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Is there anything Stephanie J. Block can’t do?
Stephanie J. Block to star in the Kennedy Center production of Sunset Boulevard I first saw SJB perform in a production of Falsettos in 2016. She was exciting and had a stirring and unique voice. She frequently outshined her costars Christian Borle and Andrew Rannells. In this production, a song from In Trousers, the sort-of…
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Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara in a New Musical
Atlantic Theatre Company in New York is putting on a new musical called Days of Wine and Roses, starring Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James this spring. I feel like this show could go either way, but the pedigree is certainly great. Who’s Who? Adam Guettel – Music and Lyrics Craig Lucas – Book Adam…
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Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord plays in LA
~ post by Clark Burnett A co-production with East West Players, the nation’s first professional Asian American theatre organization, this 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Drama “One-Woman Show” is coming to Center Theatre Groups‘ Kirk Douglas Theatre in Downtown Culver City from FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 12, 2023. I was introduced to Kristina’s work during…
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Here Lies Love coming to Broadway
The Imelda Marcos musical, written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim is coming to Broadway. I’m excited about it, but it’s a surprise, to say the least. Is it a sin to love too much?Is it a sin to care?I do it all for youHow can it be unfair? I saw Here Lies Love at…
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Sunday in the Park with George – in Escondido
~ post by Clark Burnett We San Diegans are so lucky to have the beautifully-designed “Art Deco-style” California Center for the Arts – Escondido so close by. And, they have recently started their own top-notch “in house” theater (mostly musicals) productions: “CCAE Theatricals.” Last year’s inaugural season brought the best production of “Once” that I’ve…
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Jason Robert Brown returns to Broadway
A revival of Jason Robert Brown‘s musical Parade, starring Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen), is transferring to Broadway from the New York City Center run. OMG Jason Robert Brown is one of the BEST composers out there. Parade is probably his best known work, but I came to appreciate his songwriting when I heard (and…
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Beautifica!
~ post by Clark Burnett Do you remember “Spiritual High” – the Chrissie Hynde “State Of Independence” mash-up with Martin Luther King, Jr.s’ “I Have A Dream” speech from Moodswings’ 1992 “Moodfood” album? Part II starts about 4:44: The musician behind that project is the ultra-talented James Hood (with his 2017 MESMERICA album, Hood played…
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A Strange Michael Jackson
Michael R Jackson, the creator of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical A Strange Loop, performed as the lead last night in a special concert version of the show. This is extra cool because the show is reportedly based on his life. The main character, Usher, is a gay, overweight, black playwright who…
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It’s so TEMPTing
Exactly one year later, I got to see Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations a second time. And it’s still great. Ain’t Too Proud was a last-minute add-on to my NYC trip a year ago. I had the time, and I was curious. It wound up being my favorite show…
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And if it’s not right, you have to put it right…
Roald Dahl’s Matilda is so great, despite the questionable stage musical. I’ve been a bit of a Matilda hater ever since I saw it in New York with my friend Richard one afternoon. It was either Matilda or the short-lived Tupac musical Holler if Ya Hear Me and Matilda won out. I just really did…