Doug Carfrae

Musical Theatre Guild's Stephen Sondheim Tribute Returns To Southern California

This year's production, a fundraiser supporting Musical Theatre Guild and its' Student Outreach programs, will perform twice; in Rancho Mirage, at the Galen Performing Arts Center on Thursday, January 18th, 2024, and in Los Angeles, at the Colony Theatre in Burbank on Sunday, January 21st. Both performances take place at 7:00PM.

STEPHANIE J. BLOCK COMES HOME to be Presented by Musical Theatre Guild

Stephanie J. Block, former MTG member turned Tony Award-winning Broadway star, will reflect on her experiences with Musical Theatre Guild, and the shows in which she performed, during a candid conversation with friend, fellow Broadway veteran, and MTG member Jason Graae.

BROADWAY FOR BIDEN's Next Town Hall Covering Healthcare to Feature Vasthy E. Mompoint, Dimitri Moise and Doug Carfrae

Broadway for Biden's second Town Hall event will stream online this Saturday, September 19 at 2:00pm EST and feature Vasthy E. Mompoint (The Prom), Dimitri Moise (Beautiful, The Book of Mormon), and Doug Carfrae (actor and Trustee of the Equity-League Pension and Health Fund), and moderated by award-winning producer and director Dori Berinstein.

Kate Shindle Voted to Remain President of Actors Equity Association

Election results are in! Actors Equity Association members have voted and Kate Shindle will remain the National President of the organization. Dee Hoty will serve as Eastern Regional Vice President and Kelley Faulkner as Central Regional Vice President. 

Photo Flash: First Look at JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA at Ensemble Theatre Company

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the third show of its 2019-20 Season, with a musical adaptation of the gloriously romantic comedy, JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA, book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon (Daddy Long Legs, Jane Eyre), adapted from the novel by Jane Austen, musical direction by Brent Schindele, choreography by Jean Michelle Sayeg and directed by Andrew Barnicle.

Line-Ups Set For 6th Annual Actors Fund Benefit Concert Weekend

Cabaret is Alive and Well and Living in Los Angeles, benefit concert weekend for The Actors Fund, is back for the 6th year in a row. Conceived and Directed by David Galligan, the 3-night event is presented by Fraser Entertainment Group. All proceeds benefit The Actors Fund.

Denver's John Moore receives Actors' Equity's Lucy Jordan Award

John Moore, a leader in the Denver arts community, has been named the recipient of the Lucy Jordan Award from Actors' Equity Association. Moore was presented the award at the Denver-area Equity membership meeting in late August.

BWW Interview: Actress/singer Rebecca Spencer Talks CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Actress/singer par excellence Rebecca Spencer has delighted audiences on Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde and played Madame Giry in Phantom in Las Vegas. Since 2014 when she moved to Los Angeles, she has performed her exquisite cabaret and done at least 3 shows for Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach: The Music Man, S'Wonderful, and Mary Poppins. She will open March 30th in their new production of Catch Me If You Can. Spencer took time out of a busy rehearsal schedule to talk about her role in the show and about her illustrious theatrical career thus far.

Musical Theatre West Presents Marc Shaiman And Scott Wittman's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Musical Theater West (MTW) brings the incredible true story, turned hit film, turned Broadway Tony Award-winning musical Catch Me If You Can to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center March 29 through April 14. Created by the dream team of song writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash, Mary Poppins Returns) and librettist Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), Catch Me If You Can delivers a the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.

BWW Review: MTW's OLIVER! Exudes Thrill and Joy

Oliver!/book. lyrics and music by Lionel Bart/ based on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist//directed by James A. Rocco/choreographed by Hector Guerrero/musical director: Ryan O'Connell/MTW (Musical Theatre West)/The Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach/through February 24 Oliver! is a devilishly fine musical by Lionel Bart who wrote the book, music and lyrics without collaboration. It's an uplifting story of an abused orphan who learns how to survive in 19th century London with the help of acquaintances from both sides of the track. Currently onstage via MTW at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, the musical boasts a superb cast headed by Davis Gaines as Fagin and 15 delightful and talented child actors.

5th Annual CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES to Benefit The Actors Fund

The Actors Fund and Fraser Entertainment are very proud to announce the 5th annual presentation of CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.  Conceived by renowned director David Galligan, this fifth celebration of Cabaret in L.A. will take place as a series of 3 concerts over 3 evenings at 3 different Los Angeles venues, Friday, October 12, Saturday, October 13, and Sunday, October 14.  Proceeds from all 3 shows will benefit The Actors Fund.

Actors' Equity Approves New Bay Area Theatres Agreement

Actors' Equity announced that it has arrived at a new Bay Area Theatres (BAT) agreement with area theatres. The agreement, which was unanimously approved by Equity's Western Regional Board, lasts through July 17, 2022.  

BWW Review: Lively New Production of NEWSIES Carries the Banner in La Mirada

Admirably directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, La Mirada Theatre's NEWSIES aims to be an amiable hybrid between the popularly-received original show and a new iteration that feels fresh for us Fansies forever obsessed with the earlier Disney-backed production that played Broadway and went on tour for a few years. Filled with high-energy music and dancing and a lively, eager-to-please spirit embedded in its DNA, this brand-new Southern California regional theater production of NEWSIES---which continues performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through June 24---is a wonderfully caffeinated jolt of a stage show, highlighted by a remarkably talented and athletically-blessed ensemble that leaps and belts one show stopping number after another. What a treat for every Fansie!

Photo Coverage: Curtain Call And Press Night Celebration of McCoy-Rigby's DISNEY NEWSIES At La Mirada Theatre

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT invite you to 'Seize the Day' as they present the fifth and final show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with Disney's NEWSIES, book by Harvey Fierstein, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. NEWSIES will preview on Friday, June 1, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 2 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

La Mirada & McCoy Rigby Presents Disney's NEWSIES

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT invite you to 'Seize the Day' as they present the fifth and final show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40thanniversary of the iconic theatre) with Disney's NEWSIES, book by Harvey Fierstein, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. NEWSIES will preview on Friday, June 1, 2018 (with a press opening today, June 2 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

La Mirada & McCoy Rigby Presents Disney's NEWSIES

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT invite you to 'Seize the Day' as they present the fifth and final show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40thanniversary of the iconic theatre) with Disney's NEWSIES, book by Harvey Fierstein, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. NEWSIES will preview today, June 1, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 2 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Actors' Equity Announces Results Of National Council Election

Actors' Equity Association, the union which represents more than 51,000 professional stage actors and stage managers, announced the results of the 2018 National Council election.  In total, 55 Council seats across all three regions and representing three (3) categories (principal actor, chorus actor and stage manager) were filled, effective immediately.   

La Mirada & McCoy Rigby Presents Disney's NEWSIES

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT invite you to 'Seize the Day' as they present the fifth and final show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40thanniversary of the iconic theatre) with Disney's NEWSIES, book by Harvey Fierstein, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. NEWSIES will preview on Friday, June 1, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 2 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

BWW Review: Musical Theatre West Surprises with the Delightful NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Once in a while, you come across a stage show that, on paper, may not have had the buzz that other high-profile shows may have had initially, but then you see it … and it just completely surprises you in the best possible way. That pretty much sums up my recent experience with the oh-so delightful NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, Musical Theatre West's buoyant and sublime new regional production of the 10-time Tony Award-nominated 2012 musical comedy now on stage at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach, CA through April 22. An irresistibly silly and infectiously tuneful stage show that will have you smiling from start to finish, this roaring 20's throwback with modern sensibilities provides lots of zany antics, lots of witty one-liners, and lots of spectacular song-and-dance showstoppers that will have you wondering---where has this show been all my life?

BWW Review: MTW's NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT Is a Gem

The Gershwins' Nice Work If You Can Get It is such a smooth entertainment and a joy to watch where and whenever it plays...if the director and cast are top notch and up to a myriad of challenges. You cannot pull off farcical material unless actors are atuned to split timing and can sing and dance up a storm. You must have triple threat performers. No problem at MTW, whose 'S'Wonderful' production keeps the audience consistently applauding for more. Dependably resourceful director Larry Raben, splendid choreographer Peggy Hickey and a stellar ensemble create real 'Fascinating Rhythm' through April 22.