SWEENEY TODD, the Tony Award-winning musical, sails into the Monroe Forum Theatre @ El Portal April 10 to May 10, 2015. Based on a version of SWEENEY TODD by Christopher Bond, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, it's a tragicomic tale of murder, mayhem, and meat pies.
On Sunday July 24, actress/singer Kristin Towers-Rowles debuted her one-woman cabaret A Lovely Lineage at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's to resounding success. The amazing singer, who is the grand daughter of legendary MGM musical star Katharine Grayson and Broadway veteran Johnnie Johnston, saluted them both as well as her musical comedy performing parents Patty and Robert Towers. Although the young descendant of American show business royalty has a stupendous background, her life has not been that rosy. Playing a role onstage in a show called Veggie Tales, Towers-Rowles popped a disc in her back from wearing a 50-pound costume and was told she would never appear on stage again. She made a near complete recovery and although she still is in pain, exclaims, 'If I have to hurt, I might as well hurt on stage.' It is this unsinkable brave spirit that is present in her beautiful singing voice, in her glowing personality and overall captivating aura. She has an infectious sense of humor as well.
Art-In-Relation (AIR), a new Long Beach based Arts Organization will be holding its first fundraising event on Sunday, February 22, 2015 beginning at 2 p.m. at Ernest Borgnine Theatre in Long Beach. The event is called 'Fresh A.I.R. - a Broadway Benefit.'
Sunday, January 11th at 5pm (note earlier time)
Jasmine Thai Cuisine
19707 Rinaldi, Porter Ranch
(Porter Ranch Town Center)
CSO rings in a new year of Amici della Musica dinner-and-song evenings at Jasmine Thai Cuisine, an elegant new venue serving truly gourmet Thai delicacies.
The Best in LA Theatre for 2014
(alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed)
(artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories)
Ah, the art of making art! In an excellent adaptation of the 1999 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together, Chromolume Theatre steps up to bat with stellar direction from Cate Caplin and boasting a terrific cast through December 21 at their home the Attic Theatre in West LA.
Chromolume Theatre succeeds in putting together a strong cast of five vocally gifted singers to harmoniously perform the collection of Stephen Sondheim songs strung together in the revue Putting It Together.
American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is known for his immense contributions to musical theatre for over 50 years. He is the winner of an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer) including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Laurence Olivier Award. Sondheim fans are in for a treat this holiday season with two Sondheim shows playing within just a few miles of each other: Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse is presenting 'Into the Woods' and Chromolume at the Attic Theatre is presenting 'Putting it Together' with both productions opening on November 14, 2014.
Chromolume Theatre has announced its final production of 2014, Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together, opening tonight, November 14 at 8pm. Devised by Sondheim and Julie McKenzie with music and lyrics by Sondheim and musical direction by Richard Berent, Putting It Together will be directed and choreographed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin. The show will play a strictly limited engagement through December 21 only.
Chromolume Theatre has announced its final production of 2014, Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together, opening on Friday, November 14 at 8pm. Devised by Sondheim and Julie McKenzie with music and lyrics by Sondheim and musical direction by Richard Berent, Putting It Together will be directed and choreographed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin. The show will play a strictly limited engagement through December 21 only.
With the arrival of a two-disc studio recording of the complete Kander & Ebb score of And The World Goes Round from Kritzerland Records, there's reason to shout and sing out loud.Starring powerhouse vocalists Brent Barrett, Jason Graae, Christiane Noll, Kristin Towers-Rowles, Kyra DaCosta and musical director Joshua Eli Kranz, the discs offer more than two hours of simply sensational music.
Starting with the imaginative small space staging by director Cate Caplin, musical direction by Jeff Bonhiver, and choreography by Samantha Whidby who also stage manages the production, each of the actors lovingly brings all our favorite Peanuts comic strip characters to life. Set to music in a series of vignettes, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" chronicles an average day in the life of Charlie Brown (Holland Noel) and his friends Linus (Richie Ferris), Lucy (Dorothy Dillingham Blue), Schroeder (John Devereaux), along with his sister Sally (Kristin Towers-Rowles), and of course his loyal dog Snoopy (Matt Steele). This little show is packed with heart and humor, expressed in the pure and honest simple truths of children, performed by a fun-loving and super energetic cast.
Kritzerland is proud to present a new Studio Cast Recording 2-CD set: AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND, The Songs of Kander and Ebb. This is the World Premiere Recording of the complete show!
Singer and actress Kristin Towers-Rowles returns after 4 years to the Arthur Newman Theater at the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert in her well-received one-woman show "My Lovely Lineage" on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 2 PM. The show will feature songs and stories about and her famous family and growing up in Hollywood along with highlights from her own well established stage career, with local musical director Joel Baker accompanying her on piano.
Bob Randall's 6 RMS RIV VU is a charming look at 70s culture through the eyes of two marrieds about to engage in a tenuous extra-marital affair. Yes, it's dated, but still enjoyable summer fare in a rare revival currently onstage at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre through September 6.
Tarzan The Stage Musical/book by David Henry Hwang/based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' story 'Tarzan of the Apes' and the Disney film/music and lyrics by Phil Collins/directed by Erik Austin/El Portal, Monroe Forum Theatre/through May 18
The 9th longest-running off-Broadway musical of all time, ALTAR BOYZ is a foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy satire about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national 'Raise the Praise' tour during which they attempt to reduce the number of burdened souls in the theatre to zero by the end of the concert.
From the Masters of family entertainment who brought you PINKALICIOUS and THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Kelrik Productions proudly presents the musical, DISNEY'S TARZAN, playing April 25 - May 18, at the Monroe Forum Theatre, bringing children's programming to the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.
Chromolume Theatre has announced Altar Boyz, the 9th longest-running off-Broadway musical of all time, as its next production. The show has a book by Kevin Del Aguila and music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, and will be directed for Chromolume by Kristin Towers-Rowles. With choreography by Samantha Whidby and music direction by Richard Berent, opening is set for Friday, April 4 at 8pm. Altar Boyz will play a strictly limited engagement through May 11 only.
THE BEST OF BROADWAY concert selections include rousing renditions of Broadway show tunes, accompanied by the Center Stage Opera orchestra, led spectacularly by guest conductor Ryan Rowles. All of the soloists have rich, full voices, with standout performances by those who acted the songs rather than just standing and singing them.