Don Grigware - Page 86

Actor/singer Alan Cumming, Tony Award Winner for his role of Emcee in the smash revival of Cabaret (1998) is a singular performer and humanitarian. He reopens his brilliant cabaret solo show I Bought A Blue Car Today for one week only December 13-18 on the second stage of the Geffen Playhouse, where his initial engagement (end of September-beginning of October) was SRO for all performances. I caught up with him after his return from Australia and his appearance on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Winter Wonderettes, written & directed by Roger Bean musical arrangements by Brian Baker, Moulton Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, through December 30.

For gays, it's a camp! For straights - after all, this is a sendup of the prison exploitation films of the 50s seen by a mainstream audience -it's satirical fun! Tom Eyen's WBB has some great oneliners and visual laughs, but does have a tendency to be on one note and is somewhat dated: prison life... shocking? We've seen and heard it all. Nonetheless, the Celebration's revival has a great cast, smooth direction...and with clips of the actual 50s movies on a screen behind to set the tone, the whole ambience is a blast!

Bonnie & Clyde book by Ivan Menchell music by Frank Wildhorn; lyrics by Don Black directed by Jeff Calhoun La Jolla Playhouse Mandell Weiss Theatre through December 20.

Sammy Williams made his theatrical cabaret debut at The Gardenia Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14 with musical director Ron Snyder at the piano and under director Tom Pardoe's skilled hand.

Alexandra Billings brought her cabaret show Everybody's Girl, under the musical direction of Bill Newlin, to Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's Sunday November 15 - and I must admit, after seeing so many great cabaret artists lately, this lady tops them all. Her instrument has an astounding range, she can act your socks off and... she is raunchy and deliriously hilarious, all in one breath.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical book & lyrics by Timothy Mason; music by Mel Marvin directed by Matt August Pantages Theatre through January 3, 2010

Polyester The Musical book by Phil Olson; music: Wayland Pickard lyrics by Olson & Pickard Directed by Pickard & Doug Engalla Actors Forum Theatre through December 20

A radiant Florence Henderson presented her newly revamped live one-woman musical show All the Lives of Me at the Magic Castle Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10. The lady is still beautiful, can still sing - and is one hilariously engaging cabaret performer.

The classic 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis directed by Vincente Minnelli is so revered that to imagine a stage version of equal prominence is... Well, Musical Theatre West's (MTW) impressive reproduction of the 1989 Broadway version is so charmingly rendered, that one forgets the movie, Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien & company... at least for 2 hours. Not unlike White Christmas on stage, Meet Me in St. Louis captivates its audience with mesmerizing production values and an astounding ensemble.

Seeing this native Salvadoran company of artists present this new work is like visiting an indigenous village in El Salvador and witnessing first hand a pageant that has been lovingly created by a fiercely proud race. It is pure and honest in its simplicity and filled with the emotional excitement and sorrow felt by all cultures. Yes, indeed, the story, told plainly and gracefully by a Mujer (Rocio Enriquez) dressed in white belongs exclusively to la cultura salvadoreña, but will be understood universally.

Lisa Stanley is most gratefully a cabaret artist of the old school, who brings everything she has to her performance: good singing, a little dancing, a gigantic sense of humor and enough charisma and warmth to make everyone feel good. Never letting her high enegy fail her for a split second, Stanley presented her Life on the Double D List at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's on Sunday, October 25 to a thoroughly receptive SRO audience.

Actress Megan Mullally, best known for her two-time Emmy Award winning role of Karen on Will & Grace, is also a versatile stage actress. Last year she co-starred on Broadway in Mel Brooks' musical version of Young Frankenstein and is currently treading the boards once more as Beverly in the controversial The Receptionist at the Odyssey Theatre, extended until November 21.

When I interviewed Melanie Laland (artistic director of Kooza) for BroadwayWorld.com, she told me it would be thrilling, but what I felt as I experienced Kooza at the Sant Monica Pier exceeded my wildest expectations.

The Glory of Living is a co-production between Athena Theatre and El Centro Theatre running October 9th thru November 21st at the El Centro Theatre in Hollywood Directed by Alice Ensor & Joe Koonce

What can one do but stand in awe of the legendary accomplishments of Mitzi Gaynor! Motion picture star of over 17 films, including her Golden Globe nominated performance as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 blockbuster musical South Pacific, TV star of 9 spectacular musical specials that garnered 17 Emmy nominations, and night club performer extraordinaire in Las Vegas and touring the entire US and Canada, this lady has done it all. As part of this season's month long tribute to Richard Rodgers by Reprise Theatre Company and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Joshua Logan's film South Pacific, Miss Gaynor will appear onstage this Thursday, October 15 at the Majestic Crest Theatre in Westwood.

Few cabaret performers electrify an audience. Peter Allen was able to do it with sheer energy, talent and drive. You had to see him jump on top of the piano to understand just how much energy was used up during one number. Hugh Jackman can do it. His personality and good looks alone drive both men and women crazy...and his stamina is also phenomenal. Then there's Alan Cumming - appearing last week for one week only at the Geffen Playhouse-whose extraordinary vocal style and devilish sense of humor can keep a show in high gear.

Parade book by Alfred Uhry; music by Jason Robert Brown directed by Rob Ashford Mark Taper Forum through November 15

That Perfect Moment by Charles Bartlett and Jack Cooper directed by Rick Sparks NoHo Arts Center through November 8

Naked Boys Singing songs written by a bevy of songwriters mentioned below conceived/directed by Robert Schrock Macha Theatre through November 22