Tag Archives: Musical Theatre

Musical Review: The Orphans’ Revenge

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All Alice White (Jessica Kent) wants is to find a good man to marry. Instead, she gets a creepy marriage proposal from Victor Van Rooper (Joseph Eastburn), a saloon owner with a questionable reputation, who offers to save the orphanage if Alice takes his offer.

The revival of this musical, originally produced by the Rep Group more than 40 years ago, is an excitingly crafted production with a creative way to allow audience participation. The story, which might seem like a devastating drama, turns into an epic melodrama where even death is fun to watch.

Orphans in dire need, a saloon troupe lead by a villain, and even a preacher are some of the odd characters that turn Alice’s world upside down. There’s also a character that appears to be the hero, Jack (Tack Sappington), who has the money to save the orphanage. But just as Alice contemplates the possibility of a happy life with him, Jack loses the money to a card game with Victor, and after a few drinks, falls prey to the evil ways of seductive vixen Carlotta (Kristin Towers Rowles), a performer with the troupe. The next morning, broke and regretful for betraying Alice, Jack becomes a pathetic image of utter defeat, with a blistering hangover, to add insult to injury. A hero no more. Virtuous Alice is then left to the whims of sinister Victor, with the risk of losing the orphanage as well.

At this point, the story becomes a race against time. Will Rose (Janet Wood), Victor’s companion, feel pity for Alice? Can half-hero Jack become a full hero? Maybe Uncle Ned (Brad Kahn) can help. To move the story along and bring the saloon feel to the stage, the musical numbers add a whimsical tone to the play. The actors get a chance to shine with their voices and dance moves. Likewise, Director Stan Mazin gets creative with the special effects. The snow might give you chills, the beer might get you thirsty, and watch out for the incoming train. Also pay attention to Uncle Ned’s speed, you blink and you might miss him. 

Mazin combines the creative elements effectively to present an appealing musical that is fun and lively. The cast is an amalgam of seasoned performers and newcomers. Once again, Joseph Eastburn graces the stage with his magnificent performance. He is a thespian with rich qualities and a valuable asset for the Group Rep. His comedy verging on sinisterness and vice versa is something you need to experience live to fully appreciate it. Also impressive is the sizzling Kristin Towers Rowles in her role of Carlotta Valdez, a Spaniard femme fatale who endangers the happiness of the hero and heroine. 

Mazin also introduces new faces: The orphans Arden Shia, Scarlett Strauss, Jackson Bethel, and Hannah Sun offer solid performances; a new generation of thespians in the making. Experiencing this musical with its melodramatic style is like going back in time to the 1800s, when this type of theatre was so popular. It is refreshing to see the Group Rep’s efforts to revive one of their most successful productions in their 50-year history.    

The Orphans’ Revenge

Lonny Chapman Theatre – Main Stage
10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood 91601

October 4 — November 10, 2024
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm

Tickets: thegrouprep.com

Book by Suzanne Buhrer and Gene Casey. Music by Gene Casey, Suzanne Buhrer and Jan Casey. Directed by Stan Mazin. Music direction by Andy Howe. Produced for The Group Rep by Linda Alznauer.

Cast: Sean Babcock, Jackson Bethel, George Bufford, Joseph Eastburn, Lareen Faye, Brad Kahn, Jessica Kent, Hisato Masuyama, Casey Murray, Tack Sappington, Rob Schaumann,
Kyra Schwartz, Arden Shia, Suzan Solomon, Abigail Stewart, Melissa Strauss, Scarlett Strauss, Hannah Sun, Kristin Towers Rowles, and Janet Wood.

Creative team: Mareli Mitchel-Shields (Set Design), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Design), Frank McKown (Lighting Design), Nick Foran (Sound Design).

Performance Review: 3 Faces of Steve: Sondheim in Concert

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Odyssey Theatre Ensemble has put together a fun and touching concert to honor Stephen Sondheim, who dedicated his life to musical theatre. Three opera singers present an impressive catalog of songs, covering some of Sondheim’s most celebrated pieces of musical theatre.

Soprano Angelina Réaux, baritone Michael Sokol, and bari-tenor Bernardo Bermudez display their singing and performance skills in two acts. Included in this collection are pieces from Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Follies, Gypsy, West Side Story, Marry Me a Little, and more.

William Ah Sing plays the piano for all of the songs, giving the voices and the piano an intimate atmosphere to appreciate the poetry and sensibility of Sondheim’s lyrics and music. As expected, the voices of opera-trained singers add a great deal of depth and texture to the songs. The theatricality of their performances is a unique intersection of opera and musicals, elevating the experience.

Some of the most amazing numbers are “Can That Boy Foxtrot” (Michael & Bernardo), “A Little Priest” (Angelina & Michael), “I’m Still Here” (Angelina), “Ah Paree!” (Michael), “Not A Day Goes By” (Bernardo), and “Send In the Clowns” (Angelina). The three singers offer anecdotes of how they came across Sondheim’s music and the impact on their lives. In the case of Réaux, she had the opportunity to work with Sondheim on Sweeney Todd, an experience where the expression break a leg took on a new meaning in her life.

This performance is a brilliant addition to the Odyssey’s catalog of shows supporting the varied landscape of performing artists. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the extensive legacy of one of the greatest lyricists and composers of the 20th century in the voices of three exceptional and experienced opera singers.

3 Faces of Steve: Sondheim in Concert

Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90025

Performances: Sept. 6 – Sept. 29:
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 12, Sept. 19. Sept. 26
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 6 (opening night), Sept. 13, Sept. 20*, Sept. 27
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Sept. 15, Sept. 22
• Sunday at 5 p.m.: Sept. 29 ONLY
*Wine Night Fridays: Enjoy complimentary wine and snacks after the show on the third Friday of every month.

Tickets: odysseytheatre.com

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Angelina Réaux. Music Director William Ah Sing. Starring soprano Angelina Réaux, baritone Michael Sokol, and bari-tenor Bernardo Bermudez. Presented by the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Ron Sossi Artistic Director. Lighting designed by Leigh Allen and graphic design by Peter Simpson Cook. The stage manager is Katie Chabot.

Theatre Review: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

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Chance Theater presents Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Book by Hugh Wheeler. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on an adaptation by Christopher Bond. Directed by James Michael McHale. Music direction by Lex Leigh. Produced by Rachelle Menaker and Eddie Schuller.

Director James Michael McHale keeps the thriller and dark elements in this new production of Sweeny Todd. The scenic design by Fred Kinney and Mio Okada honors the grittiness and thriller vibes of the story. The stage features an industrial and dystopian design that reflects the cannibalistic and aggressive tendencies of the characters. Adding to the atmosphere is the excellent lighting design by Jacqueline Malenke. The lighting serves as an effective character to convey the lingering danger of Sweeny Todd’s hunger for revenge.

Another characteristic of this production is the costume design by Gwen Sloan. Gothic and Victorian, the costumes depict the roughness of London life back in the 1800s. The costumes match the vampiric bent of Sweeny and the inhabitants of the city in their lust for blood, consciously or unconsciously.

Sweeney Todd (Winston Peacock) and Judge Turpin (Justin Ryan) bring the animalistic attributes of the protagonist and antagonist. Both of them excel in their portrayal of corruption and maddening thirst for revenge. Ryan’s operatic voice adds a Machiavellian tone to Judge Turpin’s personality. This plays very well in the song “Joanna (Mea Culpa)”, where Turpin’s sexual attraction to Joanna is revealed.

Then there is Mrs. Lovett. Jocelyn A. Brown delivers a superlative performance with her fascinating devilish humor that adds a touch of comedy and tragedy to the play. Despite the roughness of the character, Brown is able to infuse Mrs. Lovett with the vulnerability of a woman that falls hard for an unrequited love.

McHale’s production is long, about three hours, but the acting, music, and the other creative elements make the time go fast. The attention to detail is extraordinary and the cast delivers a memorable performance. McHale highlights the romance, danger, and tragedy in a way that keeps the audience engaged the whole time.

This is a story of life, death, and revenge. McHale is able to unify all of the dramatic and creative elements at the end to accentuate that powerful dramatic tool called irony. The phantasmagoric aspect of the story is well executed, giving that aura of mysticism to the resolution, transporting the characters to that space where life and death converge.

By the way, don’t miss the pool of blood on the stage when you exit, it gives a touch of realism to the experience, almost like witnessing a crime scene.

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage
5522 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92807
Performances: July 12 – August 11, 2024
Thursdays 7:30pm, Fridays 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 and 8 pm, & Sundays at 3 pm and 7 pm only for July 14)
Book by Hugh Wheeler. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on an adaptation by Christopher Bond. Directed by James Michael McHale. Music direction by Lex Leigh. Choreography by Mo Goodfellow.
Cast: Winston Peacock, Jocelyn A. Brown, Naya Ramsey-Clarke, Dylan August, Justin Ryan, Adam Leiva, Abel Miramontes, Emmanuel Madera, and Laura M. Hathaway.
Creative team: Scenic design by Fred Kinney and Mio Okada. Costume design by Gwen Sloan. Lighting design by Jacqueline Malenke. Sound design by Lia Weed. Projection design by Nick Santiago. Produced by Rachelle Menaker and Eddie Schuller. Bette & Wyllie Aitken are Executive Season Producers. Sophie & Larry Cripe are Associate Producers. Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar are Associate Season Producers.

 

Theatre Review: Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra

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Troubadour Theater Company presents the World Premiere of Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra. Musical Direction by Ryan Whyman. Directed and Adapted by Matt Walker.

Matt Walker rewrites the love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, adding the music of Duran Duran to energize the characters and the plot. Based on Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, this slapstick musical is a fine example of a theatrical form known as commedia dell’arte.

The action on stage is reminiscent of The Carol Burnett Show sketches, with actors occasionally breaking character due to funny dialogue or even hecklers pitching in. And it’s exactly that, audience participation, one of the main attractions of the show.

Antony (Matt Walker) falls in love with Cleopatra (Cloie Wyatt Taylor), but for political convenience, Antony ends up marrying Octavius Caesar’s (Rick Batalla) sister, the sultry Octavia (Philip McNiven). From there, misunderstandings, rage, and killer songs become the norm. The dialogue is peppered with sexual innuendos, adding a mischievous element to match the action on stage. The music, the dances, and the physical comedy make it a highly kinetic play to keep things engaging and entertaining. Walker, Batalla, and Beth Kennedy lead the comedy, delivering an outstanding performance.

The background graphics and the special effects contribute  creativity and comedy to the production. There’s ocean breeze, waves, a shooting where bullets don’t make it to the other side, snake bites (not real), and self-inflicted wounds (not real either). The costumes and live music also capture the exceptional effort of the production to put together a mesmerizing spectacle that combines a classical story and the timeless music of one the most influential rock bands of recent history.

In Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra, tragedy becomes an excuse to unleash mayhem, leaving behind a trail of fun, comedy, and music in an exciting and festive environment.

Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra

The Colony Theatre

555 N Third St.

Burbank, CA 91502

June 7th through June 16th

Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 4:00 pm & 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm.

Tickets: troubie.com

Musical Direction by Ryan Whyman. Directed and adapted by Matt Walker.

Cast: Beth Kennedy, Rick Batalla, Mike Sulprizio, Rob Nagle, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, John Paul Batista, Katie Kitani, Mark McCracken, Philip McNiven, Suzanne Jolie, and adaptor/director Matt Walker. Troubadorchestra: Kevin Stevens on drums, Ryan Whyman on piano/MD, Carlos Rivera on bass, and Mike Abraham on guitar.

Creative team: Lighting Design by Bo Tindell; Sound Design by Robert Arturo Ramirez; Projection Design is by Rick Batalla; Costumer: Suzanne Narbonne (Using designs by Sharon McGunigle); Wig Design is by Suzanne Jolie Narbonne. The Music Supervisor is Eric Heinly. The Production Stage Manager is Corey Womack.

Burlesque Review: CLUELESQUE

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CLUELESQUE is produced by Cherry Poppins, playing at Tramp Stamp Granny’s.

Who killed Whorchid Fairchild? That’s what the audience will have to figure out in this immersive and highly entertaining burlesque show. Every Wednesday, the group of picturesque characters present themselves and give details of their relationship with Whorchid. As the story builds up, the audience needs to connect the dots and decide who, where, and with what object Whorchid might’ve been killed.

The sensational artists enchant the audience with their charming and dazzling musical numbers, setting the stage on fire with their seductive voices and sexy moves. The energetic ensemble delivers a constant mixture of humor, music, dance, and mystery in an immersive journey of decadent allure, one song at a time.

Every character has a story to tell and every character becomes a suspect, one way or another, in the puzzling murder of Whorchid Fairchild. A creative storyline keeps things entertaining all the way till the end. The spectacular costumes, makeup, and dances add an enigmatic touch to the characters, turning this production into a sultry fantasy of color, music, and action.

From the creative minds of Alli Miller and Sarah Haworth, CLUELESQUE is a musical theatre show not to be missed. This is mystery and sexiness at Tramp Stamp Granny’s, right in the heart of Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of the World.

CLUELESQUE

Tramp Stamp Granny’s
1638 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA, 90028

Wednesdays
Doors and Preshow 7PM, Show 8PM

Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/cluelesque

**Must show proof of Covid Vaccination at the door
General Admission: $45.00 + 2 Drink minimum

Socials: @cherrypoppinsla @trampstampgrannys

Cast: Broadsworth the Butler (Alli Miller-Fisher), Yvulva the Maid (Meredith Lim), Bar Chef (Lauren Avon), Whorchid (Heath Butler), Mizz White (Emma Hunton), Penelope Peacock (Carly Jibson), Mister Mustard (Matthew Scott Montgomery), Professor Plumbalina (Shanera Denae’), Mr. Gimby Green (Everjohn Feliciano), and Scarlet O’Harlet (K.C. Lindley).

Producers: Alli Miller-Fisher, Sarah Haworth-Hodges, Chadd McMillan, Mia Von Criss. Written by: Alli Miller-Fisher. Directed by: Alli Miller-Fisher, Chadd McMillan, Sarah Haworth-Hodges. Choreographed by: Alli Miller-Fisher, Sarah Wines, Lauren Avon, Camal Pugh, Jen Udgen. Musical Director: Laura Wiley. Vocal Director: Emma Hunton.

A scene from Cluelesque
CLUELESQUE. Ensemble. Photo by Nathan Noyes.
A scene from Cluelesque
CLUELESQUE. Ensemble. Photo by Nathan Noyes.
A scene from Cluelesque
CLUELESQUE. Ensemble. Photo by Nathan Noyes.
Cluelesque poster
CLUELESQUE