Tom Buderwitz News

Shrek the Musical/book & lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire/music by Jeanine Tesori/directed by David F.M. Vaughn/3D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium, Fullerton/through August 4/Redondo Beach, Performing Arts Center/August 9-11

In a quite extraordinary way Stephen Sachs' world premiere comedy/drama Heart Song tears down barriers separating life and death across many cultures. There is no finer celebration of the joys and pains of life than performing flamenco dance, which is gut wrenching and intensely theatrical. Boasting top-notch direction from Shirley Jo Finney and a resplendent cast, Heart Song is a life-affirming poem that must be experienced at the Fountain Theatre through July 14.

One of the most stunning, brilliantly-staged productions I've seen in the past few years, Orange County's 3D Theatricals has, once again, outdone itself with its moving, epic-sized revival of Jason Robert Brown's Tony Award-winning musical PARADE. Now playing a limited engagement through May 26 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, this triumphant, emotionally-resonant, Broadway-caliber presentation directed by 3DT's co-founder and artistic director TJ Dawson ranks as, arguably, the best musical this relatively young regional theater company has produced thus far.

Three friends embark on a joyous journey of sisterhood, discovering their inner 'duende' through a flamenco class for middle-aged women. Heart Song, the newest comedy/drama from Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist, Cyrano), opens at The Fountain Theatre on May 25with Shirley Jo Finney (In the Red and Brown Water) directing and choreography by internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria 'Cha Cha' Bermudez. Check out a first look below!

In Dying City, now in its West Coast premiere at the Rogue Machine Theatre, Christopher Shinn examines the devastating effects of the Iraq War on the American soldiers who participated in it and more urgently on those they left behind. At the core are Kelly (Laurie Okin), the wife of a deceased soldier, his identical twin brother Peter (Burt Grinstead) and in flashback, the deceased soldier/husband/brother Craig (also Grinstead).

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening tonight,, May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

In 1998 when Jason Robert Brown won a Tony Award for the score of this unusually provocative musical Parade, the opulent Broadway production closed to critical acclaim, but due to excessive costs, the show remained inaccessible until the Donmar Warehouse resurrected it and produced a tight - minus the frills - mounting at the Mark Taper Forum in 2009. 3-D Theatricals, who are becoming increasingly known for their superlative skill with producing big musicals, have decided to put back many of the frills of the original and double the cast to its original size - 36, in order to enhance and give the musical the big, full-voiced chorus sound it deserves. And, in my mind, this bigger hybrid version surpasses the Taper's for its grande musical elegance and the presence of a perfectly cast lead actor in the role of Leo Frank, Jeff Skowron.

3-D Theatricals presents PARADE now through May 26, 2013 at Plummer Auditorium, 201 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, Calif., directed by T.J. Dawson, choreographed by Dana Solimando and musically directed by David Lamoureux. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and brings you photos from the celebrations below!

3-D Theatricals presents PARADE, tonight, May 10 - 26, 2013 at Plummer Auditorium, 201 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, Calif., directed by T.J. Dawson, choreographed by Dana Solimando and musically directed by David Lamoureux.

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

3-D Theatricals presents PARADE, May 10 - 26, 2013 at Plummer Auditorium, 201 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, Calif., directed by T.J. Dawson, choreographed by Dana Solimando and musically directed by David Lamoureux.

Three friends embark on a joyous journey of sisterhood, discovering their inner 'duende' through a flamenco class for middle-aged women. Heart Song, the newest comedy/drama from Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist, Cyrano), opens at The Fountain Theatre on May 25 with Shirley Jo Finney (In the Red and Brown Water) directing and choreography by internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria "Cha Cha" Bermudez.

Florida Studio Theatre will open the absorbing new play, In the Book Of, by John Walch tonight, March 29, 2013 at 8:00pm in the Gompertz Theatre. In the Book Of presents the story of an immigration debate which forces a community to examine the true meaning of family, friendship and the American way.

Florida Studio Theatre will open the absorbing new play, In the Book Of, by John Walch on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 8:00pm in the Gompertz Theatre. In the Book Of presents the story of an immigration debate which forces a community to examine the true meaning of family, friendship and the American way.

The terribly witty genius Noel Coward was a poet, playwright, screen writer and music composer extraordinaire whose theatrical hits in the 30s and 40s were unparalleled successes in both the UK and elsewhere abroad... and in the United States. His farce Fallen Angels is rarely if ever produced and it gives 6 actors, especially the 3 women a field day, in which they can go as far over the top as their hearts desire all the while keeping the audience eating out of their hands. Actors love to act and Art Manke's cast at the Pasadena Playhouse are certainly no exception. They are deliciously campy, irreverent and full of the dickens... or should I say Coward?

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for Noël Coward's comedy classic FALLEN ANGELS. Directed by Art Manke, performances will begin tonight, January 29 through February 24, with an official press opening on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse. Single tickets are now on sale.

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for Noël Coward's comedy classic FALLEN ANGELS. Directed by Art Manke, performances will begin January 29 through February 24, with an official press opening on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse. Single tickets are now on sale.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a TV alien, a silver screen starship pilot, a Tony Award nominee, a Mini-Me and others join the collection of stars from the worlds of stage, screen, radio, politics, music, food, fitness, spirituality and interplanetary transport (both real and imagined) who had already signed on for special cameo performances in the world premiere of The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

The world premiere of The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!," a hilarious take on Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale, opened last night, November 29 at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre at 8 p.m. and continues through December 30, 2012. Scroll down for photos from opening night!

The Second City scoured their address book to assemble a cast of seven luminary L.A.-based alumni for their hilarious take on the beloved Charles Dickens tale of hope and redemption. The world premiere of The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" is written by Second City alums, Peter Gwinn (formerly of "The Colbert Report") and Bobby Mort (currently of "The Colbert Report"), and opens tonight, November 29, 2012, at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Previews began November 24 and performances will run through December 30.