Bree Murphy News

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, has been announced for its much anticipated St. Louis engagement at the Fabulous Fox Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

The national tour of Les Miserables will welcome Paige Smallwood in the role of 'Eponine' beginning Sunday, August 5. Paige takes over the role for Emily Bautista who was just announced to star as 'Kim' in the new national tour of Miss Saigon. Parker Dzuba will step into the role of 'Gavroche' beginning August 9 as Jonah Mussolino departs.

In the history of musical theater certain shows have had their place in time while others seem to transcend lifetimes. Parents bring their children to the same musical that their parents brought them to at their age and suddenly a new family tradition has started. The nice thing about traditions is that they grow and evolve, just like the latest show to come to DCPA: The new touring production of Les Miserables. 

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, has been announced for its much anticipated Albuquerque engagement at Popejoy Hall direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. To purchase tickets, visit unmtickets.com, popejoypresents.com, call 505-925-5858, or visit the UNM Ticket Offices at the UNM Bookstore and Dreamstyle Arena (The Pit). Ticket prices start at $40. For a sneak peek, please visit www.LesMiz.com.

Guys and Dolls/music & lyrics by Frank Loesser/book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows/based on stories by Damon Runyon/directed by Mark Martino/musical director: Benet Braun/choreographer: Daniel Smith/Musical Theatre West (MTW),Long Beach/through March 4 My first association with musical composer Frank Loesser was as an actor in the 70s in a revue of his music. I played Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls and sang a duet of 'I've Never Been In Love Before'. I came to realize quite rapidly how lovely his music is and how well he manages to capture the moment of genuine emotion within a song. Upon seeing Guys and Dolls several times since, I have been awestruck as well by Abe Burrows' and Joe Swerling's ability to take Damon Runyon's New York Broadway characters from the 20s and 30s and blow them up into something overwhelmingly moving and appealing. The two worlds of sin and redemption have never been connect

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

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.

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.

Based on the hit motion picture, 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, California puts its award-winning spin on The Full Monty... one of Broadway's most hilarious, yet truly touching family musicals April 15 - 17 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA; and April 22 - May 8, 2016 at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA.  Official "press" openings in Redondo Beach and Fullerton will be Saturday, April 16 and Saturday April 23, respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson,  with Choreography by Leslie Stevens; and  Musical Direction by Conductor Corey Hirsch.  Ryan Ruge serves as Assistant Director. Check out a first look at the opening night curtain call and cast party below!

Based on the hit motion picture, 3-D Theatricals of Orange County, California puts its award-winning spin on The Full Monty... one of Broadway's most hilarious, yet truly touching family musicals April 15 - 17 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA; and April 22 - May 8, 2016 at the historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA.  Official 'press' openings in Redondo Beach and Fullerton will be Saturday, April 16 and Saturday April 23, respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson,  with Choreography by Leslie Stevens; and  Musical Direction by Conductor Corey Hirsch.  Ryan Ruge serves as Assistant Director.

'Tale as old as time' nails the complex simplicity of Beauty and the Beast the quintessential story of true love, the most difficult to obtain and sustain.  Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale with its sweepingly imaginative spectacle won over even the hardest of hearts. The animated film was such a tremendous hit in 1991 that it was adapted for the stage in 1994 with new songs by Tim Rice added to the Academy Award-winning movie score by deceased Howard Ashman. It ran worldwide until 2007 and proves undoubtedly that fairy tales retain a popularity that never dies... and that the story  translates beautifully to the stage with vibrant actors recreating all the animated figures.. This new production by 3-D Theatricals of Beauty and the Beast, which closed Sunday at the Redondo Performing Arts Center, was every bit as joyful and elegant as the original. I cannot say enough about T. J. Dawson's fabulous direction and casting and Mela Hoyt-Heydon's spectacular costumes that were built completely from scratch by 3-D Theatricals.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, opened at the Los Angeles Ovation Award- winning 3-D Theatricals Co. of Orange County, CA. Performances will be presented at both Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium, Feb 5 - 21; and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center February 26 - 28, 2016. Official "press" openings in Fullerton and Redondo Beach will be Saturday, February 6 and Saturday, February 27 respectively. The production is directed by 3DT Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson, with Choreography by Billy Sprague, Jr. Julie Lamoureux serves as Musical Director and Conductor.  Check out the photos from opening night below!

Leave it to the creative folks over at 3-D Theatricals, Orange County's award-winning Broadway-caliber theatrical company, to be the entity responsible for this splendid new regional production of DISNEY's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST---the 1994 stage adaptation of the studio's gorgeous Academy Award-winning 1991 animated film that features music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. 3DT's rather complex mounting---directed by 3-DT co-founder and artistic director TJ Dawson---is a marvelously-enchanting reboot, even despite the myriad of unfortunate opening night technical gaffes and (almost) forgotten/missed lines of dialogue that occasionally interrupted some of the wonderment. Of course, surely the kinks will be ironed out for the remainder of its scheduled run at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through February 21 (which will then transfer for a weekend of shows at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from February 26-28).

Bardway, Baby! is back at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for its sixth annual night of musical entertainment. Bardway, Baby! is a late-night concert event which, this year, will feature the music of Walt Disney productions. Performed by Festival actors, the concert will be tonight, August 7 at 11:30 p.m. in the Auditorium Theatre.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, directed by Utah Shakespeare Festival Founder Fred C. Adams, is a huge hit, which has prompted the Festival to add two matinee performances of this hilarious battle of the sexes. The additional shows will be at 2 p.m. on August 5 and 18 in the Auditorium Theatre. The production runs through September 5, 2015. Scroll down for a look at the show!

Bardway, Baby! is back at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for its sixth annual night of musical entertainment. Bardway, Baby! is a late-night concert event which, this year, will feature the music of Walt Disney productions. Performed by Festival actors, the concert will be August 7 at 11:30 p.m. in the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating and are available now at the Festival ticket office, online at www.bard.org, and by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX.

On account of September being Hunger Action Month, Utah Shakespeare Festival actors, musicians and company members will be hosting a special, one-night only benefit concert with all proceeds being donated to the local food pantry, the Iron County Care and Share. Singing for Supper will take place tonight, October 2, 2014 at 10:30 p.m. at the Iron Gate Inn. Suggested donation at the door is $10 or $7 with six canned food items. The Iron Gate Inn is located at 100 North 200 West in Cedar City.

On account of September being Hunger Action Month, Utah Shakespeare Festival actors, musicians and company members will be hosting a special, one-night only benefit concert with all proceeds being donated to the local food pantry, the Iron County Care and Share. Singing for Supper will take place on October 2, 2014 at 10:30 p.m. at the Iron Gate Inn. Suggested donation at the door is $10 or $7 with six canned food items. The Iron Gate Inn is located at 100 North 200 West in Cedar City.

Bardway Baby! is back at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for its fifth annual night of musical entertainment. Bardway, Baby! is a late-night concert event which, this year, will feature the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Performed by Festival actors, the concert will be held on two nights, August 1 and August 8 at 11:30 p.m. in the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating and are available now at the Festival ticket office or by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX.