Lee David News

Garry Marshall Theatre is presenting the off Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill, one of the most popular recent musicals with over 600 productions worldwide including in Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia and London.

Two of L.A's. leading small theatres will showcase award-winning productions on Arts in Review, Friday, July 19 (2 to 2:30pm) on KPFK 90.7fm, Pacifica Radio for Southern California.

American Blues Theater announces casting for the Chicago revival of The Spitfire Grill, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, with book by James Valcq and Fred Alley, lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Valeq. The Spitfire Grill, directed by Tammy Mader with music direction by Malcolm Ruhl, runs July 12 – August 17, 2019 at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont Ave in Chicago.  

A Noise Within (ANW), California's acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, is proud to announce the California Premiere of Nick Dear's Frankenstein, directed by Michael Michetti and adapted from the original novel by Mary Shelley. The first play of ANW's 2019-2020 season, THEY PLAYED WITH FIRE, will run as a stand-alone production from Aug. 11 through Sept. 8, 2019. An instant international sensation, Frankenstein was first captured live in 2011 on London's National Theatre stage in celebration of the novel's 200th anniversary. Distributed to cinemas across the globe, the original production was directed by Academy Award-winner Danny Boyle and starred Benedict Cumberbatch alternating between the roles of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. There will be press performances on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 18 at 2 p.m.

The 1996 Film The Spitfire Grill was a big winner at Sundance and other festivals. It is a drama about a small New England town called Gillead where one restaurant The Spitfire Grill has been up and running for 40 years. Since then a musical was created by Fred Alley and James Valq and little is changed. Characters and most of the plotline are the same as in the movie, with the addition of music, of course. The Spitfire Grill is a small restaurant business for a small community. Its owner Hannah Ferguson (Sarah Saviano) cooks three meals a day and runs the place by herself.  Bold and stubborn as a mule, Hannah keeps a dark secret about a close relation. It takes a stranger to Gillead to uncover the secret, to cause further complication and ... to gradually set things right. Now onstage at the Garry Marshall Theatre through August 11, The Spitfire Grill  is a winning production that will entertain you and simultaneously tug at your heart strings.

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the off Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill, one of the most popular recent musicals with over 600 productions worldwide including in Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia and London.

Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital's surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun faces new interpersonal challenges while taking on even more difficult medical cases. The full new season is available on DVD August 6. 

Summer Rolls takes us into the heart of a British Vietnamese family that is struggling to deal with the present, a consequence of the long shadow cast by the past.

The Indie Street Film Festival (ISFF) proudly announced its feature film lineup today. The opening night selection for its 2019 festival is GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH (a 2019 Tribeca Film Festival official selection). The documentary film follows Conductor Tim Seelig and 300 singers in the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus as they embark on a tour of the Deep South in 2017 to confront a resurgence of faith-based anti-LGBTQ laws brought about in the Trump era. Director David Charles Rodrigues is a Greek-American-Brazilian filmmaker and equal rights activist. He's a Sundance New Frontier and Documentary Lab fellow. Gay Chorus Deep South is his feature debut. The film will be followed by a live musical performance by members of the Monmouth Civic Chorus.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, is announcing its 25th Anniversary season, whose theme is: "Life is too important to be taken seriously." This professional company will present three productions, including two world premieres and one New Jersey premiere, in addition to improvisational comedy, cabaret, new play readings, a holiday variety show and many programs for seniors and students. As always, the Dreamcatcher Resident Acting Company and their guests will tell stories that reflect our shared experience of being human with heart and humor.

Today, The Bird and The Bee proclaimed their love for another legendary act announcing the release of Interpreting the Masters Volume 2: A Tribute to Van Halen, a collection of covers of some of the most massive and wild songs from David Lee Roth-era Van Halen.  The beloved indie-pop duo of vocalist Inara George and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin also released a delightful new-wavey fever dream rework of 'Ain't Talking 'Bout Love,' from Van Halen's 1987 self-titled debut. This is the second track available off the album, having recently released 'Panama', a song where Kurstin's lush piano work replaces the revved-up guitar riffs of the original. The album is out August 2nd on No Expectations / Release Me Records.  

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the off Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill, one of the most popular recent musicals with over 600 productions worldwide including in Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia and London.

SONS OF APOLLO--former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (ex-Guns N' Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force)—are pleased to announce the release of 'Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony' on August 30.

 CMA Fest has just announced Eric Church as an additional performer at Nissan Stadium Friday, June 7. Church will take the stage at CMA Fest between shows on his highly successful Double Down Tour, where he made history Saturday night setting the new attendance record at Nissan Stadium with 56,521 people in the audience. Church is the first solo artist to perform at Nissan Stadium sans an opening act, performing alone for more than three hours, with songs spanning his entire six-album catalog. 

The casting for the first British-Vietnamese play to be staged in the UK has been announced. Summer Rolls, by acclaimed writer and actor Tuyen Do, will star Anna Nguyen, Linh-Dan Pham, Kwong Loke, Michael Phong Le, David Lee Jones, Keon Martial-Phillip and Christopher Nguyen. The production is directed by Kristine Landon-Smith.

A living legend during his lifetime, Keith Moon still stands as the pinnacle of rock-star extremism- both in life and music. Keith Moon: The Real Me explores the mind of wayward drummer as he attempts to save himself from the unbearable burden of living up (or down) to his self-created legend of 'Moon the Loon'. As Keith attempts to save himself, he takes the audience on a journey through his early struggles, his joining The Who, and their rise as one of the world's greatest rock bands. The whow explores his acute vulnerability and insecurity, and his struggle to escape the ever-looming rock and roll crash landing.

American Blues Theater announces casting for the Chicago revival of The Spitfire Grill, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, with book by James Valeq and Fred Alley, lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Valeq. 

In 2010, The Bird and The Bee released their fan-favorite album Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates. Today, the beloved indie-pop duo of Inara George and Greg Kurstin have released another fantastic cover, this time of Van Halen's 'Panama.' The track is the first new music released since 2015's critically ­acclaimed Recreational Love and is available to stream now through Apple Music and Spotify, and to purchase through iTunes.

Showtunes Theatre Company will continue its new partnership this season with The Cornish Playhouse as they feature a concert production of The Spitfire Grill, with music by James Valcq, lyrics by Fred Alley, and a book by both artists. The Spitfire Grill continues Showtunes' theme for its 19th season, "Underestimated - Stories about Redefining the Rules," and will feature some of Seattle's amazing actresses in this powerful, intimate story of healing and hope. Directed by Jessica Spencer and with music direction by RJ Tancioco, the show will have four performances only: Saturday, May 4 at 8pm, Sunday, May 5 at 2pm, Saturday, May 11 at 8pm, and Sunday, May 12 at 2pm.