Robert Ramirez News

On the heels of 'Casa Valentina,' its enormously successful first production of the season, Dezart Performs will present the uproariously funny black comedy, Clybourne Park, a play written as a spin-off to Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 classic play A Raisin in the Sun which focuses on cultural and racial issues in a Chicago community. As described by The Washington Post during the 2011-12 season of the Seattle Repertory production, the play 'applies a modern twist to the issues of race and housing and aspirations for a better life….and is one of its feistiest, funniest evenings in years.' Clybourne Park has received multiple prestigious awards including the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Coeurage Theatre Company, LA's Pay What You Want Company, has announced the final production of its seventh season, three-time Tony Award-winner Urinetown: The Musical. With music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, book by Kotis, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, and directed by Kari Hayter, there will be one preview performance on November 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, November 5 at 8pm. Urinetown: The Musical will play through December 3 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center. 

'Tale as old as time' nails the complex simplicity of Beauty and the Beast the quintessential story of true love, the most difficult to obtain and sustain.  Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale with its sweepingly imaginative spectacle won over even the hardest of hearts. The animated film was such a tremendous hit in 1991 that it was adapted for the stage in 1994 with new songs by Tim Rice added to the Academy Award-winning movie score by deceased Howard Ashman. It ran worldwide until 2007 and proves undoubtedly that fairy tales retain a popularity that never dies... and that the story  translates beautifully to the stage with vibrant actors recreating all the animated figures.. This new production by 3-D Theatricals of Beauty and the Beast, which closed Sunday at the Redondo Performing Arts Center, was every bit as joyful and elegant as the original. I cannot say enough about T. J. Dawson's fabulous direction and casting and Mela Hoyt-Heydon's spectacular costumes that were built completely from scratch by 3-D Theatricals.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, opened at the Los Angeles Ovation Award- winning 3-D Theatricals Co. of Orange County, CA. Performances will be presented at both Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium, Feb 5 - 21; and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center February 26 - 28, 2016. Official "press" openings in Fullerton and Redondo Beach will be Saturday, February 6 and Saturday, February 27 respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson, with Choreography by Billy Sprague, Jr. Julie Lamoureux serves as Musical Director and Conductor.  Check out the photos from opening night below!

Leave it to the creative folks over at 3-D Theatricals, Orange County's award-winning Broadway-caliber theatrical company, to be the entity responsible for this splendid new regional production of DISNEY's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST---the 1994 stage adaptation of the studio's gorgeous Academy Award-winning 1991 animated film that features music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. 3DT's rather complex mounting---directed by 3-DT co-founder and artistic director TJ Dawson---is a marvelously-enchanting reboot, even despite the myriad of unfortunate opening night technical gaffes and (almost) forgotten/missed lines of dialogue that occasionally interrupted some of the wonderment. Of course, surely the kinks will be ironed out for the remainder of its scheduled run at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through February 21 (which will then transfer for a weekend of shows at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from February 26-28).

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will launch its 81st year with preview performances beginning on February 19, and the season officially kicking off Friday night, February 26 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (director, Christopher Liam Moore).

Desert Rose Playhouse succeeds spectacularly in its 2016 Gay Heritage play: Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART ONE: MILLENIUM APPROACHES. Director Jim Strait superbly stages the iconic show about the challenges of being gay in the 1980's. The cast and design are excellent. The production is a must-see.

Season two of Disney Junior's animated Western series SHERIFF CALLIE'S WILD WEST, starring Mandy Moore as the voice of Sheriff Callie, debuts TODAY, NOVEMBER 1

Season two of Disney Junior's animated Western series SHERIFF CALLIE'S WILD WEST, starring Mandy Moore as the voice of Sheriff Callie, debuts SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Disney Junior has ordered a second season of Sheriff Callie's Wild West,' starring Mandy Moore (Disney's 'Tangled') as the voice of Sheriff Callie.

It's a 'tale as old as time,' and it's coming to Long Beach! Musical Theatre West's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast takes the stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center for 14 performances, Saturday, July 11 through Sunday, July 27, including a just added evening performance on Sunday, July 27, 7:00 PM. Relive the magic, the music, and the beauty of one of Disney's most beloved Broadway musicals live on stage, with vibrant costumes and sets and all of your favorite songs, from 'Be Our Guest' to 'Beauty and the Beast.' Tickets are now on sale at the MusicalTheatre West Box Office, by calling (562) 856-1999 ext. 4, or online at www.musical.org. Opening weekend performances are already sold out, so get your tickets now. Best seats available for the added performance on Sunday, July 27, 7pm.

The American Dream takes on a Latin Beat, as Cabrillo Music Theatre will present the regional professional premiers of this 'new classic' - the multi-Tony-winning Best Musical of 2008, IN THE HEIGHTS. IN THE HEIGHTS fuses contemporary music with timeless family struggles, and its' warmth, humor and joyful message resonates with all ages. IN THE HEIGHTS opens tonight, March 28, 2014, playing until Sunday, April 6th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

The American Dream takes on a Latin Beat, as Cabrillo Music Theatre is proud to present the regional professional premiers of this "new classic" - the multi-Tony-winning Best Musical of 2008, IN THE HEIGHTS. IN THE HEIGHTS fuses contemporary music with timeless family struggles, and its' warmth, humor and joyful message resonates with all ages. IN THE HEIGHTS opens on Friday, March 28, 2014, playing until Sunday, April 6th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

The American Dream takes on a Latin Beat, as Cabrillo Music Theatre will present the regional professional premiers of this "new classic" - the multi-Tony-winning Best Musical of 2008, IN THE HEIGHTS. IN THE HEIGHTS fuses contemporary music with timeless family struggles, and its' warmth, humor and joyful message resonates with all ages. IN THE HEIGHTS opens on Friday, March 28, 2014, playing until Sunday, April 6th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Family and community combine with music, entertainment and youth when Cabrillo Music Theatre celebrates their upcoming production of IN THE HEIGHTS with CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO! As part of Cabrillo Music Theatre's 20th Anniversary Celebration, and modeled after the "Carnaval del Barrio" that plays a pivotal role in the show, CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO unites enthusiastic young people, dancers of all ages, city officials, community leaders and local businesses for a free afternoon of dance, music, food, prizes and fun. CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO takes place on Sunday, January 12, 2014, from 12 Noon to 5:00PM, in Carpenter Park, directly outside Cabrillo Music Theatre's home venue, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.