Dennis Castellano News

The 67th Music Circus season continues with the classic Leonard Bernstein musical comedy On The Town. This will be just the third time the Bernstein masterpiece has been produced at Music Circus, and its first appearance in the Wells Fargo Pavilion; previous Music Circus productions were in 1955 and 1961. Performances of On The Town are Tuesday, July 11 through Sunday, July 16 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all five shows in the 67th Music Circus season. The cast is loaded with Broadway veterans-some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts-Tony Award nominees, and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

Carousel is Rodgers and Hammerstein's favorite musical. Produced on Broadway in 1945 with John Raitt and Jan Clayton in the roles of Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, it was R & H's second hit in a row, Oklahoma! being the first, with a string of others to follow. Any Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is among the very best there is in the annals of musical theatre history. The incredibly beautiful music alone is enough to keep an audience riveted, but Hammerstein's books were also laden with topical themes and much food for thought, as with Carousel that becomes a sort of parable for love, forgiveness and redemption. In their current beautifully mounted revival of Carousel, MTW may be assured of a gigantic hit.

 Musical Theatre West presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical masterpiece Carousel March 24 - April 9 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.  Voted 'the greatest musical of the twentieth century' by TIME magazine, Carousel explores the timeless message of message of love, hope, forgiveness, and redemption.  

Nothing says the holidays like South Coast Repertory's production of A Christmas Carol, an Orange County family favorite since 1980. John-David Keller directs the Charles Dickens' classic, adapted by Jerry Patch, with performances on the Segerstrom Stage Nov. 25-Dec. 24. Hal Landon Jr. is Ebenezer Scrooge, the "Bah! Humbug!" miser who has a yuletide change of heart. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Nothing says the holidays like South Coast Repertory's production of A Christmas Carol, an Orange County family favorite since 1980. John-David Keller directs the Charles Dickens' classic, adapted by Jerry Patch, with performances on the Segerstrom Stage Nov. 25-Dec. 24. Hal Landon Jr. is Ebenezer Scrooge, the "Bah! Humbug!" miser who has a yuletide change of heart. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT opened the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.  THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is running through Sunday, October 9, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.   BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the opening night celebration below!

Victor Hugo's monumental romantic/gothic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, published in 1831, centers in, around and on top of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. So does the new musical of the same name written by Peter Parnell, Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken, which received its U.S. premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in 2014 and is currently receiving its Los Angeles premiere at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Stephen Gifford's set replete with stained glass windows, balcony and overhanging bells is scaled down from the original but still impressive and pulls you in effectively to another world, the ethereal realm of a higher power. Catholic boy that I am, every kyrie eleison exuded by the resounding chorus moved me to tears.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, September 18, 2016 - Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Check out photos from the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale. 

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at brand new highlights of the show below!

In the Music Circus production the role of Quasimodo is played by Deaf actor, John McGinty.

Disney musicals generate a lot of hype. The Lion King transformed the art of puppetry. Beauty and the Beast told a tale as old as time. And the upcoming Frozen… well, it's Frozen. But the company's stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame took a slight step to the side, never making the move to Broadway. Instead, after successful runs at La Jolla and Paper Mill playhouses, the musical was licensed to three regional theatres for 2016, including Sacramento's Music Circus. The announcement of Sacramento's engagement met much excitement, making Tuesday's less than full house opening a shocking surprise. But the excellent cast did receive a well-deserved standing ovation.

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment will present the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).

The 66th Music Circus season continues with the delightful and enduring musical Seussical, playing now thru July 17. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!