Don Grigware - Page 85

Ray Bradbury's Wisdom 2116/ conceived, directed & choreographed by Steve Josephson/ Fremont Centre Theatre/ through February 27.

Actor/producing director of Havok Theatre Company Chad Borden has been treading the boards in LA theatre for many years, this year being Ovation nominated for his portrayal of Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman, which won Production of a Musical in an Intimate Space at the Ovations last night. Borden recently sat down with BroadwayWorld to talk about all things Havok and theater.

Actor Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is an popular caricaturist of theatrical celebrities. Born in Corvallis, Oregon and raised in Lebanon, Oregon, he moved to Los Angeles in 1990 to attend college. Recently, he sat down with BroadwayWorld to discuss all things art and theater.

Brentwood award-winning playwright/music composer/lyricist Stephanie Hutchinson has two of her short plays More Precious than Diamonds and Super 8 versus Bacara Resort and Spa published in a new anthology entitled The Best 10-Minute Plays for 2 or More Actors (2009) edited by Lawrence Harbison and with publishers SK, A Smith and Kraus Book.

If you like a smooth singer, one to listen to when you cuddle up with that extra special person by the fireside, then there is no one better than Franny McCartney. Her low-key, velvety tones can be both serious or playful as she runs the gamut of emotions from A-Z in her new jazz/pop/blues CD entitled As Is.

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker played La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts on December 23, 2009.

White Christmas played the Cabrillo Music Theatre @ Thousand Oaks. The show features a book by David Ives & Paul Blake, music & lyrics by Irving Berlin and direction by Todd Nielsen. The production ran December 26-29 only.

House of Besarab is conceived and written by Terance Duddy & Theodore Ott produced and directed by Terance Duddy The Hollywood American Legion Theater through January 17, 2010 (possibly beyond).

The Best in LA Theatre for 2009 brought to you by L.A.'s Don Grigware.

The unequalled Julia Migenes brought her holiday show Julia Migenes' Holiday Magic from Bach to Pop! to the Upright Cabaret on Vermont St in Hollywood Sunday December 20; this diva could sing the phone book and I'd show up. Dressed in black velvet and quoting from Stephen Nissenbaum's book The Battle for Christmas (1997), Migenes was nothing less than enchanting on both sophisticated and pure entertainment levels, as she made her way through close to 25 tunes from Mozart's 'Laudate Dominum' to Mel Torme's 'The Christmas Song.'

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's is presenting its annual LA's Next Great Stage STAR! What a terrific event! Not unlike TV's American Idol, talented artists compete before judges and a live audience. At Sterling's they go head to head for 6 Sundays: the first was November 29 with the finale to take place on January 3, 2010 at 12pm. At that time 13/18 contestants will be eliminated and the 5 remaining contestants will go on to compete once more. From these 5 the winner will be announced. The winner will receive $1000 in cash as well as a paid headlining engagement at Sterling's, and a variety of auditions for local musical theatres such as the outstanding Musical Theatre West and Cabrillo Music Theatre. The 4 runners up will also get headlining engagements at Sterling's and various private auditions as well.

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles presented their annual holiday concert extravaganza at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Saturday, December 19 @ 3pm and 8pm and again on Sunday, December 20 @ 3pm.

James Barbour brought his holiday concert straight from New York to the Colony Theatre in Burbank for one performance only Monday December 21 at 7pm. The benefit for the Colony co-starred rock/jazz singer Michelle Wolf with husband, brilliant musician Peter Wolf accompanying. Barbour referred to him as 'Chopin at the piano!' The hour and a half set gave singer par excellence Barbour a chance to show his lighter side - he is one helluva funny storyteller - as he engaged the audience in an interactive '12 Days of Christmas', the Hawaiian 'Mele Kalikimaka' and the 'Dreidel Song' ('Growing up in New Jersey, mine was the only house that had Christmas lights.'). On a more serious note, Barbour performed stunning renditions of 'O Holy Night' (his late mom's favorite), Frank Wildhorn's 'Measure of a Man', 'Believe' and 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year'.

An evening of holiday music and frolic for the entire family at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre. through December 27

Frosty the Snow Manilow conceived and written by Matt Walker & The Troubies directed by Matt Walker Falcon Theatre through January 17

gay apparel: A Christmas Carol adapted and directed by Jason Moyer Lyric Hyperion Theatre through December 20

How to describe The Two & Only!? Well, for starters, it's a one-man show about the life and career of comic/actor/artist/ventriloquist Jay Johnson. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, this show has a lot more to offer than your average solo show.

Beautiful Susan Anton is in the 19th edition of the Palm Springs Follies through December 31 performing her jubilant Christmas act. She just recorded a Christmas CD, on sale at the show, which you must add to your collection! I was overwhelmed by Anton's charm and warmth as she sang 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus', a lovely medley of 'Count Your Blessings' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and a sing-a-long in the audience with 'Winter Wonderland', 'Let It Snow!', 'Jingle Bell Rock' and 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'. Her finale Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young' is a mind blower, as she assures us, like the great George Burns, that we all grow older, but not necessarily old.

Tea at Five by Matthew Lombardo directed by Jenny Sullivan Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara through December 27