Review: South Coast Repertory Brings LA HAVANA MADRID to Mission San Juan Capistrano
While the play-with-music has its fair share of interesting and even poignant moments, SCR's overall production feels surprisingly low-stakes, and only really becomes much more lively when it reaches its celebratory music-filled finalé. With its stories delivered via monologues, it becomes difficult to really be connected to the play's characters.
BWW Review: Old School Musical Comedy SHE LOVES ME Mostly Charms at OC's South Coast Repertory
Though SCR's admirable new production of the 1963 Broadway musical SHE LOVES ME, for the most part, still has many charming, beautifully-staged, and well-sung moments, it also somehow feels like it is slightly reigned in, as if there was a purposeful attempt to downscale some of its built-in whimsy and spirited vivaciousness---particularly in the first act where emotional expressions all seem to sit in the same middle areaa?? never tipping over to too angry or too sad or too happy or too, well, anything. Now on stage in Costa Mesa through February 22, 2020, the production---directed by the theater's own artistic director David Ivers---is genuinely entertaining, but still needs a huge shot of joy, romance, and pep to make it feel complete.
Photo Flash: Theatreworks Silicon Valley Presents NATIVE GARDENS
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 2018/19 season with Native Gardens, a cutting-edge suburban comedy from America's hottest new playwright and National Latino Playwriting Award winner, Karen Zacarias. When an up-and-coming Latino couple purchases a home in a sought-after neighborhood beside the prize-winning garden of a prominent Washington D.C. family, conflicts over fences and flora spiral into an uproarious clash of cultures, exposing both couples' notions of race, taste, class, and privilege. Directed by Amy Gonzalez (Sunset and Margaritas, Anna in the Tropics), Native Gardens will be presented August 22 - September 16, 2018 (press opening: August 25) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.
Photo Flash: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Continues 2018/19 Season with NATIVE GARDENS
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 2018/19 season with Native Gardens, a cutting-edge suburban comedy from America's hottest new playwright and National Latino Playwriting Award winner, Karen Zacarias. When an up-and-coming Latino couple purchases a home in a sought-after neighborhood beside the prize-winning garden of a prominent Washington D.C. family, conflicts over fences and flora spiral into an uproarious clash of cultures, exposing both couples' notions of race, taste, class, and privilege. Directed by Amy Gonzalez (Sunset and Margaritas, Anna in the Tropics), Native Gardens will be presented August 22 - September 16, 2018 (press opening: August 25) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.
Borders Tested In NATIVE GARDENS At TheatreWorks Beginning This August
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 2018/19 season with Native Gardens, a cutting-edge suburban comedy from America's hottest new playwright and National Latino Playwriting Award winner, Karen Zacarias. When an up-and-coming Latino couple purchases a home in a sought-after neighborhood beside the prize-winning garden of a prominent Washington D.C. family, conflicts over fences and flora spiral into an uproarious clash of cultures, exposing both couples' notions of race, taste, class, and privilege. Directed by Amy Gonzalez (Sunset and Margaritas, Anna in the Tropics), Native Gardens will be presented August 22 - September 16, 2018 (press opening: August 25) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.
Review Roundup: La Mirada's WEST SIDE STORY; What Did The Critics Have To Say?
Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel. WEST SIDE STORY will preview on Friday, April 21, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 22) and run through Sunday, May 14, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
BWW Review: La Mirada Theatre Revisits Classic Musical WEST SIDE STORY
Because it is arguably one the most beloved and critically-acclaimed musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY is revisited often by regional theaters across the country (and, frankly, the world). So it is no surprise that yet another large regional theater in Southern California is reviving this nostalgia-baiting, reliably-entertaining, and thematically-resonant show, this time by the talented folks over at McCoy Rigby Entertainment at their home base at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, where performances continue through May 14, 2017. The resulting show---while mostly and genuinely enjoyable---presented a few jarringly curious presentation choices that didn't quite sit well. Unfortunately, in its admirable quest to inject some 'new-ness' into the well-known retro musical, some of the slight staging reinventions did enough to really lessen the impact of certain scenes that have previously been significant highlights.
BWW Review: Timeless, Cherished WEST SIDE STORY Receives a Near to Perfect Production at La Mirada
Indeed, West Side Story is the most acclaimed musical. And, ask musical actors/actresses what is their favorite Broadway musical of all time and most concur, West Side Story. Why? It has phenomenal music by Leonard Bernstein, with concise poetic lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a tight and gripping book by Arthur Laurents. The brilliant choreography established in 1957 by Jerome Robbins will never be forgotten. The book presents one of the most powerful love stories ever, next to Romeo and Juliet. With all these elements complementing one another, from the first downbeat of the orchestra and the appearance of the Jets creeping in one by one on a half-lit stage, the show pulls you in and doesn't let go for its two and a half hours ... and its message and images of love linger long after the curtain falls.
Photo Flash: La Mirada Stages Timeless Classic WEST SIDE STORY
Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.
Something's Coming! WEST SIDE STORY Headed to La Mirada Theatre This Spring
Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.
BWW Interview: Director Richard Israel Shares his Vision for Bringing WEST SIDE STORY to the Stage
As the world prepares for the Centennial of legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein this August, La Mirada Theatre and VPAC present perhaps his greatest musical and one of the most memorable love stories of all time, WEST SIDE STORY. Director Richard Israel shares his vision for the production, as powerful, poignant, and timely as ever, with the thrilling Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim score including "Tonight," "Maria," "America" and the classic "Somewhere" remaining one of the best ever written. In it, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City with two lovers, Tony and Maria, caught between warring street gangs; the Italian-American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.
Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of La Mirada Theatre's BOEING BOEING
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment will present the Tony Award-winning (2008 Best Play Revival), hilarious, sexy, non-stop comedy, BOEING-BOEING, written by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans and directed by Jeff Maynard. BOEING-BOEING opened on January 19 and runs through Sunday, February 10, 2013 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. Check out photos from inside opening night below!
MAMMA MIA! Tour Dances into Dallas, 5/29-31
The MAMMA MIA! North American Tour continues playing to record breaking houses all across North America. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA is returning to Dallas to play a limited engagement from May 29-31.
MAMMA MIA! Tour Dances into Dallas, 5/29-31
The MAMMA MIA! North American Tour continues playing to record breaking houses all across North America. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA is returning to Dallas to play a limited engagement from May 29-31.
MAMMA MIA! Tour Closes inSan Diego, 6/5
The MAMMA MIA! North American Tour continues playing to record breaking houses all across North America! Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA will play its final performance at the San Diego Civic Theatre in a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation; on June 5, 2011.