Lee Martin News

Over two dozen stars of film, stage and television were given a standing ovation by a sold out crowd for the 30th Anniversary of S.T.A.G.E. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA Saturday, May 10, 2014. And, on hand to get up close and personal with the stars, were BWW TV's longtime Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling with Videographer/Co-Producer, Jordan Santacana. Check out the video below!

The Round Square Festival returns to Theatre 82 in Cranston, RI this year with another stellar lineup. Dedicated to songwriters in New England, the festival will feature some of the area's best in an acoustic setting. Enjoy a weekend of music influenced by Americana and folk.

Artists' Exchange has announced its upcoming camps, productions and events. Details below!

The Round Square Festival returns to Theatre 82 in Cranston, RI this year with another stellar lineup. Dedicated to songwriters in New England, the festival will feature some of the area's best in an acoustic setting. Enjoy a weekend of music influenced by Americana and folk.

Gingold Theatrical Group, under the leadership of David Staller, honored philanthropist Anita Jaffe and playwright/actor Charles Busch at its Annual Golden Shamrock Gala, earlier this week at Manhattan Penthouse (80 Fifth Ave at 14th Street). The GTG Golden Shamrock Award is given annually for artistic contribution to society. Past honorees include Terrence McNally, Judith Ivey, Brian Murray, and Robert Osborne. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night abd you can check out photo coverage below!

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

THE WRONG MAN, written and performed by Ross Golan and directed and choreographed by Lee Martino, has extended through March 30th at Skylight Theatre.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

THE WRONG MAN, written and performed by Ross Golan, will be directed and choreographed by Lee Martino for Skylight Theatre. The show runs now through March 16, 2014.

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW, under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director David Staller, presented George Bernard Shaw's 1894 comedy, Arms and the Man, on Monday, January 27 at 7pm, at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre (2895 Broadway at 95th St). BroadwayWorld has photos from the show below!

Prescott Center for the Arts presents Disney's 101 Dalmations. The music and lyrics are wirtten by Mel Leven, Randy Rogel, Richard Gibbs, Brian Smith, Martin Lee Fuller, and Dan Root. The book was adapted by Marcy Heisler and the music was arranged by Bryan Louiselle. The musical will directed by Debra White.

Contestants in LA's Next Great Stage Star competition had an exciting second week on Sunday, January 12th. The theme for this round was Breaking New Ground - A Little New Music, and featured songs from some of today's most up and coming musical theatre writers.

Skylight Theatre Company has announced the first show of its inaugural season, the world premiere of The Wrong Man. Written and performed by Ross Golan, this unique underground musical about the justice system gone wrong also features Jennifer Brasuell and will be directed and choreographed by Lee Martino. Preview performances of The Wrong Man begin January 25 with opening set for Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through March 2 only.

LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 sings in the New Year beginning Sunday, January 5 at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

When You Wish/The Story of Walt Disney. It is high time that the life and career of iconic artist/animator Walt Disney be honored artistically. Of course, his films all stand the test of time, but we know little about the man, his persona and the early years of struggle. Wouldn't it be assuring to learn that success even for a genius does not come easy? And just plain fun to find out where and how Mickey Mouse came about? Instead of a biopic, the producers have decided upon an original stage musical. Therein lies the biggest flaw. This new tribute is labeled/described as a Pre-Broadway production. Let's reflect a moment or two on what makes for a successful Broadway show. Disney's own The Lion King, from screen to stage, is a perfect example of that kind of huge success. It is a spectacle with grand theatricality, giant universal family conflicts and dynamite appeal in sight and sound to sustain long lines at the box office. As endearing as it is, this little musical When You Wish falls short in these respects... in spite of the fact that it has a dream cast and a superlative creative team. Now onstage through November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, the show, nonetheless, does have a carload of merit. If Broadway is not the answer, it does deserve a place somewhere.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present WONDERFUL TOWN, the inaugural performance of their 2013-2014 season at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. The one-night-only concert will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

When You Wish: The story of Walt Disney officially opened October 16 at UCLA's distinguished Freud Theatre following four successful previews (October 11 - 13). BWW TV's Los Angeles correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans were invited to visit with the cast and creative team as the world premiere musical was approaching its first preview performance. When You Wish is the first ever musical about Walt Disney who is considered not only one of the most universally celebrated, award-winning figures in entertainment history, but one of the greatest showmen on earth. The long anticipated project features an original score of 17 songs with Music and Book by Dean McClure; Direction by Broadway's Larry Raben; and Choreography by Lee Martino. Still an active performer, author and business man... film and television star, and former pop recording superstar Pat Boone co-produces When You Wish with Dean McClure and Robert Rudolph. Check out the video below!

The life and times of Walt Disney, perhaps the most universally celebrated, award-winning figure in the history of entertainment, comes to the stage in When You Wish, the first ever musical about one of the greatest showmen on earth. When You Wish previews October 11 - October 13 followed by its official world premiere October 16 - November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA.

The Pearl Theatre Company kicks off its 30th anniversary season-the second season in its new home on West 42nd Street-with the first New York revival in 15 years of George Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell in a co-production with the Gingold Theatrical Group that is directed by David Staller. Running September 3-October 13, the show's sumptuous costumes, elegant settings and Shavian wit will raise a champagne toast to a year of celebration at The Pearl, where Shaw, following Shakespeare, has been the second most produced playwright in The Pearl's history. The production is also the centerpiece of the Shaw New York 2013 festival. Below, check out photos from opening night!