Marc Ginsburg News

Tonight's the night for a HOLIDAY! (mostly)musicals takes a detour downtown for their first show in the beautiful, intimate Bar Fedora at Au Lac - will it be (mostly)naughty or (mostly)nice?

Following eight exciting editions at the E Spot Lounge, (mostly)musicals takes a detour downtown for their first show in the beautiful, intimate Bar Fedora at Au Lac! "We are so excited to be doing a holiday show again, our last was in 2014.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, continued their 21st Anniversary Season with the award-winning Off-Broadway musical THE SPITFIRE GRILL.  The one-night-only concert took place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM. Scroll down for photos!

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 21st Anniversary Season with award-winning Off-Broadway musical THE SPITFIRE GRILL.  The one-night-only concert will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Chicago, South Bend, New Zealand and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include the opening of HAMILTON in Chicago, SWEENEY TODD in South Bend, and BILLY ELLIOT in New Zealand, just to name a few.

If you have the opportunity to see Cabrillo Music Theatre's splendid production of Evita this weekend, you will no doubt be drawn to the electrifying performances by its stars, Cassandra Murphy, as Eva Peron, and Marc Ginsburg, as Che (profiled in our October 4 story - http://vconstage.com/marc-baron-ginsburg-talks-about-playing-che-in-cabrillos-new-production-of-evita/ ). But there is another, younger, performer who we predict will be a big star, whether it is on the stage, in films, or on television. Her name is Isa Briones. Isa, who is just 17, is a high school senior who comes out of the ensemble to play the part of Argentinean dictator Juan Peron's unnamed mistress, who gets shooed out of the president's palace by Eva and sings the lament, 'Another Suitcase in Another Hall.' It is one of the most quietly exquisite moments in the entire musical. Prior to playing in Evita, Isa was astonishing in Pico Playhouse's production of Next to Normal, in which she played the part of confused teen Natalie Goodman. We had a chance to visit with Isa, and found out that not only is she no novice in the world of performing, she has a perceptive and mature perspective on performing and working within a character in a musical. VCOS: Isa, when I looked at your website and checked out your credits, I was stunned by all the things you've done and that you are still only seventeen. It helps when your parents are in show business, too, doesn't it?

Tim Rice's & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita has had a thirty-eight year international love affair with the public since it  premiered in 1978 in London and in 1979 on Broadway. The newest revival in regional theatre is currently at Cabrillo in Thousand Oaks until October 23 only. An operetta based on Eva Duarte Peron and husband Juan Peron of Argentina, the story documents the rise to power of a simple peasant girl to the rank - almost - of Vice-President of her country. I say almost because she became too ill to accept the nomination in 1951 and passed into immortality in 1952 after a seven year reign as First Lady of Argentina, which began in 1946. Evita: criminal or saint? has been the topic of books and documentaries. Eva

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre. 

In Cabrillo Music Theatre's new production of Evita, the role of Che, the narrator figure based on Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, is played by Marc Baron Ginsburg. A Philadelphia native, Ginsburg has enjoyed a varied career on both coasts prior to coming to Cabrillo. His favorite roles include Aaron (First Date,) Lord Farquaad (Shrek), Lawrence Jameson (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and Quixote/Cervantes (Man of La Mancha), among many others. He also played Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's First National Tour of Oliver! Marc and his wife Liza, who is also a performer, are recent parents of a son, Phoenix, who was born in June. We talked to Marc about his career and his approach to the key role he is playing in Evita.

Hard to believe, but Kritzerland turned 6 on Sunday September 4 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Bruce Kimmel and his record company Kritzerland began their series of concerts at the Gardenia for the first year, then moved to Vitello's with Michael Sterling and onto the Federal four years ago. Kimmel and Kritzerland are joined at the hip; it's his brainchild ... and he brings all of his ingenious theatricality and cleverness to each show. This anniversary show was over.the.moon great with terribly eclectic, funny numbers and some absolutely wonderful talent. On board were steadies Sharon McNight, Nick Santa Maria, Ilene Graff and hubbie Ben Lanzarone, Jenna Lea Rosen, Sami Staitman and special appearance by composer Richard M. Sherman. Newcomers Marc Ginsburg, Reagan Pasternak and little Hayley Shukiar joined 'Guy Haines' for a heartfelt and laugh-filled concert. Wonderful Richard Allen served as musical director and accompanist for most of the songs throughout the 90-minute set.

For the first time in its history, EVITA, this revolutionary Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical is being produced by Cabrillo Music Theatre. 

After a 3 month absence, (mostly)musicals made a long-awaited return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, August 15 with ROAD TRIP, the company's 18th entry in a series of themed cabarets. BroadwayWorld takes you inside the event below!

The Falcon Theatre and Roger Bean Productions are proud to present The Real Housewives of Toluca Lake: The Musical, book, music, and lyrics by Molly Bell, arrangements and additional music by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and directed by Roger Bean, the fifth production of the Falcon's 2015-2016 Season, now extended through May 1st.

With a title like THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TOLUCA LAKE: THE MUSICAL you wouldn't expect to see high art, but I at least thought this new musical would kill it in the comedy department. Instead, it trades on desperate humor, trite songs, stereotypical characters, and a storyline you've seen before. What could have been a smart, cheeky parody of The Real Housewives television franchise instead ends up feeling rather desperate. Even an audience packed with friends and family on opening night grew tired of applauding and a fair number of one-liners made no impact at all.

Palos Verdes Performing Arts continues its 33rd season with the comedy, THE NERD, tonight, January 22, through January 31 at the Norris Theatre on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Larry Shue's inventive, side-splitting farce about a socially inept nerd has been called one of the funniest plays ever written.

Palos Verdes Performing Arts continues its 33rd season with the comedy, THE NERD, January 22-31 at the Norris Theatre on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Larry Shue's inventive, side-splitting farce about a socially inept nerd has been called one of the funniest plays ever written.

More than 100 local and national theatre artists representing nearly than 60 San Diego theatrical productions will compete for the 2015 Craig Noel Awards, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), present the second show of their 2015-2016 season, RENT, book, music & lyrics byJonathan Larson, musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins). Check out photos from the show's first curtain call below!

So does FIRST DATE---the relatively new musical comedy now playing its Southern California regional premiere at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through October 11---merit an outing? Sure! If you're looking for a cute, charming little musical that's giddy and entertaining and features a pop-tastic score performed by a superb ensemble, then the answer is yes... you'll definitely want to swipe right on this match up.

The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts/McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents the Southern California Premiere Production of the Broadway Musical 'FIRST DATE' now playing through Oct. 11, 2015- directed by Nick DeGruccio  at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!