LaBute Gives a Good Fight with 'Some Girl(s)' at GeffenFebruary 14, 2008With his latest West Coast premiere of Some Girl(s) at the Geffen Playhouse, LaBute has delivered yet another exceptional piece of theatre, scouring to the depths of male bashing with utter finesse. And to ensure the production is living up to the book's potential, its playwright has directed as well, although LaBute's stronger suit is directing screen rather than stage (not counting that horrendous misstep called 'The Wicker Man')...
TV: JoAnne Worley Flies into LA's 'Wicked'February 15, 2008BroadwayWorld's own James Sims sat down with JoAnne Worley backstage at the Pantages Theatre to catch up with the musical theatre star before an evening performance of Wicked. Worley talks about her recent experience back on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone and how it feels to join the blockbuster musical in Los Angeles.
TV: LA's Reprise Visits Dogpatch USA with 'Li'l Abner'February 6, 2008BroadwayWorld's own James Sims was on hand for Li'l Abner's dress rehearsal earlier this week and spoke with the cast and creative team regarding the rigorous Reprise! schedule and about the comic strip-turned musical production.
'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' Yea... WhateverJanuary 22, 2008Center Theatre Group's latest musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, has a central message, and it is rather simple, f@$k theatrical conventions. Thanks to the progressive nature of recent offerings including Spring Awakening and the soon to open Passing Strange, Broadway has been breaking away from tradition with rock music infiltrating the stage and concert style staging springing up...
'Orson's Shadow' is a Gift to the StageJanuary 21, 2008With so many larger-than-life figures on stage, and the inevitable egos that follow, there are plenty of laughs to be had as they are each bursting with arrogant overtones and plenty of pent up frustration at their stalled careers. Yet, beyond such comical moments, Orson's Shadow is filled with poignant glimpses at the insecurities and even disturbed mental states of actors and all those involved with theatre...
Deborah Voigt, a True SopranoJanuary 20, 2008The American Songbook, in its Broadway musical form, is often sung with varying degrees of interpretation from singers in nightclubs and symphony halls across the country, yet rarely has the genre sounded so regal as when the magnificent soprano Deborah Voigt lends her glorious vocal styling to the mix, as was the case Wednesday at UCLA's Royce Hall...
Bacharach Themed S.T.A.G.E. Benefit set for March 8 & 9January 16, 2008The 24th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E-will present Blame it on Bacharach!, a celebration of the magic that is composer Burt Bacharach, on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills...
TV: NBC's 'The Office' Star Melora Hardin Sings in LAJanuary 3, 2008BroadwayWorld's own James Sims sat in on NBC's 'The Office' Star Melora Hardin's rehearsal before catching up with the actress to talk about her singing background, working with Alexander and how she juggles film and television roles with motherhood and song-writing...
'Color Purple' Strikes Soulful ChordDecember 18, 2007Transforming such a momentous story into a staged musical, as bookwriter Marsha Norman has done with The Color Purple, could not have been an easy task. What has ended up on stage more closely resembles a Disney spin on history, rather than a gritty realization of historical abuse. Yet, it strikes a soulful chord with a gospel and jazz aged sensibility, giving the musical an otherwise absent poignant heartbeat.
Mamet Musical Replaced with 'Keep Your Pantheon' in LADecember 14, 2007David Mamet's much anticipated musical A Waitress in Yellowstone has been pulled from Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre's upcoming season, replaced by another Mamet world premiere, Keep Your Pantheon, according to CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie...
TV: LA's Next Great Stage Star II FinaleDecember 20, 2007BroadwayWorld's own James Sims was on hand for L.A.'s Next Great Stage Star II final night of competition, speaking with the panel of industry judges and following each of the top five performers as they prepared to sing one last time...
Dell'Arte Company Makes Rare LA Appearance in FebruaryDecember 14, 2007Looking to establish a home base in Southern California, internationally-renowned physical theater ensemble The Dell'Arte Company brings its critically acclaimed production of The Golden State to 24th Street Theatre for a three-week run February 8-24, following a two-night appearance, February 1 and 2, at the Keck Theater on the campus of Occidental College...
Fountain Theatre to Premiere Fuggard Play 'Victory'December 14, 2007Fountain Theatre's co-artistic director Stephen Sachs will direct the U.S. premiere of Athol Fugard's play Victory opening the theatre's 19th Season on January 25th, starring Morlan Higgins, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste and Tinashe Kajese stars...
TV: 'Wicked's' Shoshana Bean Recording in Los AngelesDecember 9, 2007BroadwayWorld's own James Sims recently caught up with Shoshana Bean as she rehearsed for an upcoming performance at Upright Cabaret. She talked about her time on Broadway, taking over the lead role in Wicked earlier than expected and revealed her future plans for recording and possibly touring once her album is released...
Start Spreading the News, 'The Rat Pack' is HotDecember 5, 2007Time to order a whiskey, straight up, because the ice might melt, it's that hot. Okay, clichéd lines aside, there is something heartening going down at the Wilshire Theatre, as showbusiness's three greatest crooners are on display in all their glory...
TV: FOX's 'Bones' Star Eric Millegan in LA CabaretDecember 5, 2007BroadwayWorld's own James Sims sat down with Eric Millegan before the show to discuss his career in New York, including doing a workshop of the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, singing cabaret and his moving out to Los Angeles to work full-time on FOX's 'Bones.'
Photo Coverage: 2007 LA Ovation Awards CeremonyNovember 13, 2007The 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards ceremony was held November 12 at downtown's The Orpheum Theatre. The nights big winners included Sleeping Beauty Wakes (World Premiere Musical), Film Chinois (World Premiere Play) and Jersey Boys (Touring Production)...