John Todd News

West Coast Ensemble and director Richard Israel get ready to for a much-anticipated GYPSY that will run May 13 - July 3 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble is thrilled to announce that its smash-hit critically-acclaimed production of GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel, is EXTENDING through Sunday, July 31 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.

Revered as one of the greatest book musicals ever written Gypsy, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, and with collaborators Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is rarely performed except on Broadway due to the demands of the role of Mama Rose, which has been played first by Ethel Merman, and also to acclaim by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and most recently Patti Lupone. Films have starred Rosalind Russell and Bette Midler (TV), and there's another theatrical one still in the works for Barbra Streisand. The stage mother to end all stage mothers is a monster role to play. She's on stage 95% of the show and must act, sing and dance 150%; there's no faking this one. In a daring production for Equity Waiver, West Coast Ensemble (WCE) is now presenting Gypsy, half a century after it first opened in New York in 1959. Jan Sheldrick has the role of Rose and she runs with it, acting up a storm, giving it her best shot. Under Richard Israel's skilled direction, the production is somewhat flawed, but overall impressive with its very strong rendering on a smaller stage.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce a staged reading of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. ANYONE CAN WHISTLE is the fourth reading offered in the inaugural season of the Reiner Reading Series.

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel.

West Coast Ensemble and director Richard Israel get ready to for a much-anticipated GYPSY that will run May 13 - July 3 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce a staged reading of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. ANYONE CAN WHISTLE is the fourth reading offered in the inaugural season of the Reiner Reading Series.

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel.

Beowulf Alley Theatre's Old Time Radio Theatre Ensemble Company will present classic stories from the Golden Age of Radio in March and April, at the theatre, 11 South 6th Avenue (Downtown between Broadway and Congress). Admission is $8 online a day in advance at www.beowulfalley.org or $10 at the door. Children 4-12 are always $5. The box office phone number is (520) 882-0555. Performances are usually on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:00. Please check our online calendar at www.beowulfalley.org to confirm.

Beowulf Alley Theatre's Old Time Radio Theatre Ensemble Company will present classic stories from the Golden Age of Radio in March and April, at the theatre, 11 South 6th Avenue (Downtown between Broadway and Congress). Admission is $8 online a day in advance at www.beowulfalley.org or $10 at the door. Children 4-12 are always $5. The box office phone number is (520) 882-0555. Performances are usually on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:00. Please check our online calendar at www.beowulfalley.org to confirm.

The best dancers from Broadway, TV, music videos and film join together for a one-of-a-kind evening of entertainment. Broadway favorites like Alex Ko, star of Billy Elliot The Musical, team up with a cast of world class figure skaters including 2010 Winter Olympic Ice Dancing Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir for an unforgettable night of grace and athletic prowess. Also featuring special music guests The Canadian Tenors and hosted by four-time World Champion figure skater Kurt Browning and World Champion ice dancer Shae-Lynn Bourne, two of Canada's most recognized skaters.

The best dancers from Broadway, TV, music videos and film join together for a one-of-a-kind evening of entertainment. Broadway favorites like Alex Ko, star of Billy Elliot The Musical, team up with a cast of world class figure skaters including 2010 Winter Olympic Ice Dancing Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir for an unforgettable night of grace and athletic prowess. Also featuring special music guests The Canadian Tenors and hosted by four-time World Champion figure skater Kurt Browning and World Champion ice dancer Shae-Lynn Bourne, two of Canada's most recognized skaters.

The best dancers from Broadway, TV, music videos and world tours join the skating world for a one-of-a-kind evening of entertainment. Dance stars ranging from Alex Ko (star of Broadway's Billy Elliot The Musical), Cody Green (Bravo TV's grand prize winner Step It Up & Dance) to Salvatore Vassallo (featured dancer Britney Spears' The Circus Tour) team up with a cast of world class figure skaters including 2010 Winter Olympic Ice Dancing Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, for an unforgettable night of grace and athletic prowess. Also featuring special music guests The Canadian Tenors, and Emily Padgett (star of Broadway's Rock of Ages). Hosted by four-time World Champion figure skater Kurt Browning and World Champion ice dancer Shae-Lynn Bourne, two of Canada's most recognized skaters.

The Reprise Theatre Company's production of CAROUSEL will close on February 7, 2010.

Carousel/music by Richard Rodgers/book & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II/directed by Michael Michetti/choreographed by Lee Martino/Reprise Theatre Company @ Freud Playhouse, UCLA/through February 7.

The 2009-2010 season of Reprise Theatre Company continues with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel,' January 26 to February 7 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Alexandra Silber stars as Julie Jordan, direct from her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie Jordan in 'Carousel' at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End (TMA Award - Best Actress).

The 2009-2010 season of Reprise Theatre Company continues with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel,' January 26 to February 7 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Alexandra Silber stars as Julie Jordan, direct from her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie Jordan in 'Carousel' at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End (TMA Award - Best Actress).

The 2009-2010 season of Reprise Theatre Company continues with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel,' January 26 to February 7 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Alexandra Silber stars as Julie Jordan, direct from her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie Jordan in 'Carousel' at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End (TMA Award - Best Actress). Silber is joined by Robert Patteri as Billy Bigelow ('Scarlet Pimpernel,' 'Beauty and the Beast'.) Veteran character actor M. Emmet Walsh appears as the Starkeeper. Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court, will direct, with choreography by Lee Martino and musical direction by Darryl Archibald.

David Williams and Cat Eberwine give such winning performances as Seymour and Audrey in the Senior Center for the Arts' production of Little Shop of Horrors, now onstage at Nashville Dinner Theatre through November 15, that it's easy to overlook some of the production's other, more obvious, shortcomings. Williams and Eberwine are sublimely off-kilter as the oddest of couples in the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman musical, with an onstage chemistry that makes them completely believable and altogether lovable in their cartoonish roles.