Tom Griep News

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

Make way everybody, we've got some new kids in town and they're out to take over musical theatre one song at a time. Of course, I'm referring to Kritzerland's latest cabaret show at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal. On Sunday, January 5th, Bruce Kimmel's New Kids in Town! featured nine terrific up-and-coming young people ranging in age from 9 to 18.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents NEW KIDS IN TOWN on Sunday, January 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM.

Please help salute renowned music historian Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary sheet music store Hollywood Sheet Music, and pillar of the entertainment community. Rick offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers over the years.

Please help salute renowned music historian Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary sheet music store Hollywood Sheet Music, and pillar of the entertainment community. Rick offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers over the years.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! The Songs of The Sherman Brothers, with an added performance today, November 3, 2013 at 3:00 PM, in addition to the show at 7PM.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! The Songs of the Sherman Brothers, with an added performance on SUNDAY, November 3, 2013 at 3:00 PM.

One night only - Please help salute renowned musicologist Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary Hollywood Sheet Music. Rick was a pillar of the entertainment community who offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers. All proceeds will be donated to The Actors Fund. Directed by David Galligan, celebrated director of the famed annual S.T.A.G.E. Benefit Concert Series. Musical director, Tom Griep, along with Randy Landas on bass and Denise Fraser on drums, leads an outstanding line-up of performers singing songs chosen for them by Rick. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! The Songs of the Sherman Brothers on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7 PM.

On Sunday August 4 Kritzerland presented its monthly tribute this time in honor of composers Meredith Willson (right) and Gene de Paul. On hand were regulars host Bruce Kimmel, musical director par excellence Tom Griep and terrific singers Jane Noseworthy, Chelsea Emma Franko, Robert Yacko, and newcomers to Kritzerland: Charlotte Mary Wen, this year's winner of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013, Allen Everman, Justin Jones, Bruce Merkle and David Zack. Special guest star was the beautiful Sue Raney who had a record contract at Capitol Records at the age of 17.

Our 36th Kritzerland show is devoted to the brilliant songs of Meredith Willson and Gene de Paul. Producer Bruce Kimmel has recorded many songs by each and is thrilled to do an entire evening of their wonderful material. Meredith Willson, of course, gave Broadway one of its most enduring hits, THE MUSIC MAN, a musical filled with one amazing song after another, several of which we'll be doing. He also wrote the Broadway and film hit, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, HERE'S LOVE (based on MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET), and a musical about Christopher Columbus called 1491 that never made it to Broadway.

Our 36th Kritzerland show is devoted to the brilliant songs of Meredith Willson and Gene de Paul. Producer Bruce Kimmel has recorded many songs by each and is thrilled to do an entire evening of their wonderful material. Meredith Willson, of course, gave Broadway one of its most enduring hits, THE MUSIC MAN, a musical filled with one amazing song after another, several of which we'll be doing. He also wrote the Broadway and film hit, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, HERE'S LOVE (based on MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET), and a musical about Christopher Columbus called 1491 that never made it to Broadway.

I can't help but borrow from the genius of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse when I affirm it was The Roar of Kritzerland, The Smell of the burgers at the Federal on Sunday May 5 - Cinco de Mayo, no less - as Kritzerland presented its 33rd show in its current home at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, entitled Once in a Lifetime: The Songs of Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse. And it was a lollapalooza of an evening!

'They have over 357 years of successful theatre between them,' said director and moderator John Bowab of Patricia Morison, Anne Jeffreys, Pat Marshall, Jane Kean and Charlotte Rae, during the recent 'Musical Mondays' production held in the historic lobby of Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre and benefitting The Actors' Fund. The five very unique and different ladies came together for an perfectly delightful, educational and entertaining evening of wit, wisdom and wonderful music. Scroll below for photos from the event!

The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday, an evening with five grand ladies of musical theatre in LADIES OF AN INDETERMINATE AGE tonight, December 10, 2012. Anne Jeffreys, Jane Kean, Pat Marshall, Patricia Morison and Charlotte Rae - join together on the same stage to sing songs from their careers, talk about their co-stars, directors and composers and stray into their wicked (or not-so-wicked) adventures in the great tradition of "No Business Like Show Business."

The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday, an evening with five grand ladies of musical theatre in LADIES OF AN INDETERMINATE AGE on December 10, 2012. Anne Jeffreys, Jane Kean, Pat Marshall, Patricia Morison and Charlotte Rae - join together on the same stage to sing songs from their careers, talk about their co-stars, directors and composers and stray into their wicked (or not-so-wicked) adventures in the great tradition of "No Business Like Show Business."

Simply to recite a list of the recently deceased Marvin Hamlisch's awards--three Oscars in 1973 for The Way We Were and The Sting; a Tony and Pulitzer Prize for A Chorus Line; three Emmys, two Golden Globes, four ASCAP awards, and a Grammy is enough the inspire awe. But as host Bruce Kimmel reminds us during the fabulous 26th Kritzerland Show at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in NoHo on October 7, he had his share of flops too like The Goodbye Girl, or Jean Seberg. But even a flop show can have some beautiful songs in it, and Kimmel includes a number of these among the twenty selections offered.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents 'The Songs of Marvin Hamlisch, A Tribute to the Man and His Music' tonight, October 7, 2012, at 7:00 pm.