Anthony Manough

Rubicon Theatre Company and Music2Life to Launch 'MUSIC FOR CHANGING TIMES' Festival

Rubicon Theatre Company, in association with Music2Life, presents a new weeklong series of events in Ventura, California, May 8 - 13, 2017, called MUSIC FOR CHANGING TIMES: LOOKING BACK/MOVING FORWARD.

Photo Flash: HALLELUJAH, BABY! Celebrates Black History Month at Musical Theatre Guild

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will celebrate Black History Month with the rarely produced HALLELUJAH, BABY!. The one-night-only concert event took place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre yesterday, February 12, 2017 at 7:00 PM with original cast members Frieda Payne and Robert Hooks in attendance. Scroll down for photos!

Rarely Seen HALLELUJAH, BABY! Revives Next Week at MTG

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will celebrate Black History Month with the rarely produced HALLELUJAH, BABY!. The one-night-only concert event will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 7:00 PM with original cast members Frieda Payne and Robert Hooks scheduled to be in attendance.

Musical Theatre Guild to Celebrate Black History Month with Rare HALLELUJAH, BABY!

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will celebrate Black History Month with the rarely produced HALLELUJAH, BABY! 

BWW Review: SISTER ACT Brings Joyful Noise to Musical Theatre West, Ends 4/24

Though that comedy device of rewritten song lyrics is (unfortunately) not utilized for the film's musical stage adaptation, still, much of the spirit and basic plot architecture of the original movie remains in SISTER ACT - THE MUSICAL, which features all-original songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, as well as a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (with additional material contributed later by playwright Douglas Carter Beane). Currently, Musical Theatre West's admirable regional production of this Tony-nominated Broadway musical comedy is finishing out its final weekend of performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through April 24. Goofy and full of cutesy charm MTW's regional production definitely brings in the (joyful) noise and the funk to Long Beach. So what makes the show enjoyable? Well... for lack of a better phrase... it's all about the nuns.

BWW Review: Jubilant SISTER ACT Will Raise You Up at MTW

Sister Act the Musical started out in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse, premiered in London's West End in 2009 and then underwent serious revisions before coming to Broadway in 2011. I remember liking the first mounting in 2006 with many reservations. Since I loved the 1992 film so much, I didn't feel that the stage version was particularly faithful...no pun intended. Well, with all the 2011 changes, MTW's revival of the Broadway version is tops, a joyful, tuneful, splashy romp that never lets down, with a tremendous cast, stellar direction from Michael Matthews and soulful choreography from Daniel Smith. Douglas Carter Beane, who penned the screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the Tony nominated play The Little Dog Laughed, added new book material for the national tour, included here, and this contributes substantially to molding a sleek and unforgettable show.

Musical Theatre West to Present SISTER ACT, 4/8-24

Musical Theatre West (MTW) presents Sister Act, Broadway's feel-good musical comedy at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center April 8-24.  Based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg hit film, written by Joseph Howard, the five-time Tony nominated Broadway sensation features an award winning creative team with original score and music by composer Alan Menken (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors), lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Tangled), book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (Cheers), additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed ).  The reinvented musical adaptation is filled with heavenly music with a disco beat, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!  Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.  Tickets start at $20.

BWW Review: SHAKE LOOSE at MetroStage

It is certainly isn't a bad sign when the two-year old in the front row gets up to dance with the music.

New Musical 'SHAKE LOOSE' to Premiere at MetroStage This Winter

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the world premiere of a new musical SHAKE LOOSE: An Evening of Moods Blues & Icons, featuring the music and lyrics of Thomas W. Jones, William Hubbard and William Knowles will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 28, 2016. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, William Knowles will music direct and conduct and William Hubbard will co- music direct. 

New Musical 'SHAKE LOOSE' to Premiere at MetroStage This Winter

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the world premiere of a new musical SHAKE LOOSE: An Evening of Moods Blues & Icons, featuring the music and lyrics of Thomas W. Jones, William Hubbard and William Knowles will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 28, 2016. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, William Knowles will music direct and conduct and William Hubbard will co- music direct. 

BWW Review: UPRISING Premieres at MetroStage

UPRISING, premiering at MetroStage, is a powerful and engaging work that asks what choices we make to ensure freedom and for what would we sacrifice it.

MetroStage's UPRISING Set for Women's Voice Theatre Festival

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that MetroStage will open the 2015-16 season with the Rolling World Premiere of UPRISING by Atlanta playwright Gabrielle Fulton as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival, Sept 17- Oct 25. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, and William Knowles will music direct.  

BWW Reviews: LONESOME TRAVELER at 59E59 is Performance Perfection

See 'Lonesome Traveler' now at 59E59 through April 19th. It is a completely entertaining and inspiring show.

Photo Flash: LONESOME TRAVELER Opens Tonight at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters welcomes the final production of the inaugural 5A Season, the NYC premiere of LONESOME TRAVELER, written and directed by James O'Neil. LONESOME TRAVELER began performances on Saturday, March 7 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 19. Opening Night is tonight, March 17 at 7 PM. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Photo Flash: First Look at LONESOME TRAVELER at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters welcomes the final production of the inaugural 5A Season, the NYC premiere of LONESOME TRAVELER, written and directed by James O'Neil. LONESOME TRAVELER began performances on Saturday, March 7 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 19. Opening Night is Tuesday, March 17 at 7 PM. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

LONESOME TRAVELER to Close First 5A Season at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters will welcome the final production of the inaugural 5A Season, the NYC premiere of LONESOME TRAVELER, written and directed by James O'Neil. Produced by Off-Broadway Across America in association with the Rubicon Theatre Company (Ventura, California), LONESOME TRAVELER begins performances on Saturday, March 7 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 19.

STAGE TUBE: In Rehearsal with Cast of Mixed Blood's PASSING STRANGE, Opening 4/25

Identity and racial politics form the foundation of PASSING STRANGE, one of the seminal musicals of our time, and Mixed Blood Theatre's production honors that epic rock legacy, with the added dimension of the intimacy and immediacy of the Alan Page Auditorium. With disparate styles that range from '60's Europop to '70's punk to '80's electronica, to gospel, soul, and funk, to musical theatre, and with a nod to James Brown, this Tony Award winner is a play within a rock concert. Eschewing preconceptions, this band's lead singer is a middle class African American Buddhist rocker ex-pat story-teller, sharing the picaresque journey of his youth via 24 songs. The play's title is inspired by a passage in Shakespeare's OTHELLO.

PASSING STRANGE Opens 4/25 at Mixed Blood Theatre

Identity and racial politics form the foundation of PASSING STRANGE, one of the seminal musicals of our time, and Mixed Blood Theatre's production honors that epic rock legacy, with the added dimension of the intimacy and immediacy of the Alan Page Auditorium. With disparate styles that range from '60's Europop to '70's punk to '80's electronica, to gospel, soul, and funk, to musical theatre, and with a nod to James Brown, this Tony Award winner is a play within a rock concert. Eschewing preconceptions, this band's lead singer is a middle class African American Buddhist rocker ex-pat story-teller, sharing the picaresque journey of his youth via 24 songs. The play's title is inspired by a passage in Shakespeare's OTHELLO.

Rubicon Hosts HOLIDAY CENTRAL with 35 Seasonal Shows, Now thru 12/23

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

Rubicon to Host HOLIDAY CENTRAL with 35 Seasonal Shows, 11/29-12/23

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.