Michael Lawrence News

Actor Cliffton Hall, who currently plays the role of Fiyero in the long-running First National Tour production of the blockbuster hit WICKED continues to have a very healthy, enviable career on the stage. Before Hall once again departs the role after WICKED's 4-Week Engagement in Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts comes to an end on March 17, the talented triple-threat chatted with BroadwayWorld about his life in the world of musical theater.

Tony Award-winning stage and screen legend Ben Vereen is this year's Special Guest Star at ACADEMY AFFAIR 2013, the Annual Benefit and Community Awards Gala presented by MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men's Chorus. The event takes place at the posh Center Club, located at the Garden Level of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Before Mr. Vereen arrived in Orange County to perform at the Benefit, he spoke with West Coast Contributing Editor Michael Lawrence Quintos about his blessed life and expansive career in the theater.

After several years of being 'green' as Elphaba in the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Broadway productions of the hit musical WICKED, singer/actress Teal Wicks can now be seen touring the country in the new Broadway-bound revival of JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MUSICAL, in which she co-stars with Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis and Grammy nominated pop star Deborah Cox. The show will play a limited 3-week engagement at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood from February 12 to March 3. While on the road, Ms. Wicks agreed to answer a few of our silly, rapid-fire questions…

As a kid growing up in the Philippines, I remember being completely enamored by the incredibly talented Lea Salonga, one of my native country's premier superstars. Much to my delight, this Tony Award-winning international star agreed to answer a series of silly, rapid-fire questions from me before her cabaret concert appearance on January 19 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

As expected (thankfully) 2012 provided Southern California audiences--specifically here in Orange County and nearby Los Angeles and San Diego--a season full of outstanding, remarkable theater offerings from touring companies, impressive regional productions, and even some tiny black box theaters. And, of course, as is the common practice during the ushering of a new year, the enjoyable past-time of putting together a year-end 'best of' list is something contributor Michael Lawrence Quintos truly looks forward to doing, especially when there's a plethora of great work to choose from--many of which he had the pleasure of reviewing exclusively for BroadwayWorld.

Sara Gettelfinger, who plays Morticia Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY stage musical (the first national tour ends on December 30 at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts) agreed to answer a few silly, rapid-fire questions from BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos before the show bids a final, un-dead adieu.

Making its way back to Southern California, the national touring company of the Tony Award-winning musical MEMPHIS will be spreading its tuneful message of rock and soul at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a two-week engagement starting November 6. Right in the center is phenomenal triple-threat Felicia Boswell, who agreed to answer a series of silly, rapid-fire questions from BroadwayWorld.

An accomplished, world renowned jazz vocalist with a clear affinity for musical theater, Jane Monheit is set to appear in Costa Mesa on October 5 for a one-night-only concert alongside fellow jazz star John Pizzarelli as part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' 2012-2013 Cabaret series. Recently, the two-time Grammy nominated songstress chatted with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about her upcoming OC return engagement and why she's so in love with showtunes.

On August 20, 2012, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa held a special preview event to highlight its upcoming Broadway Series for the 2012 - 2013 Season. Presented at the Segerstrom Concert Hall, the showcase included live presentations from the national touring companies of MEMPHIS, WICKED and the much-anticipated Brit import WAR HORSE, interspersed with videos from each of the shows coming to Orange County starting in the Fall.

To celebrate their 20th birthday, Hudson Village Theatre (HVT) returns to its roots for the annual gala on September 15th. Riding the successful wave of their spring fundraising drive, a matched donation campaign initiated by a local anonymous supporter that raised almost $100,000, this event will seal the deal for the exciting season HVT is assembling for 2012-13. HVT General Manager Kalina Skulska put it simply: "If people liked what they saw this summer, they should come to this event to make sure it happens again next year."

BroadwayWorld.com has an IMMEDIATE need for a contributing writer to head up feature coverage right here in San Diego! We are seeking talented theater enthusiasts--yes, you!--that are passionate about the performing arts and its place in your local community.

Now back in Los Angeles where it all began, the five-time Tony Award nominated 80's musical ROCK OF AGES is once again rockin' the stage of the Pantages Theatre for a strictly limited one-week engagement through March 25. Right before the show's L.A. return, BroadwayWorld subjected ROCK OF AGES' lead rocker Scott to a few silly, rapid-fire questions.

Now back in Los Angeles where it all began, the five-time Tony Award nominated 80's musical ROCK OF AGES is once again rockin' the stage of the Pantages Theatre for a strictly limited one-week engagement through March 25. Right before the show's L.A. return, BroadwayWorld subjected ROCK OF AGES' leading lady Shannon Mullen to a series of silly, rapid-fire questions.

Singer/actress Lindsay Heather Pearce--who as a finalist on THE GLEE PROJECT won a two-episode arc as the bubbly 'Harmony' on GLEE this season--can currently be seen filling the shoes of a different kind of teen: an angst-y, late-19th Century teenager in the L.A. intimate theater premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical SPRING AWAKENING, now playing at the Theatre of Arts Egyptian Arena Stage in Hollywood through April 22. This new production of the rock musical finds Pearce playing Wendla, the very role originated by GLEE's own breakout star Lea Michele. So what's her next challenge? Taking on BWW's 'Silly Query' of course!

Flux Theatre Ensemble will present the World Premiere of August Schulenburg's (The Lesser Seductions of History with Flux; Dream Walker with Sweet Pea Productions) DEINDE, April 27-May 12 as part of BFG Collective's six month long residency at The Secret Theatre (44 02 23rd Street, Long Island City).

Interested in joining BroadwayWorld's worldwide network of published authors? BroadwayWorld.com is actively seeking talented theater enthusiasts--yes, you!--to head up feature coverage right here in Portland!

Interested in joining BroadwayWorld's worldwide network of published authors? BroadwayWorld.com is actively seeking talented theater enthusiasts--yes, you!--to head up feature coverage right here in Arizona!

Interested in joining BroadwayWorld's worldwide network of published authors? BroadwayWorld.com is seeking talented theater enthusiasts to lead our feature coverage in Cleveland. Applicants should have excellent writing skills and an interest in giving local theater prominence on the largest theater site on the net.

A seven-years-and-counting fixture at New York's famed Café Carlyle (a spot he inherited from one of his mentors, the late Bobby Short), Steve Tyrell--a long-time behind-the-scenes music veteran-turned chart-topping jazz superstar--has returned to Orange County, California for a series of highly-entertaining shows at the Samueli Theatre as part of Segerstrom Center for the Arts' wonderful Cabaret Series through Sunday, January 8. Backed by a truly kick-ass jazz ensemble led by his music director Quinn Johnson behind the piano, Tyrell's rousing show truly set out to showcase a feel-good time, injecting lots of life to some very familiar tunes from the Great American Songbook.

Broadway is certainly full of them: those amazing performers dubbed as 'triple threats'--those singer/dancer/actor-types that are just brimming with an abundance of extraordinary talent. David Elder rightly belongs in this revered group, and has proven the label quite a lot over the years, working steadily on the stage with an envious consistency. For the holiday season, he's bringing his knack for entertaining audiences as one of the leads in the touring stage version of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through January 1, 2012. Before arriving in Orange County where he'll spend the remainder of the holidays, Elder chatted with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about his early interests, his fulfilling career in musical theater, and his tap-happy foray into Danny Kaye's shoes.