(07/12/2019) - The Skin of Our Teeth — The story of humankind told through the lives of the Antrobus family. Set in 20th century New Jersey and the Ice Age, Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a whirlwind of modernity and antiquity.
(06/21/2019) - The Santa Paula Theater Center presents Harvey Fierstein's touching comedy drama CASA VALENTINA from June 21 - July 28, 2019 on Friday and Saturday evening at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 South 7th Street in Santa Paula.
(05/23/2019) - Mischief, madness and romance are in the air this summer when Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents William Shakespeare's rollicking comedy, Twelfth Night, in its magical, outdoor Topanga amphitheater. Twelfth Night opens Theatricum's summer repertory season onSaturday, June 1 at 8 p.m., where performances will continue through Sept. 28.
(04/28/2019) - The Santa Paula Theater Center will present the warmly humorous and timely comedy/drama COMPLICATIONS FROM A FALL by Kate Hawley on its Main Stage, 125 South 7th Street in historic downtown Santa Paula. This production will run from April 12- May 19, 2019 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets and reservation can be purchased or made through the Santa Paula Theater Center Box Office at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org, santapaulatheatercenter@gmail.com, or (805) 525-4645. Ticket prices are Adults $24.00, Seniors and Students $22.00.
(12/08/2018) - Rubicon Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season culminates with a two-piano version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's soaring epic South Pacific, helmed by award-winning director KATHARINE FARMER and featuring a cast of 28 led by Tony honoree BEN DAVIS (Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme) and MADISON CLAIRE PARKS (Luisa in The Fantasticks Off-Broadway).
(12/08/2018) - Elvis has indeed left the building! ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) has announced the second show of its 40th Anniversary Season, THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA McBRIDE, written by Matthew Lopez, directed by Jenny Sullivan with choreography by Jamie Torcellini. THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA McBRIDE begins previews on Thursday, December 6, opens on Saturday, December 8, and runs through Sunday, December 23, 2018 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
(11/29/2018) - SOUTH PACIFIC is the final show of Rubicon Theatre Company's 20th Anniversary Season. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, SOUTH PACIFIC is set on an exotic island during World War II. The plot follows two love stories about seeming-opposites brought together by the circumstances of war and torn apart by prejudice and fear. SOUTH PACIFIC is based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Tales of the South Pacific." The timeless score includes beautiful ballads such as "Younger than Springtime" and "Some Enchanted Evening," as well as exuberant up-tempo songs like "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy," and driving anthems like the ever-timely "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught."
(10/21/2018) - LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25th Silver Anniversary at the theatre) are thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Sheldon Epps. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS will preview on Friday, October 19, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 20 at 8pm) and perform through Sunday, November 11, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
(10/07/2018) - ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY has announced the first show of its 40th Anniversary 2018-2019 Season, the deliciously hilarious THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, written by David Ives (the playwright of ETC's wildly popular 2013 production of The Liar) and directed by Jonathan Fox. THE SCHOOL FOR LIES begins previews on Thursday, October 4, opens on Saturday, October 6, and runs through Sunday, October 21, 2018 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
(09/27/2018) - 5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) opens its 2018-2019 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of SHREK THE MUSICAL, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book & lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Karl Warden and will be directed by Kirsten Chandler. SHREK THE MUSICAL opens on Friday, October 19, 2018 and runs through Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.
(09/18/2018) - THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the first show of its 2018-2019 season, the world premiere of THE RESCUED, written by Julie Marie Myatt (Birder, John is a father) and directed by Marya Mazor. THE RESCUED will preview on Tuesday, September 18 at 8pm; Wednesday, September 19 at 8pm & Thursday, September 20 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 21 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 11 at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.
(09/15/2018) - La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts presents Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original "Janis" starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
(07/20/2018) - BroadwayWorld has a first look at Susan Egan reprising her Broadway performance of Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at 5-Star Theatricals in California! Check out the video below!
(04/20/2018) - 5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2017-2018 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell (based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Michelle Elkin and directed by Misti B. Wills. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens on Friday, April 20, 2017 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.
(04/04/2018) - 5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2017-2018 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell (based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Michelle Elkin and directed by Misti B. Wills. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens on Friday, April 20, 2017 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.
(02/07/2018) - SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT qualifies as the funniest and funkiest musical around. Lately this popular musical has been performed at many theaters in the greater Los Angeles area, each one brilliant in its own right. But I have to say I have never seen one more perfectly cast than the current production at the Simi Valley Cultural Center with the amazingly talented Elizabeth Adabale as Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder and then goes into hiding in a convent!
(01/29/2018) - Back in the late 60s, groups of people would meet up at an agreed-upon place to attend a "happening," defined as a partly improvised or spontaneous piece of theatrical or other artistic performance, typically involving audience participation. This description is exactly how I would describe what is taking place at the Pasadena Playhouse through February 25, 2018, with Gilbert and Sullivan's PIRATES OF PENZANCE as reimagined by the Chicago-based Hypocrites acting troupe who turns the classic on its head, surprising audiences with a raucous 80-minute beach party that blends the original operetta with modern day attire, a central stage area from which the tossing of beach balls is encouraged, kiddie wading pools are available for seats, and lots of audience participation is expected during every moment the 10 energetic actor-musicians are in the house.
(01/10/2018) - When one says 'student directed' it sends a chill up this reviewer's back, especially within the high school theater community. So, walking into Agoura High School's production of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' I wasn't expect much.
(11/25/2017) - One of the most current topics in the media now concerns transgender people being able to live the life they envision for themselves without prejudice or scorn aimed at them. After all, no doubt you have seen public restrooms now labeled to allow anyone access to them, be that person either physically or dressed as either gender, or perhaps a mix of both. Amid a breaking wave of transgender stories in popular culture (Transparent, Boy Meets Girl, and Orange is the New Black), Olivier Award winner Jon Brittain has created ROTTERDAM, a groundbreaking play, with deeply relatable characters that are flawed and often hilarious or heartbreaking as they struggle to be truthful about their identities.
(11/11/2017) - CYMBELINE proves to be a technical and emotional success- Director Michael J. Arndt consistently produces above-university-level work which constantly challenges his student actors.
(10/17/2017) - Thanks to the magnificent performance of handsome and muscular Adam Hollick, there is an overwhelming Spiritual Presence that shines within Joseph, a power that allows him to overcome every obstacle in his way. He rises above being separated from his loved ones, sold to nomads traveling through the harsh desert, being thrown into a pit, sent to prison, and then elevated by a hard-rocking Elvis-impersonator Pharaoh (Patrick Cassidy living it up to the hilt in blue suede shoes and sequins) to a position of respect and authority after one of his visions proves to save the people of Egypt.
(10/14/2017) - 5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) opens its 2017-2018 season with Patrick Cassidy starring as the Pharaoh in a fresh new look at an all-time family favorite, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice, musical direction by Dr. Cassie Nickols, choreography by So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Dave Scott and directed by 5-Star Theatricals Managing Director Will North.
(10/10/2017) - The first stage production of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, based on the Dreamworks animated feature, is now on stage at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at the production!
(10/07/2017) - 5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) opens its 2017-2018 season with Patrick Cassidy starring as the Pharaoh in a fresh new look at an all-time family favorite, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice, musical direction by Dr. Cassie Nickols, choreography by So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Dave Scott and directed by 5-Star Theatricals Managing Director Will North.
(07/28/2017) - What happens when a family loses a loved one? Said family bans together, consoles each other, and stand as a united front to continue the celebration of the memory of the lost family member.
(07/20/2017) - Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced 'Fronk-en-steen') inherits his family's estate in Transylvania.
(06/21/2017) - SPTC welcomes back to our stage another work by critically acclaimed playwright Conor McPherson (THE NIGHT ALIVE, SHINING CITY, THE SEAFARER, THE WEIR) with the apocalyptic thriller THE BIRDS.
(04/21/2017) - CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE is going to 'take you to heaven' with the second show in its 2016-2017 season, SISTER ACT! For the first time in the Kavli theatre, Cabrillo will present this hilarious new musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, musical direction by Kyle C. Norris, choreography by Michelle Elkin and direction by Misti B. Wills.
(04/10/2017) - Ventura County audiences will get the first look at a new comedy for grown ups by Disney Channel show runner Marc Warren (Even Stevens, Full House). Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) directs four performances of The Furniture, a dark comedy about the ways we hurt the ones we love, April 21 - April 23 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.