LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to present the second show of their 2011-2012 season with the LADCC, GARLAND and LA WEEKLY award-winning musical for Best Production, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wonderettes), with musical direction by Michael Paternostro, choreography by Lee Martino and featuring the original cast who performed in both the Hudson Theatre and Laguna Playhouse productions! LIFE COULD BE A DREAM will open on Friday, October 28, 2011 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 29) and run through Sunday, November 20, 2011 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
Disney Channel celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month beginning Thursday, September 15 with a host of original programming, including kid-focused interstitials highlighting family heritage and cultural traditions. A brand new 'Handy Manny Great Garage Rescue' special, featuring guest stars Ed O'Neill ('Modern Family'), Freddy Rodriguez ('Ugly Betty'), George Takei ('Star Trek') and Harold Perrineau ('Lost') alongside series star Wilmer Valderrama, will also debut, along with a new episode of 'Special Agent Oso' featuring Rita Moreno ('West Side Story'), Rico Rodriguez ('Modern Family') and Raini Rodriguez ('Prom').
Today we are continuing the male-centric portion of our ongoing series of interviews with the stars of Lifetime's DROP DEAD DIVA with the boss of the legal practice on the show and the main love interest for Kate Levering's character, Kim: the affable and charming stage and screen star Josh Stamberg. In addition to dishing all about Season 3 of DROP DEAD DIVA and the future for Parker, Kim and company at the legal firm, Stamberg and I also discuss many of the various guest stars on the show this season and seasons past - Liza Minnelli, Sharon Lawrence and Faith Prince included - as well as how he sees Parker himself, his own insights into the complex character and what he feels the future holds for his relationships on the show - Kim, Jane and beyond. In addition to all things DIVA-related, Stamberg and I also discuss his many past stage and screen appearances, including: his unforgettable work as Sarge on SIX FEET UNDER and what it was like working with creator Alan Ball, as well as his role on the Aaron Sorkin-scripted series STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, plus: working at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Atlantic Theatre Company, doing the workshop of A STEADY RAIN (and eventually getting replaced by Hugh Jackman), doing FRACTURED with Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins, acting alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts in Clint Eastwood's forthcoming film J. EDGAR, his favorite work experiences so far, roles he is yearning to essay in the future both near and far and much, much more!
Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been taking an extensive look at the sights and sounds both onscreen and onset of the hit TV dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA - new episodes airing Sunday nights at 9 PM on Lifetime - featuring exclusive interviews with the leading lady divas and stalwart supporting men on the LA-based supernatural legal series. Featuring a memorable collection of musical performances and Broadway guest stars over the years - Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Delta Burke and many more included - DROP DEAD DIVA is the quintessential TV series for Broadway babies looking for some laughs and levity - the latter available in many more ways than one, given the show's heavenly aspirations. DROP DEAD DIVA centers on a legal eagle named Jane whose body acts as the means for the indomitable spirit of a model, Deb, who loses her life, to make a second chance and how the girl inside must learn to adjust to looking like the woman on the outside that she is now. In other words, a model finds out what it means to look like everybody else in a delightfully quirky twist of fate - and learns to be a lawyer along the way, as well. Season Three picked up with the cliffhanger car crash that closed last season in a dark and shocking way. Questions and posed and answered so far: What will Grayson remember of the conversation he had with Jane pre-crash? What will Jane do to save him? What about his engagement (to somebody else)? What will happen back at the office with Teri, Kim and Parker? What about Stacy and Fred? Indeed, all of these questions and many more will most assuredly be answered come the next two Sunday nights! Plus, as always, there's always a musical number or two not too far off if you stay tuned - such as last month's BroadwayWorld exclusive world premiere of "Lean On Me"! Will there be a musical grand finale after all? We shall soon see!
Also, don't forget to check out the past interviews in this BRIDGING TV & THEATRE series - Margaret Cho, Kate Levering, April Bowlby, Sharon Lawrence, Faith Prince and Jackson Hurst included! There are only a few episodes of Season Three left - airing Sundays at 9 PM on Lifetime, as always, throughout September until the finale on September 25 - so be sure to check back here in coming weeks for chats with Ben Feldman and the titular diva herself, plus maybe even a surprise or two, too!
At age 79 the svelte Puerto Rican triple threat from Hollywood's bygone golden age continues to bring the house down. Currently starring in a new TV show (Happily Divorced) she is also simultaneously starring in her spectacular one-woman show Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, which had its world premiere this week at the Berkeley Repertory Theater.
A near-perfect blend of story, lyrics, score and movement, the terrific 2009 Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY--now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County through September 18--bursts forth with a kind of style and intelligence that arguably reiterates its place as one of the greatest musicals of all time. This stirring, energetic reboot--spearheaded by the late original book author Arthur Laurents--has been smartly touched up with an awareness of current sensibilities and a healthy dose of heightened reality. Do yourself a favor and see this important stage musical while it's still here.
NCTC is proud to present Show Ho starring Sara Moore. The show previews September 8, 2011. Press Night /Opening Night will be Friday, September 9, 2011 at 8pm.
In September, the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its new season with the world premiere of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, a captivating new show created specifically for this outstanding actress. Written by Artistic Director Tony Taccone, developed by Rita Moreno and Tony Taccone, and staged by David Galligan, this spectacular production starts previews in the Roda Theatre on September 2, opens September 7, and runs through October 30.
Berkeley Rep (Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison Street @ Shattuck) will present Tony Taccone's RITA MORENO: LIFE WITHOUT MAKEUP, starring Rita Moreno with Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo. The production features direction by David Galligan and choreography by Lee Martino and will run through October 30, 2011.
As two shows seen on its stage rock Broadway, one extends its stay off Broadway, and another just wrapped a local run that grabbed national headlines, Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly announces a new year of exhilarating plays.
In September, the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its new season with the world premiere of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, a captivating new show created specifically for this outstanding actress. Written by Artistic Director Tony Taccone, developed by Rita Moreno and Tony Taccone, and staged by David Galligan, this spectacular production starts previews in the Roda Theatre on September 2, opens September 7, and runs through October 30.
Today, Berkeley Repertory Theatre completed the line-up for another year of innovative and adventurous work with the announcement of three exceptional shows.