Larry Raben News

The Old Globe presents its 20th annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* The holiday musical will run tonight, November 4, through December 24 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The Old Globe presents its 20th annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, running November 4 - December 24 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Thursday, November 9. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars below!

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, announced that it won a total of eight awards at the Desert Theatre League's annual presentation on October 8. Coyote StageWorks had been nominated for 13 awards for both The Lady With All the Answers, starring Gloria Loring, and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, a popular two-character comedy/drama that featured Loretta Swit and David Engel. Of the 13 nominations, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks won eight awards, tying it Coyote's 2013 production of Tru for the most awards received for a Coyote StageWorks production. Coyote StageWorks has now received an impressive 73 Desert Theatre League Awards since it was founded.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the Globe's 20th annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* The holiday musical will run November 4 - December 24 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

1993's rarely produced Sunset Boulevard is a somewhat flawed musical play that satisfies best with the casting of an actress of great star quality as Norma Desmond, one whose face could have convincingly lit up a silent film screen. Moonlight Amphitheatre has its star in Valerie Perri, and under Larry Raben's resourcefully skilled staging, Sunset Boulevard is a hit.

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, announced that it received an impressive 13 nominations for its performances of Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks and The Lady With All The Answers in the previous season. The winners for all categories will be announced at the Desert Theatre League's annual awards presentation in October.  Since it was founded, Coyote StageWorks has received 65 Desert Theatre League Awards.

Moonlight Stage Productions presents the San Diego Regional Premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard' from August 16 through September 2, 2017. Performances are at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista (northern San Diego County).

The Gateway's latest offering is an absolutely thrilling production of the worldwide blockbuster hit Mamma Mia!. Running through August 5th at the Patchogue Theatre For The Performing Arts, this incarnation is excellently directed by Larry Raben. Indeed, this uplifting show, set to the fun music of ABBA, will leave you smiling and humming the score for days.

Moonlight Stage Productions continues its 37th season with the San Diego Regional Premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterful homage to the golden age of Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, Aug. 16 - Sept. 2, at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. Capturing Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical, the show is based on Billy Wilder's classic 1950 film noir which featured such highly quoted lines as "I am big. It's the pictures that got small" and "I'm ready for my close up." Tickets range from $23 to $55 for all reserved seating and $17 to $22 for general admission lawn seating. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 760-724-2110 or visit moonlightstage.com.

The Gateway will take Long Island by storm at The Patchogue Theatre with the international smash hit Mamma Mia!, and will dazzle the audience from July 19th through August 5th.  Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia!, is based on the songs of ABBA and has broken box office records worldwide having been seen by more than 60 million people.  With non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers, the show features hit songs that include "Super Trouper," "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Take a Chance on Me," "Thank You for the Music," "Money, Money, Money," "The Winner Takes It All," and "SOS."

Music Theatre Wichita continues its 2017 Season, 'Hollywood to Broadway: A Summer Festival of Musical Theatre' by welcoming patrons to the 60s with a new version of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray, which runs July 12-16 in the Century II Concert Hall in downtown Wichita, KS. The third of five locally produced Broadway-scale productions, Hairspray is part of the organization's 46th season, which is also the 30th season for producing artistic director Wayne Bryan.

Music Theatre Wichita continues its 2017 Season, "Hollywood to Broadway: A Summer Festival of Musical Theatre" with a new rendition of the vibrant 1954 movie musical turned stage show Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which opened June 28 in the Century II Concert Hall in downtown Wichita, KS. The second of five locally produced Broadway-scale productions, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is part of the organization's 46th season, which is also the 30th season for producing artistic director Wayne Bryan.

The Ogunquit Playhouse kicks off its 85th Anniversary Season with the international smash hit Mamma Mia!, dazzling audiences on stage from May 17 to July 1.

The Ogunquit Playhouse opens its 85th season on a romantic Greek island.

The Ogunquit Playhouse kicks off its 85th Anniversary Season with the international smash hit Mamma Mia!, dazzling audiences on stage from May 17 to July 1.

Casting is announced today for Music Theatre Wichita 46th Season, 'Hollywood to Broadway,' featuring five lavish stage musicals inspired by films, including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Hairspray, and the Kansas premieres of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Disney's Newsies.  

Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan on television's MASH, is appearing in Coyote Stageworks' SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS at the Annenberg Theater, in Palm Springs. Ms. Swit and her co-star, David Engel, make up the cast of this two-person comedy. Their emotionally honest interaction and Larry Raben's top-notch direction help make this production a winner.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

The Old Globe has some great ideas to simplify your holiday shopping this year! Might we suggest tickets for the family to our 19th annual production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, a San Diego multigenerational family tradition, which runs now through December 26.

The Old Globe presents its 19th annual production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!