Gil Kaan - Page 17

A former street performer in New York City, Jim R. Moore turned his love of the eccentric performing arts into a photographic collection in his Don’t Miss This! A Decade of Eccentric Performing Arts due out February 1, 2022.  Got to chat with Jim on his photographic expertise and experience shooting his fellow eccentric performing artists.

The go-to director for many benefit one-nighters, Tony Spinosa will world premiere his own SINGING REVOLUTION: THE MUSICAL January 15, 2022 on the Broadwater Theatre Main Stage. Tony directs a cast of twenty triple-threat performers backed by a five-piece band as they perform his score and his lyrics (co-written by James Bearhart). Got to delve into the origins of SINGING REVOLUTION, as well as what has made Tony a much in-demand director/producer for hot-ticketed benefit shows for BC/EFA, TDF and The Actors Fund.

Cupcake Theater Company’s first full-length production post-pandemic, Tony Award-winning AVENUE Q will open January 8, 2022. Got to throw out some queries to director Brayden Hade on some behind-the-scene’s info, as well as his multi-career path to the many hats he currently wears working with Cupcake Theater.

Groundlings alum/Oscar winner Jim Rash will be guesting in The Groundlings’ January 6th edition of COOKIN’ WITH GAS. The actor/comedian/filmmaker took a moment from the set of Bros to answer a few of my Groundlings and Oscar queries.

CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ‘90S MUSICAL returns to Los Angeles for a one-nighter, LIVE at and streaming from the Bourbon Room December 19, 2021. With the plot of the 1999 cult hit Cruel Intentions as their starting point, the cast of powerhouse singers will sing the characters played in the film by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillipe and others using songs that the characters would have sung in the movie, if it were a musical. These songsters include Brian Logan Dales, Israel Erron Ford, Frankie Grande, Jenn Harris, Emma Hunton, Janel Parrish, Constantine Rousouli and Carrie St. Louis.  

My El Capitan experience began in its lobby with a photo opp and a display of the costume of the main two pairs of lovers of West Side Story. As you enter the theatre auditorium, American Theater Organ Society’s Organist of the Year Rob Richards (bedecked in rhinestone shoes) wields his organ prowess on the El Capitan’s Wurlitzer pipe organ. Sounding like a fully synthesized band, Richards plays movie themes and songs familiar to most.

What is becoming a holiday tradition at the Garry Marshall Theatre, the latest edition of HOLIDAZE HARMONY world premieres livestream December 15th, newly titled HOLIDAZE HARMONY: A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS. Garry Marshall Theatre’s artistic director Joseph Leo Bwarie directs long-time friends Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall in channeling their stunning vocals in HOLIDAZE songs. Had the opportunity to catch Kamilah before her rehearsals with Shoshana Bean.

Feld Entertainment’s DISNEY ON ICE: DREAM BIG comes to Southern California at the Honda Center in Anaheim December 8th through 12th and at Staples Center in Los Angeles December 16th through 19th. Got a chance to ask Feld Entertainment’s CEO Kenneth Feld some behind-the-scenes questions on his worldwide-reaching, every-growing entertainment mammoth.

The national tour of THE BAND’S VISIT has landed in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre. The opening night audience gave the all-round talented cast a most deserved standing ovation. I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Joseph (who’s silky vocals inhabit the character of Haled) the afternoon post-opening night.

The very in-demand cabaret artist Sharon McNight will bring her strong vocals and hysterically outrageous irreverence to Feinstein’s At Vitello’s December 9th in SHARON McNIGHT: BETWEEN HOLIDAZE, with musical direction from John Boswell.

The national tour of A CHRISTMAS CAROL lands at the Ahmanson November 30, 2021. Winner of five Tony Awards, this perennial holiday classic stars Bradley Whitford, Kate Burton and Alex Newell, with a supporting cast which includes Chante Carmel, Dashiell Eaves, Brandon Gill, Evan Harrington, Chris Hoch, Sarah Hunt, Alex Nee, Sebastian Ortiz, Cade Robertson, Brett Ryback, Harry Thornton, Glory Yepassis-Zembrou and Grace Yoo. Had a lovely phoner with Glory on what led her to this, her debut Equity gig.

A popular fixture of the New York cabaret scene, Jim Caruso brings his JIM CARUSO’S CAST PARTY across the nation to Feinstein’s At Vitellos November 28th and 29th. An evening of “extreme open mic” provides a platform for new performers as well as surprise established guests. Jim took a few moments after completing his CAST PARTY in Nashville to give us some behind-the-scenes of his once-was “weird, show-biz adjacent gig,” now his most enjoyable passion CAST PARTY.

For the Record’s perennial holiday hit LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE returns to The Wallis for its third year with previews beginning November 27th.  Cast with incredible vocalists, songs from the Love Actually soundtrack are performed along with some original compositions onstage in front of the screened 2003 film. Got the chance to chat up one of For The Record’s mainstay performers Michael Thomas Grant, also known to TV audiences as Leif on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.

The Troubies’ Holidaze show SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO MOTOWN will open at the Garry Marshall Theatre November 23, 2021. Troubies’ artistic director Matt Walker directs the talented cast of veteran Troubies with some Noubies. A hilarious mainstay of many a Troubie production Rick Batalla took some time from his daily antics to fill me in on some behind-the-scenes of his history with the Troubadour Theater Company.

Tin Can Telephone Productions presents the second edition of their WELCOME TO MEADOWLARK FALLS interactive online experience THE VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS CONTEST. Ticket buyers will be mailed a package to guide them through the online holidays interactions. Purchase these ticket packages by December 3rd for guaranteed Christmas delivery. Got a chance to pose a few questions to Carley Herlihy who reprises her role of Jenny Snow in WELCOME TO MEADOWLARK FALLS: THE VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS CONTEST.

Upnext Productions’ of Jonathan Larson’s TICK, TICK… BOOM! will open November 21st at The Atlas Space at Thymele Arts. Clint Foley directs the cast of Isaac Robinson-Smith, Mandie Hittleman and Christopher Fishburne. Isaac opened up to me about his history with Upnext Productions and his thriving career.

The Pasadena Playhouse opens its 2021-2022 season on November 13, 2021 with HEAD OVER HEELS, co-directed and co-choreographed by Jenny Koons and Sam Pinkleton. For these live performances featuring the music of the iconic L.A.-based female rock band The Go-Go’s, the Pasadena Playhouse had been reconfigured to include a dance floor to complement the traditional reserved theatre seats. HEAD OVER HEELS‘s cast is diversely comprised of: Alaska 5000, Lea DeLaria, Yurel Echezarreta, Tiffany Mann, George Salazar, Freddie, Emily Skeggs and Shanice Williams. Got the chance to catch George before their first preview for some behind-the-scenes info.

The Geffen Playhouse west coast premieres Dominique Morisseau’s PARADISE BLUE November 18, 2021 (already in previews). Set in the jazz-filled Paradise Club in Detroit (circa 1949), Stori Ayers directs the talented cast of Tyla Abercrumbie, Wendell B. Franklin, Alani iLongwe, John Earl Jelks and Shayna Small. Had the chance to throw out a few queries to the multi-tasking Alani.

FunGuys Events’ holiday lights extravaganza MAGIC OF LIGHTS makes its Angel Stadium premiere November 19, 2021. In the safety of your own vehicle, audiences can drive through to view the two-million-lights-lit holiday displays including “Prehistoric Christmas,” “Big Foot Monster Trucks,” “Snow Flurry Tunnel,” “12 Days of Christmas,” “Toyland” and “Enchanting Tunnel of Lights.” Had to opportunity to discover some behind-the-scenes facts and history from MAGIC OF LIGHTS’ CEO and owner Ken Hudgens.

Stewart Copeland brings his touring show STEWART COPELAND: POLICE DERANGED FOR ORCHESTRA to The Soraya November 4, 2021. The much-lauded drummer (hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as “one of the greatest drummers of all time”), now also composer; Stewart performs his compositions of his dearrangements of songs he’d played while in the very popular band The Police.