Lee Martino News

The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts/McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents the Southern California Premiere Production of the Broadway Musical 'FIRST DATE' - directed by Nick DeGruccio and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. Check out photos from the show below!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio. FIRST DATE will preview on Friday, September 18, 2015 (with a press opening tonight, September 19) and run through Sunday, October 11, 2015 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio.

Producers Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman and The Transfer Group have announced that CARRIE THE MUSICAL will return to Los Angeles at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, the first theatrical musical at that venue. 

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to announce a season to satisfy musical theatre lovers everywhere with their 2015-16 season of shows!

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 2014-2015 season with 1949's classic GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES.

STAGE RAW is pleased to announce the FIRST ANNUAL STAGE RAW LOS ANGELES THEATER AWARDS, championing the best work of 2014 in L.A.'s now embattled theaters of up to 99-seats. (STAGE RAW is using the same jury that was assembled through 2014 for the now dearly departed LA WEEKLY Theater Awards.) Check out the full list of nominees below!

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, has set Sunday, December 14, 2014 as auditions for its 9th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star, it was announced today by Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling Publicity and Production in Los Angeles, CA.

As many times as I have seen Man of La Mancha, I relish the music and high dramatic moments of this classic piece of theatre. Being, naturally, that the production of it is top notch, with the right actors and skilled direction! GCT's current revival is top of the line. I remember seeing Richard Kiley, the original Cervantes/Alonso Quijana/Don Quijote in a Broadway revival in the 70s and was blown away by his ferocious commitment to the role. He spoke and sang to the last row of the balcony without even trying because of his brilliant focus on relaying the message of peace, justice, love and the simple joy of living in harmony with your fellow-man. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Well, GCT's production is quieter, more subdued, but every bit as serious, entertaining and nurturing.

On Saturday, August 16 at 8pm - Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday headlined the one-night-only concert Broadway Under the Stars at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, CA. Produced by Chris Isaacson Presents in partnership with Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Lucas Grabeel hosted the Skylight Theatre/ASCAP outreach event THE LYRIC PROJECT, last night at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. It was an outstanding presentation from professional singer/songwriters/composers/ASCAP members who mentored 15 'at risk' kids, chosen from hundreds, to write and publish a song. Scroll down for photos!

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

THE WRONG MAN, written and performed by Ross Golan and directed and choreographed by Lee Martino, has extended through March 30th at Skylight Theatre.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

THE WRONG MAN, written and performed by Ross Golan, will be directed and choreographed by Lee Martino for Skylight Theatre. The show runs now through March 16, 2014.

Skylight Theatre Company has announced the first show of its inaugural season, the world premiere of The Wrong Man. Written and performed by Ross Golan, this unique underground musical about the justice system gone wrong also features Jennifer Brasuell and will be directed and choreographed by Lee Martino. Preview performances of The Wrong Man begin January 25 with opening set for Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through March 2 only.

LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 sings in the New Year beginning Sunday, January 5 at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

When You Wish/The Story of Walt Disney. It is high time that the life and career of iconic artist/animator Walt Disney be honored artistically. Of course, his films all stand the test of time, but we know little about the man, his persona and the early years of struggle. Wouldn't it be assuring to learn that success even for a genius does not come easy? And just plain fun to find out where and how Mickey Mouse came about? Instead of a biopic, the producers have decided upon an original stage musical. Therein lies the biggest flaw. This new tribute is labeled/described as a Pre-Broadway production. Let's reflect a moment or two on what makes for a successful Broadway show. Disney's own The Lion King, from screen to stage, is a perfect example of that kind of huge success. It is a spectacle with grand theatricality, giant universal family conflicts and dynamite appeal in sight and sound to sustain long lines at the box office. As endearing as it is, this little musical When You Wish falls short in these respects... in spite of the fact that it has a dream cast and a superlative creative team. Now onstage through November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, the show, nonetheless, does have a carload of merit. If Broadway is not the answer, it does deserve a place somewhere.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present WONDERFUL TOWN, the inaugural performance of their 2013-2014 season at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. The one-night-only concert will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm.