SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE Begins Rehearsals At MainStreet Theatre Company
Rancho Cucamonga, California - Do you remember how a bill becomes a law? Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Rediscover these classic tunes in MainStreet Theatre Company's production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! opening October 6th and running through October 27th. MainStreet Theatre Company's 21st Century spin to the iconic 1970's animated television series with the same name is sure to be a rockin' good time! Tickets are priced at $18.00 for General admission, and $16.00 for Seniors and Youth up to age 12.
MainStreet Theatre Company to Present California premiere of ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S WE ARE IN A PLAY
MainStreet Theatre Company, celebrating its 10th season, is delighted to announce the California premiere of Elephant & Piggie's "We are in a Play!" Art Manke is the Director/Choreographer, with Musical Direction by the show's composer, Deborah Wicks-La Puma. The production will play eight school performances from October 5th - 9th, and open to the public on Saturday, October 10th at 4pm. The strictly limited engagement will run through Sunday, October 25th only.
BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Celebrates Third Anniversary with The Songs That Got Away Part II
On Sunday evening September 1, Kritzerland celebrated its third anniversary and 37th show at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Entitled The Songs That Got Away II, it featured a batch of songs from various composers/musicals that Bruce Kimmel considers great but that over time have received far less airplay than deserved. In short, they have just not attained a solid popularity. Many of these songs are familiar like 'Some People' from Gypsy, but, it certainly did not gain the fame of, say, 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'... but should have. Some of the lesser known but beautiful tunes like 'It Must Be Spring' by Michel Legrand and the Bergmans are so good that it seems a shame it did get nominated for awards. Featured on this stellar program were dynamic singers Valerie Perri, Kay Cole, Jane Noseworthy, speciaLguest star Sharon McNight, Dan Callaway, Joshua Finkel, Jenna Lee Rosen, and sisters Sami and Sarah Staitman. John Boswell brilliantly served as musical director at the piano throughout the 90-minute set.
BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Extols Meredith Willson and Gene de Paul
On Sunday August 4 Kritzerland presented its monthly tribute this time in honor of composers Meredith Willson (right) and Gene de Paul. On hand were regulars host Bruce Kimmel, musical director par excellence Tom Griep and terrific singers Jane Noseworthy, Chelsea Emma Franko, Robert Yacko, and newcomers to Kritzerland: Charlotte Mary Wen, this year's winner of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013, Allen Everman, Justin Jones, Bruce Merkle and David Zack. Special guest star was the beautiful Sue Raney who had a record contract at Capitol Records at the age of 17.
Kritzerland Presents THE MUSIC MEN - The Songs of Meredith Willson & Gene de Paul Tonight
Our 36th Kritzerland show is devoted to the brilliant songs of Meredith Willson and Gene de Paul. Producer Bruce Kimmel has recorded many songs by each and is thrilled to do an entire evening of their wonderful material. Meredith Willson, of course, gave Broadway one of its most enduring hits, THE MUSIC MAN, a musical filled with one amazing song after another, several of which we'll be doing. He also wrote the Broadway and film hit, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, HERE'S LOVE (based on MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET), and a musical about Christopher Columbus called 1491 that never made it to Broadway.
Kritzerland to Present THE MUSIC MEN - The Songs of Meredith Willson & Gene de Paul, 8/4
Our 36th Kritzerland show is devoted to the brilliant songs of Meredith Willson and Gene de Paul. Producer Bruce Kimmel has recorded many songs by each and is thrilled to do an entire evening of their wonderful material. Meredith Willson, of course, gave Broadway one of its most enduring hits, THE MUSIC MAN, a musical filled with one amazing song after another, several of which we'll be doing. He also wrote the Broadway and film hit, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, HERE'S LOVE (based on MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET), and a musical about Christopher Columbus called 1491 that never made it to Broadway.
BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Salutes the Sophistication of Noel Coward
The Sunday, June 2nd Kritzerland Show at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in North Hollywood proved another highly enjoyable evening from Bruce Kimmel and Adryan Russ. The composer celebrated in this show, Noel Coward, is perhaps more renowned for his lyrics than his melodies, but what lyrics they are! Clever, witty, or cynical, they come fast and they delight the intellect.
BWW Reviews: The Roar of Kritzerland as They Salute Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse
I can't help but borrow from the genius of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse when I affirm it was The Roar of Kritzerland, The Smell of the burgers at the Federal on Sunday May 5 - Cinco de Mayo, no less - as Kritzerland presented its 33rd show in its current home at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, entitled Once in a Lifetime: The Songs of Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse. And it was a lollapalooza of an evening!
MainStreet Theatre Ends 7th Season with THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, Now thru 4/14
MainStreet Theatre Company will end its 7th season with an adaptation of Norton Juster's beloved children's classic, The Phantom Tollbooth. MainStreet has gathered a multi-talented team of Los Angeles artists, led by director Jessica Kubzansky, to bring this riveting story deliciously to life. The Phantom Tollbooth opens today, March 30th and runs through April 14th.
BWW Reviews: Late Great Composer Billy Barnes Gets His Due via Live Kritzerland Tribute at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal
Many people do not realize, with the exception of us theatre junkies, that Billy Barnes, who regretfully passed from us in September of last year, was without a doubt the keenest composer of the theatre revue. He also created special material for TV's Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, among others. His ingenious theatre revues date back to the 50s with The Billy Barnes Revue of 1959 all the way up to 1983's Movie Star, which had a long run at the Westwood Playhouse, now known as the Geffen. Bruce Kimmel remembers, as he knew the man well and recorded Billy Barnes L.A. Thanks to Kimmel a whole generation of musical theatre fans got a chance to hear up close and personal some of Barnes' greatest, saucy, yet little known achievements at a special Kritzerland show Billy! on Saturday March 2 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal.
MainStreet Theatre to End 7th Season with THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, 3/30-4/14
MainStreet Theatre Company will end its 7th season with an adaptation of Norton Juster's beloved children's classic, The Phantom Tollbooth. MainStreet has gathered a multi-talented team of Los Angeles artists, led by director Jessica Kubzansky, to bring this riveting story deliciously to life. The Phantom Tollbooth opens March 30th and runs through April 14th with performances Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm and Sundays at 1:00 pm (no performance March 31st).