Richard Jay-Alexander News

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fifth and final show of their second season, CALIFORNIA DREAMIN', starring vocal powerhouse JAKE SIMPSON (2x 'Star Search' Grand Champion, Oprah Winfrey Favorite), Broadway sensation JENNIFER LEIGH WARREN (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, Marie Christine, Big River, Regional: Having It All, The Buddy Holly Story, Diamonds Are Forvever, Cinderella - a Modern Musical Extravaganza), JULIE GARNYE, NATHAN SHRAKE and BROOKE TANSLEY, performing the music of The Mamas and The Papas, Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles.

At 10:32 pm last Friday night, the news began to leak. Cell phones began buzzing backstage across the Great White Way and during the curtain calls of some shows like Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Normal Heart, cast members shared the historic news with exuberant audiences: the New York State Senate had voted 33 to 29 in favor of marriage equality. New York had just become the sixth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage.

Some of the area's finest talent will join Broadway's best triple threats in True Colors, a one-night-only Broadway concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center, Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 for reserved seating and are on sale now through Ticket Omaha, online at TicketOmaha.com, by phone at 402.345.0606 or in person at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 13th and Douglas streets.

Jennifer Leigh Warren and Dame Shirley Bassey have two things in common, according to Warren. They are both short at 5'3', and they both divorced their first husbands. I'll add one more: they can both sell a song, sending it soaring to the heavens. Now @ the Renberg Theatre of the Gay and Lesbian Center, through this Sunday only, June 19, sublime and sassy Jennifer Leigh Warren is singing the songs of the one and only sexy sensation Dame Shirley Bassey in Diamonds Are Forever: The Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey. This must be the rapture they've been talking about. Did I die and go to heaven?

Chris Isaacson and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center proudly present the premiere of Jennifer Leigh Warren in 'DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey,' which will make its Los Angeles debut on June 16 at The Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood, with acclaimed Director Richard Jay-Alexander (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler 'Kiss My Brass' Tour, Bernadette Peters) at the helm.

Chris Isaacson and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center proudly present the premiere of Jennifer Leigh Warren in "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey," which will make its Los Angeles debut on June 16 at The Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood, with acclaimed Director Richard Jay-Alexander (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler 'Kiss My Brass' Tour, Bernadette Peters) at the helm.

Atlanta's Broadway dreams will come true for the 6th consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents their acclaimed Summer Performing Arts Intensive Monday, June 13 through Sunday, June 19, 2011 at The Woodruff Arts Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA). Director Matt Lenz (Catch Me if You Can) and a roster of Broadway veterans will work with aspiring young performers from the Atlanta area throughout the week in preparation for 'True Colors,' a one of a kind Broadway concert open to the public. Performances will take place at the Hertz Stage Saturday, June 18th at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, June 19th at 1 pm and 5 pm. Tickets are $30 - $50 and are now on sale at www.woodruffcenter.org, at the Woodruff Center Box Office, or by calling 404.733.5000 .

On Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 5:30pm, L.A.'s Upright Cabaret will perform in-concert on the Main Stage at Los Angeles Pride 2011 with a star-studded cast.

Atlanta's Broadway dreams will come true for the 6th consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents their acclaimed Summer Performing Arts Intensive Monday, June 13 through Sunday, June 19, 2011 at The Woodruff Arts Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA). Director Matt Lenz (Catch Me if You Can) and a roster of Broadway veterans will work with aspiring young performers from the Atlanta area throughout the week in preparation for 'True Colors,' a one of a kind Broadway concert open to the public. Performances will take place at the Hertz Stage Saturday, June 18th at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, June 19th at 1 pm and 5 pm. Tickets are $30 - $50 and are now on sale at www.woodruffcenter.org, at the Woodruff Center Box Office, or by calling 404.733.5000 .

Triple threat Jennifer Leigh Warren will sing the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey in Diamonds Are Forever: the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey at the Renberg Theatre of the Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood beginning June 16. Known for her incredible performances on stage including most recently in NoHo the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella Panto and the extraordinary new ensemble musical Having It All, this lady is going places. In our chat she defines the Bassey show, emphasizing quite clearly that she is NOT impersonating Shirley Bassey.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

A celebrity filled audience was treated to a display of Callaway artistry at Birdland last night. Tony nominated actress Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway celebrated the soundtrack of their childhood with the unforgettable songs of the 60s & 70s. The New York Times got it right when they said the sisters 'lift these songs to expressive heights rarely attained by any singer'. Music director and pianist Alex Rybeck created the perfect accompaniment for the show. Alex & Jared Egan on bass also sang backup vocals, and Ron Tierno was on drums.

Chris Isaacson and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center proudly present the premiere of Jennifer Leigh Warren in "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey," which will make its Los Angeles debut on June 16 at The Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood, with acclaimed Director Richard Jay-Alexander (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler 'Kiss My Brass' Tour, Bernadette Peters) at the helm.

Chris Isaacson and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center proudly present the premiere of Jennifer Leigh Warren in 'DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: the songs of Dame Shirley Bassey,' which will make its Los Angeles debut on June 16 at The Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood, with acclaimed Director Richard Jay-Alexander (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler 'Kiss My Brass' Tour, Bernadette Peters) at the helm.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its third show of their season, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND: The Music of The Beatles, which will include James Snyder (Broadway: Cry-Baby, Pasadena Playhouse: Dangerous Beauty), Tom Lowe (London: Les Miserables, Cats) and Elizabeth Brackenbury (Vanities, Rock Of Ages), performing the music of The Beatles, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND which will perform on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its third show of their season, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND: The Music of The Beatles, which will include James Snyder (Broadway: Cry-Baby, Pasadena Playhouse: Dangerous Beauty), Tom Lowe (London: Les Miserables, Cats) and Elizabeth Brackenbury (Vanities, Rock Of Ages), performing the music of The Beatles, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND which will perform on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

Last night, in Las Vegas, Donny & Marie Osmond debuted their newly re-vamped show at The Flamingo Hotel to an unsuspecting audience.