Karl Warden News

This new musical with book, lyrics and music by Dustin Ceithamer, set in the eccentric world of 1980's Wrestling, features Nick Rashad Burroughs, Blaine Alden Krauss, AJ Rafael, Correy West, Jamari Johnson Williams,  Adrianna Rose Lyons, Dexter McKinney Jr., Karl Warden, Matthew Ballestero and more!

Musical Theatre West (MTW) brings Jerry Herman's musical masterpiece Mame to Southern California for a three-week run at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center March 27 a?" April 12.  Based on the novel, Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis and the play Auntie Mame by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Mame lavishly delivers one of theater's all-time great heroines in a brassy, tuneful, hilarious and touching fashion.  Tickets are available at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856-1999, or at the Musical Theatre West Ticket Office.  Tickets start at $20.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY playing at the Lawrence Welk Theatre through November 10th is the perfect fun, spooky, and kooky musical to get you feeling like it's fall in San Diego.

West Side Story/book by Arthur Laurents/music by Leonard Bernstein; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim/directed by Larry Raben/choreographed by Karl Warden/music director:Jeff Rizzo/ 5 Star Theatricals at Thousand Oaks Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre/ through August 4 Ask actors/actresses to name their favorite Broadway musical of all time and they most often concur, West Side Story. Why? It has phenomenal music by Leonard Bernstein, with concise poetic lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a tight and gripping book by Arthur Laurents ... and ... brilliant choreography established in 1957 by Jerome Robbins. It is one of the most powerful love stories ever penned, next to Romeo and Juliet. With all these elements complementing one another, from the first downbeat of the orchestra and the appearance of the Jets creeping in one by one on a half-lit stage, the show pulls you in and doesn't let go for its almostr three hours ... and its message and images of love linger long after.

Led by stars Brandon Keith Rogers (Tony) and Giselle Torres (Maria), 5-Star Theatricals' production of 'West Side Story' features scintillating new choreography by Karl Warden, including some stunningly visual interpretations of the story. Dynamic performances all around, this is a MUST-SEE production! Plays through August 4 at the Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks.

5-STAR THEATRICALS concludes its 2018-2019 season with one of the legendary love stories of the musical theatre, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Karl Warden and directed by Larry Raben. 

An interview with director Larry Raben, who is utilizing new choreography (Karl Warden), ethnic-accurate casting, and a more athletic approach to the look of 'West Side Story' to bring it into the 21st century. 60 years after its debut, the Bernstein/Sondheim classic still packs relevant punch in today's gun and immigrant-conscious society.

On Sunday, June 30 LA's Next Great Stage Star 2019 Presented by Princess Cruises came to a conclusion on the Debbie Reynolds Mainstage of the El Portal Theatre in NoHo. After a 90-minute program in which this year's 12 contestants* gave 150% to their monologues and songs from Broadway shows, eight contestants were eliminated and the top four finalists were selected. There was a problem in that in collecting the ballots, there was only a majority for 2 contestants. Audience and judges were alerted, time was alloted and ballots were collected once more to pick the other 2 contestants. This added a good half hour to the proceedings. Then each of the four proceeded to perform a second number after which the distinguished panel of judges made the final decision. Musical director par excellenc

5- STAR THEATRICALS concludes its 2018-2019 season with one of the legendary love stories of the musical theatre, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Karl Warden and directed by Larry Raben.  WEST SIDE STORY opens on Friday, July 26, 2019 and runs through Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

Moonlight Stage Productions opens its 39th summer season with the hit show that has won more Tony Awards than any other musical. Mel Brooks' 'The Producers' comes to the Moonlight Amphitheatre for the first time June 12 to June 29 at 8:00 p.m. Featuring the Broadway national tour sets and costumes, this comedic masterpiece is based on Mel Brooks' 1968 film of the same name.

Moonlight Stage Productions opens its 39th summer season with the hit show that has won more Tony Awards than any other musical. Mel Brooks' The Producers comes to the Moonlight Amphitheatre for the first time June 12 to June 29 at 8:00 p.m. Featuring the Broadway national tour sets and costumes, this comedic masterpiece is based on Mel Brooks' 1968 film of the same name.

Creator, Director and Executive Producer Michael Sterling, along with Co-Executive Producer Barbara Van Orden and Associate Producer Peter Welkin have announced that auditions for LA's Next Great Stage Star 2019 Presented by Princess Cruises will take place Saturday, April 20th and Saturday April 27th between 11am and 6 :00 pm in North Hollywood, CA at Madilyn Clark Studios. The critically acclaimed Broadway Musical Theatre competition will be presented as a series of six 1:00 pm Sunday matinees at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District beginning May 26th and continuing through June 2nd, June 9th, June 16th, and June 23rd, ending with the Grand Finale on June 30th, thus marking the event's 13th consecutive anniversary year.

Creator, Director and Executive Producer Michael Sterling, along with Co-Executive Producer Barbara Van Orden and Associate Producer Peter Welkin have announced that auditions for LA's Next Great Stage Star 2019 Presented by Princess Cruises will take place Saturday, April 20th and Saturday April 27th between 11am and 6 :00 pm in North Hollywood, CA at Madilyn Clark Studios. The critically acclaimed Broadway Musical Theatre competition will be presented as a series of six 1:00 pm Sunday matinees at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District beginning May 26th and continuing through June 2nd, June 9th, June 16th, and June 23rd, ending with the Grand Finale on June 30th, thus marking the event's 13th consecutive anniversary year.

The final performance of Mamma Mia! at the Welk Resorts Theatre is Sunday, Feb. 24! The production is filled with outstanding young talent like local Welk Theatre alum Olivia Hodson, who stars as Sophie, and features veteran San Diego Stars Natalie Nucci, David Humphrey, Lance Arthur Smith, Richard Bermudez, and David Engel, with debut performances by Misty Cotton and Nancy Snow Carr.

The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the nominations for its 2018 Craig Noel Awards. Now in its 17th year, the Craig Noel Awards honor the achievements of professional theaters in San Diego County. The nominees are chosen by a nine-member body of professional critics who write for San Diego newspapers, magazines, online publications and blogs.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) opens its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of SHREK THE MUSICAL, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book & lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Karl Warden and will be directed by Kirsten Chandler. SHREK THE MUSICAL opens on Friday, October 19, 2018 and runs through Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

5-STAR THEATRICALS opens its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of SHREK THE MUSICAL

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) opens its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of SHREK THE MUSICAL, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book & lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Karl Warden and will be directed by Kirsten Chandler. SHREK THE MUSICAL opens on Friday, October 19, 2018 and runs through Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

5-STAR THEATRICALS opens its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of SHREK THE MUSICAL

The Welk Resort Theatre's production of Mamma Mia is a cheerful high energy entertainment, a worthy example of why the musical has been a favorite of many dozens of production companies around the world since its 1999 London premiere. The story is set on the Greek island of Kalokairi where we learn that Sophie, a 20-year-old bride-to-be, doesn't know who her father is. She's secretly read in her mother Donna's diary that it must be one of three men Donna had brief affairs with 20 years ago. Determined to find out which one it is, Sophie has invited them to her wedding without telling her mother.