Laura McKenzie News

The CW today announced its slate of upcoming holiday specials, including the brand new, week-long holiday series TERRY CREWS SAVES CHRISTMAS.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, playing Sundays at 2 pm from January 8 - 29, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Bring the entire family to escape the winter doldrums at this line-up of safe, funny, heart-warming and perfectly weird stories written by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (773) 506-7140. The press performance is Sunday, January 15 at 2 pm.

Yes, in a period of two hours and twenty minutes, plus intermission, 44 plays whoosh across the Cleveland Public Theatre stage. During that time the audience is exposed to all of the United States of America's Presidents. Well, to be honest, there are 45 plays...one, based on the audience vote, an add-on vignette of a supposition about either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump's reign as the next President.

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Holiday Special Returns, a line-up of student-written stories inspired by the holidays, winter, elves, gift-giving and more, playing December 4 - 26, 2016 (Sunday at 2 pm & Mondays at 8 pm) at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The press performance is Monday, December 5 at 8 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

???????The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, the largest Christmas celebration in America, announces that Olivia Newton-John has been named the Grand Marshal for this year's landmark anniversary event.  Presented and produced by Associated Television International, the live parade, taped for network television, will take place on Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday, November 27 at 5:00 p.m.  The parade's telecast will be hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special co-hosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton.  The event will include live musical performances (to be announced) that will take place on two stages;  benefiting The Marine Toys For Tots Foundation.

 Barrel of Monkeys invites you to enjoy a line-up of brand new stories at THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Summer Strikes Back, directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 13 - August 15, 2016 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

Join Emmy-nominated host Laura McKenzie for a one-hour primetime special, LAURA MCKENZIE'S TRAVELER-ARMENIA in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, airing tonight, April 23, in major U.S. markets, including KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles.

Join Emmy-nominated host Laura McKenzie for a one-hour primetime special, LAURA MCKENZIE'S TRAVELER-ARMENIA in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, airing April 23 in major U.S. markets, including KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles.

Company members old and new will reunite as Barrel of Monkeys celebrates 15 years of its hit revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA with two special anniversary performances on Sunday April 17 at 2 pm and Monday, April 18 at 8 pm at its long-time home, the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, a world premiere musical adaptation with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Aly Renee Amidei; lyrics by Aly Renee Amidei, Julie Tallarida and Scott Tallarida; music by Scott Tallarida; and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Heather Currie, based on the book by K.G. Campbell. One terrible morning, Cousin Clara presents young Lester with the gift of a hand-knit sweater... and it is DREADFUL: shriveled yet saggy and smothered with pom-poms. Lester (who likes things just so) is mortified to wear it, but his parents insist and the kids at school tease him relentlessly. When he ruins the sweater 'by accident,' Clara just makes others, each more ghastly than the last. To restore his neatly ordered life and save face on the playground, Lester must find a way to stop the endless parade of horrifying sweaters once and for all. Enter a fashion nightmare and embrace your inner clown in this world premiere musical based on the charming 2012 book by K.G. Campbell. This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs approximately one hour with no intermission.

Company members old and new will reunite as Barrel of Monkeys celebrates 15 years of its hit revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA with two special anniversary performances on Sunday April 17 at 2 pm and Monday, April 18 at 8 pm at its long-time home, the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org.

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, a world premiere musical adaptation with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Aly Renee Amidei; lyrics by Aly Renee Amidei, Julie Tallarida and Scott Tallarida; music by Scott Tallarida; and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Heather Currie, based on the book by K.G. Campbell. One terrible morning, Cousin Clara presents young Lester with the gift of a hand-knit sweater… and it is DREADFUL: shriveled yet saggy and smothered with pom-poms. Lester (who likes things just so) is mortified to wear it, but his parents insist and the kids at school tease him relentlessly.

The 84th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade celebrating The Magic of Christmas featuring Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, presented by Associated Television International and The City of Los Angeles, will be led this year by renowned magicians andParade Grand Marshals Penn & Teller.  Today the parade is announcing sponsors, bands, balloons, floats, characters/novelties and equestrian units which will be part of the 2015 parade making its 3.2 mile trek through the streets of Hollywood, CA at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, 2015.  The parade will be hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special guest hosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton.

A CELEBRATION OF THE BEST HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD — Kevin Frazier ('Entertainment Tonight”) and Keltie Knight ('The Insider”) host this holiday celebration with a countdown of the 12 best holiday commercials ever – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas.

 Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Sparky!, a world premiere musical adaptation with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Jessica Wright, music and lyrics by Laura McKenzie, and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link, based on the novel by Jenny Ofill and illustrated by Chris Appelhans. This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs approximately one hour with no intermission. 

Norma Wyman, a mother, teacher, learning disabilities specialists, volunteer, educator for incarcerated adults in a corrections facility, devoted writer and author, has completed her new book 'Felony': a gripping and potent book about life, love, family and courage.

Variety reports that legendary magicians Penn and Teller will serve as grand marshalls of this year's Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Lifeline Theatre presents a world premiere musical adaptation of Austin Grossman's 2007 novel, Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: New Adaptation, A Tale of Two Cities, Lifeline Theatre), with music and lyrics by Christopher Kriz (Jeff Award and Non-Equity Jeff Award-winner for Sound Design; three-time Non-Equity Jeff Award nominee for Original Incidental Music), and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist (Non-Equity Jeff Award: Best Production-Play, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Lifeline Theatre; Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Director-Musical, The Robber Bridegroom, Griffin Theatre). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Lifeline Theatre presents a world premiere musical adaptation of Austin Grossman's 2007 novel, Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: New Adaptation, A Tale of Two Cities, Lifeline Theatre), with music and lyrics by Christopher Kriz (Jeff Award and Non-Equity Jeff Award-winner for Sound Design; three-time Non-Equity Jeff Award nominee for Original Incidental Music), and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist (Non-Equity Jeff Award: Best Production-Play, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Lifeline Theatre; Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Director-Musical, The Robber Bridegroom, Griffin Theatre). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Lifeline Theatre presents a world premiere musical adaptation of Austin Grossman's 2007 novel, Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: New Adaptation, A Tale of Two Cities, Lifeline Theatre), with music and lyrics by Christopher Kriz (Jeff Award and Non-Equity Jeff Award-winner for Sound Design; three-time Non-Equity Jeff Award nominee for Original Incidental Music), and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist (Non-Equity Jeff Award: Best Production-Play, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Lifeline Theatre; Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Director-Musical, The Robber Bridegroom, Griffin Theatre). The devious Doctor Impossible has escaped from prison and legendary superhero CoreFire has vanished without a trace. With the fate of the world in their hands, the New Champions have mere hours to recover their fallen comrade and stop their arch-nemesis before his doomsday device is complete. Joined by Fatale, a cyborg with an arsenal of deadly hardware and a host of self-esteem issues, the mighty super-team must face their darkest hour - and the truths buried in their deeply troubled pasts. A thrilling new musical about power and identity set in a vibrant world of heroes and villains, in a world premiere adaptation. The production runs approximately two and a half hours with one intermission. The book will be on sale in the lobby.