Tawnee Lynn Music Services Presents The Inaugural Concert Of Los Angeles Classic Rock Orchestra
Tawnee Lynn Music Services will present the Inaugural Concert of the newly formed Los Angeles Classic Rock Orchestra (LACRO) led by Anthony Bonsera, Founding Artistic Director and Music Director, in a program entitled, Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of The Beatles' Album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beatles' Album, Abbey Road. The One Night Only Event will also feature Grammy Award-winning Special Guest, Kosh, legendary Album Cover Designer for The Beatles and Creative Director for Apple Records, along with Featured Guest Vocalists Brendan McKian and Spencer Rowe. The 60s-themed tiered event will be held on Saturday evening, November 25, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. at the Swing House Studios, 3229 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039.
Photos: Curtain Call And Press Night Celebration Of McCoy-Rigby's MAN OF LA MANCHA At La Mirada Theatre
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fifth show of its 2016-2017 season, Davis Gaines starring in his Ovation award-winning role as Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA, with book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Patti Colombo and directed by Glenn Casale. MAN OF LA MANCHA will preview on Friday, June 2, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, June 3) and run through Sunday, June 25, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
Cygnet Theatre Launches Season 15 with ANIMAL CRACKERS
Cygnet Theatre will launch its 15th season with the musical comedy Animal Crackers, the hallmark of the Marx Brothers lunacy, based on the 1928 Broadway hit with book by Broadway masters George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The success of the play was followed by the film version (1930), which launched the brothers into film stardom, never again appearing on Broadway. The Marx Brothers are commonly thought to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century.
BWW Review: SISTER ACT Brings Joyful Noise to Musical Theatre West, Ends 4/24
Though that comedy device of rewritten song lyrics is (unfortunately) not utilized for the film's musical stage adaptation, still, much of the spirit and basic plot architecture of the original movie remains in SISTER ACT - THE MUSICAL, which features all-original songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, as well as a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (with additional material contributed later by playwright Douglas Carter Beane). Currently, Musical Theatre West's admirable regional production of this Tony-nominated Broadway musical comedy is finishing out its final weekend of performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through April 24. Goofy and full of cutesy charm MTW's regional production definitely brings in the (joyful) noise and the funk to Long Beach. So what makes the show enjoyable? Well... for lack of a better phrase... it's all about the nuns.
BWW Review: Jubilant SISTER ACT Will Raise You Up at MTW
Sister Act the Musical started out in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse, premiered in London's West End in 2009 and then underwent serious revisions before coming to Broadway in 2011. I remember liking the first mounting in 2006 with many reservations. Since I loved the 1992 film so much, I didn't feel that the stage version was particularly faithful...no pun intended.
Well, with all the 2011 changes, MTW's revival of the Broadway version is tops, a joyful, tuneful, splashy romp that never lets down, with a tremendous cast, stellar direction from Michael Matthews and soulful choreography from Daniel Smith. Douglas Carter Beane, who penned the screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the Tony nominated play The Little Dog Laughed, added new book material for the national tour, included here, and this contributes substantially to molding a sleek and unforgettable show.
Musical Theatre West to Present SISTER ACT, 4/8-24
Musical Theatre West (MTW) presents Sister Act, Broadway's feel-good musical comedy at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center April 8-24. Based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg hit film, written by Joseph Howard, the five-time Tony nominated Broadway sensation features an award winning creative team with original score and music by composer Alan Menken (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors), lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Tangled), book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (Cheers), additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed ). The reinvented musical adaptation is filled with heavenly music with a disco beat, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story that will have audiences dancing in the aisles! Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4. Tickets start at $20.
BWW Reviews: Glorious SOUTH PACIFIC at MTW
Like The King and I, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is a heartbreaking, yet uplifting story told across racial borders ... with an elegant score. The look in its rich set design with an incredible, dreamlike Bali Ha'i in the background, setting the romantic tone for the entire show, adds lovely detail to the current production at MTW, Long Beach. This production is marvelous with great direction and a sensational cast.
BWW Interview: Jack Stehlin and Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin on OTHELLO at the Odyssey; Opens Next Friday
Culver City residents and married couple Jack Stehlin and Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin are getting ready to open Shakespeare's OTHELLO, a co-production between the Odyssey Theatre and The New American Theatre, on Friday, October 24 at the Odyssey Theatre. Jeannine, Managing Director of The New American Theatre, is producing OTHELLO together with Ron Sossi, Artistic Director of the Odyssey Theatre, with Jack starring as the villainous Iago. With his strong physical presence and background as part Mexican and part Native American, A Martinez is playing Othello, the Moor. The production is directed by John Perrin Flynn, Artistic Director of Rogue Machine Theatre.