David Green - Page 26

Platinum Award-winning singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway celebrates the music of one of America's most powerful and enduring musical artists at The McCallum Theatre for one very special evening, February 26 at 8:00 pm. Singing timeless classics from five decades of Barbra Streisand's multi-faceted career, Callaway crafts a loving musical portrait of the icon. I had the opportunity to talk with Ms. Calloway about her life, her career and the current concert tour in her burgeoning 'Legends' series, THE STREISAND SONGBOOK. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the musical The Addams Family, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its McCallum Theatre premiere, as part of the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series, for five performances, Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16. The Addams Family, which began performances on Broadway in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway's biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as 'classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!' and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it 'Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.'

The internationally acclaimed L.A. Theatre Works is bringing its unique, hybrid radio theater-style production of The Graduate to the McCallum Theatre on February 25 at 8:00 pm. The sly and witty coming-of-age story of a young and innocent college grad seduced by an older woman was a theatrical sensation when it premiered at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End, then transferred to Broadway. LA based actor Brian Tichnell plays the slightly neurotic Benjamin Bratton in this critically acclaimed production. I had the opportunity to chat with Tichnell about the production. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation.

Actor, musician and writer Peter Gallagher makes his debut at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs with his one-man show, 'How'd All You People Get In My Room?,' on Saturday, February 22 at 8:00 pm. Gallagher will share real-life stories from his early days starting out as a young actor in New York, to working with legends like Jack Lemmon, Tom Stoppard, Mike Nichols, Robert Altman, Peter O'Toole and more. Joined by his band, Gallagher brings his experiences to life with songs ranging from Broadway, to music from the hit television show 'The OC,' to classics from Sammy Cahn, Jules Styne, Burt Bacharach and Van Morrison. Gallagher made his Broadway debut in 1977 as Danny Zuko in 'Grease'. He later starred as Sky Masterson in the 1992 Tony-Winning revival of 'Guys And Dolls' , as well as the musicals 'Pal Joey' and 'Annie Get Your Gun'.

With so many theatrical offerings and special events in the desert during "high season" it is easy for a smaller production, without the benefit of a hefty marketing budget, to get a little overlooked. This seems to be the case with a little gem of a musical playing at The Desert Rose Playhouse, and it is a shame. Nite Club Confidential is a campy send up of the film noir genre set in the smoky, dimly lit night clubs of Paris, New York and Hollywood in the 1950's and the DRP's iteration is both "on point" and highly entertaining. The little playhouse just east of Palm Springs, in neighboring Rancho Mirage, is perfectly suited for this production because it, too, has the aesthetic of a smoky little Night Club. (I kept wishing they had set up the room with cocktail tables and the glow of candles upon them, because it would serve both the venue and the play very well.) The Desert Rose Playhouse is intimate, to be sure, at less than 99 seats, and it was a crime to see so many of them vacant. The cast of Nite Club Confidential deserves an audience.

I'm almost certain I've said this before about a Coyote Stageworks production - but it bears repeating! 'Run, don't walk' to the box office to see this highly polished, highly entertaining and anything but 'high brow' musical comedy before it's too late. I offer a few critical thoughts below, in addition to heaps of praise -- but nothing to impede you from running out and spending a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the theatre with an absolutely irresistible quartet of actors. Founder and Artistic Director, Chuck Yates, has once again assembled a 'dream team' of actors, directors and designers who deliver at every turn. The Andrews Brothers is all fluff, to be sure, but it is presented with such panache, polish and style that the diversion from anything with more depth is just what the doctor ordered. I can't think of a better description than a very old-fashioned word - 'delightful'! It was absolutely delightful. I LOVED THIS SHOW and you will too.

Emmy winning actor/comedian Bruce Vilanch joins several Broadway Veterans and the students of Musical Theatre University in their very first fully-staged musical production, HAIRSPRAY, which will be presented for three performances, tonight, January 31 through February 2, at The Helene Galen Performing Arts Center at Rancho Mirage High School.

Emmy winning actor/comedian Bruce Vilanch joins several Broadway Veterans and the students of Musical Theatre University in their very first fully-staged musical production, HAIRSPRAY, which will be presented for three performances, January 31 through February 2, at The Helene Galen Performing Arts Center at Rancho Mirage High School. Vilanch will reprise his critically acclaimed turn as Edna Turnblad in the Tony Award winning musical, based on the cult film by John Waters, alongside Broadway actors Sal Mistretta, Lisa Robinson and Gwen Stewart, and featuring the talented, young Musical Theatre University students.

The McCallum Theatre and the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series present the national tour of Man of LaMancha for five performances, tonight, January 24, through Sunday, January 26.

The McCallum Theatre and the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series present the national tour of Man of LaMancha for five performances, Friday, January 24, through Sunday, January 26. Man of La Mancha returns in an all-new production complete with the Tony Award winning score and book that has inspired theatregoers since the very first note of 'The Impossible Dream' was heard on opening night. The original Broadway production ran for 2,328 and won five Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical' and Man of LaMancha remains one of the most enduring works of musical theatre. I caught up with director, Jeff Moses, to get his thoughts on this acclaimed production and more. Here are a few excerpts from that interview ...

The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CV Rep) continues to bring 'theatre of substance' to the desert communities with its third production of the 2013-14 season, A Perfect Ganesh, by Tony Award winning playwright, Terrence McNally and directed by CV Rep Artistic Director, Ron Celona. Considered one of McNally's best plays, A Perfect Ganesh is an insightful and creative blend of comedy and drama with many enchanting characters, and a captivating plot filled with humor, warmth and a host of surprise twists and turns.The second of three McNally plays being presented at CV Rep this season, A Perfect Ganesh will enjoy a three week run from tonight, Jan 22-February 9, 2014 at the CV Rep Theatre in Rancho Mirage.

Christine Andreas brings her much hailed and highly anticipated Cabaret 'be-Mused' to The Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs tonight, January 18 at 8:00 pm.

StageWorks is pleased to announce that veteran television and film actress Stefanie Powers is scheduled to appear in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at 6:00 pm on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs. Powers, best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in the 1980's television series "Hart to Hart," joins a roster of celebrities for this one-night-only performance to benefit Coyote StageWorks, a not-for-profit company dedicated to advancing theatre as a vital art form in the desert communities of the Coachella Valley.

Christine Andreas brings her much hailed and highly anticipated Cabaret "be-Mused" to The Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs on Saturday, January 18 at 8:00 pm. Ms. Andreas first captured New York City theatre-goer's hearts and became a bonifide star in the 20th anniversary production of MY FAIR LADY as Eliza Doolittle (Theatre World Award); followed by the revival of OKLAHOMA!, as Laurey, working with Billy Hammerstein & Agnes deMillle (Tony Nomination); and ON YOUR TOES, as Frankie Frayne, directed by the legendary director George Abbott, (Tony Nomination). The LA Times called her "a mesmerizing musical presence".?I had the opportunity to chat with Ms. Andreas about her upcoming Cabaret Performance at The Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs, and all things "Christine". Here are a few excerpts from that interview.

The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CV Rep) continues to bring 'theatre of substance' to the desert communities with its third production of the 2013-14 season, A Perfect Ganesh, by Tony Award winning playwright, Terrence McNally and directed by CV Rep Artistic Director, Ron Celona. Considered one of McNally's best plays, A Perfect Ganesh is an insightful and creative blend of comedy and drama with many enchanting characters, and a captivating plot filled with humor, warmth and a host of surprise twists and turns.The second of three McNally plays being presented at CV Rep this season, A Perfect Ganesh will enjoy a three week run from Jan 22-February 9, 2014 at the CV Rep Theatre in Rancho Mirage.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Valley's live stage company serving the LGBT community, will present Miss Joey English in Dennis Deal's 'mid-century modern' jazz musical Nite Club Confidential. The production will open tonight, January 10, 2014 for a six-week run closing on February 16, 2014.