Mary Jo Catlett News

'Bravo! A complete and total home run!!! Dori topped herself,? says Joan Van Ark. Dori Three-time Tony-winning Broadway producer Dori Berinstein has added another hit to her already extensive film and television producing and directing career with ?Gotta Dance.?

Jay Leno once coined the phrase Plaidheads, referring to fans (such as himself) of the hit stage production, Forever Plaid. Well on July 9th, Plaidheads nation wide gathered to celebrate the screening of one of Off-Broadway's most popular and critically acclaimed musicals, as it made its first appearance on the big screen in the Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Special event on Thursday, July 9th. Select members from the original ?Forever Plaid?cast with narration provied by David Hyde Pierce for the pre-taped anniversary performance, as they introduce the event live from the red carpet at Los Angeles' Club Nokia to fans in 500 movie theaters across the country and Canada, followed by a specially-taped 20th Anniversary performance of ?Forever Plaid.? Audiences across the country experienced a memorable evening, combining the 20th Anniversary event classic production with new and interactive twists, including a first-ever live, coast-to-coast in-theater sing-a-long with ?The Plaids.?

Gay men and showtunes? Who knew? It could happen. In fact, it did, as the Tony Award and Two-Time Grammy Award-Winning actress and ultimate DREAMGIRL, Jennifer Holliday, joined the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles in a very special engagement consisting of both classic and recent musical numbers that have defined the boards of the Great White Way.

The 25th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E-will present THE BROTHERS GERSHWIN-GEORGE & IRA as its silver anniversary event on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills. S.T.A.G.E. is the world's longest continuously running AIDS benefit. Net proceeds from the annual event benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), an organization now in its 26th year of providing direct services and HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout Los Angeles County.

On Sat & Sun, March 21 & 22 - The 25th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) Honoring Michael Kearns will present two tribute concerts entitled 'The Brothers Gershwin: George & Ira' to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.

On Sat & Sun, March 21 & 22 - The 25th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) Honoring Michael Kearns will present two tribute concerts entitled 'The Brothers Gershwin: George & Ira' to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.

The 25th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E-will present THE BROTHERS GERSHWIN-GEORGE & IRA as its silver anniversary event on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills. S.T.A.G.E. is the world's longest continuously running AIDS benefit. Net proceeds from the annual event benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), an organization now in its 26th year of providing direct services and HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout Los Angeles County.

The Ovation Award Winning Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and James A. Blackman, Executive Producer present the Broadway hit musical The Full Monty with words and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Terrence McNally. The production opens for previews on Feb. 11,12,13 and the Gala Opening Press Night is Saturday, February 14. The Full Monty is directed by Dan Mojica with choreography by Karen Nowicki and musical direction by Dennis Castellano. The cast of 20 includes Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional stars Mary Jo Catlett, Misty Cotton, Dave Barrus, Danny Stiles, John Bisom, Michelle Duffy, Harrison White, David Carey Foster, Evan Dye. The ensemble includes Leland Burnett, Chris Ciccarelli, Jordon Delp, Stephanie Burkett-Gerson, Jessica Gisin, Tricia Kelly, Constance Lopez, Mike Motroni, August Stoten, Rob Thompson. In this version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of Chippendales. As they prepare for the show, working through their fears, self-consciousness, and anxieties, they overcome their inner demons and find strength in their camaraderie. The musical had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. After 35 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, opened on October 26, 2000 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 770 performances. The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and 12 Drama Desk Awards.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2008. The 40th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 16 at the El Portal Theatre, thanks to the generous donation of the El Portal's management. The theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood. Tickets are $40; $5 off if purchased in advance via PayPal. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a catered reception (with no-host bar) and silent auction. The show commences at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Awards show can be reserved from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com

The Ovation Award Winning Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and James A. Blackman, Executive Producer present the Broadway hit musical The Full Monty with words and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Terrence McNally. The production opens for previews on Feb. 11,12,13 and the Gala Opening Press Night is Saturday, February 14. The Full Monty is directed by Dan Mojica with choreography by Karen Nowicki and musical direction by Dennis Castellano. The cast of 20 includes Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional stars Mary Jo Catlett, Misty Cotton, Dave Barrus, Danny Stiles, John Bisom, Michelle Duffy, Harrison White, David Carey Foster, Evan Dye. The ensemble includes Leland Burnett, Chris Ciccarelli, Jordon Delp, Stephanie Burkett-Gerson, Jessica Gisin, Tricia Kelly, Constance Lopez, Mike Motroni, August Stoten, Rob Thompson. In this version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of Chippendales. As they prepare for the show, working through their fears, self-consciousness, and anxieties, they overcome their inner demons and find strength in their camaraderie. The musical had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. After 35 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, opened on October 26, 2000 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 770 performances. The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and 12 Drama Desk Awards.

On Saturday, November 15th, 2008, Universal Hilton and Tower Ballroom played host to a distinguished panel of toasters to celebrate the extraordinary career of Broadway legend and icon-Carol Channing.

'Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway', a new documentary film by East of Doheny with Albert Maysles, had its premiere Los Angeles screening on Tuesday, April 22nd.

In the final Actors Fund Musical Monday of the year, the incredible Sam Harris came close to blowing the roof off of the Pantages Theatre!

The 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards ceremony was held November 12 at downtown's The Orpheum Theatre. The nights big winners included Sleeping Beauty Wakes (World Premiere Musical), Film Chinois (World Premiere Play) and Jersey Boys (Touring Production)...

The Actors Fund's Musical Mondays in the lobby of The Pantages Theatre continued on Monday night with a performance by recording legend Melissa Manchester.

On Monday night, October 1 Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley kicked off this year's Actors Fund 'Musical Mondays' series in the Pantages Theatre Lobby.

On Saturday, September 8 at 8 PM at the Wilshire Theatre (8440 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills), The Actors' Fund presented a one-night-only engagement of Falsettos, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Finn and James Lapine.

On Sunday, June 10th at L.A.'s Skirball Center, the Actors Fund paid tribute to Jerry Herman at its 11th Annual Tony Awards Party, featuring a live feed of the 61st Annual Tony Awards as they happened in New York.

The Actors' Fund will pay tribute to Jerry Herman at its 11th Annual Tony Awards Party featuring a live feed of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York

The national tour of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, starring Michael York as King Arthur, Rachel York as Guenevere and James Barbour as Lancelot, recently began at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, CA, where it runs from January 12th through 28th