Matt Koenig

What did our critic think of RIDE THE CYCLONE THE MUSICAL at Beck Center For The Arts?

The stage of the Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square, will glow with good spirits and time-honored tradition when Great Lakes Theater (GLT) presents its 35th production of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale, A Christmas Carol, running November 24 – December 23, 2023. 

Mary Shelley's shocking classic novel, Frankenstein, receives new life at Cleveland Play House. A haunting and highly theatrical adaptation of the classic horror story. Directed by Michael Barakiva, the production features Josh Bates, Madeline Calais, Ellen Grace Diehl, Gavin Michaels, and Kayodè Soyemi.

Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC), Utah's leading destination for brave, contemporary theatre, proudly presents a free, one night-only reading of Shawn Fisher's new play, THE (obsolete) UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS, as part of its New Play Sounding Series.

Los Angeles-based band The Undercover Dream Lovers, the brainchild of Matt Koenig, is pleased to present the official video for 'Chardonnay' the latest single to be lifted from band's debut full-length album It's All in Your Head out February 28 (pre-order). The video for the track was directed by filmmaker OTIUM who also directed the band's video for 'A Way Out' and worked on videos for Hand Habits and Widowspeak. 

Los Angeles-based band The Undercover Dream Lovers, the brainchild of Matt Koenig, shared an animated video for 'Plane Ride' the second single to be lifted from the band's debut full-length album It's All in Your Head out February 28, 2020. The video which premiered at Buzzbands LA was animated by Cynthia Larenas, who works under the name Zona Mind. 'Plane Ride' is a deeply personal song for Matt Koenig. He explains, “The 'ride' is a metaphor for life, and the plane crashing represents death.' He adds, 'I wrote the verse before going on tour and it was about me feeling caught in the distractions of life. The inspiration for the rest of the song came after tour. We were on the road with the band Her's who were in a fatal car accident before our last show. 'Plane Ride' was the first song I worked on after returning, and my mind was still consumed by the loss. It felt personal for me to keep the first verse. It represented something before the accident, and really paints a picture about how what you may think is important can change in an instant.” Plane Ride' premiered last month at The Fader and can be shared on all streaming services. About the song The Fader says, ''Plane Ride,' is an intriguing slice of dream-pop reminiscent of the Flaming Lips' squishier moments circa The Soft Bulletin, not to mention some of that band's contemporaries like the Delgados and Grandaddy.'

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will commence its 2018-19 season at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square with a Fall Repertory that features the smash hit feel-good musical, Mamma Mia! and Jane Austen's classic romantic comedy, Pride and Prejudice. The productions will be performed in rotating repertory September 28 - November 11, 2018.

Despite my well-earned affection for the Tony-winning 1998 Roundabout Theatre Company production of the classic Kander and Ebb Broadway classic CABARET, I still found myself vigorously entertained by McCoy Rigby Entertainment's flashy and buoyant new 2018 regional production of this theatrical staple, under the solid direction of Larry Carpenter and featuring spectacular musical performances from its lead cast. This deliciously bawdy but at times sneakily ominous musical continues performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 11, 2018.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.

Coming to the Marian Theatre July 19 - 22 and Solvang Festival Theater July 27 - August 20 is PCPA's production of Disney's Newsies The Musical - the Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon. The show is based on the historical newsboy strike of 1899 that shook the ivory towers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. It leaps onto the stage with soul stirring music, amazing heart, and stunning choreography.

The uproarious farce, Lend Me A Tenor The Musical, plays in the Solvang Festival Theater July 6 - 23. The riotous tale of mistaken identities and unexpected romance explodes with delight in this brand new musical comedy by Peter Sham and PCPA's Brad Carroll, based on the play by Ken Ludwig.

PCPA - Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents a powerful story by Matthew Lopez, The Whipping Man, which methodically peels back layer upon layer of repressed feelings, hopes and dreams, and dark secrets. It's playing in the Severson Theatre March 9 through 26.

PCPA - Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents a powerful story by Matthew Lopez, The Whipping Man, which methodically peels back layer upon layer of repressed feelings, hopes and dreams, and dark secrets. It's playing in the Severson Theatre March 9 through 26.

Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents a tale as old as time, Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It plays November 3 - December 23 in Santa Maria's Marian Theatre, then under the stars in the Solvang Festival Theater June 15 - July 2.

Sense and Sensibility is the journey of two sisters discovering the balance between rationalism and romanticism while finding their way to personal power and a real understanding of what love truly means. Jane Austen's romantic comedy adapted for the stage by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan (Pride and Prejudice) plays in the Marian Theatre July 21 - 30, then transfers to the Solvang Festival Theater and runs from August 5 - 21.

Richard III, William Shakespeare's stunning portrait of Machiavellian genius and the murderous quest for absolute power, comes alive on PCPA's stage April 21 through May 8. In this original game of thrones we are engaged by a cunning, charismatic, and heartless tyrant who will stop at nothing to secure England's crown.