Sheldon Epps News

The 28th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

Last night, at Los Angeles's annual Ovation Awards ceremony, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation announced the establishment of The Gordon Davidson Award, a new honor to be bestowed annually by SDCF to recognize a director or choreographer for lifetime achievement and distinguished service in the regional theatre nationally. SDCF President Sheldon Epps and SDC President Pam MacKinnon jointly announced the new recognition. The first Davidson Award will be announced in the latter half of June 2018, at an event still in development.

The 28th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

Producers Darlene Kaplan, Laura Janik Cronin and Scott J. Newsome, have announced, today, the cast and creative team for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Stone Witch, a play by Shem Bitterman (A Death in Colombia, Influence). Performances begin Monday, March 12, 2018 for an open-ended engagement at The Westside Theatre - Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Opening Night is set for Sunday evening, March 25, 2018 at 6:30PM.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, announces Nickelodeon's Thomas Hobson (Nick Jr.'s Fresh Beat Band ) as The Beast for the final 2 performances of the world premiere of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A CHRISTMAS ROSE at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on December 24 (at 1:00pm and 5:00pm). The role of The Beast is played by Jonah Platt (Broadway's Wicked) at all other performances. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A CHRISTMAS ROSE, opened to rave reviews December 13, and must close December 24.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) in association with The Pasadena Playhouse expands this holiday season at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium with their newest production - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, A CHRISTMAS ROSE. 

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANNIE, and More!

Lythgoe means talent and for several years the family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, with a British panto, American style. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as this year's treat Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose and turns it into a highly imaginative show with pop music that will appeal to both children and their parents...but primarily to expose kids to an engaging theatrical experience. There's usually an actor or two in drag, and a villain ... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and BOO loudly at the villains. It begins first and foremost with an upbeat script by Kris Lythgoe, replete with silly lines and a lot of play.on.words. To put the younger audience into the spirit, apart from the screaming and booing, Beast masks are on sale and for the adult ladies, long-stemmed roses. This family show plays at the Pasadena Civic through December 24.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, presents BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, which expands this winter at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) for 14 performances only, December 13 -24, 2017 with the official press opening tonight, December 13.

BroadwayWorld's Michael Sterling of BWW TV Los Angeles talks to the cast and creative team members during at rehearsal at the beautiful Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the world premiere of the Lythgoe Family Panto production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, produced in association with Pasadena Playhouse.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, announced today that the opening night celebration of the world premiere of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A CHRISTMAS ROSE at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Wednesday, December 13 will benefit Give Kids Panto, a non-profit educational program, serving yearly over 5,000 Title 1 students across America, many of whom will see theatre for the first time through this program. All funds raised that evening will go to support the Panto student matinees for LAUSD and PUSD students.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, have announced final casting for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE which expands this winter at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) for 14 performances only, December 13 -24, 2017 with the official press opening on Wednesday, December 13.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, just presented its first annual 'SDC Foundation Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Directing and Choreography.'

Opening their 49th Season with the enchanting storybook tale THE SECRET GARDEN, Theatre Under the Stars has welcomed Dan Knechtges as Artistic Director to take over the season that predecessor Sheldon Epps put in place. The musical, directed and choreographed by 5th Avenue Theatre's Artistic Director David Armstrong is based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's fairytale classic and a book by Marsha Norman, infused with music by Lucy Simon. As part of a pre-Broadway co-production, this Tony Award winning musical will be undergoing refinements made by Armstrong and his creative team.

Building upon the artistic acclaim of the of 2016-17 Season and reaffirming the commitment to bring "more theatre to more people", Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced today a dynamic 2017-18 Season; celebrating the prismatic and perennial impact of musical theatre.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse have announced casting for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A CHRISTMAS ROSE. Jonah Platt (Broadway's Wicked) will star as The Beast; Gedde Watanabe (Broadway's Pacific Overtures, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles) as Maurice; Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book Of Mormon) as Pierre; and John Tartaglia (Broadway's Shrek The Musical), and as Bistro.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, announces its first annual 'SDC Foundation Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Directing and Choreography.'

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre with American Idol's Frenchie Davis starring in AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment present the first show of its 2017-2018 season, and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre with American Idol's Frenchie Davis starring in AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', with music by Thomas 'Fats' Waller, conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz, musical direction by Christopher Troy, choreography by Jeffrey Polk and directed & staged by Ken Page - an original cast member of the 1978 Broadway premiere!

Pasadena Playhouse (Producing Artistic Director, Danny Feldman) announced the line-up of performers and tribute speakers for the special event honoring Sheldon Epps, entitled SHELDON AT THE PLAYHOUSE Celebrating 20 Years of Artistic Excellence, hosted by Wayne Brady.