Emerson Collins News

New York City-based actor and cabaret star Stephen S. Miller, the host of the new internet TV show 'The Mama Rose Show,' has stepped up to world-renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's challenge to create a cover version of one of his hit songs from any of his musicals through the #HomeIsWhereTheMusicIs #TogetherAtHome challenge.

The Del Shores Foundation presents a one-night-only benefit reading of the original SORDID LIVES play by Del Shores for a #SordidLiveStream. The reading will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday, May 31 at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern, hosted and produced by Emerson Collins and Del Shores.

The Del Shores Foundation will present a one-night-only benefit reading of the original SORDID LIVES play by Del Shores for a #SordidLiveStream. The reading will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday, May 31 at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern, hosted and produced by Emerson Collins and Del Shores.

THE 6th ACT presents a world premiere comedy, a heartfelt love letter to all things 99-seat theatre, THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, written by Matthew Leavitt (The Boomerang Effect) and directed by Joel Zwick (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” Serrano The Musical). THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY will open on Friday, February 7 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in Hollywood.

Prolific episodic director Joel Zwick's next theatrical foray on the Los Angeles theatre boards will be helming the world premiere of Matthew Leavitt's THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, beginning February 7, 2020 at The 6th Act's Theatre 68. This homage to 99-seat theatre in Los Angeles features: Kenajuan Bentley, Emerson Collins, Carolina Espiro, Natalie Lander, Luke McClure, Cindy Nguyen, Andy Robinson, Liza Seneca, Adam J. Smith and Jamie Zwick. Joel managed to take some time out of his multi-tasking to answer a few of my queries.

Popular American film director and producer, television writer and producer, playwright and actor Del Shores is an expert at creating mid-twentieth century lowbrow female characters; the salt of the earth Southern women on the surface who bubble with peppery torment beneath the surface, just waiting to explode. And now in his latest play, THIS SIDE OF CRAZY which Shores also directs at the Zephyr Theatre for its Los Angeles premiere, carries on the same tradition of a strong-willed, highly religious mother who raised her three very different daughters, each of whom has rebelled against family traditions and society's expectations - until they are called upon to reunite in the family home for some higher purpose.

THE 6th ACT presents a world premiere comedy, a heartfelt love letter to all things 99-seat theatre, THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, written by Matthew Leavitt (The Boomerang Effect) and directed by Joel Zwick (a?oeMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,a?? Serrano The Musical). THE $5 SHAKESPEARE COMPANY will open on Friday, February 7 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in Hollywood.  

The annual holiday extravaganza SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert returned to New York City on December 1 for its 8th consecutive year, once again benefiting the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for theater fans, is warming up the winter weather with a hot new lineup of titles this month. On December 5, BroadwayHD starts the month with the critically-acclaimed musical film Cabaret starring Tony and Academy Award winner Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.

Beard Collins Shores Productions will present the Los Angeles premiere of Dale Dickey, Bobbie Eakes, Sharon Garrison and Rachel Sorsa starring in the Los Angeles premiere of THIS SIDE OF CRAZY, written and directed by Del Shores. THIS SIDE OF CRAZY will preview on Thursday, January 30, 2020; will open on Friday, January 31 and run through Sunday, March 8 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., in West Hollywood.

Laguna Playhouse has announced its annual holiday sensation returns and chestnuts will be roasting on an open fire with THE SKIVVIES: I TOUCH MY ELF. THE SKIVVIES: I TOUCH MY ELF will perform two performances only - Monday, December 16 & Tuesday, December 17 at 7:30pm at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Last week, to celebrate Pride Month, BroadwayHD brought Del Shores' Southern Baptist Sissies to the streaming service. An award-winning play starring Leslie Jordan, Willam Belli and Emerson Collins who narrates the story of four gay boys who are rife with conflict as they navigate their identities through the web of disapproving religious figures in their community. Watch a trailer here!

'June is Busting Out All Over' at BroadwayHD and it has less to do with the summer sun than the star power that's about to be unleashed this month. 

Conceived and Directed by Blake McIver (Ragtime, 'Full House,' 'The People's Couch'), A STAR IS BORN3 is an evening of music and moments from three iconic A Star Is Born films. Scenes and songs from the three separate yet similar stories are woven together as one to create a unique singular experience.

Sordid Lives creator Del Shores returns to Dallas for the world premiere of his new standup show Del Shores The Sh*t Stirrer. Shores will take the stage at The Rose Room March 8, 2019 at 8pm, where he has performed numerous times and filmed three of his standup tours. Shores also filmed part of his last film A Very Sordid Wedding at the legendary room, which featured Dallas queens Cassie Nova, Krystal Summers and Edna Jean Robinson.

Conceived and Directed by Blake McIver (Ragtime, 'Full House,' 'The People's Couch'), A STAR IS BORN3 is an evening of music and moments from three iconic A Star Is Born films. Scenes and songs from the three separate yet similar stories are woven together as one to create a unique singular experience.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) presents a very special benefit event, ONE NIGHT ONLY - DREAMGIRLS IN CONCERT, music by Henry Krieger, book & lyrics by Tom Eyen, musical direction by Patrick Gandy, choreography by Lesia Kaye and directed by Robert Clater. DREAMGIRLS IN CONCERT will perform Saturday, February 16, 2018 at 8pm at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.    

January, 2019 is a big month for Jennifer as the Rent: Live performance is January 27th on Fox and the BroadwayHD streaming of 'A Night with Janis Joplin' began January 19th where Jennifer performs as the 'Blues Singer.'

When it comes to creating an iconic look, costume designer Angela Wendt knows what she's doing. Over two decades after giving Rent its legendary Broadway look, she returns to give the characters equally memorable costumes for Rent on Fox. Below, watch as she gives us a sneak peek of one of her costume trailers on set!

How do you capture the essence of one of the most iconic musicals in Broadway history and make it work for live television? Production Designer extraordinaire Jason Sherwood is making magic happen in LA as FOX's Rent enters its final week of rehearsals. Below, he tells us all about how they will bring the East Village to life in a massive way, and even gives us a sneak peek of the set!