Brad Blaisdell

Pat Whiteman & Harriet Schock to Reprise Hit Show at E-Spot Lounge

Singer Pat Whiteman and Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist Harriet Schock will reprise their hit show Today, June 29 at the E Spot Lounge in Studio City.

Pat Whiteman & Harriet Schock to Reprise Hit Show at E-Spot Lounge

Singer Pat Whiteman and Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist Harriet Schock will reprise their hit show Thursday, June 29 at the E Spot Lounge in Studio City.

BWW Review: Singer PAT WHITEMAN and Composer HARRIET SCHOCK Make a Dream Team in the E-Spot Lounge at Vitello's

On Thursday May 19 consummate singer Pat Whiteman presented An Evening of Pat Whiteman & Grammy nominated songwriter Harriet Schock at the E Spot Lounge at Vitello's in Studio City to a sold-out house of arduous music lovers. Although not as well known as the others, Harriet Schock has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon. Her pop songs are that good, for example 'Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady' which gave Helen Reddy a great big hit back in the 70s. Who better to interpret her incisive emotional messages than virtuoso Pat Whiteman? The evening was a divine songfest of original material with a 6-piece band, including Schock at the piano and electronic keyboard, and two backup singers. There were also special guests: Gary Lynn Floyd, who has an uber expressive singing style perfect for Schock's music...and movie composer Misha Segal who co-wrote the gorgeous 'First Time on a Ferris Wheel' with Schock.

Singer Pat Whiteman and Grammy-Nominated Songwriter Harriet Schock to Perform at E-Spot Lounge

Versatile and popular singer Pat Whiteman and Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist Harriet Schock will debut a new show on Thursday, May 19 at the E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Gary Lynn Floyd will serve as special guest along with a substantial band including Joe Lamanno on bass, Jennifer Richardson on cello, Andrea Ross-Green and Barbara Shane on background vocals, Scott Breadman on percussion, Kelly De Sarla on flute and Brad Blaisdell on harmonica.

KISS ME, KATE, Featuring Wayne Brady, Enters Final Week of Performances in Pasadena

KISS ME, KATE starring multi Emmy-Award Winning Wayne Brady ("Let's Make a Deal," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") as Fred/Petruchio, is in its final week, presented by The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Executive Director Elizabeth Doran) and closes October 12. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lilli/Kate and is directed by Sheldon Epps.

BWW Reviews: Cole Porter Lives at Pasadena Playhouse with KISS ME KATE

Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate is a timeless, delightful musical romp that can be seen again and again. It's an overblown, joyous account of two egotistical actors, once married to each other, who adore one another but just cannot be around each other very long without catastrophic, calamitous results. It's also a play within a play, as Lilli Vanessi (Merle Dandridge) and Fred Graham (Wayne Brady) are on tour essaying Katharine and Petruchio in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Above all, the silly contrived story is overshadowed by Cole Porter's divine score with some of the most glorious tunes ever composed. Kiss Me Kate is a showcase to Porter's genius. The current revival at Pasadena Playhouse, although not any better than any of the other local revivals as of late, does boast the comical presence of Wayne Brady and the stunning talent of Merle Dandridge..

Photo Flash: Broadway's Original 'Kate' Patricia Morison Visits KISS ME, KATE at Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse presents multi-Emmy Award winning Wayne Brady ("Let's Make a Deal," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter Broadway musical KISS ME, KATE, directed by Sheldon Epps. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lilli/Kate. KISS ME, KATE opened tonightperforms through October 12, 2014. The production opened last night, September 21, and Broadway's original 'Kate', Patricia Morison, visited the show - scroll down for a photo!

Photo Flash: First Look at Wayne Brady, Merle Dandridge and More in Pasadena Playhouse's KISS ME, KATE

The Pasadena Playhouse welcomes Wayne Brady as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter Broadway musical KISS ME, KATE. The multi-Emmy Award winning Brady will head a cast of 17. Epps will direct the 2014-2015 Season opener, which runs from September 16- October 12, 2014 with the official press opening on September 21. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lily/Kate. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

BWW Reviews: World Premiere THE RED ROOM Fires Up NoHo Arts Stage

Christopher Knopf's world premiere The Red Room , clearly reminiscent of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, has modern day repercussions in spite of its period time and place. Although appearing affluent on the surface, all members of this family dynasty are suffering. A failing business; for some, no job or money and hasty, psychological escapism. Though not a salesman, Edwin's (Brad Blaisdell) failures are compared to those of Willy Loman, more than once, and the entire structure/content of the play echo the tragic themes of Salesman with its domineering father, loyal-to-a-fault mother and struggling-to-be accepted sons. One might also recall O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night where parental weaknesses segue directly to the next generation like the plague. This is a very heavy-handed dramatic work containing gripping dialogue and incisive confrontations that require an outstanding director and cast to put them over with any degree of success. Fortunately, the NoHo Ace Ensemble is attuned to these challenges.

NoHo Arts Center Ensemble Opens World Premiere of THE RED ROOM Tonight, 9/28

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents a world premiere play, THE RED ROOM, written by former WGA President Christopher Knopf and directed by NoHo Arts Center Artistic Director James J. Mellon. THE RED ROOM opens tonight, Friday, September 28 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, October 28 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

NoHo Arts Center Ensemble Opens World Premiere of THE RED ROOM, 9/28

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents a world premiere play, THE RED ROOM, written by former WGA President Christopher Knopf and directed by NoHo Arts Center Artistic Director James J. Mellon. THE RED ROOM will begin previews on Thursday, September 20 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 28 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, October 28 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

NoHo Arts Center Presents YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS 12/2

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the return of its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original musical, perfect for the whole family this holiday season, YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS.

NoHo Arts Center Presents YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS 12/2

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the return of its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original musical, perfect for the whole family this holiday season, YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS.

Noho Arts Presents DEPARTURES, Opens June 10

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents a newly revised version of the play developed by the company, DEPARTURES, written by Michael Catlin, Effie Hortis, Jim Lunsford, James J. Mellon, Duane Poole, Penelope Richards, Jed Schlanger and Mark Wyrick, and directed by James J. Mellon.

Noho Arts Presents DEPARTURES, Opens June 10

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents a newly revised version of the play developed by the company, DEPARTURES, written by Michael Catlin, Effie Hortis, Jim Lunsford, James J. Mellon, Duane Poole, Penelope Richards, Jed Schlanger and Mark Wyrick, and directed by James J. Mellon.

NoHo Arts Center Presents The Return Of YO HO HO: A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS!

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the third return of its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original holiday musical, perfect for the whole family, YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, from the creative team that brought you Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs Muir and Lizard, music and lyrics by Scott DeTurk and James J. Mellon and written and directed by James J. Mellon.

NoHo Arts Brings Pirates to the North Pole

Perhaps one of the best family Christmas shows returns this season to NoHo Arts Center: Yo Ho Ho! A Pirate's Christmas. It was my choice for Best Family Show in 2007.What puts it on top? It's light, frothy and fun, but most urgently it encourages the audience to interact with the actors throughout. Interaction is foremost in getting kids' attention. The pirates trample through the aisles, swing on ropes from the audience to the stage and never let us forget that they are pirates ... and naughty. The kids love it, and most of the big kids as well! Kudos to James J. Mellon for a theatrical staging of such bravado.

NoHo Arts Center Presents The Return Of YO HO HO: A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS!

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the third return of its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original holiday musical, perfect for the whole family, YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, from the creative team that brought you Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs Muir and Lizard, music and lyrics by Scott DeTurk and James J. Mellon and written and directed by James J. Mellon.

NoHo Arts Center Presents The Return Of YO HO HO: A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS!

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the third return of its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original holiday musical, perfect for the whole family, YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, from the creative team that brought you Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs Muir and Lizard, music and lyrics by Scott DeTurk and James J. Mellon and written and directed by James J. Mellon.

NoHo Arts Center Ensemble Presents PRAYING SMALL, Closes 7/18

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) presents the West Coast Premiere of PRAYING SMALL, written by Clifford Morts and directed by Victor Warren. PRAYING SMALL will preview on Thursday, June 10 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 11 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, July 18 at The NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.