Michael Donovan News

Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you tolerate before taking a stand to defend the woman you love? Neil LaBute's provocative comedy, Fat Pig opens April 26 at the Hudson Mainstage in Hollywood. The revival, directed by Alexis Jacknow, features new material not seen before in L.A.

New York-based playwright/psychiatrist Guy Fredrick Glass tackles the controversial subject of gay conversion therapy in a tale of love, liberation and opera. John Henry Davis directs the world premiere of Doctor Anonymous, opening March 29 at the Zephyr Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

While attempting to confront his career's inevitable downslide, unremarkable race car driver Bobby Horvath visits his family and friends back in Mansfield, Ohio, while trying to determine which way to go with his life. Over the course of numerous flashbacks, past and present collide as Bobby takes a serious look at where he has been and where he wants to be in the future. But if winning is all there is, it is going to be a long road for Bobby to make it to the finish line.

New York-based playwright/psychiatrist Guy Fredrick Glass tackles the controversial subject of gay conversion therapy in a tale of love, liberation and opera. John Henry Davis directs the world premiere of Doctor Anonymous, opening March 29 at the Zephyr Theatre.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

Four African-American women journey west to the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas in search of the freedom promised by the end of the Civil War. Saundra McClain directs Pearl Cleage's powerful historical drama Flyin' West, opening March 14 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on March 12 and March 13.

On last night's episode of The Rick Mercer Report, host Rick Mercer attempted to conduct the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The Rick Mercer Report, a weekly half-hour topical comedy, debuted on CBC Television in January 2004 and is now in it's 11th season. The most-watched Canadian television comedy, the show garners well over a million viewers every week.

Tomorrow night, Canada is in for a musical treat! On tomorrow's episode of The Rick Mercer Report, host Rick Mercer will attempt to conduct the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The feature will air Tuesday at 8PM on the CBC.

Groupies, trophies and fast, beautiful cars. Is winning all there is? Terri Hanauer directs a rare revival of the celebrated Broadway drama that kick-started playwright/screenwriter John Bishop's career. Nick Stabile (Bride of Chucky, Dennis Wilson in ABC's award-winning The Beach Boys) heads the cast as once-great NASCAR racer Bobby Horvath in The Trip Back Down, opening Feb. 21 at the Whitefire Theatre.

The 2014 season continues this weekend after its launch last Sunday, January 5th, in North Hollywood, CA. at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal.

LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 sings in the New Year beginning Sunday, January 5 at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

It's delightful. It's delicious. It's de-lovely! International City Theatre opens its 29th season with the California premiere of Let's Misbehave: The Music and Lyrics of Cole Porter, conceived by Karin Bowersock (book) and Patrick Young (musical arrangements) and directed and choreographed by Todd Nielsen. With musical direction by Darryl Archibald and starring triple-threats Lindsey Alley, Marc Ginsburg and Jennifer Shelton, Let's Misbehave opens Jan. 24 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, has set Sunday, December 15, 2013 as auditions for the 8th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it was announced today by Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. "Our annual auditions in search of 10 men and 10 women between within the ages of 18 and 28, is highly anticipated by the hierarchy of those in the business of presenting Los Angeles Broadway musical theatre. We couldn't be more grateful to our professional colleagues and select corporate entities for their consistent support of Stage Star since its inception eight years ago."

The Portland Players choice of Rogers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music for their holiday season is a joyous one for cast and audience alike. The production directed by Joshua Chard with a cast of primarily young players radiates a warmth and sincerity which makes up for any of its defects.

When You Wish: The story of Walt Disney officially opened October 16 at UCLA's distinguished Freud Theatre following four successful previews (October 11 - 13). BWW TV's Los Angeles correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans were invited to visit with the cast and creative team as the world premiere musical was approaching its first preview performance. When You Wish is the first ever musical about Walt Disney who is considered not only one of the most universally celebrated, award-winning figures in entertainment history, but one of the greatest showmen on earth. The long anticipated project features an original score of 17 songs with Music and Book by Dean McClure; Direction by Broadway's Larry Raben; and Choreography by Lee Martino. Still an active performer, author and business man... film and television star, and former pop recording superstar Pat Boone co-produces When You Wish with Dean McClure and Robert Rudolph. Check out the video below!

International City Theatre bids au revoir to its 2013 season with a sexy, modern French farce, adapted for English-speaking audiences by Robin Hawdon from the original by Marc Camoletti(Boeing-Boeing). Directed byTodd Nielsen, Don't Dress for Dinner opens Oct. 11 atInternational City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.

The life and times of Walt Disney, perhaps the most universally celebrated, award-winning figure in the history of entertainment, comes to the stage in When You Wish, the first ever musical about one of the greatest showmen on earth. When You Wish previews October 11 - October 13 followed by its official world premiere October 16 - November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA.

International City Theatre bids au revoir to its 2013 season with a sexy, modern French farce, adapted for English-speaking audiences by Robin Hawdon from the original by Marc Camoletti (Boeing-Boeing). Directed by Todd Nielsen, Don't Dress for Dinner opens Oct. 11 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.