BWW Reviews: La Mirada's Jolly MARY POPPINS Is A Charming Delight
The charming new regional production of the Disney/Cameron Mackintosh musical spectacular MARY POPPINS---currently playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through June 21---has found a lovely, practically perfect Poppins in Hart of Dixie's Brandi Burkhardt, who confidently channels the nanny we all love with her lovely singing voice and a pitch-perfect demeanor that's at times bold, at times cheeky, and altogether beguiling. As for the show itself, it's quite a delightful crowd-pleaser, filled with colorful first-rate visuals, spectacular dancing, festive songs, and an infectiously enthusiastic cast that tries its best to win over its audience. And, boy, they definitely do!
Photo Flash: MARY POPPINS Celebrates Opening Night at La Mirada Theatre
Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, with original music & lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and book by Julian Fellowes, featuring new songs and additional music & lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, just opened at La Mirada Theatre and runs through June 21, 2015. Scroll down for photos from the musical's opening night festivities!
BWW Reviews: Fine Tuned OKLAHOMA! at Welk Resort Escondido
When Oklahoma! was first produced on Broadway in 1943 it became the first smash hit for newly formed collaborating team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and also the first real book musical, preceded only by Showboat. It was a breakthrough musical, which when given a first-class production, is still, some 71 years later, without question, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. 'The Farmer and the Cowman' truly represents the philosophy of what America is all about, a unity and pride that is unmistakably individual. Welk Resorts' newest production is wonderfully entertaining, retaining a lot of traditional elements. Director Dan Mojica jubilantly brings together a very talented cast now in Escondido through November 16.
Kelly McCormick, Beth Malone, Jason Graae, Brent Barrett and More Set for Music Circus' 2014 Season; Casting Announced!
California Musical Theatre released casting for the remaining shows in the 64th Music Circus season, a roster of actors including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons, as well as actors with Sacramento-area ties. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes the Music Circus premiere of the beloved Disney classic Mary Poppins, which runs through July 13, as well as other Tony Award-winning shows including Rodgers and Hammerstein's lush South Pacific, Lerner and Loewe's mystical Brigadoon, Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's hilarious La Cage aux Folles, and the singular sensation A Chorus Line, which ended its week-long run on June 29. Music Circus casting for the season is determined after auditions are held in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento.
TV: First Look at Highlights of 30th Anniversary of S.T.A.G.E. - Betty Buckley, Helen Reddy, Jason Gould, Shirley Jones & More!
Over two dozen stars of film, stage and television were given a standing ovation by a sold out crowd for the 30th Anniversary of S.T.A.G.E. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA Saturday, May 10, 2014. And, on hand to get up close and personal with the stars, were BWW TV's longtime Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling with Videographer/Co-Producer, Jordan Santacana. Check out the video below!
World Premiere of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, BILLY ELLIOT and More Make Up La Mirada Theatre's 2014-15 Season
La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts and Mc Coy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to announce their most "practically perfect" 2014- 2015 season of shows! Beginning with David Lindsay-Abaire's Tony Award-winning Good People; followed by our favorite Sister returning in Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls The Dice; then three extraordinary musical experiences beginning with the 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot; the World Premiere engagement of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice: A Musical; and finally the high-flying, Tony Award-Winning, Mary Poppins! This extraordinary season also includes the bonus options of its third "Onstage Series" production of a "brand new" Los Angeles premiere production of Carrie The Musical; also six-time Grammy award-winning superstar Amy Grant and the powerhouse dancing of Ballroom With A Twist - add it all up, and it's La Mirada Theatre/McCoy Rigby's, without a doubt, must-see, most exciting season of shows ever!
TV: Jennifer Kranz Wins LA's Next Great Stage Star 2014
Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.
USC Student Jennifer Kranz Wins LA's NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR 2014
Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.
Photo Flash: LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR Crowns Jennifer Kranz
And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!
Auditions for LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR Set for 12/15
Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, has set Sunday, December 15, 2013 as auditions for the 8th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it was announced today by Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. "Our annual auditions in search of 10 men and 10 women between within the ages of 18 and 28, is highly anticipated by the hierarchy of those in the business of presenting Los Angeles Broadway musical theatre. We couldn't be more grateful to our professional colleagues and select corporate entities for their consistent support of Stage Star since its inception eight years ago."
FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN: THE MARLENE DIETRICH MUSICAL EXPERIENCE Launches Indiegogo Campaign
Hemisphere Two Entertainment, LLC, has acquired the rights to the stage production of Falling in Love Again: The Marlene Dietrich Musical Experience. This new Broadway-bound musical experience will immerse the audience in the captivating and alluring world of Marlene Dietrich. This production is an enthralling look into the life of the silver screen icon known for her vagaries of passion, love, gender bending and fame.
TV: First Look at Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills and More in Highlights of Music Circus' SHOW BOAT
Show Boat, the American musical masterpiece with a grand score by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern that includes the classic songs 'Ol' Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man,' is now playing at the Wells Fargo Pavilion through July 14. Generally considered America's first true musical, the show has not been at Music Circus in 12 years, and this is its first time at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The superb cast includes a Tony Award nominee and three veterans of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below.
Photo Flash: First Look at Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Nikki Crawford and More in SHOW BOAT at Music Circus
Show Boat, the American musical masterpiece with a grand score by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern that includes the classic songs 'Ol' Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man,' is now playing at the Wells Fargo Pavilion through July 14. Generally considered America's first true musical, the show has not been at Music Circus in 12 years, and this is its first time at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The superb cast includes a Tony Award nominee and three veterans of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. BroadwayWorld has a first look below.
Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Phillip Boykin and More Star in SHOW BOAT at Music Circus, Now thru 7/14
Show Boat, the American musical masterpiece with a grand score by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern that includes the classic songs 'Ol' Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man,' is the next show in the 2013 Music Circus season, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion from today, July 9 - 14. Generally considered America's first true musical, the show has not been at Music Circus in 12 years, and this is its first time at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The superb cast includes a Tony Award nominee and three veterans of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Phillip Boykin and More to Star in SHOW BOAT at Music Circus, 7/9-14
Show Boat, the American musical masterpiece with a grand score by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern that includes the classic songs 'Ol' Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man,' is the next show in the 2013 Music Circus season, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion from July 9 - 14. Generally considered America's first true musical, the show has not been at Music Circus in 12 years, and this is its first time at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The superb cast includes a Tony Award nominee and three veterans of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
Phillip Boykin, Jennifer Hope Wills, Tom Hewitt and More Cast in Music Circus' 2013 Season!
After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale has announced casting for the 63rd Music Circus season, including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat, Sugar, The King and I and the Music Circus premiere of Chicago.