Don Grigware - Page 9

Singer Steve Ross has been knocking 'em dead on the cabaret circuit in New York and other theatre cities for many years. He has released several solo albums. His latest is It's Almost Christmas Eve but features an ensemble of singers. Ross took time from his busy touring schedule to talk to me from Boston about the album and his love of old music.

I am forever excited with GMCLA's Holiday Spectacular, this year entitled Calling All Angels....and this is their 40th anniversary season. The concert was performed Saturday and Sunday December 15 and 16 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The level of singing under Dr. Joseph Nadeau's superior direction was top notch. What we as an audience looked forward to was solemnity...and ... fun.

Singer Steve Ross has been knocking 'em dead on the cabaret circuit in New York and other theatre cities for many years. He has released several solo albums. His latest is It's Almost Christmas Eve but features an ensemble of singers. Ross took time from his busy touring schedule to talk to me from Boston about the album and his love of old music.

Pop singer Robyn Spangler appeared at Rockwell Table and Stage Sunday December 16 for a cd release party to celebrate her new album Christmas Is. This lady, if you remember, is nonpareil in her homage to Linda Ronstadt and Billy Barnes, two previous best-selling cds, and has enough warmth to spread Christmas cheer everywhere... all by herself. However, joing her onstage were not one, but three guest stars: Don Most, Joanne Tatham and Shawn Ryan.What a treat for the holidays! 

International recording artist Lyn Stanley has had an amazing career thus far. Within just a few years she has produced six albums, her newest London Calling, her first salute to a singing star, the late great Miss Julie London.

Babyboomers are familiar with the original 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. Stewart played George Bailey who was trapped in his father's Savings and Loan establishment in Bedford Falls, unable to pursue his dreams. Now through December 23 only, the Pasadena Playhouse is presenting a radio play version live onstage adapted by Joe Landry from the 1946 screenplay.

Actor/singer Kevin Odekirk has been delighting audiences worldwide with his stage appearances in musicals such as Miss Saigon, concert venues and with his amazing CD Unheard. He now has a Christmas album called Season of Hope. Odekirk took time from a hectic holiday schedule to tell us about the album. Why did you want to record a Christmas album? And why at this point in time?

What a dazzling array of talent (pictured above)! Monday December 10 marked the 25th performance of An Evening of Classic Broadway at Rockwell Table and Stage. For those unfamiliar with this event that meets 5 or 6 times a year, it's a musical evening of Broadway tunes, both familar and lesser known, introduced by producers Dianne Fraser who also performs and accompanist Brad Ellis who serves as musical director and fun narrator par excellence. Joining them this time around are Domonique Paton, Ashley Fox Linton, Shannon Warne, Larry Poindexter, Michael Kastroff, Scoth Ellis Loring and the piece de resistance Queen of Los Angeles Cabaret Andrea Marcovicci. I say are instead of were because, due to popular demand, this particular show is having a second performance on Wednesday December 19 once again at Rockwell with most of the cast intact.

Consummate singer Robyn Spangler has been resurrecting her singing career for the last ten years with great success. She appears in cabaret from coast to coast and has just released her newest CD Christmas Is. She took time from a busy schedule to talk about the album and her concert appearance at Rockwell Table and Stage on Sunday December 16.

Important to note right from the start ... Jeff Goode wrote The Eight: Reindeer Monologues back in the early 1990s around the time of the Clinton administration. The vehicle was his way of speaking out on a number of political issues. Maybe the sex scandal of Bill Clinton? Taking Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, who are revered as two of the most benevolent fantasy characters of all time, and gossiping about their bouts with sexual harrassment and alcoholism, turns them into pretty despicable people. But when you are that good and held up as a model of perfection, something's gotta give. Everyone has flaws, and Goode has his reindeer take them to the extreme.

Whether you are familiar with The Nutcracker ballet or not, you will definitely find huge laughs and great holiday mirth with Sandra Tsing Loh and her Sugar Plum Fairy, This, however, is definitely a show for adults or mature teens, preferably those into the performing arts.. Young teens in school  theatre understand aspirations, jealousy and failures, but it would not be easy for them to extrapolate the humor. Now onstage at the Skylight on Vermont in Hollywood, Sugar Plum Fairy is best described as 'the magic in putting on a show'.

Santasia in LA is a staple show that should not be missed. Brothers Shaun and Brandon Loeser created it and it's about to open on December 7 at the Whitefire Theatre. Shaun took time out of a super busy schedule to tell us about this year's show.

It's hardly ordinary for a musical to have everything. Come From Away is one of these extraordinary musical ventures that has a heartpounding score, dynamic true story, brilliant direction by Christopher Ashley and an incredible 12 member ensemble who give new meaning to ensemble playing. Now onstage at the Ahmanson through January 6, 2019, Come From Away should be at the very top of your must see list.

I want to be spot.on clear from the onset that actress/singer Claire Adams is an enormous talent. She is pretty in a distinct way...not drop.dead gorgeous, but possessing beauty and warmth that start deep within. Her divine musical instrument and great vocal range are undeniable. On Sunday November 25, Adams presented her one hour long debut cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to a terrific house, considering this was a holiday weekend. A finalist in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2015, Adams has since moved on to dazzle LA audiences in Assassins, Violet, among other shows and is currently essaying She Loves Me at Actors Co-op. A graduate of USC, she is adept at playing edgy characters and has most definitely chosen the right profession as a musical comedy actress.

The Irreverent Shakespeare Project presents an all-female version of Julius Caesar, directed by Heather Ann Gottlieb, produced by Steven Brandon, Mark Laird, Bradley Gosnell, Rachel Rios and Ari Stidham. Director Gottlieb and producer Stidham took time out of their busy schedules and talked with us  about the company and this production of Julius Caesar. Ari Stidham has been writing and performing music and comedy onstage as well as acting on television for all his adult life. You may know him best as genius Sylvester Dodd on CBS's "Scorpion" or you may also know his music which he releases as Dr. Television.

A CAROL CHRISTMASbook by Doug Havertymusic & lyrics by Bruce Kimmeldirected by Bruce KimmelGroup Rep, NoHothrough December 30 So many versions of A Christmas Carol surface in November and December in local theatres, but most are really not worthy of your attention. This year exceptions are the Geffen's spectacular one-man version ... and... Group Rep is really turning up the heat with an original contemporary musical entitled A Carol Christmas. With a cast of 20 on their wide stage, Group Rep offers its audiences a terrifically enjoyable time this holiday season through December 30.

In a Booth at Chasen's/The Real-Life Hollywood Romance of Ron and Nancy Reagan/book by Sam Bennett/music and lyrics by Al Kasha and Phil Swann/directed by Kay Cole/El Portal Theatre, Debbie Reynolds Mainstage/through December 16 Hollywood romances come and go, but certainly not that of Ron and Nancy Reagan. Those of us who witnessed Reagan's rise from movie actor in the 40s to president of SAG, then on to Governor of California and eventually to President of the United States where he served two terms from 1981 to 1989, know that he was not always the greatest politician...but certainly in comparison to today's standards, a good man...one who honestly loved his country. Nancy Davis had been a B actress in films and, it is often said, ran the White House for her husband during the 80s. We know the politics of those latter years and the rumors; what we do not know is how their relationship began...In a Booth at Chasen's restaurant in 1949. Now in a one-act musical that world premiered Sunday November 11 on the El Portal Mainstage, In a Booth at Chasen's plays on unti

Based on the 1993 hit film, the stage musical A Bronx Tale has two of the movie's stars collaborating behind the scenes ... with a book by Chazz Palminteri, who played Sonny on film and Robert De Niro directing with Jerry Zaks. De Niro played Lorenzo onscreen, Calogero's father. Like the film this show is an instant hit with audiences who savor and take to heart the Sicilian lifestyle. This well cast and well directed national tour plays the Hollywood Pantages through November 25.

On November 16, a new musical version of A Christmas Carol entitled A Carol Christmas will open at Group Rep in North Hollywood. Doug Haverty wrote the book and Bruce Kimmel, the music and lyrics. Kimmel is also the director. In the conversation that follows both men discuss the new piece. Bruce Kimmel, what are your challenges in directing this piece?