Leeroy Reams

After the myriad stresses of the past year, we could all use some straight-up entertainment and 42nd Street Moon is providing just that with Don’t Touch That Dial: DC and Peter’s Glorious Romp Through the Golden Age of TV Theme Songs. Conceived and directed by DC Scarpelli and Peter Budinger, the show promises, a light-hearted, celebratory stroll down memory lane as Scarpelli and Budinger guide us through the decades of catchy sitcom themes and the evolution of television. The large, diverse cast also includes Moon stalwarts like Meg McKay and Keith Pinto among a host of multi-talented performers who may be new to you. Don’t Touch That Dial is available to stream from June 5 – 27, 2021 as part of 42nd Street Moon’s paid virtual ticketed MoonBeams series. Tickets and further information are available at www.42ndstmoon.org/moonbeams. ​​​​​​​I had the pleasure of speaking with Budinger and Scarpelli last week as they were still putting the finishing touches on the video presentation. As Scarpelli says, “We’re not satisfied with any musical number until it’s utterly dripping with charm and delight.” If you ever run into them at a party, these are definitely the guys you want to talk to as they are both a barrel of fun and an endless font of information about classic TV and musical theater. A married couple, the two have been working together for years as well as performing individually, and their combined theater credits read like a recent history of Bay Area musical theater. The freewheeling conversation covered how they conceived the show and put it together, which obscure songs didn’t make the final cut, and shows they’d love for Moon to mount in the future.

The stars were on their feet (toes, taps and standing ovations) on a warm Sunday night, May 19th, for the Chita Rivera Awards a?" an annual ceremony recognizing the very best in dance on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in film that honors icons and trailblazers while also nurturing future generations simultaneously. It could have been dubbed a?oeChita Rivera's Dance Salona?? for the presenters, attendees and honorees read like a Who's Who of Chita's friends, fans and fellow Fosse favorites, including hosts Ben Vereen and Anne Reinking.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Broadway singer/actor Max von Essen in concert on Monday, April 30. Mr. von Essen, currently starring in the hit Broadway production of Anastasia, along with his musical director, the incomparable Billy Stritch, brought an old fashioned new show celebrating the best of Broadway and the American songbook.

The critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year series fifteenth season will bring 100 years of Broadway history in four incredible evenings.

More of Broadway's best performers have joined the lineup for next month's 10th anniversary edition of Broadway Backwards. The one night only benefit will now include performances by Tony Award winners Lena Hall and Lillias White, Tony nominees Charles Busch, Mario Cantone, Robin de Jesus, Norm Lewis, LeeRoy Reams and Douglas Sills and favorites Telly Leung, Maureen McGovern and Micah Stock.

ORIGINAL CAST 2, the 27th Annual musical presentation of the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), took place for one night only on Saturday, April 2 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex of California State University, raising money for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).