Ricardo Montalban News

Pacific Lyric Association is offering a free Workshop for Educators in conjunction with its upcoming production of Luisa Fernanda, the Zarzuela. The Workshop for Educators takes place on Saturday, January 31 from 9 am-12 pm at Art/Works Theatre in Hollywood. Performances of Luisa Fernanda will take place February 19-21 at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre. 'As a high school and college theater educator for over 35 years, I'm struck by the art form of zarzuela as a powerful learning experience for students of theater, music, history and Spanish,' explains workshop coordinator Barbara Masters. 'With its stirring music and intriguing characters, I believe that Luisa Fernanda will excite the diverse young people of Southern California who have little or no knowledge of this honored and widely recognized Spanish lyric opera form. It's a wonderful opportunity to enhance the arts and cultural education of our students.' A zarzuela (pronounced zar zway' la) is a Spanish musical that blends the brilliance of Broadway with the passion of opera. The art form had its inception near Madrid in the 1640s. Influenced over the centuries by Italian and French musical styles, but retaining a distinct personality, zarzuelas flourished as a popular entertainment in the 1920s and '30s. Workshop participants will learn about the origins, history and components of the zarzuela form; explore the social and historical background of Luisa Fernanda - including the Spanish political climate in both 1868, when the zarzuela is set, and 1932, when it was written; hear music and songs sung by members of the cast; and receive a copy of 'El Cuaderno' ('The Notebook'), an eight-page, in-depth, California State Standards-based study guide that can be used as a teaching tool.

Known to millions as Carol Brady, Florence Henderson, a multi-talented actress, talk show host, performer, recording artist, author and Broadway veteran, brings her critically acclaimed one-woman production of ALL THE LIVES OF ME?A Musical Journey, under the musical direction of Emmy award-winning Composer Glen Roven, to Los Angeles at Sunset's Catalina Bar & Grill.

Pacific Lyric Association is offering a free Workshop for Educators in conjunction with its upcoming production of Luisa Fernanda, the Zarzuela. The Workshop for Educators takes place on Saturday, January 31 from 9 am-12 pm at Art/Works Theatre in Hollywood. Performances of Luisa Fernanda will take place February 19-21 at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre. 'As a high school and college theater educator for over 35 years, I'm struck by the art form of zarzuela as a powerful learning experience for students of theater, music, history and Spanish,' explains workshop coordinator Barbara Masters. 'With its stirring music and intriguing characters, I believe that Luisa Fernanda will excite the diverse young people of Southern California who have little or no knowledge of this honored and widely recognized Spanish lyric opera form. It's a wonderful opportunity to enhance the arts and cultural education of our students.' A zarzuela (pronounced zar zway' la) is a Spanish musical that blends the brilliance of Broadway with the passion of opera. The art form had its inception near Madrid in the 1640s. Influenced over the centuries by Italian and French musical styles, but retaining a distinct personality, zarzuelas flourished as a popular entertainment in the 1920s and '30s. Workshop participants will learn about the origins, history and components of the zarzuela form; explore the social and historical background of Luisa Fernanda - including the Spanish political climate in both 1868, when the zarzuela is set, and 1932, when it was written; hear music and songs sung by members of the cast; and receive a copy of 'El Cuaderno' ('The Notebook'), an eight-page, in-depth, California State Standards-based study guide that can be used as a teaching tool.

Love! Rivalry! Politics! Pacific Lyric Association presents Luisa Fernanda, the last of the great Spanish zarzuelas by Federico Moreno Torroba. Four fully-staged performances of the complete libretto by Federico Romero and Guillermo Fernandez Shaw will take place at the 1000-seat Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, February 19-21. Traveling from Spain to conduct the orchestra is the son of the composer, Federico Moreno-Torroba Larregla. Performances will be in Spanish with English supertitles. A zarzuela (pronounced zar zway' la) is a Spanish musical that blends the brilliance of Broadway with the passion of opera. The art form had its inception near Madrid in the 1640s. Legend says the name originates from a pavilion overgrown with blackberry bushes (zarzas) in a remote section of the city's El Prado Park, where actors gathered to present plays and entertain King Philip IV. Influenced over the centuries by Italian and French musical styles, but retaining a distinct personality, zarzuelas flourished as a popular entertainment in the 1920s and '30s. 'Unlike opera, zarzuelas are a form of populist entertainment,' explains Pacific Lyric Association artistic director, Madrid-born Carlos Oliva. 'The role of the story and dialogue is equally important to that of the singing and music - it's an early form of musical theater. It is paramount that the performers be strong actors as well as singers.'

Ricardo Montalban died Wednesday morning at age 88. Montalban's death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president Eric Garcetti. Montalban was a Mexican television, theatre, and film actor. He had a career spanning decades and multiple notable roles. During the late 1970s, he was the spokesperson in automobile advertisements for the Chrysler Cordoba (in which he famously extols the 'Corinthian leather' used for its interior).

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

Known to millions as Carol Brady, Florence Henderson, a multi-talented actress, talk show host, performer, recording artist, author and Broadway veteran, brings her critically acclaimed one-woman production of ALL THE LIVES OF ME?A Musical Journey, under the musical direction of Emmy award-winning Composer Glen Roven, to Los Angeles at Sunset's Catalina Bar & Grill.

Shubert Organization President Philip J. Smith and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, both major figures in the entertainment industry, will be honored by St. Malachy's Church, a.k.a. the Actors Chapel, at the Father George Moore Benefit Dinner at Sardi's, 234 West 44th Street, on Monday, October 27, at 6:00pm.

Shubert Organization President Philip J. Smith and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, both major figures in the entertainment industry, will be honored by St. Malachy's Church, a.k.a. the Actors Chapel, at the Father George Moore Benefit Dinner at Sardi's, 234 West 44th Street, on Monday, October 27, at 6:00pm.

Known to millions as Carol Brady, Florence Henderson, a multi-talented actress, talk show host, performer, recording artist, author and Broadway veteran, brings her critically acclaimed one woman production of ALL THE LIVES OF ME to her hometown of Owensboro, KY.

At a special ceremony in the historic El Portal Theater in North Hollywood on Tuesday January 29, nine legendary leading ladies of American motion pictures, television and Broadway productions donated objects from their award-winning careers to the National Museum of American History.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), now in its fourth year, is a three-week event in NYC that has premiered over 90 musicals in its first three years, becoming the largest musical theatre event in America. Tickets for NYMF productions are available at www.nymf.org or by calling 212-352-3101. This year's Festival will run from September 17 through October 7 with the following schedule of events...

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced today the 2007 NYMF Partner Events

The benefit reunion concert of Jesus Christ Superstar--with Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Ben Vereen and film star Jack Black--was a sell-out success on August 13th!

The original stars of the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar--Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman, and Barry Dennen--will reunite for a benefit concert of the landmark Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera on Sunday, August 13th at 8 PM at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood; it will also feature film star Jack Black

'Something Wondrful' pulled into town in the latest revival tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I.' With its lavish sets and timeless score this classic has not lost it's charm.