Mark Koss News

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present West Side Story, April 4-16.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2016 (Dec. 1, 2015 - Nov. 30, 2016).

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 for a limited two week run. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula and Steven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. 

Glimmering coral reefs and a colorful cast of underwater creatures are brought to life in breathtaking detail in 'Disney's The Little Mermaid,' which opened in Columbus Tuesday night. Presented by Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, 'The Little Mermaid' is a stage adaptation of the 1989 animated Disney movie that was, in turn, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale.

The original animated film of "Disney's The Little Mermaid" is arguably one of the best of the Disney canon. With songs written by the incredible Alan Menken and Howard Ashman it marked the rebirth of the Disney animated musicals. The original conversion of it into a Broadway musical was not so great. With bad staging and flow, achieving the illusion of swimming by putting the actors on Heelys (shoes with wheels in the heels) so they would glide across stage, and additional songs from Menken and Glenn Slater (owing to the passing of the great Howard Ashman) the show lost much of it's core cleverness and heart in favor of the cliche and gimmicky. Now there's a new version with a reworked book and score and much improved staging which is currently being offered at the 5th Avenue Theatre and while it still may not have that magical greatness of the original film it does manage a magic of its own largely due to some new stage magic and a stellar cast including an Ariel (Diana Huey) who is the most layered, honest, real and still adorable Disney Princess ever.

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The 5th Avenue Theatre this holiday season. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Seattle's own Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula andSteven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. The 5th Avenue's production will go on to play engagements in cities including Orlando, Cincinnati,Atlanta and Louisville, among others.

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The 5th Avenue Theatre this holiday season. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Seattle's own Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula andSteven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. The 5th Avenue's production will go on to play engagements in cities including Orlando, Cincinnati,Atlanta and Louisville, among others.

Watching Cabrillo Music Theatre's The Little Mermaid on the Fred Kavli stage is an enjoyable treat, almost like viewing the Disney film ... it's so alive and scintillating. All the color and splendor of the ocean is onstage, and that has a lot to say about this production's creative team. All the technical aspects of the show are working smoothly, in sync. Cabrillo may be assuredly proud of their production. The sad thing is it only plays a week more, until Sunday July 24.

Snaps for Music Circus! Even with some sound balance and microphone issues opening night, "the "endorphin-happy" score of "Legally Blonde" built a momentum ripe for excitement.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 66th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans--some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts--Tony nominees, and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

Besides the Hollywood Bowl's all-star concert event, THE LITTLE MERMAID also made a splash at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. This visually-gorgeous, fully-staged new production of the film's Broadway stage adaptation---produced locally by McCoy Rigby Entertainment with new staging and direction by Glenn Casale---continues in the city of La Mirada through June 26.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 66th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans--some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts--Tony nominees, and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT presents the fifth and final show of its 2015-2016 season, THE LITTLE MERMAID, music by Alan Menkcn, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright, musical direction by Colin R. Freeman, choreography by John MacInnis and directed by Glenn Casale.  THE LITTLE MERMAID will run through Sunday, June 26, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.   BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the opening night curtain call and press celebration below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT invite you to journey "Under The Sea" as it presents the fifth and final show of its 2015-2016 season, THE LITTLE MERMAID, music by Alan Menkcn, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright, musical direction by Colin R. Freeman, choreography by John MacInnis and directed by Glenn Casale. 

Although I don't remember seeing the film of THE LITTLE MERMAID in theatres, I do recall being five years old when the VHS tape was released. Watching on the 12-inch screen in my grandmother's guest room, I'd sing as I played, rewound and replayed the tape for hours on end. The fact that I'd have to wait for years to play my dream role onstage was then unimaginable. Later, when the Broadway production opened in 2007, not only had I not grown into a mezzo-soprano mermaid, but I'd also begun a different job with Disney Theatricals as a manager in their New Amsterdam Theatre. Despite sitting in on several meetings about Disney's plans to renovate the Lunt-Fontane Theatre for Ariel and her friends, I somehow never found myself "under the sea" during the show's brief run. This weekend's performance by Dallas Summer Musicals definitely showed me what I'd missed!

Since Sacramento last saw "The Little Mermaid," director Glenn Casale has fin(e)-tuned Disney's script and created a near-perfect,  spectacle of a production. The unofficial mini-tour of the show comes to Sacramento courtesy of California Musical Theatre this week only and is already sold out. 

59E59 Theaters has announced that SONGBIRD is extending its run through Sunday, December 6. The production was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 29.

See 'Songbird,' a gem of a show, now at 59E59 through November 29th. It is written by Michael Kimmel, directed by JV Mercanti with original music and lyrics by Lauren Prichard. Based on 'The Seagull' by Anton Chekhov, it is set in Tennessee and features an excellent country music score.

59E59 Theaters presents SONGBIRD, which just opened last night, October 28, as part of its 5A Season. The cast features Ephie Aardema (Parade at Lincoln Center In Concert); Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (Big Fish, Finian's Rainbow), Adam Cochran (The Last Goodbye at The Old Globe), Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Christmas Story, The Musical), Don Guillory (Stickfly),Drew McVety (The Last Ship, Sunday in the Park with George), Eric William Morris (Coram Boy, Mamma Mia!), Kacie Sheik (Hair); Tony Award nominee Bob Stillman (Dirty Blond, Grey Gardens), and Andy Taylor (Once, On The Twentieth Century).

59E59 Theaters presents SONGBIRD, which just opened last night, October 28, as part of its 5A Season. The cast features Ephie Aardema (Parade at Lincoln Center In Concert); Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (Big Fish, Finian's Rainbow), Adam Cochran (The Last Goodbye at The Old Globe), Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Christmas Story, The Musical), Don Guillory (Stickfly),Drew McVety (The Last Ship, Sunday in the Park with George), Eric William Morris (Coram Boy, Mamma Mia!), Kacie Sheik (Hair); Tony Award nominee Bob Stillman (Dirty Blond, Grey Gardens), and Andy Taylor (Once, On The Twentieth Century).