Kelley Dorney News

Jason Graae will direct R&H's It's a Grand Night For Singing at Musical Theatre West beginning this week.

Good grief! You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Is Live But Sadly Not Alive. A combination of miscasting, poor direction, and a play that runs out of steam, this early production in the reemergence of live theater is a disappointment.

The whole “Peanuts” gang is here—Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, and of course, that wishy-washy blockhead, Charlie Brown. He’s never pitched a winning baseball game and he can’t muster the courage to talk to the Little-Red Haired Girl. But all his best qualities—and those of his clever friends—get celebrated in this delightful musical filled with such gleeful tunes as 'My Blanket and Me,' 'Suppertime' and 'Happiness.'

Stephanie J. Block, former MTG member turned Tony Award-winning Broadway star, will reflect on her experiences with Musical Theatre Guild, and the shows in which she performed, during a candid conversation with friend, fellow Broadway veteran, and MTG member Jason Graae.

42nd Street Moon and Musical Theatre West have co-produced a fine film of Jason Graae's show about his idol and his friend, everyone's favorite Broadway creator of shows about hope.

42nd Street Moon has announced that Doris Bumpus will be starring as the legendary Billie Holiday in the Company’s virtual production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, written by Lanie Robertson.

This spring MoonBeams season features a Tony nominated production, stars seen on the Bay Area and Broadway stages, as well as new, never seen before, over the top theatrical numbers that will have audiences singing along at home!

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 ANDREWS BROTHERS sung-through musical is sure to please those who remember the 1940s first-hand, or those of us who appreciate the song stylings of those bygone days. According to Bean, a?oeHere we create the atmosphere of a rag-tag USO team a?' a very real organization with an important and impressive history a?' sing songs familiar to many in the audience, and try to live up to the memory of a legendary singing group.a?? And thanks to the talented, triple-threat performers, Kelley Dorney, Michael D'Elia, Max DeLorch and Grant Hodges, no matter what goes wrong, the show must go on!

International City Theatre opens its 35th anniversary season with a madcap musical salute to the swinging '40s. Written and created by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wondrettes, Life Could Be A Dream), and with director/choreographer Jamie Torcellini at the helm, The Andrews Brothers opens on Feb. 21 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue through March 8, with two low-priced previews set for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the third show of their 2019-2020 season, the hilariously dark comedy, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, written by Joseph Kesselring and directed by Casey Stangl. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE will preview on Friday, January 24, 2020 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 25 at 8pm) and run through Sunday, February 16, 2020 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

International City Theatre opens its 35th anniversary season with a madcap musical salute to the swinging '40s. Written and created by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wondrettes, Life Could Be A Dream), and with director/choreographer Jamie Torcellini at the helm, The Andrews Brothers opens on Feb. 21 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue through March 8, with two low-priced previews set for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.

Feinstein's at Vitello's newest monthly series, mostlyNEWmusicals, continues Monday, 10.7.19 with selections from 2 musicals by acclaimed composer and recording artist Kevin Ray. The cast features Broadway's Rhett George (MEMPHIS, WICKED, SWEET CHARITY) along with Tommy Hobson (“Fresh Beat Band,” Ovation Award winner: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at La Mirada), Laura Dickinson (“Phineas and Ferb,” 4x Grammy® winner, 3x Emmy® winner), Eric B. Anthony (B'way: THE LION KING, Skylight Theatre: BRONCO BILLY), Gabriela Carrillo (PRINCE OF EGYPT at Tuacahn, AMERICAN MARIACHI at South Coast Rep), Marisa Matthews (EVITA at San Diego Rep, upcoming ROCK OF AGES in Hollywood), Elysa Gomez (Las Vegas: ROCK OF AGES, world premiere: CONGA), Miatta Lebile (CBS Diversity Showcase), Kelley Dorney (NICE WORK at Musical Theater West, GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE at 3D and Tuacahn), and Bella Hicks (national tour: BEEHIVE, AMERICAN IDOT at La Mirada) and Justin Luciano (WEST SIDE STORY at VA Rep).

Feinstein's at Vitello's newest monthly series 'mostlyNEWmusicals' continues Monday, 10.7.19 with selections from CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN and NOTES FROM JUAREZ by acclaimed composer and recording artist Kevin Ray. Tickets are available now at www.feinsteinsatvitellos.com.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will open their 24th Anniversary season with BARNUM, the Tony Award-winning musical by Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. The one-night-only concert will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 7:00 PM.

(mostly)musicals is PANTING to tell you about our NEXT edition - DOG DAYS of Summer (an off-the-leash cabaret) on Monday, 8.12.19!

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder opens at Tuacahn Center for the Arts; Tony Award Winner Robert L. Freedman attends 

On Sunday June 2, Kritzerland celebrated its 99th performance with a special brunch matinee at Feinstein's Upstairs at Vitello's, entitled June Is Brunching Out All Over. It was supposed to be a tribute to Harry Warren, but as host Bruce Kimmel explained, it's often better to throw in a few other songs from different composers...so the show was a mix...and delightful with musical director Richard Allen at the keys and a bevy of exceedingly talented singers including special guest Bill Hayes...Kim Huber, Kelley Dorney, Jenna Lea Rosen, Robert Yacko, Damon Kirsche and Bruce Kimmel himself perfoming a lovely solo number 'Hushabye Mountain' by the Sherman Brothers for the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

(mostly)musicals is BACK with their 33rd edition, BODY Language (a cabaret for every BODY), on Monday June 3rd at the newly renamed Feinstein's at Vitello's! The evening will be in the capable HANDS of Gregory Nabours at the piano and will feature performers you'll be HEAD over HEELS for, from Broadway and LA, singing songs about ANATOMY!

(mostly)musicals is BACK with their 33rd edition, BODY Language (a cabaret for every BODY), on Monday June 3rd at the newly renamed Feinstein's at Vitello's! The evening will be in the capable HANDS of Gregory Nabours at the piano, and will feature performers you'll be HEAD over HEELS for, from Broadway and LA, singing songs about ANATOMY!