Michael Donovan News

I cannot offer enough superlative-laden adjectives to describe the brilliance of the cast, beginning with Eric B. Anthony as Bronco Billy, who channels one of the most famous African American cowboys, Nathan 'Deadwood Dick' Lane, with his effervescent personality making me believe he could easily be one of the great, rodeo-winning cowboy's descendants! His partnership onstage with Amanda Leigh Jerry as Antoinette/Miss Lilly, is beautifully realistic and dreamlike at the same time as they tear up the stage singing catchy tunes while executing athletic choreography to perfection.

A panel of nationally recognized judges- include casting director Michael Donovan, producer, director, and choreographer Andy Ferrara, and Broadway actress and musical theater professor Tory Ross Roman-announced the 2019 winners of The Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors held last night at San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is delighted to present French Stewart and Vanessa Claire Stewart starring in the wonderfully comic HARVEY, written by Mary Chase and directed by Andrew Barnicle. Comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard, "We could not think of a better play to end our 98th season with than HARVEY, starring French and Vanessa Claire Stewart under the inspired direction of Andrew Barnicle. French Stewart will be the perfect Elwood, a role he has always wanted to play!

The Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors announced today the 2019 nominees who will compete in front of a panel of nationally recognized judges on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts (255 S. Almaden Blvd).

24th Street Theatre presents its latest for kids (and for the kids in all of us), the Los Angeles premiere of THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, opening April 6, 2019 at their converted carriage house at the edge of L.A.'s historic West Adams district. I acquired the chance to query Brady Dalton Richards, one of the four-person, EDWARD TULANE ensemble. Brady tackles a number of roles, not including the porcelain rabbit named Edward Tulane.

Skylight Theatre Company (Producing Artistic Director, Gary Grossman and Co-Artistic Director Tony Abatemarco) announced today the world premiere of BRONCO BILLY - THE MUSICAL, It marks the organization's first world premiere musical production. The new musical, based on the Warner Bros. film Bronco Billy, features a book by Dennis Hackin, lyrics and music by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, with additional lyrics by Michele Brourman. Hunter Bird will direct. Preview performances begin on May 10, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The limited engagement plays through June 30 at the Skylight Theatre, located at 1816 ½ North Vermont in Los Feliz, Ca. Tickets are now on sale now at http://www.SkylightTix.com.

Paradise- a groundbreaking play about an unlikely partnership between a student and her teacher- is captivating audiences with a new, fresh run at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles starring Maral Milani and Jeff Marlow.

Bill falls for Sarah, but she is married to Ted. Ted might be a good match for Alice - who is married to Bill. Elina de Santos directs a painfully funny look at modern relationships by former attorney general-turned-playwright Grant Woods. The world premiere of The Things We Do, presented by Never Dark Productions as a guest production at the Odyssey Theatre, opens on April 6, with performances continuing through May 12.

SH-BOOM! Meet fledgling doo-wop singing group the Crooning Crabcakes as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time, International City Theatre opens its 34th season with the delightful, award-winning jukebox musicalLife Could Be A Dream, written and created by Roger Bean. Directed byJamie Torcellini and with musical direction by Bill Wolfe, performances take place Feb. 22 through March 10 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for Feb. 20 and Feb. 21. 

The 2019 Artios Awards for Television, Theatre, Short Films and Short Form Series held ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York on January 31, 2019. Nominees and winners are voted on by members in good standing of the Casting Society of America.

What does science have to tell us about love? Viola Davisand Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions and American Oasis present a moving, funny and thought-provoking drama about science, culture, religion and more. Vicangelo Bulluck directs the West Coast premiere of Paradise by Laura Maria Censabella, running Jan. 26 throughFeb. 17 in a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre.

SH-BOOM! Meet fledgling doo-wop singing group the Crooning Crabcakes as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time, International City Theatre opens its 34th season with the delightful, award-winning jukebox musicalLife Could Be A Dream, written and created by Roger Bean. Directed byJamie Torcellini and with musical direction by Bill Wolfe, performances take place Feb. 22 through March 10 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for Feb. 20 and Feb. 21. 

The Montalban is a special place. The Ricardo Montalban Foundation became the proud owners and operators of this historic venue in 1999. The building has a glorious history of "firsts" and in 2009, after over seventy years of theatrical, screened and broadcast entertainment inside the theatre, it became the first structure in Hollywood's 21st century to curate entertainment on its rooftop. Between sports-related, high-energy dance, film screenings under the stars and other public and private events, The Montalban will be celebrating its first decade of outdoor activities on its multifaceted rooftop in 2019 - all year long! To kick-off its alfresco decade, it's hosting pop-up movie screenings starting on February 1st, just in time for Groundhog Day, with a trio of Harold Ramis comedies before the official season of Rooftop Movies at The Montalban returns in April. Films will include Animal House (Fri. 2/1), Groundhog Day ON Groundhog Day (Sat. 2/2) and Caddyshack (Sun. 2/3 ). For Valentine's Day The Montalban will host another pop-up with over a week of romance-themed film screenings from Friday, February 8th through Sunday, February 17, 2019. Tickets range in price from $18 to $50. The Montalban is located at 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028. To learn more or buy tickets, please call the box office at 323-461-6999 or visit https://www.themontalban.com.

The Mollyhouse, the highly-anticipated original musical with book and lyrics by Richard Hanson and music by Divya Maus will have a staged reading at the historic Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028.  For more information, please visit MollyhouseMusical.com

Milford Arts Council, The MAC presents a two-day indoor blues and bluegrass festival called The Souped Up Blues Grass Bash on January 12 and 13. It's an indoor weekend music festival that'll warm your heart, and a fantastic way to forget about a cold January weekend in the dead of winter!

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

What does science have to tell us about love? Viola Davisand Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions and American Oasis present a moving, funny and thought-provoking drama about science, culture, religion and more. Vicangelo Bulluck directs the West Coast premiere of Paradise by Laura Maria Censabella, running Jan. 26 throughFeb. 17 in a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre.

Milford Arts Council, The MAC presents a two-day indoor blues and bluegrass festival called The Souped Up Blues Grass Bash on January 12 and 13. It's an indoor weekend music festival that'll warm your heart, and a fantastic way to forget about a cold January weekend in the dead of winter!

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.