ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE MUSICAL
Sunday, November 25th, 2007
Young girls in Orange County will love The Chance Theatre’s production of Anne
of Green Gables: The Musical. Based on the first and most famous of Lucy Maud
Montgomery’s eight Anne Shirley books, this adaptation by Joseph Robinette and
Evelyn D. Swenson adds songs to what has already been a 1919 silent movie, a
1934 Hollywood film (starring interestingly enough Anne Shirley), a 1956 TV
production, a British mini-series in 1972, a four-hour TV movie in 1985 which
spawned two sequels, and even a Japanese anime series. (And who knows how
many other versions are out there?)
(read more)
DOUBT
Saturday, October 27th, 2007
Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, had the notable distinction of having its West
Coast Premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse take place simultaneously with its
Broadway debut in the spring of 2005. I found the Playhouse production quite
thrilling, despite a shaky Linda Hunt in the role of Sister Aloysius, the same role
which won Cherry Jones the Tony. Last year at the Ahmanson, I got to see why
Jones had scored just about every award imaginable for her “force of nature”
performance.
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JEKYLL & HYDE
Friday, October 12th, 2007
Fullerton Civic Light Opera ends its 2007 season on a high note with the
return engagement of their 2001 award-winner Jekyll & Hyde. Arguably the
most popular “musical thriller” in Broadway history (1523 performances), J&H
boasts a classic storyline (by Robert Lewis Stevenson), a highly hummable
score by Frank Wildhorn, two amazing roles for leading ladies (good girl/bad
girl), spectacle, murder, and above all one of the most challenging
acting/singing roles ever written for a musical theater leading man. FCLO’s
production has been directed with consummate professionalism by Ovation
winning Jan Duncan, with superb musical direction by 35-year FCLO vet Lee
Kreter, leading an orchestra that couldn’t be better.
(read more)
SHIPWRECKED!
Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Whether you are eight years old or eighty, run, don’t walk to Costa Mesa and
delight in the sheer magic of live theater at South Coast Rep’s world premiere
production of Donald Margulies magnificent adventure story, Shipwrecked!
What would cost Hollywood a couple hundred million dollars to achieve, the
geniuses behind this production and its three supremely gifted actors (doing
the work of the proverbial “cast of thousands”) achieve at a fraction of the
cost, with equal or greater entertainment value.
(read more)
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
A musical at South Coast Repertory is a rarity, and in the case of the currently
running A Little Night Music, it is a cause for celebration–well cast, beautifully
performed and (especially in the second act) gorgeous to look at.
(read more)
Since 2007, Steven Stanley's StageSceneLA.com has spotlighted the best in Southern California theater via reviews, interviews, and its annual StageSceneLA Scenies.
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