It was a pleasure to return to Kritzerland Sunday July 6 for its 47th show saluting Off-Broadway shows: Kritzerland Goes Off-Broadway. Featured were stalwart hits: Hair, Ruthless!, Little Mary Sunshine, Dames at Sea, Falsettos, The Fantasticks and more recent hits such as Floyd Collins, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Dogfight. With Bruce Kimmel as host, in dandy form as usual with his amazing trivia notes in between numbers, and sensational musical director John Boswell at the piano, the show got off to a rousing start with young Brennley Brown belting out 'Born to Entertain' from Ruthless! Also on the bill for the evening were the wonderful: Robert Yacko, Madison Claire Parks, Kim Huber, young folks Jenna Lee Rosen, Sami Staitman and special guest stars Jason Graae and Rita McKenzie.
Back in the 50s, the era that was innocence personified, Broadway musicals were written to entertain first. Of course, Stephen Sondheim and other more serious composers were beginning to change the face of the American musical with the goal to enlighten, but shows like Li'l Abner, with book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, lyrics by Johnny Mercer & music by Gene De Paul and based on Al Capp's 1934 comic strip, showed us the wild hillbilly lifestyle to make us laugh rather than think. Underneath the surface, to be sure, there is political satire and an uplifting message about appreciating the worth of that lesser known patch of American culture, kind of like what 60sTV audiences found in The Beverly Hillbillies.
On the first Sunday of each month, Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records' presents a supper club musical cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in NoHo. Sunday, April 6, 2014, the group celebrated its two-year anniversary with THESE APRIL FOOLISH THINGS with not only foolish songs but ones having to do with Spring or the month of April in general.
For our 44th Kritzerland show we celebrate the most foolish day and month of the year - April Fools Day. Yes, it's all things April and all things foolish, as well as some things that aren't so foolish. And not only are we celebrating the April Fools, we're celebrating the second anniversary of Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal - in April of 2012 we were the first show in Michael Sterling's new home at The Federal, and we've been there every month since. We have a potpourri of fun planned for our April 6th show, including lots of comedy, some beautiful April-themed songs, and an amazing cast. You'll hear songs you know and songs you don't know, including the world premiere of a brand new Richard M. Sherman song, written with Kritzerland's Bruce Kimmel. And playing it will be Richard M. Sherman, our very special guest star - and as if that and our great cast wasn't enough, we have another guest star, too, the beautiful and superlative Andrea Marcovicci. So, don't be too foolish and wait too long to make your reservations - our last seven shows have been early sellouts. Come and join us to celebrate all the wonderful foolish things we've got planned and to wish Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal a happy anniversary as the best cabaret room in the city enters its third year.
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, has announced a one-night-only concert version of the acclaimed, rarely produced musical KISMET, presented by Musical Theatre West at the University Theatre on the CSULB campus tonight, June 30 at 7 p.m. KISMET is presented as part of the Reiner Reading Series, which presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems.
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, is proud to announce a one-night-only concert version of the acclaimed, rarely produced musical KISMET, presented by Musical Theatre West at the University Theatre on the CSULB campus on Sunday, June 30 at 7 p.m. KISMET is presented as part of the Reiner Reading Series, which presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems.
A company of more than 25 stars of stage and screen entertained a packed house at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Saturday night (April 6) at the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.). BWW TV's Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group were on hand for an up close and personal look at the event , themed 'Broadway, My Way,' which raised more than $285,000 for HIV/AIDS direct care, education, and advocacy services offered by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Check out the video below!
A company of more than 25 stars of stage and screen entertained a packed house at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Saturday night, April 6, at the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.). The event, themed "Broadway, My Way," raised more than $285,000 for HIV/AIDS direct care, education, and advocacy services offered by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).
On Sunday April 7 Kritzerland presented its monthly tribute to great composers, this time around in honor ofthe incomparable lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green, entitled Just in Time: The Songs of Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Grammy Award winner Andrew Rannells will perform for the first time in the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) 'Broadway, My Way,' being held tonight, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.
ALEX NEWELL, one of the newest cast members of FOX's groundbreaking mega-hit series, 'Glee,' has been added to the cast of the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) 'Broadway, My Way,' being held on Saturday, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. David Galligan directs for the 29th time with John McDaniel returning as Musical Director.
Consummate theatre director David Galligan will be directing Broadway, My Way for this year's S.T.A.G.E. event benefiting AIDS on Saturday April 6 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Galligan has given tirelessly to this project since it started back in 1984. Just about every composer has been honored with maybe the exception of Noel Coward and the last 3 years have been devoted to Original Casts of Broadway musicals. This year Broadway, My Way offers something different.
When Oklahoma! was first produced on Broadway in 1943 it became the first smash hit for newly formed collaborating team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and also the first real book musical, preceded only by Showboat. It was a breakthrough musical, which when given a first-class production, is still, some 70 years later, without question, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. 'The Farmer and the Cowman' truly represents the philosophy of what America is all about, a unity and pride that is unmistakably individual. MTW's newest production is exceptional - by far one of the best to be staged in a very long time. Director Davis Gaines - his first direction - magnificently brings together an astoundingly talented cast now in Long Beach through March 3 only.
Musical Theatre West presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, which opened last night, February 16, and continues through March 3, 2013. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent. BroadwayWorld's Lily Lim was at the opening and brings you photos from the event below!
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, has announced the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.
Two-time Tony Award winner SUTTON FOSTER and Tony nominee and Grammy Award winner ANDREW RANNELLS will perform for the first time in the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) 'Broadway, My Way,' being held on Saturday, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, is proud to announce the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.
