Larry Raben News

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.

Moonlight Amphitheatre opens its summer season with a laugh - actually with a lot of them with their production of THE PRODUCERS. This Mel Brooks show still has all of the zing, silliness, and more than flirts with political incorrectness and some uncouth humor.

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.

Tony-nominated LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT announce its 42nd season of shows with something irresistible; something courageous; something grumpy; something killer; something good - in short, a "something for everyone" season! We start off with the West Coast premiere of Hal Linden, Cathy Rigby and Ken Page starring in GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL; followed by the Broadway and London smash-hit, Roald Dahl's MATILDA THE MUSICAL; then, a fresh spin on the hilarious, killer black comedy ARSENIC AND OLD LACE; next, we present one of the all-time great family musicals, Rodgers and Hammerstein's masterpiece THE SOUND OF MUSIC and our season finale will find you "having the time of your life" and dancing in the aisles to ABBA and the irresistible MAMMA MIA! This phenomenal season also includes the bonus options of the legendary ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK, country superstar TRAVIS TRITT, and the soulful sounds of THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS. LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT have everything for the young (and young at heart!) with this extraordinary season of first-class entertainment. Our Southern California subscribers and audiences are not going to want to miss a single spectacular event this coming year at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts!

Musical Theatre West's entertaining, high-energy new production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN---which continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through April 14, 2019---is, for the most part, a sleek, stylish, and abundantly entertaining piece of theater, filled with nostalgic fun and features a plucky anti-hero at its center whose bad behavior can both be seen as terrible and worth cheering for in his sheer audacity and skill. Despite its flaws, the show is a worthy trip back in time, especially with the presence of its two terrific lead actors Jacob Haren and Jeff Skowron as the teenage con artist and the FBI agent chasing him.

Welk Resorts Theatre today announced its 2019 season kicks off March 15 with San Diego theatre royalty starring in 'Menopause the Musical.' The 29th season of the famed Welk Theatre, which underwent a lobby remodel in 2018, also features Tony Award-nominated 'The Addams Family,' which will run Sept. 6 to Nov. 10, and Larry Raben's new 'Welkome Home for the Holidays!' running Nov. 22 to Dec. 29.  Weekly variety shows featuring popular classic rock tribute bands (The Eagles, Beatles and Neil Diamond) round out the season.

Actress/singer par excellence Rebecca Spencer has delighted audiences on Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde and played Madame Giry in Phantom in Las Vegas. Since 2014 when she moved to Los Angeles, she has performed her exquisite cabaret and done at least 3 shows for Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach: The Music Man, S'Wonderful, and Mary Poppins. She will open March 30th in their new production of Catch Me If You Can. Spencer took time out of a busy rehearsal schedule to talk about her role in the show and about her illustrious theatrical career thus far.

Musical Theater West (MTW) brings the incredible true story, turned hit film, turned Broadway Tony Award-winning musical Catch Me If You Can to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center March 29 through April 14. Created by the dream team of song writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash, Mary Poppins Returns) and librettist Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), Catch Me If You Can delivers a the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, will conclude its Tenth Anniversary season with the comedy "Greater Tuna" that will run for nine performances from March 22-31, 2019 at the Palm Springs Art Museum's Annenberg Theater.  "Greater Tuna" is a hilarious send-up of small-town morals and mores. Set in a fictional small town in Texas, this popular comedy stars two skillful, transformative actors who will take on 22 roles as they portray the town's wacky inhabitants. "Greater Tuna" was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard and will star Alan Denny and Chuck Yates. The production will be directed by Larry Raben. "Greater Tuna" was the very first production Coyote StageWorks mounted ten years ago.

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 Phoenix Theatre Company's production of JERSEY BOYS, featuring Justin Albinder as Frankie Valli and James D. Gish as Bob Gaudio, ripples with energy. From Antonio Leroy King's opening rap solo of Yannick's pop hit (Cues soirees la!) to the cast's celebratory closing (Who Loves You), the show is a joyful retrospective on the group's rise to fame.Runs through March 10th.

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.

The Old Globe today presents the Globe's 21st annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!The holiday musical will run November 3 - December 29 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run November 3 - November 7. Opening night is Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. The Grinch isdirected by James Vasquez, with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. The original production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien with additional lyrics by Theodor S. Geisel, additional music by Albert Hague, and original choreography by John DeLuca.

San Diego's favorite holiday tradition, back for its 21st incredible year, is a wonderful, whimsical production that will once again jump right off the pages of the classic Dr. Seuss book and onto the Old Globe's stage. Back for its 20th incredible year, the family favorite features the songs "This Time of Year," "Santa for a Day," and "Fah Who Doraze," the delightful carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the Globe's 21st annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The holiday musical will run November 3 - December 29 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run November 3 - November 7. Opening night is Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. The Grinch is directed by James Vasquez, with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. The original production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien with additional lyrics by Theodor S. Geisel, additional music by Albert Hague, and original choreography by John DeLuca.

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.

San Diego Musical Theatre announced today the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Young Frankenstein.