Richard Israel News

Back in Silverlake by popular demand, and after a Hollywood Fringe Festival run, Anita Bryant's Playboy Interview returns to the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater at Casita del Campo restaurant for only six performances, opening on September 16. This funny, touching, and thought-provoking play chronicles Anita Bryant's campaign to repeal gay rights in Dade County, Florida in 1977.

The New York International Fringe Festival and Red House Arts Center present Patrick Burns in his original one-man-musical, From Foster Care to Fabulous as part of the 20th Annual New York International Fringe Festival. The show opens Friday, August 12th at 7:45 and runs for 5 performances.

ACTORS CO-OP has announced its 25TH SILVER ANNIVERSARY SEASON of shows!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment have announced their 2016-2017 season of shows.

 Rubicon Theatre Company is pleased to announce the complete cast of WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?, part of the second year of the annual Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series. Celebrating the music of George and Ira Gershwin, one of the most significant and popular American songwriting teams of all time, WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE? is presented for three performances only, Saturday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m.

The Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company continues in its second year with a weekend concert celebrating one of the most significant and popular American songwriting teams of all time, George and Ira Gershwin. WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE? will be presented for two nights only on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3.

?3000 Miles Off-Broadway Productions proudly presents, DORIS AND ME: A Sentimental Journey starring SCOTT DREIER at El Portal's Monroe Forum Theatre, in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.  This special engagement will be presented March 18 - 20, 2016 for four performances only.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), in association with Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens & The Rivet Gang announce the third show of their 2015-2016 season, the pre-Broadway engagement of EMPIRE, book, music & lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, musical direction by Sariva Goetz, and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime).  EMPIRE will preview on Friday, January 22, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 23) and run through Sunday, February 14, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at curtain call and press night below!

3000 Miles Off Broadway Productions brings the Doris and M: The Doris Day Songbook from January 15 - 24 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. 

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, continued their 2015-2016 season with the Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim andArthur Laurents 1965 musical DO I HEAR A WALTZ? The one-night-only concert took place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, November 15 at 7:00 PM. Scroll down for photos from the evening!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), present the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics byJonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins).

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), present the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics byJonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins). Check out photos from the show's first curtain call below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), announce the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics by Jonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins).

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 2015-2016 season with the Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents 1965 musical DO I HEAR A WALTZ?

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), announce the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics by Jonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins).  RENT will preview on Friday, October 23, 2015 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 24) and run through Sunday, November 15, 2015 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

One of Stephen Schwartz's failures The Baker's Wife, which toured extensively across the US in 1976 but never made it to Broadway, had a cast recording with Patti LuPone, Paul Sorvino and Teri Ralston and has had a few revivals including the UK. Why did it bomb? It's a simple, sweet show with a lovely message about human connection and a few pretty ballads, especially the hit 'Meadowlark', but there's a spark missing, nothing really exciting to get people into the seats; it's most definitely not commercial enough for Broadway. Based on the 1938 French film La Femme du Boulanger, that may be the main reason that the show is rarely performed. Now onstage at Actors co-op, Baker's Wife is mounted scrumptiously with terrific direction from Richard Israel and a superlatively cast ensemble.

Below, check out photos from ACTORS CO-OP Production of the Stephen Schwartz musical, 'THE BAKER'S WIFE' September 18 – October 25, 2015- Directed by Richard Israel and now playing at the ACTORS CO-OP David Schall Theatre.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE opens tonight, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

After a nationwide search for new short musicals created by young writers, the six final shows have been selected for SHOWSEARCH, produced by The Festival of New American Musicals in residence at University of California, Irvine.

After a nationwide search for new short musicals created by young writers, the six final shows have been selected for SHOWSEARCH, produced by The Festival of New American Musicals in residence at University of California, Irvine.