Richard Israel News

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Winner 2018 Best Direction of a Musical - Intimate Theatre) announces its 28th Season of shows!

Celebration, under the artistic direction of Michael A. Shepperd, presents the second show in its 2019 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of THE PRODUCERS, A New Mel Brooks Musical, book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Anthony Zediker, produced by Andrew Carlberg and Rebecca Eisenberg and directed by Michael Matthews.

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, based on the greatest movie musical of all time with screenplay by Betty Comden & Adolph Green and songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. The fresh new production will be directed & choreographed by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee for TV's 'So You Think You Can Dance' and Broadway's Head Over Heels, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Falsettos), associate director is Cynthia Ferrer (original 'Kathy Selden' in the first National Tour of Singin' in the Rain) with musical direction by Keith Harrison. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN will preview on Friday, April 19, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 20 at 8pm) and run through Sunday, May 12, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. Preceding, it will perform Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14 at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya), 18111 Nordhoff Street, in Northridge.

Doris and Me is subtitled One Man's Obsession with Doris Day. That man is Scott Dreier, the co-writer and star of this show.

Actors Co-op adds two matinees of this daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

Tybalt and Mercutio now fill the roles of the star crossed lovers born to be enemies. Constructed around Shakespeare's original dialogue and expanded upon into a love story of intrigue, scheming, and hope, two beloved characters get new life, as they each grow into individuals hoping to find a companion in a world where their sexuality has no voice or champion.

Casting is now complete for A New York City staged reading of A Very Brady Musical, a new musical based on the iconic 1970's television show The Brady Bunch, which will be directed by multiple Ovation Award winner Richard Israel.

The 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 28, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

The 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 28, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

A Very Brady Musical, a new musical based on the iconic television show The Brady Bunch, will receive a New York City staged reading under the direction of Richard Israel - the multiple Ovation Award winner for his legendary work in Los Angeles theatre. Israel's also helming the NY-developed Jeff Marx/Fat Mike musical, Home Street Home, set to open in London this spring.

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

I want to be spot.on clear from the onset that actress/singer Claire Adams is an enormous talent. She is pretty in a distinct way...not drop.dead gorgeous, but possessing beauty and warmth that start deep within. Her divine musical instrument and great vocal range are undeniable. On Sunday November 25, Adams presented her one hour long debut cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to a terrific house, considering this was a holiday weekend. A finalist in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2015, Adams has since moved on to dazzle LA audiences in Assassins, Violet, among other shows and is currently essaying She Loves Me at Actors Co-op. A graduate of USC, she is adept at playing edgy characters and has most definitely chosen the right profession as a musical comedy actress.

The nominees for the 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were announced this week.

On Monday, October 15, 2018, the Foundation for New American Musicals returns to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to present the 6th edition of 3RD MONDAYS, an up close and personal experience with exciting musical theatre artists performing songs from Broadway's past, present, and future!

The Foundation for New American Musicals invites you to join us on Sunday, October 14 in a beautiful garden setting for a one-time only staged reading event of an exciting and timely new musical, THE MOLLYHOUSE, by Richard Hanson (book and lyrics) and Divya Maus (music).

KPFK Radio's Arts in Review, Los Angeles's longest-running radio showcase on live theater and cabaret, airs Fridays (2-2:30pm) on KPFK 90.7FM. Today, Sep 7, Julio hosts Valerie Perri and Larry Cedar from Reprise 2.0's staging of the musical, The World Goes Round, currently performing though Sep 16 at The Freud Playhouse at UCLA

Somewhere between its opening of SWEET CHARITY in late June and the end of July, Reprise 2.0 postponed its second scheduled production of its inaugural season, VICTOR/VICTORIA. In its place, the company has mounted a revival of Kander & Ebb's musical revue, THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, and, while it isn't a rarely revived book musical, which has always been Reprise's focus in the past, it does contain a score derived from some of the best songs in the classic Kander & Ebb catalogue (think CHICAGO and CABARET).

Following Reprise's successful re-launch (as the newly christened REPRISE 2.0) with a crowd-pleasing SWEET CHARITY, REPRISE 2.0 mounts THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND on the Freud Playhouse boards beginning September 5, 2018. We had the chance to chat with one of WORLD's talented cast members, theatre vet Valerie Perri on being back with Reprise, while hitting highlights of her extensive theatrical career.

REPRISE 2.0, led by Producing Artistic Director Marcia Seligson, presented in association with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Department of Theater (UCLA TFT) chaired by Brian Kite, performing at UCLA Freud Playhouse, announces casting for Grand Hotel performing October 24 to November 4, as well as a new 2-show FlexPass for $99, now on sale at Reprise2.org and by phone at 866-811-4111.