Will Collyer News

On Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18, Upright Cabaret celebrated its 9th annual 'A Broadway Christmas' combining the best of Broadway with the carols of Christmastime at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, CA. Produced by Chris Isaacson Presents in association with Ryan O'Connor.

Chris Isaacson Presents in association with Ryan O'Connor has announced Upright Cabaret's 9th Annual A Broadway Christmas. Hosted by six-time Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch with musical direction by Gregory Nabours, there will be two performances only tonight, December 17 and Thursday, December 18 at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.

X-Factor finalist Stacy Francis and Wicked star Nick Adams have joined the cast of Upright Cabaret's 9th Annual A Broadway Christmas, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents and Ryan O'Connor, co-producers of the holiday event. Hosted by six-time Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch with musical direction by Gregory Nabours, there will be two performances only on Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18, both at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.

Chris Isaacson Presents in association with Ryan O'Connor has announced Upright Cabaret's 9th Annual A Broadway Christmas. Hosted by six-time Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch with musical direction by Gregory Nabours, there will be two performances only on Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18 at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 2014-2015 season with the 1997 musical adaptation of Marivaux's classic TRIUMPH OF LOVE.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will open their 2014-2015 season with the multiple Tony Award nominated musical SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. The one-night-only concert will take place at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 22st Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY : an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists tonight, April 8, 2014, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre atop Batnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Andrea Cockrum (community leader), Henry Ong (playwright)) and Lisa Wolpe (actor/director and artist director of LA Women's Shakespeare Company) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theatre community.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 22st Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY : an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre atop Batnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Andrea Cockrum (community leader), Henry Ong (playwright)) and Lisa Wolpe (actor/director and artist director of LA Women's Shakespeare Company) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theatre community.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present the West Coast premiere of DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, the second performance of their 2013-2014 season at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. The one-night-only concert will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

Contestants in LA's Next Great Stage Star competition had an exciting second week on Sunday, January 12th. The theme for this round was Breaking New Ground - A Little New Music, and featured songs from some of today's most up and coming musical theatre writers.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present the West Coast premiere of DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, the second performance of their 2013-2014 season at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. The one-night-only concert will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

The Best in LA Theatre for 2013

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present WONDERFUL TOWN, the inaugural performance of their 2013-2014 season at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. The one-night-only concert will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

It's no surprise that Bruce Kimmel's monthly Kritzerland series (this is show #38) has gained such a loyal following at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. For true musical lovers it is the rare opportunity to hear beautiful, funny and surprisingly touching songs from musicals you may never get to see.

On Sunday September 29 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Los Angeles theatre actor/singer Will Collyer presented Will Collyer in Concert directed by Mandy Kaplan and with musical direction by Brett Ryback. The 75-minute set featured guest appearances from Kaplan and Melissa Lyons. Collyer is an exceedingly affable 34 year-old openly gay actor who looks more like 19. Cute, drole and consistently mobile, Collyer did a retrospective of his life so far, which included his birth - very amusing segment on the music his mother was listening to in hospital when she gave birth to him - boyhood background, college days, his first kiss with another boy, local musical theatre, and a tribute to his life partner of 14 years... a mixture of banter and songs that he grew up with, some of which he actually performed in shows.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents THE STORY GOES ON: The Songs of Richard Maltby & David Shire on MONDAY, October 7, 2013 - 7:00 PM, featuring Heather Barr, Will Collyer, Ashley Fox Linton, Sally Mayes, John Sloman, Shannon Warne and music director John Boswell.

On September 15th, 1 host, 12 singers, 2 musical directors, 1 comedian, and a packed house of friends and invited guests celebrated Michael Sterling's birthday at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. The night, appropriately titled A Sterling Affair, was a sparkling tribute to the man whose name has come to be synonymous with Los Angeles cabaret.

The future of new musical theatre is upon us! The New Musicals Initiative previously announced the finalists for the New Voices Project. These young musical theatre writers will have their material showcased as part of the prestigious 17th annual Stages New Musical Theatre Festival held in Los Angeles between today, August 23-25, 2013 at the Academy for New Musical Theatre (5628 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood).

The future of new musical theatre is upon us! The New Musicals Initiative has announced the finalists for the New Voices Project. These young musical theatre writers will have their material showcased as part of the prestigious 17th annual Stages New Musical Theatre Festival held in Los Angeles between August 23-25, 2013 at the Academy for New Musical Theatre (5628 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the lineup of special events, concerts, student productions, and free developmental readings for its 10th annual festival. The festival also announced three additional full productions. This year's Festival will begin July 8th and continue through July 28th.