Little Richard News

Philip Wegener, Sara Schedeen and Christopher Barrett present Tim Piper starring as John Lennon in the world premiere of JUST IMAGINE, directed by Steve Altman. JUST IMAGINE will preview on Friday, October 2 at 8pm; Saturday, October 3 at 8pm; Sunday, October 4 at 3pm and will open on Friday, October 9 at 8pm (John Lennon's 69th Birthday) and will run for six weeks through Sunday, November 8 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

In celebration of September 'Healthy Aging Month,' The Move Free Dancers, a recreational performing dance troupe of active adults, age 50 and above, are taking their message of the importance of senior fitness and empowerment on the road, on a mission to recruit 1,000 like-minded Move Free Dancers.

GREASE, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey will be holding auditions on Friday, August 28 from 5 - 9pm with callbacks scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 11am at 3415 Swetzer Road Loomis, CA 95650

GREASE, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey will be holding auditions on Friday, August 28 from 5 - 9pm with callbacks scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 11am at 3415 Swetzer Road Loomis, CA 95650

GREASE, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey will be holding auditions on Friday, August 28 from 5 - 9pm with callbacks scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 11am at 3415 Swetzer Road Loomis, CA 95650

Shakespeare's Richard II is the first play in a series about the nature of kingship that includes Henry IV, (parts I & II) and Henry V. In the medieval understanding there is an intimate connection between Ruler and Realm.

On Friday and Saturday nights Richard Lewis and Susie Essman performed at the Venetian Theatre. It was vintage Las Vegas ? very funny and very, very blue. They are a perfect combination. He is burdened by tons of psychological baggage and she carries nothing, just lets it all out. It was great fun and I hope they return very, very soon

Carbonell Award nominee, Robert Dawson, returns to the Playhouse after directing and choreographing widely acclaimed productions of NUNSENSE and HAIR to direct this summer production of GREASE, which runs July 10 through August 1, 2009 (Thursdays through Sundays) on the main stage.

This past weekend, Broadway and recording star Billy Porter brought his new hit one man show 'The Standard' to Upright Cabaret at Mark's Restaurant for two sold-out SRO engagements. Upright Cabaret producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel in association with Lenny Beer and Suzi Dietz proudly presented Porter to Los Angeles audiences, with those in attendance including Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and 'Dreamgirls' film director Bill Condon.

Crowns is back in town, and with direction and choreography by Kenneth Lee Roberson (Broadway's Avenue Q, Arena's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) and musical direction by Grammy nominee e'Marcus Harper, this soulful musical will be bigger than ever in the Lincoln Theatre. Arena favorites Marva Hicks (The Women of Brewster Place) and E. Faye Butler (Dinah Was, Ain't Misbehavin') are joined by NaTasha Yvette Williams (Broadway's The Color Purple), Mary Millben, Kara Tameika Watkins, Phillip Boykin and Zurin Villanueva. Howard University student Villanueva was discovered in Arena's January 'Finding Yolanda' one-day casting search, and this production marks her debut professional performance.

Upright Cabaret will present Broadway star and recording artist Billy Porter as he debuts his one-man show, The Standard, on the West Coast with James Sampliner set to Music Direct.

After three sold out standing room only engagements at Upright Cabaret in Los Angeles, Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel proudly present Broadway star and Los Angeles native Eden Espinosa (Broadway: Wicked, Brooklyn, Rent) in her hit solo debut entitled Eden Espinosa - Me.

Upright Cabaret has named veteran Broadway star, director and recording artist Billy Porter as Artistic Director overseeing work with affiliated artists on shaping their performances, liaise with musical directors on song selection and interpretation and provide added structure to existing shows. Porter will also work with Upright on cultivating new shows which further expand the cabaret art form, using Upright?s home base of Mark?s Restaurant in West Hollywood as a workshop for the development of new work.

Theatre World Award-winner Mary Birdsong ('Reno 911!'), 'American Idol' and Broadway star Diana DeGarmo, West End musical actor and 'American idol' contestant Tom Lowe, and musical and film actress Tressa Thomas have been cast in 'Back to Bacharach and David,' the Off-Broadway hit having a 23-performance limited engagement, April 15 to May 17 (press opening April 19) at The Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

Upright Cabaret will present Broadway star and recording artist Billy Porter as he debuts his one-man show, The Standard, on the West Coast with James Sampliner set to Music Direct.

Crowns is back in town, and with direction and choreography by Kenneth Lee Roberson (Broadway's Avenue Q, Arena's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) and musical direction by Grammy nominee e'Marcus Harper, this soulful musical will be bigger than ever in the Lincoln Theatre. Arena favorites Marva Hicks (The Women of Brewster Place) and E. Faye Butler (Dinah Was, Ain't Misbehavin') are joined by NaTasha Yvette Williams (Broadway's The Color Purple), Mary Millben, Kara Tameika Watkins, Phillip Boykin and Zurin Villanueva. Howard University student Villanueva was discovered in Arena's January 'Finding Yolanda' one-day casting search, and this production marks her debut professional performance.

Casa Ma?ana Conducting Auditions for ROCKIN' WITH MOTHER GOOSE Saturday, February 14 at Casa Ma?ana Theatre Youth and adult auditions for Casa Ma?ana Children's Playhouse production of Rockin' with Mother Goose will be held Saturday, February 14 beginning at 10:00 am for adults and 1:00 pm for youth in the Rehearsal Studio at Casa Ma?ana Theatre. The engagement of Rockin' with Mother Goose is produced by Casa Ma?ana at Casa Ma?ana Theatre, March 31 - April 19, 2009. The Rehearsal Studio at Casa Ma?ana Theatre, 3101 West Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, 76107 (in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District).

After three sold out standing room only engagements at Upright Cabaret in Los Angeles, Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel proudly present Broadway star and Los Angeles native Eden Espinosa (Broadway: Wicked, Brooklyn, Rent) in her hit solo debut entitled Eden Espinosa - Me.

Casa Ma?ana Conducting Auditions for ROCKIN' WITH MOTHER GOOSE Saturday, February 14 at Casa Ma?ana Theatre Youth and adult auditions for Casa Ma?ana Children's Playhouse production of Rockin' with Mother Goose will be held Saturday, February 14 beginning at 10:00 am for adults and 1:00 pm for youth in the Rehearsal Studio at Casa Ma?ana Theatre. The engagement of Rockin' with Mother Goose is produced by Casa Ma?ana at Casa Ma?ana Theatre, March 31 - April 19, 2009. The Rehearsal Studio at Casa Ma?ana Theatre, 3101 West Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, 76107 (in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District).

Upright Cabaret producers/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel proudly present Broadway star and Los Angeles native Eden Espinosa in her first solo effort entitled EDEN ESPINOSA - ME to be directed by Broadway & recording star Billy Porter with Ben Toth taking over Music Direction. During the last month of Wicked's run at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, where she is currently starring as Elphaba, Espinosa will take off the green to perform four solo concerts which will feature a different special guest each night. Special guests T.B.A.