Michael Donovan News

The era of the British Music Invasion comes alive in "ModRock," a new musical, which is having its world premiere engagement beginning Wednesday, June 19 (press opening Sunday Evening, June 23) at the El Portal Theatre. "ModRock" is set in the vibrant, swinging London of the mid 1960's - a time when styles and cultures clashed, the British bands ruled the pop charts and all fashion trends emerged out of Carnaby Street.

The Pasadena Playhouse's 2012 - 2013 HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse series continues with its next two presentations. Iago, by the late James McLure with Creative Consultant Beth Henley and directed by Art Manke will perform April 16 and 17, 2013. Displacement by Shauna Kandilian-Vartanian and directed by Kappy Kilburn will perform May 14 and 15, 2013.

The Los Angeles based Festival of New American Musicals was formed specifically to cultivate new American musicals and nurture America's musical youth. SHOWSEARCH, the Festival's nation-wide search for the best ten minute musical written by 16-to-25-year-olds crowned its winners March 23rd in Los Angeles at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, in cooperation with the LAUSD. Check out the video below!

The Los Angeles based Festival of New American Musicals was formed specifically to cultivate new American musicals and nurture America's musical youth. SHOWSEARCH, the Festival's nation-wide search for the best ten minute musical written by 16-to-25-year-olds crowned its winners March 23rd in Los Angeles at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, in cooperation with the LAUSD. Check out the photos below!

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for tonight, March 20 and 21.

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) brings Neil Simon's comic masterpiece about show business, friendship and growing old, 'The Sunshine Boys' to Arizona audiences. David Ira Goldstein directs one of Neil Simon's most beloved and acclaimed plays in ATC's new production that will premiere in Tucson for three weeks of performances and continue to Phoenix for an additional three weeks. ATC's 'The Sunshine Boys' opens at the Temple of Music and Art, running from tonight, March 2, 2013 through March 23, 2013. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from March 28, 2013 through April 14, 2013.

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) brings Neil Simon's comic masterpiece about show business, friendship and growing old, 'The Sunshine Boys' to Arizona audiences. David Ira Goldstein directs one of Neil Simon's most beloved and acclaimed plays in ATC's new production that will premiere in Tucson for three weeks of performances and continue to Phoenix for an additional three weeks. ATC's 'The Sunshine Boys' opens at the Temple of Music and Art, running from March 2, 2013 through March 23, 2013. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from March 28, 2013 through April 14, 2013.

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for March 20 and 21.

On your marks for the original amazing race! International City Theatre's 28th season gets off to a flying start with Around the World in 80 Days, adapted by Mark Brown from the visionary, classic adventure story by Jules Verne and directed by Allison Bibicoff. For a taste of exotic locales, daring exploits, narrow escapes and great fun, head over to International City Theatre at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center between now and February 17, 2013. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 20, 2013 - Sunday, January 20, 2013.

The Outside the Box Musical Theater Group is casting a new musical. Choreographer Kay Cole (the original Maggie in A Chorus Line) and veteran casting director Michael Donovan are behind the table with director Stephen Findle. Who's auditioning? What's the show? Who will be cast? Stay tuned. The episode also features Calvin Remsberg (Sweeney Todd), Barry Pearl (Grease, the movie, Baby It's You), and many others.

Two obsessive linguists and a nine-year-old zealot meet head-on with the magnetic leader of an est-like group training seminar in Complete, a new, fast-paced comedy by Andrea Kuchlewska opening February 23 at the Matrix Theatre in West Hollywood.

With the recent success of competition programs such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and, of course, Dancing With The Stars, competitions such as the now successful Stage LA's Next Great Star have caught the attention of many a young hopeful. Although the first of the 6 week competition has passed, the competition has five more weeks of competitive talent lined up. The producers have just announced the complete line up of celebrated judges for the reamaining dates of Jan 13, 20, 27 and Feb 3 adn 10 (below).

On your marks for the original amazing race! International City Theatre's 28th season gets off to a flying start with Around the World in 80 Days, adapted by Mark Brown from the visionary, classic adventure story by Jules Verne. For a taste of exotic locales, daring exploits, narrow escapes and great fun, head over to International City Theatre at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center between January 25 and February 17, or take in a low-priced preview on January 23 or 24.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal has set Sunday, December 9 as auditions for the 7th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it was announced today by producers Michael Sterling and Tony Monsour of Michael Sterling & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. www.msapr.net. For the second consecutive year - author, actress, concert headliner, and arts philanthropist Barbara Van Orden joins Sterling and Monsour by gifting LA's Next Great Stage Star® with the Barbara Van Orden Grant which provides invaluable assistance to production of the annual competition.

Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider have announced the first show of its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season, the smash-hit, critically-acclaimed world premiere musical, JUSTIN LOVE, book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, lyrics by Lori Scarlett, directed by Michael Matthews, choreography by Janet Roston and musical direction by Gregory Nabours is adding performances through Sunday, December 16 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

Given each year, in addition to the awards presented to casting directors for their achievements in Theatre, Television, and Film casting, the CSA also gave out the following special awards to Casting Director Lora Kennedy for the Hoyt Bowers Award given for excellence in casting; Harvey Fierstein received The New York Apple Award given to individual for contributions to the New York casting community and Ben Affleck, who received the Career Achievement Award.

The joint will be jumpin' when International City Theatre closes its 2012 season with Ain't Misbehavin', the Tony Award-winning musical revue based on the life of Thomas "Fats" Waller. Saundra McClain directs Phillip Brandon (national tour: The Color Purple), Niketa Calame (Celebration Theatre's The Color Purple), Amber Mercomes (San Francisco and Los Angeles Opera productions of Porgy and Bess), Lacy Darryl Phillips (Broadway: Fosse and A Raisin in the Sun) and Jennifer Shelton (first national tour of Ragtime; previously seen on the ICT stage in Songs for a New World, Five Course Love, The Story, Honk! and Swinging on a Star), with musical direction by Rahn Coleman and choreography by Stephen Semien. Performances take place October 12 through November 4 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, with low-priced previews beginning tonight, October 9.

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. Watch interviews with the cast and creative team below!

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. With a book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, story by David Elzer and Bret Calder, music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, lyrics by Lori Scarlett, directed by Michael Matthews, choreography by Janet Roston, orchestrations by John Ballinger and musical direction by Gregory Nabours, JUSTIN LOVEwill be presented through Sunday, November 18 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.