Shannon Warne News

On the first Sunday of each month, Bruce Kimmel hosts the KRITZERLAND show at Sterling's at The Federal in the heart of the NoHo Arts District. The evening starts with a variety of dinner selections, full bar service, and lots of time to mingle and chat with old and new friends. Starting at 7pm, each revue has its own theme, with a variety of performers taking to the stage to entertain the enthusiastic crowd who loves show tunes. The 48th KRITZERLAND show on 8-3-14 presented a salute to some incredible female lyricists of the musical theatre

For our 48th Kritzerland show we're proud to present a salute to some incredible female lyricists of the musical theatre, mostly Carolyn Leigh, the brilliant lyricist of such Broadway shows as Little Me, Wildcat, Peter Pan and others, as well as such classic pop songs as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best Is Yet to Come,' as well as other great female lyricists like Lynn Ahrens (Once on this Island, Ragtime, Seussical), Carol Hall (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden), Gretchen Cryer (I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road), Fran Landesman (The Nervous Set, 'Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most'), Amanda McBroom ('The Rose', Heartbeats) and Carole Bayer Sager (They're Playing Our Song). Kritzerland's Bruce Kimmel has recorded many of the lyricists above and has chosen the usual Kritzerland colorful and eclectic program, a mix of the well- known and the unknown. As always, we've assembled a stellar cast. So, come join us for some amazing songs by some amazing women.

In its Music Circus premiere, the Disney classic musical Mary Poppins, based on the books by P. L. Travers and the beloved 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, is the second show in the 2014 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 64th season for the venerable Sacramento institution. Performances are July 8 - 13. Check out a first look below!

California Musical Theatre released casting for the remaining shows in the 64th Music Circus season, a roster of actors including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons, as well as actors with Sacramento-area ties. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes the Music Circus premiere of the beloved Disney classic Mary Poppins, which runs through July 13, as well as other Tony Award-winning shows including Rodgers and Hammerstein's lush South Pacific, Lerner and Loewe's mystical Brigadoon, Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's hilarious La Cage aux Folles, and the singular sensation A Chorus Line, which ended its week-long run on June 29. Music Circus casting for the season is determined after auditions are held in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Sold out for the entirety of its run, Mary Poppins at Sacramento Music Circus steps in time to the beloved Disney musical. Thanks to a vivacious cast and plenty of clever trick costumes and sets, Mary maintains most of her magic.

On the first Sunday of each month, Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records' presents a supper club musical cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in NoHo. Sunday, April 6, 2014, the group celebrated its two-year anniversary with THESE APRIL FOOLISH THINGS with not only foolish songs but ones having to do with Spring or the month of April in general.

For our 44th Kritzerland show we celebrate the most foolish day and month of the year - April Fools Day. Yes, it's all things April and all things foolish, as well as some things that aren't so foolish. And not only are we celebrating the April Fools, we're celebrating the second anniversary of Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal - in April of 2012 we were the first show in Michael Sterling's new home at The Federal, and we've been there every month since. We have a potpourri of fun planned for our April 6th show, including lots of comedy, some beautiful April-themed songs, and an amazing cast. You'll hear songs you know and songs you don't know, including the world premiere of a brand new Richard M. Sherman song, written with Kritzerland's Bruce Kimmel. And playing it will be Richard M. Sherman, our very special guest star - and as if that and our great cast wasn't enough, we have another guest star, too, the beautiful and superlative Andrea Marcovicci. So, don't be too foolish and wait too long to make your reservations - our last seven shows have been early sellouts. Come and join us to celebrate all the wonderful foolish things we've got planned and to wish Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal a happy anniversary as the best cabaret room in the city enters its third year.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced that Nicole Parker, nominee for Lead Performance in Funny Girl, will host its 45th Annual Awards ceremony (replacing the previously announced James Roday). Joining performers Constance Jewell Lopez (nominee for Lead Performance in Dreamgirls), Beth Malone, and Lowe Taylor will be Shannon Warne and Kim Huber. Gordon Clapp and Richard Schiff will also perform an excerpt from the LA Theatre Works production of Glengarry Glen Ross.

Just in time for our Oscar indulgence, Bruce Kimmel joined the bandwagon of Oscar tantalizers by presenting his monthy Kritzerland show, this month entitled Kritzerland Goes to the Movies, at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in tribute to Academy Award worthy music: songs that won an Oscar, songs that were nominated and those that were not but should have been. Monday February 3 was a fun evening with fantastic Shelly Markham at the piano as musical director and six stellar performers including John Sloman, Shannon Warne, Dennis Kyle, Lisa Livesay, Emma Degerstedt and young songstress Brennley Brown. Also on hand for our pleasure were special guest star composer and three-time Academy Award winner Richard Sherman and actress/song stylist Andrea Marcovicci.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents KRITZERLAND AT THE MOVIES on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 at 8:00 PM.

It's no surprise that Bruce Kimmel's monthly Kritzerland series (this is show #38) has gained such a loyal following at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. For true musical lovers it is the rare opportunity to hear beautiful, funny and surprisingly touching songs from musicals you may never get to see.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents THE STORY GOES ON: The Songs of Richard Maltby & David Shire on MONDAY, October 7, 2013 - 7:00 PM, featuring Heather Barr, Will Collyer, Ashley Fox Linton, Sally Mayes, John Sloman, Shannon Warne and music director John Boswell.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present OUR BROADWAY SCRAPBOOK, a benefit concert at their new venue: Santa Monica's Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre. OUR BROADWAY SCRAPBOOK, a celebration benefit introducing the Musical Theatre Guild, will be presented September 22, 2013 at 7:00 pm, two months in advance of their inaugural Moss Theatre season opening. All proceeds from this one-night-only event will benefit the New Roads School

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers present concert-staged readings the international hit CHESS. The opening performance took place, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. A second, and final, performance will occur on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum. BroadwayWorld has a first look below.

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers who present concert-staged readings of seldom seen musicals, will continue its 17th season with the international hit CHESS. The opening performance will take place tonight, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. A second, and final, performance will occur on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum.

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers who present concert-staged readings of seldom seen musicals, will continue its 17th season with the international hit CHESS. The opening performance will take place on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. A second, and final, performance will occur on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present WINTER WONDERETTES, created and directed by Roger Bean, choreography by John Vaughan and musical direction by Brian Baker. WINTER WONDERETTES opened on Saturday, December 8 and runs through Sunday, December 30, 2012 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. BroadwayWorld has a look at photos from opening night below.

And what 'A Grand Night for Singing' it turned out to be! Not opening on the usual note, Bruce Kimmel presented a video of his YouTube web series Outside the Box, Season 2, episode 1 guest starring Hal Linden, who was present in the audience. Hilarity is at the core here as Linden gets a phone call asking him to appear as Father Marren in The Exorcist the Musical, a true horror - no, not horrible - horror musical. The second scene is the actual shooting of his scene with Regan spewing green vomit to the music of one ridiculously funny original tune. Fun stuff which may be viewed on YouTube!