the show shortly.

Rhea Perlman and daugther Lucy DeVito will unite onstage for the first time in the production of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE. The two will join the rotating cast for the November 18th through December 13th leg of the show. The two will play a host of roles, including several mother-daughter relationships.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' is featured in the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash Rent are available now.

Sammy Williams made his theatrical cabaret debut at The Gardenia Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14 with musical director Ron Snyder at the piano and under director Tom Pardoe's skilled hand.

Musical Theatre West opens its 57th season with MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the stage adaptation of the beloved Judy Garland classic. Previews of this production began on October 30th and opened October 31, 2009 and runs through November 15, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA opens its 57th season with MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the stage adaptation of the beloved Judy Garland classic. Previews of this production begin on October 30th and opens October 31, 2009 and runs through November 15, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA opens its 57th season with MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the stage adaptation of the beloved Judy Garland classic. Previews of this production begin on October 30th and opens October 31, 2009 and runs through November 15, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Do Not Miss Morton in a Cabaret Setting

Musical Theatre West opens its 57th season with MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the stage adaptation of the beloved Judy Garland classic. Previews of this production began on October 30th and opened October 31, 2009 and runs through November 15, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

LONG BEACH, CA-Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' joins the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash RENT. RENT will run December 11-20, 2009 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center. MTW is the first professional regional theatre company to produce their own production of this groundbreaking musical.

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST is pleased to announce that Margaret O'Brien, who starred as Tootie Smith opposite Judy Garland in the classic MGM film Meet Me In St. Louis, will be in attendance at two performances of the stage adaptation at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Oscar® winner Ms. O'Brien will be at the Saturday, November 7, 2:00 PM and Sunday, November 8, 2:00 PM performances, and will be available at intermission and after the performance to meet audience members and sign photos in support of the non-profit organization, The Southern California Motion Picture Council.

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST is pleased to announce that Margaret O'Brien, who starred as Tootie Smith opposite Judy Garland in the classic MGM film Meet Me In St. Louis, will be in attendance at two performances of the stage adaptation at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Oscar® winner Ms. O'Brien will be at the Saturday, November 7, 2:00 PM and Sunday, November 8, 2:00 PM performances, and will be available at intermission and after the performance to meet audience members and sign photos in support of the non-profit organization, The Southern California Motion Picture Council.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that Michele Lee (Tale of the Allergist's Wife), Tony Award-winner Debra Monk (Curtains), Tracee Ellis Ross ('Girlfriends') and Casey Wilson ('Saturday Night Live') will join the rotating cast of Love, Loss and What I Wore. They join the show January 6 through January 31, 2009, alongside the returning Katie Finneran. Love, Loss, and What I Wore, an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, directed by Karen Carpenter and based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman, opened October 1, 2009 to rave reviews at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street, NYC) and has been extended through March 2010.

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST is pleased to announce that Margaret O'Brien, who starred as Tootie Smith opposite Judy Garland in the classic MGM film Meet Me In St. Louis, will be in attendance at two performances of the stage adaptation at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Oscar® winner Ms. O'Brien will be at the Saturday, November 7, 2:00 PM and Sunday, November 8, 2:00 PM performances, and will be available at intermission and after the performance to meet audience members and sign photos in support of the non-profit organization, The Southern California Motion Picture Council.