Stage West News

Inspired by hilarious memories of a childhood etiquette class, playwright Jeffrey Hatcher conjures up the world of a seven-year-old studying manners from the title character. Mrs. Mannerly is a demanding teacher, and no student in her 36 years of etiquette classes has achieved a perfect score. But when he discovers her secret past, Young Jeffrey is determined to be the first. This unique comic tale reveals truths about the face we present and real selves that lie inside. Recommended for general audiences.

Asolo Rep Proudly Presents HEARTS January 22 -April 11, 2009 Willy Holtzman's Pultizer Prize nominated play; Winner of the Arthur Miller Award for Dramatic Writing and Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play

Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will take the stage March 23 - 28, 2010 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

Maybe it's because of Saroyan, the American literary son of Armenia, that Americans discovering Armenian literature have a feeling of deja-vu.

Some high-energy performers backed by a terrific band make the new revue at Stage West Dinner Theatre an enjoyable if somewhat overpowering smorgasbord. * * * (out of 5)

Gunner Johnson is not filled with the Christmas spirit. 'I'm tellin' ya, it's just another Hallmark holiday that got outta control,' he tells his wife Clara. But he's about to have to learn how to stop being a Grinch, as Stage West presents the utterly hilarious A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, through January 17.

Currently starring in South Coast Repertory's West Coast production of Adam Gwon's musical ORDINARY DAYS (ending January 24), David Burnham (Wicked, The Light in the Piazza) recently sat down with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos to talk about his humble beginnings as a farm boy, his admiration for John Raitt, being a Broadway performer, and living his dream job.

Playwrights 6's staged reading series of the finalists in its 2010 Play Contest continues Tuesday, Jan. 26 with Dave Field's "Muggsy," a new comedy about how an outspoken macaw and the tabloid press raise superficiality to a new standard.

The 2009-2010 season of Reprise Theatre Company continues with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel,' January 26 to February 7 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Alexandra Silber stars as Julie Jordan, direct from her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie Jordan in 'Carousel' at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End (TMA Award - Best Actress).

Piven Theatre Workshop continues its 2009-10 season with the world premiere of Number of People, written and directed by Emilie Beck.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce Terrence McNally's comedy Lips Together, Teeth Apart will star Megan Mullally (Chloe Haddock), Patton Oswalt (Sam Truman) and Lili Taylor (Sally Truman).

Playwrights 6 is proud to present a staged reading series of the finalists in its 2010 Play Contest, featuring three new pieces by Los Angeles playwrights.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, the Tony Award-winning musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreography by DJ Gray, musical direction by David O and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Maybe it's because of Saroyan, the American literary son of Armenia, that Americans discovering Armenian literature have a feeling of deja-vu.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley presents a festive holiday offering, the West Coast premiere of A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce Terrence McNally's comedy Lips Together, Teeth Apart will star Megan Mullally (Chloe Haddock), Patton Oswalt (Sam Truman) and an additional cast member to be announced shortly.

The 2009-2010 season of Reprise Theatre Company continues with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel,' January 26 to February 7 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Alexandra Silber stars as Julie Jordan, direct from her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie Jordan in 'Carousel' at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End (TMA Award - Best Actress). Silber is joined by Robert Patteri as Billy Bigelow ('Scarlet Pimpernel,' 'Beauty and the Beast'.) Veteran character actor M. Emmet Walsh appears as the Starkeeper. Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court, will direct, with choreography by Lee Martino and musical direction by Darryl Archibald.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' is featured in the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash Rent are available now.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' is featured in the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash Rent are available now.

LONG BEACH, CA-Musical Theatre West is proud to announce that Jai Rodriguez, star of Bravo TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' joins the cast line up for their production of the Jonathan Larson Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-Winning smash RENT. RENT will run December 11-20, 2009 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center. MTW is the first professional regional theatre company to produce their own production of this groundbreaking musical.