Don Grigware - Page 17

Benjamin, 'BeBe' Winans, six-time Grammy Award winner, is the seventh child and youngest male of the the Detroit based first family of gospel music. BeBe is known as an inspirational, R&B, and popular vocalist, songwriter, and producer as well as an Executive Music Producer for the OWN Network's latest scripted series, 'Greenleaf'; host of his own radio show on the Heart & Soul Channel (68) on Sirius/XM Radio Networks on Sunday Mornings (9am ET/7am PT); renowned as the breakthrough artist to bridge the language of his roots in the church with a chart-topping, Award-winning career spanning audiences universally throughout all genres; author; Actor in motion pictures including friend Denzel Washington's,'The Manchurian Candidate'; and star of productions like Broadway's Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple with Chaka Khan amongst his credits. Teaming with his younger sister, Priscilla 'CeCe', the duo first began crossing lines as 'adopted children' of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker on the PTL television show. Their first tour, on which Whitney Houston proclaimed herself their 'sister' and sang background for the siblings, set the tone for a very special career. 

It's always a pleasure to come to a cabaret debut and have a far greater experience than expected. Such was the case when I attended Jordan Goodsell: Into Love on Monday June 26 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. I had seen Goodsell in 3-D Theatricals' The Addams Family a few years back, but, frankly, it was an ensemble role, and not enough to give me an indication of his exorbitant talent. He is currently a big hit in Frozen: The Musical Live at the Hyperion for Disney Theatrical Productions at Disney Resort in Anaheim. It's no wonder as this handsome six foot 24 year-old has a magnetic appeal. And then when he opens his mouth to sing, what comes out of his baritone/tenor range is a powerhouse voice that commands atention.

Described as 'an evening of song, dance and holiday cheer in support of the 'Force Feed the World' charity fund', A Harmony Boys Christmas as a musical satire revels in being politically incorrect. It concentrates on traditions like Santa Claus coming down the chimney, crackers - fun toys that are popular with the Brits - and even the birth of the 'Sweet Little Jesus Boy' and tears them all to shreds.

When Oklahoma! was first produced on Broadway in 1943 it became the first smash hit for  the newly formed collaborating team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and was also the first real book musical, preceded only by Showboat. It was a breakthrough musical, which when given a first-class production, is still, some 74 years later, without question, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. 'The Farmer and the Cowman' truly represents the philosophy of what America is all about, a unity and pride that is unmistakable. Oklahoma! is currently onstage in Redondo Beach, directed byT.J. Dawson, artistic director of 3-D Theatricals. He has beautifully succeeded in reimagining Oklahoma! for the 21st century. In the 40s it was not appropriate to portray racism onstage the way it clearly existed. Modern audiences, however, demand that musicals go a giant step further and explore life in all its complexities. I can thruthfully state that this Oklahoma! is quite unlike any production you have ever seen....and that means you should put it at the top of your must-see list. Our country has always been referred to as a melting pot culture. The expression rings in this produciton of Oklahoma! There's Ali Hakim (Drew Boudreau), the traveling pedlar, who sets his eyes on Ado Annie (Kelley Dorney). He is Persian. And in this production Jud Fry is African American (played by Rufus Bonds, Jr.). His hidden affections for Laurey (Julia Aks) are not only difficult for her to accept because of his low class, rough and cruel behavior, but being black in 1906 made you ... intolerable. Casting Fry as black adds a whole other dimension to the story. Fry seems beleaguered by previous war inju

Bruce Kimmel wrote, directed and starred in the cult movie hit, "The First Nudie Musical."  He also co-created the story for the hit film, "The Faculty," directed by Robert Rodriguez.  As an actor, Mr. Kimmel guest-starred on most of the long-running television shows of the 1970s.    Mr. Kimmel is a legendary Grammy-nominated producer of theatre music on CD, having produced over 180 albums. Most recently he has directed the shows L.A. Now and Then, Hit Song, The Musical, Welcome to My World, Li'l Abner, and Inside Out.  Mr. Kimmel is the author of seventeen books, many musicals, and is an award-winning songwriter. Bruce Kimmel serves as director on the Group Rep's upcoming production of Frederick Knott's mystery thriller Dial "M" for Murder which opens on the Main Stage, June 30th, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood at the edge of the NoHo Arts District.  Written by Steve Peterson

Hello Again! The Songs of Allan Sherman/conceived, written & produced by Linden Waddell/musical direction and accompaniment by Marjorie Poe/directed and choreographed by Janet Miller/Asylum @ Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre/remaining performances in June: Sunday 6/18 at 4 pm; Thursday 6/22 at 7 pm; and Saturday 6/24 at 11:30 am Sherman (below)

As many times as I see Man of La Mancha, I relish the music and high dramatic moments of this classic piece of theatre. Such is the case when the production is top notch, with the perfect actors and highly skilled direction. La Mirada's current revival is top of the line with director Glenn Casale leaving his usual stamp of excellence. The beauty of Man of La Mancha as a musical is that the story is never dated; it lives and breathes in the moment. When it premiered on Broadway in the 1960s it was a winner and now, almost 60 years later, it is just as engrossing. Madness is always fun to play with. What is madness? And...what is normality? There's a fine line between Quijote's crazy behavior and the deceptive politician, say, who defines himself as a seeker of equality. When we see things as they really are, it is too painful, intolerab

Someone once asked me what the key is to a good cabaret performance. My answer? First, the performer should be an experienced actor and really know him or herself in depth. He must separate his own personality from every role played on stage. Cabaret audiences want to see something special, a glow from the inside that makes the person take hold of the moment and run with it. Nobody does this better than Donna McKechnie, Tony Award winner for A Chorus Line, whose vibrant persona adds warmth to every moment that she is in our presence. To me she is practically the same off stage as on; maybe that's the key, just being your true joyful self.

Dated? Most definitely. Terence Rattigan's Separate Tables is about 1950s morality as it was experienced in Great Britain. Things have changed over 60 years; let's hope first and foremost that women are treated more humanely by men, and secondly, one's social class - does it even exist today? - is much less a priority.  On another level, it's fascinating to witness the desperate loneliness that existed - and still may- among both young and older couples, particularly when they're encumbered with one addiction or another. That's Rattigan's Separate Tables with two completely different lead couples in each act who try to uncover or rediscover the meaning of love. With expert direction from Jules Aaron and a superb ensemble of players, Theatre 40's Separate Tables is quite a handsome and emotionally charged production.

Playwright Rajiv Joseph, best known for his critically acclaimed Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo has done it again with his world premiere play Archduke now onstage at the MTF through June 4. Based on fact and meticulously researched in Sarajevo where Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914 by Joseph and his director Giovanna Sardelli, the play has the ring of truth, but what catapults it into the sphere of brilliance is its dark humor that masks the gravity beneath.

With this concise Wikipedia description in mind let's say that Michael John LaChuisa has taken liberties in composing his musical version of La Ronde called Hello Again. The musical first premiered off-Broadway in 1993. Liberties taken primarily are placing 10 scenes and characters in different time periods of the 20th century in a non-chronological order...and utilizing simulated raw sex in many of the scenes. When the whore (a very enticing Michelle Holmes) gets her hooks into the soldier (Cesar Cipriano), it is 1900. In the next scene the soldier comes onto the nurse in 1940. Mores changed with the times and sexual practices diversified, particularly in the 60s and 70s with Woodstock an open haven for hippies and rampant sex, and then later homosexuals coming out of the closet. Within these varying time periods, LaChuisa introduces a variety of musical styles that somehow manage to tie the stories together, making them more colorful and exciting. Now in a rare revival at Chromolume Theatre, Hello Again is receiving a fine production with even direction by Richard Van Slyke and a fantastic cast of 10 actors.

Actor PATRICK PAGE has been dazzling Broadway and regional theatre audiences for many years playing the original roles in The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Spider Man, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame among many others. He has had an extensive career playing Shakespeare. Now at the Mark Taper Forum, he is about to open in a new play entitled ARCHDUKE about the events leading up to WWI. In our talk he shares his feelings about the play and proclaims his favorite role to date.

Actor/singer Davis Gaines is perhaps the most revered singing star on Los Angeles stages. He is the longest running Phantom in Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Phantom of the Opera and is about to return to Man of La Mancha. The new production from McCoy/Rigby plays the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge Friday, May 5, Saturday May 6 and Sunday May 7 and then moves to La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in early June. In our chat Gaines discusses musical theatre and his favorite roles from Broadway to LA.

Actress Christine Pedi is well known for her theatre/cabaret appearances as well as TV and SiriusXM radio. Her finest hour has come in Forbidden Broadway with her glorious singing impressions. She took time out from her busy schedule to talk about her upcoming appearance in LA for the last S.T.A.G.E. benefit on Saturday May 13 at the Saban Theatre.

It is easy to find a play today about family dysfunction but one with a totally unpredictable and engrossing story line? Think again! Brent Beerman has come up with one called A Dull Pain Turned Sharp now onstage at Group rep in NoHo. The title may sound offputting but what audience have in store is witnessing a wonderful bonding experience with a top notch cast and meticulous direction from Kay Cole currently through June 4.

Indeed, West Side Story is the most acclaimed musical. And, ask musical actors/actresses what is their favorite Broadway musical of all time and most concur, West Side Story. Why? It has phenomenal music by Leonard Bernstein, with concise poetic lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a tight and gripping book by Arthur Laurents. The brilliant choreography established in 1957 by Jerome Robbins will never be forgotten. The book presents one of the most powerful love stories ever, next to Romeo and Juliet. With all these elements complementing one another, from the first downbeat of the orchestra and the appearance of the Jets creeping in one by one on a half-lit stage, the show pulls you in and doesn't let go for its two and a half hours ... and its message and images of love linger long after the curtain falls.

At the E Spot Lounge, upstairs at Vitello's, Studio City on Tuesday April 18, Amy Brothman and Dianne Fraser produced a delightfully eclectic evening of song and storytelling under the supervision of musical director Michael Lavine, titled simply Michael Lavine & Friends. What a treat! Lavine, who lives most of the year in New York, is a director, performer, coach and musical genius par excellence. He has produced a CD also entitled Michale Lavine & Friends, which, like the show, offers rarely heard songs from less familiar Broadway shows. Some of these are musical gems, and for one reason or another, never hit the charts.

Actor Patrick Mulryan, a member of the Fiasco Theater Company, is currently playing Jack in their touring production of Into the Woods at the Ahmanson through May 14. He took time from his busy schedule to talk about the role and his blossoming theatre career. Patrick, you are having such a great time playing Jack that the joy you are feeling transcends the footlights. What is your honest impression of him? Define his character traits and flaws.

From the moment the strains of Verdi's La Traviata were heard in the wings and Edward Gero as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia entered through a part in the curtain pretending to conduct the orchestra in a joyously bemused state, I sensed we were in for a treat. How right I was! In and around the courtroom ... a perfect place for passion and theatrics, this is John Strand's The Originalist, a somewhat factual play set in Washington from 2012-13. The piece boasts intelligent writing, and a grande performance from Gero as Scalia, as well as great work from Jade Wheeler and Brett Mack, all of whom leave an indelible mark by making us think. You actually leave the theatre refreshed ... and somewhat hopeful about the future of our political system.

Actress/singer/dancer/director/choreographer KAY COLE is known for her award-winning work in the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line, which garnered the Tony, Pulitzer Prize, Drama Desk, and Theatre World awards -among others. Other credits as director/choreographer include hundreds of plays and musicals in New York, LA and London. Visit her website for a complete list: www.kaycole.net She is currently directing Group rep's production of a new play by Brent Beerman A DULL PAIN TURNED SHARP that will open Friday April 21. She also has a CD called Souvenir just released by Kritzerland Records. We know you did the trailblazing A Chorus Line in 1976 for Michael Bennett. It opened new doors for you and many other artists and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. You have been a triple threa