Benjamin Schrader News

The 50th Anniversary Celebration of the west coast's renowned Center Theatre Group was a thrilling evening of performances top lined by Academy Award winner and Platinum recording artist Jennifer Hudson at the Ahmanson Theatre Sunday, May 20th in Los Angeles. Fresh off her acclaimed performance in NBC's "Hairspray Live!," Hudson sang the evening's closing number. BWW TV's own Michael Sterling covered the red carpet for the much anticipated event.

Center Theatre Group celebrated its 50th Anniversary Celebration with a performance on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group, today announced two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Academy Award-winning actress and newly announced coach on NBC's 'The Voice' Jennifer Hudson will join Center Theatre Group's 50th Anniversary Celebration performance on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Roundup: Check Out The Top Stories From Los Angeles You Might Have Missed 5/12 - MAMMA MIA and More!

Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group, announced today that Matthew Broderick, Tyne Daly, Louis Gossett Jr., Thomas Sadoski, Jimmy Smits, Rene Auberjonois, Jon Robin Baitz, Bill Cain, Anthony Crivello, Culture Clash, Merle Dandridge, Tim Dang, Keith David, Shaila Essley, Davis Gaines, Harry Groener, Clint Holmes, David Henry Hwang, Gregory Itzin, Dale Kristien, Doug LaBrecque, Tzi Ma, Alan Mandell, Dakin Matthews, Christina Saffran, Benjamin Schrader, Shoshannah Stern, Lisa Vroman, Ed Waterstreet and Aryana Williams are set to take the stage at Center Theatre Group's 50th Anniversary Celebration.

On March 13, (mostly)musicals returned to the E Spot Lounge in Studio City with CRIME SCENE: a uniquely entertaining evening of songs so good, it might be illegal!

BE ON THE LOOKOUT! A high caliber lineup of criminally talented performers is headed toward the E Spot Lounge.

Michael-Leon Wooley (B'way: LITTLE SHOP, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, Film: Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, DREAMGIRLS) and Deborah S. Craig (B'way: SPELLING BEE, TV: TRANSPARENT) will sing at the E Spot Lounge in (mostly)musicals: CRIME SCENE - the 22nd entry in this popular series of themed cabarets - on Monday, March 13th at 7:30pm.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto are thrilled to announce a very special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ("Dolphin Tale" Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, "Desperate Housewives"), Barry Pearl ("Grease"), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), "American Idol" finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich. "Last year's holiday confection returns with an all-new Lythgoe Family Panto event on our stage!" comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham. Remarks Becky Lythgoe, "We are delighted to be back at the Playhouse with our second show and with this extraordinary cast for a truly magical holiday show!" SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT will begin performances on Wednesday, December 7; will open on Friday, December 9 at 7:30pm and will run through Friday, December 30, 2016 at the Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. 

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto present a special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ('Dolphin Tale' Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, 'Desperate Housewives'), Barry Pearl ('Grease'), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), 'American Idol' finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich.

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto have announced a very special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ('Dolphin Tale' Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, 'Desperate Housewives'), Barry Pearl ('Grease'), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), 'American Idol' finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich.

Executive Producer Kate Pazakis has done it again with her latest UMPO production THE UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY OF HOCUS POCUS. Director Tye Blue effectively corrals his vocally gifted cast in gloriously performing re-purposed pop tunes in between delivering Pazakis and John Flynn's cleverly written homage to the 1993 film Hocus Pocus. 

Rockwell Table & Stage will put 'A Spell On' audiences this fall with The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Hocus Pocus.

The con is on! With plenty of wit, charm, and double entendres galore, Musical Theatre West's new regional production of the 2004 Broadway musical comedy 'DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS' is one enjoyably silly romp. The show which features a book by Jeffrey Lane and music and lyrics by David Yazbeck continues its final weekend at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 24. Based on the 1998 film comedy starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, the stage adaptation eventually garnered 11 Tony nominations during its run. For MTW's fun new local revival, the title roles---a couple of con men who've taken to swindling the riches off of easily-seduced women in the French Riviera---are embodied by stage vets Davis Gaines (now a multiple fixture at MTW) and the incredibly funny Benjamin Schrader (The Book of Mormon).

Based on a 1980s film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is terribly silly and much of the dialogue & lyrics imbued with an overabundance of sexual innuendos, but that's AOK, as this is not Stephen Sondheim, but a jazzy, feel good, laugh out loud type of show. As many times as I've seen it, I always fall directly into the trap...like most audience I'm hooked, especially if the two male leads are properly cast. In this new production at MTW, Davis Gaines plays Lawrence Jamison, the king of cons, and could not be more perfect. At his side is Benjamin Schrader as Freddy Benson, the rubber-faced comedic schmuck who pleads with Jamison to take him on and teach him the ropes, the tricks of the trade. These two head up a glorious cast under the uber skilled direction'choreography of Billy Sprague Jr., and what results is a triumphant hit for MTW... through July 24 only.

Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24. The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera,Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q), and OvatioBroadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances tonight, July 8, through July 24.