Todd Nielsen News

International City Theatre is presenting Lend Me A Tenor, the Tony-nominated screwball comedy by Ken Ludwig that’s guaranteed to leave audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter. Todd Nielsen directs for an October 21 opening in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, where performances continue through November 6. See photos here!

International City Theatre will present Lend Me A Tenor, the Tony-nominated screwball comedy by Ken Ludwig that’s guaranteed to leave audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter. The production runs October 21 through November 6.

This holiday season's weather report forecasts SNOW! Start with a timeless tale of joy and goodwill, fill it with classic Irving Berlin songs, and top it off with glorious dancing and you have Irving Berlin's White Christmas, coming to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center December 1-10! Tickets are now on sale at the Musical Theatre West Ticket Office, at www.musical.org, or by calling (562) 856-1999 ext. 4. Tickets start at $20.

Is He Dead?/by Mark Twain/adapted by David Ives/Glendale Center Theatre (GCT)/directed by Todd Nielsen/through November 18 GCT loves doing seasonal shows. Since it's only weeks away from Halloween, what could be more fun than a melodramatic and satirical romp that focuses on a nasty villain and a man in a dress? Mark Twain wrote Is He Dead? in 1898 but the incredible fact is it wasn't published until 2003. Adapted by David Ives it received a production on Broadway in 2007 starring Norbert Leo Butz.

A celestial romance and true story of discovery, Silent Sky by acclaimed playwright Lauren Gunderson opens at International City Theatre on August 25. Two low-priced previews take place on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24.

Palos Verdes Performing Arts concludes its 34th season with a new production of Meredith Willson's musical comedy 'The Music Man' to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the critically acclaimed Broadway classic. The production will run for 11 performances, April 21-May 7 at the 450-seat Norris Theatre.

Based on the poetry, diaries and letters of poet Emily Elizabeth Dickinson of Amherst, Massachusetts, William Luce's The Belle of Amherst opened to great acclaim on Broadway in 1976 winning a Tony for its star Julie Harris. Petite like Dickinson herself, Harris continued to play the role for 25 years, again reviving it on tour at the Laguna Playhouse in the year 2000. I am happy to say I saw both the 1976 and 2000 productions, which were indeed mesmerizing. Now at Sierra Madre Playhouse, tall and very unique Ferrell Marshall produces and stars as Emily in a brave and exciting performance through April 23. I can only say that in spite of her physical differences, she pulled me in immediately and in the end made me feel every bit as joyful as when I had seen the play before.

San Diego Musical Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative teams for its two holiday productions this season. For the final year SDMT brings Irving Berlin's White Christmas to the historic Spreckels Theatre, with book by David Ives and Paul Blake, directed by Todd Nielsen. White Christmas runs November 25th- December 4th with press opening today, November 25th. SDMT will also present the World Premiere of Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play directed by Colleen Kollar Smith, adapted by Lance Arthur Smith, with original music by Jon Lorenz. Miracle on 34th Street runs December 1st - 23rd at the Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Thursday, December 8th.

San Diego Musical Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative teams for its two holiday productions this season. For the final year SDMT brings Irving Berlin's White Christmas to the historic Spreckels Theatre, with book by David Ives and Paul Blake, directed by Todd Nielsen. White Christmas runs November 25th- December 4th with press opening today, November 25th. SDMT will also present the World Premiere of Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play directed by Colleen Kollar Smith, adapted by Lance Arthur Smith, with original music by Jon Lorenz. Miracle on 34th Street runs December 1st - 23rd at the Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Thursday, December 8th.

San Diego Musical Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative teams for its two holiday productions this season. For the final year SDMT brings Irving Berlin's White Christmas to the historic Spreckels Theatre, with book by David Ives and Paul Blake, directed by Todd Nielsen. White Christmas runs November 25th- December 4th with press opening on Friday, November 25th. SDMT will also present the World Premiere of Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play directed by Colleen Kollar Smith, adapted by Lance Arthur Smith, with original music by Jon Lorenz. Miracle on 34th Street runs December 1st - 23rd at the Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Thursday, December 8th.

San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) continues their 2016 season with the musical comedy classic 42ND STREET today, May 27. This Tony Award-winning musical features music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, book by Michael Stewart (Hello Dolly, Bye Bye Birdie) and Mark Bramble (Barnum), directed by James Vasquez. Performances run through June 12, 2016 at the historic Spreckels Theatre. Press opening is Saturday, May 28th at 8:00PM.

San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) continues their 2016 season with the musical comedy classic 42ND STREET.

 Two dozen wise and witty "songs of experience" with charming melodies and smartly crafted lyrics.International City Theatre opens its 2016 season with a recently updated version of Closer Than Ever, the Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Best off-Broadway Musical that also netted Drama Desk nominations for lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. and composer David Shire. Directed and choreographed by Todd Nielsen, with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach, and starring ICT favorites Kevin Bailey (Abigail/1702),Valerie Perri (The Sweepers), Adam von Almen (The Heir Apparent) and newcomer Katheryne Penny, Closer Than Ever opens February 12at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11.

Two dozen wise and witty 'songs of experience' with charming melodies and smartly crafted lyrics. International City Theatre opens its 2016 season with a recently updated version of Closer Than Ever, the Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Best off-Broadway Musical that also netted Drama Desk nominations for lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. and composer David Shire. Directed and choreographed by Todd Nielsen, with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach, and starring ICT favorites Kevin Bailey (Abigail/1702), Valerie Perri (The Sweepers), Adam von Almen (The Heir Apparent) and newcomer Katheryne Penny, Closer Than Ever opens February 12 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11.

Executive Producers Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling Publicity and Production (www.msapr.net). and Barbara Van Orden (www.barbaravanorden.com) have announced that vocal auditions for the 10 year Anniversary of LA's Next Great Stage Star® will be held Sunday, December 13, 2015.  'Our annual auditions in search of 10 men and 10 women between 18 and 32 years of age, is highly anticipated by the hierarchy of those associated with the business of presenting Broadway musical theatre in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California said Sterling.  'We couldn't be more grateful to our professional colleagues and select corporate entities for their consistent support of Stage Star since its inception,' added Van Orden 

San Diego Musical Theatre presents the final production of its 2015 season, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, running now through December 6, 2015 (press opening on Friday, November 27) at the Spreckels Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Moonlight Stage Productions presents the San Diego Professional Premiere of "All Shook Up," a hysterical musical comedy about a guitar-playing, hip-swiveling roustabout who rides into a sleepy town in 1955 determined to help everyone discover the magic and romance of rock and roll. Check out BroadwayWorld's pics from the curtain call below!

Moonlight Stage Productions presents the San Diego Professional Premiere of 'All Shook Up,' a hysterical new musical comedy about a guitar-playing, hip-swiveling roustabout who rides into a sleepy town in 1955 determined to help everyone discover the magic and romance of rock and roll.

San Diego Musical Theatre presents the second production of their 2015 season, Singin' in the Rain, now through June 7, 2015 at the Spreckels Theatre on Broadway in downtown San Diego. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!