Sally Struthers News

ollowing its most lucrative successful January/February ever, Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA says 'We are blessed to have enjoyed the most lucrative beginning of any year since our 2006 opening. This success is largely due to the unprecedented advance sales of our annual 6-week musical theatre talent competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011, and a series of spectacular debuts by such outstanding Broadway/Nightclub headliners as Nita Whitaker, Jason Graae, Maxine Lapiduss, and Suzanne Petrela. Notable Southland Musical Directors such as James Lent, Nelson Kole, John Boswell, and Michael Orland (of American Idol) also contributed to our 2011 kickoff.'

The Great White Way seems to be buzzing lately with rumors about potential recreations of iconic characters that include that of Streisand mounting Merman's GYPSY, LuPone channeling Channing's DOLLY, and the as yet to be announced contender for Lansbury's MAME. While other's are talking the talk about these legendary characters, Rita McKenzie is walking the walk as her highly promoted 'Pre-Broadway Engagement' of ETHEL MERMAN's BROADWAY opened this weekend in Los Angeles at the historic El Portal Theatre.

As its first production in their new home at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, 3D Theatricals opens with THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, that wonderful, effervescent 2006 Broadway musical concoction. A Tony Winner for Best Book and Best Score, this insanely funny musical comedy is a reverent, if wildly sarcastic homage to the American Jazz-Age musical, those frothy, lighthearted screwball comedies that captivated so many fans with its fun and frivolity. 3D Theatricals' production features TV star Sally Struthers as Mrs. Tottendale.

Rita McKenzie, one of Broadway, Hollywood and television's most versatile actresses, returns to Southern California in her internationally acclaimed tour de force show, ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY, which re-creates the life and times of Ethel Merman, the Queen of Broadway's Golden Age.

The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASE™ opens in Indianapolis at Clowes Memorial Hall, March 22nd and runs through the 27th as part of the Broadway Across America 10/11 Season.

Rita McKenzie, one of Broadway, Hollywood and television's most versatile actresses, returns to Southern California in her internationally acclaimed tour de force show, ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY, which re-creates the life and times of Ethel Merman, the Queen of Broadway's Golden Age.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to present the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles smash-hit musical, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES closes Sunday, February 13, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Now in its new home at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, first up for 3D Theatricals is a production of the hit musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE--with shows running February 11 through the 27th--featuring TV legend Sally Struthers (All In The Family, Gilmore Girls) in the role of Mrs. Tottendale. Fresh off her win as Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 2011 LA Stage Ovation Awards (for her role as the Fairy Godmother in 'Cinderella'), Struthers will also star in 3D Theatricals' upcoming 'Always, Patsy Cline' later this season.

Following six weeks of fierce competition among 20 of California's finest young musical theatre performers, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 celebrated Judy Mora's outstanding victory at the 5th annual competition's glittering Finale on Sunday, February 6, presented by Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in greater Los Angeles. Runners up included San Francisco's Michael David (2nd place); Matthew McFarland (3rd place); Emily Goglia (4th place); and Reba Buhr (5th place). Broadway World's Dean Butler was there to capture the three and a half hour event ... off and on stage - which also included a Special Guest Star performance by musical theatre, television star and pop composer/singer Blake McIver Ewing.

The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASE™ opens at Wilmington's DuPont Theatre on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 for a limited engagement of eight (8) performances only.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to present the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles smash-hit musical, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to present the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles smash-hit musical, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES.

Show at Barre is proud to host yet another all-star lineup of Broadway, film, and TV stars for February 2nd's edition of The Christopher Show. The Christopher Show is a live, comedic American talk show that interviews established Hollywood as well as new Hollywood and the Broadway community. Funny man and Broadway star Christopher Youngsman (Grease) hosts. This week in the interview chair will be rocker and Tony nominee Adam Pascal (RENT), and comedy masters Fred Willard (A Mighty Wind) & Tim Bagley (Will & Grace, Ovation-winning play Four Places). The show, which recurs Wednesday evenings at the beginning of each month at Barre, VT, will be live on February 2nd at 8pm.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to present the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles smash-hit musical, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Black Comedy, January 14 through January 29, 2011.

Now in its new home at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, first up for 3D Theatricals is a production of the hit musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE--with shows running February 11 through the 27th--featuring TV legend Sally Struthers (All In The Family, Gilmore Girls) in the role of Mrs. Tottendale. Fresh off her win as Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 2011 LA Stage Ovation Awards (for her role as the Fairy Godmother in 'Cinderella'), Struthers will also star in 3D Theatricals' upcoming 'Always, Patsy Cline' later this season.

Broadway San Jose presents the 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASE. The production will close at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on January 23, 2011. Single tickets ($20-$79) can be purchased by calling (408) 792-4111 or visiting www.sjtix.com.

The LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center on January 17, 2011 in Thousand Oaks, California.

Musical Theatre West won top musical direction honors for its 2010 production of Sweeney Todd. John Glaudini took the prize for Best Musical Direction on the evening of January 17th at the Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for the 2009-2010 awards season.

The LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center on January 17, 2011 in Thousand Oaks, California.