“Skintight’s” Will Brittain: Defying Labels with Idina Menzel
by lisa lipsey – For its West Coast premiere, Geffen Playhouse has reassembled the original six cast members for Joshua Harmon’s (Significant Other, Bad Jews) new comedy Skintight, which debuted at New York’s Off-Broadway Roundabout Theatre last summer. Harmon brings neurotic family drama to the forefront, but throws in the questions: How do we age […]
International City Theatre celebrates its 35th Anniversary in 2020 with a five-play season of song, laughter, drama and more laughter.
“We’re enormously proud that ICT has been bringing top-notch, professional theater to Long Beach audiences for three-and-a-half decades, and of the role we continue to play in the revitalization of the downtown area,” says Artistic Director Caryn Desai. “It’s never easy, but it’s important. The five plays we’ve chosen to celebrate this important milestone continue our […]
Coronado Playhouse takes on a Marine Tradition in ‘Dogfight’
by lisa lipsey – The concept of a “dogfight” has been a part of military lingo for decades, but it first appeared in pop culture in 1991 via the film under the same name, starring River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. The second songwriting collaboration by duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the musical theatre adaptation […]
‘Dope Queens’ – Grafton Doyle and The Women Who Changed His Life Forever
by lisa lipsey – Grafton Doyle, writer and director of Dope Queens is days from tying the knot with his favorite producer, John Reyes. They met in Spring 2018 and there was immediate chemistry, an instant connection that developed into a purposeful and sober, supportive partnership. Doyle’s father, San José City Attorney Richard Doyle, will officiate […]
The Tale of Despereaux’s Bianca Norwood – Choosing Curiosity Over Fear
by lisa lipsey – Grab your kiddos or those who are kids at heart for a delightful adventure; the world premiere musical The Tale of Despereaux. Based on the beloved novel by Kate DiCamillo and the Universal Pictures animated film, the musical adaptation comes to us from the imaginative minds at PigPen Theatre Co. who […]
La Cage Aux Folles: Celebrating Divas and Legends at Long Beach Playhouse
by tom andrew – The mega musical La Cage Aux Folles has been performed all over the world and has been revived three times on Broadway. Winner of numerous Tony Awards, the show is taking its turn on the Long Beach Playhouse stage, running now through Saturday, August 3. The thing most people think of […]
Cynthia Erivo – What Makes a Voice Legendary?
by joel martens Best known to U.S. audiences for her performance as Celie in the 2015 Broadway musical revival of The Color Purple, Cynthia Erivo took New York by storm, winning the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as well as the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Her journey […]
Have The Time of Your Life with ‘Mamma Mia!’ at Laguna Playhouse
Due to overwhelming demand, Laguna Playhouse is extending the first show of its 99th season, the perfect romantic comedy to kick off the Summer, ABBA’s intoxicating MAMMA MIA!, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson, book by Catherine Johnson, originally conceived by Judy Craymer with musical direction by Ricky Pope and […]
Spring Awakening: A Season For Discovery
by tom andrew – Palm Springs’ Palm Canyon Theatre has taken on quite an impressive and audacious season this year, not that that’s any surprise based on past and upcoming shows. Rounding out their 2018-19 season they have chosen the teen, angst-ridden musical, Spring Awakening. This will be their seventh large scale musical, including The […]
Joshua Harmon’s Significant Other: Queer Love is Something to Celebrate
by lisa lipsey – Joshua Harmon, famed for his comedy Bad Jews, wrote Significant Other and watched it transfer to Broadway last year. The central character in his romantic comedy is Jordan Berman, who has been pounding the New York City pavement searching for “Mr. Right.” Jordan has a trio of close-knit girlfriends who help him […]