BWW Reviews: KRITZERLAND 4th Anniversary Show Is a Winner
by Don Grigware
- Sep 9, 2014
On Sunday September 7, at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, due to an advance sell-out crowd for the 7 pm show, an additional matinee show was performed for the Fourth Anniversary of Kritzerland. Needless to say, both matinee and evening performances were sold out, making the monthly Kritzerland tributes the most popular shows at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. The anniversary party was entitled They're Playing Our Song: The Songs That Got Away III and along with special guests Kerry O'Malley and Bruce Vilanch, the big cast also included Robert Yacko, Evan Harris, Madison Claire Parks, Sami Staitman, Jenna Lea Rosen, and also little Hadley Miller, and in chorus numbers of What If?: Kimberly Hessler, Travis Leland, Bruce Merkle, and Adrienne Visnic, all under the baton of super musical director John Boswell. This marked the 49th Kritzerland show since its inception at the Gardenia in 2010, and its host Bruce Kimmel, founder of Kritzerland Records, was in rare form, doling out trivia-worthy anecdotes about every number presented, as well as singing a song himself, due to the absence of Guy Haines.
BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Goes Off-Broadway at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal
by Don Grigware
- Jul 7, 2014
It was a pleasure to return to Kritzerland Sunday July 6 for its 47th show saluting Off-Broadway shows: Kritzerland Goes Off-Broadway. Featured were stalwart hits: Hair, Ruthless!, Little Mary Sunshine, Dames at Sea, Falsettos, The Fantasticks and more recent hits such as Floyd Collins, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Dogfight. With Bruce Kimmel as host, in dandy form as usual with his amazing trivia notes in between numbers, and sensational musical director John Boswell at the piano, the show got off to a rousing start with young Brennley Brown belting out 'Born to Entertain' from Ruthless! Also on the bill for the evening were the wonderful: Robert Yacko, Madison Claire Parks, Kim Huber, young folks Jenna Lee Rosen, Sami Staitman and special guest stars Jason Graae and Rita McKenzie.
BWW Reviews: Bruce Kimmel's Dynomite L'IL ABNER Lights Up LACC Stage Through Tomorrow Only
by Don Grigware
- May 23, 2014
Back in the 50s, the era that was innocence personified, Broadway musicals were written to entertain first. Of course, Stephen Sondheim and other more serious composers were beginning to change the face of the American musical with the goal to enlighten, but shows like Li'l Abner, with book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, lyrics by Johnny Mercer & music by Gene De Paul and based on Al Capp's 1934 comic strip, showed us the wild hillbilly lifestyle to make us laugh rather than think. Underneath the surface, to be sure, there is political satire and an uplifting message about appreciating the worth of that lesser known patch of American culture, kind of like what 60sTV audiences found in The Beverly Hillbillies.
Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal Presents THESE APRIL FOOLISH THINGS, 4/6
by Courtnie Mele
- Mar 14, 2014
For our 44th Kritzerland show we celebrate the most foolish day and month of the year - April Fools Day. Yes, it's all things April and all things foolish, as well as some things that aren't so foolish. And not only are we celebrating the April Fools, we're celebrating the second anniversary of Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal - in April of 2012 we were the first show in Michael Sterling's new home at The Federal, and we've been there every month since. We have a potpourri of fun planned for our April 6th show, including lots of comedy, some beautiful April-themed songs, and an amazing cast. You'll hear songs you know and songs you don't know, including the world premiere of a brand new Richard M. Sherman song, written with Kritzerland's Bruce Kimmel. And playing it will be Richard M. Sherman, our very special guest star - and as if that and our great cast wasn't enough, we have another guest star, too, the beautiful and superlative Andrea Marcovicci. So, don't be too foolish and wait too long to make your reservations - our last seven shows have been early sellouts. Come and join us to celebrate all the wonderful foolish things we've got planned and to wish Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal a happy anniversary as the best cabaret room in the city enters its third year.
Musical Theatre West Presents One-Night-Only Concert Version of KISMET Tonight
by BWW News Desk
- Jun 30, 2013
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, has announced a one-night-only concert version of the acclaimed, rarely produced musical KISMET, presented by Musical Theatre West at the University Theatre on the CSULB campus tonight, June 30 at 7 p.m. KISMET is presented as part of the Reiner Reading Series, which presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems.
Musical Theatre West to Present One-Night-Only Concert Version of KISMET, 6/30
by Devin MacDonald
- Jun 26, 2013
Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, is proud to announce a one-night-only concert version of the acclaimed, rarely produced musical KISMET, presented by Musical Theatre West at the University Theatre on the CSULB campus on Sunday, June 30 at 7 p.m. KISMET is presented as part of the Reiner Reading Series, which presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems.
TV: Andrew Rannells, Charo and More in the 29th Annual Musical Theatre Benefit, S.T.A.G.E.
by Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans
- Apr 18, 2013
A company of more than 25 stars of stage and screen entertained a packed house at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Saturday night (April 6) at the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.). BWW TV's Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group were on hand for an up close and personal look at the event , themed 'Broadway, My Way,' which raised more than $285,000 for HIV/AIDS direct care, education, and advocacy services offered by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Check out the video below!
2013 Musical Theatre Benefit S.T.A.G.E. Raises Over $285,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles
by BWW News Desk
- Apr 9, 2013
A company of more than 25 stars of stage and screen entertained a packed house at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Saturday night, April 6, at the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.). The event, themed "Broadway, My Way," raised more than $285,000 for HIV/AIDS direct care, education, and advocacy services offered by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).
S.T.A.G.E. Benefit on April 6 Welcomes Alex Newell to Cast
by Don Grigware
- Mar 22, 2013
ALEX NEWELL, one of the newest cast members of FOX's groundbreaking mega-hit series, 'Glee,' has been added to the cast of the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) 'Broadway, My Way,' being held on Saturday, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. David Galligan directs for the 29th time with John McDaniel returning as Musical Director.
BWW Interviews: Director David Galligan Tells Us About S.T.A.G.E. Event, BROADWAY, MY WAY
by Don Grigware
- Feb 20, 2013
Consummate theatre director David Galligan will be directing Broadway, My Way for this year's S.T.A.G.E. event benefiting AIDS on Saturday April 6 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Galligan has given tirelessly to this project since it started back in 1984. Just about every composer has been honored with maybe the exception of Noel Coward and the last 3 years have been devoted to Original Casts of Broadway musicals. This year Broadway, My Way offers something different.
BWW Reviews: People Will Say We're In Love with MTW's OKLAHOMA!
by Don Grigware
- Feb 19, 2013
When Oklahoma! was first produced on Broadway in 1943 it became the first smash hit for newly formed collaborating team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and also the first real book musical, preceded only by Showboat. It was a breakthrough musical, which when given a first-class production, is still, some 70 years later, without question, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. 'The Farmer and the Cowman' truly represents the philosophy of what America is all about, a unity and pride that is unmistakably individual. MTW's newest production is exceptional - by far one of the best to be staged in a very long time. Director Davis Gaines - his first direction - magnificently brings together an astoundingly talented cast now in Long Beach through March 3 only.
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