BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO New York City is considered the mecca of musical theater which makes sense given its history with the genre that goes all the way back to operetta. Thus, it comes as no surprise that there are countless venues and organizations that provide an outlet for new musicals to present their work. […]

BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO I first encountered Dave Yaden on a chilly Tuesday evening last fall at the magic-themed bar Black Rabbit Rose (BRR) in Hollywood. I was directed to the theater section of the BRR by a friend who highly recommended that I check out the weekly “jazz” band lead by Dave Yaden. Upon […]

BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop, in partnership with Universal Theatrical Group and The Wallis, has returned to The Wallis in Beverly Hills this May with three new musicals. This workshop, led by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and organized by ASCAP’s Michael Kerker, provides an […]

2018 ASCAP FOUNDATION MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop, now presented in a new partnership with Universal Theatrical Group, has returned to The Wallis in Beverly Hills this February. This workshop pioneered by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) provides […]

2017 Ovation Award Winners BY RYAN LUÉVANO The moment you’ve all been waiting for . . . AND THE 2017 OVATION AWARDS GO TO: Best Season ROGUE MACHINE Dutch Masters Les Blancs Still Life The Super Variety Match Bonus Round Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre) 33 VARIATIONS Actors Co-op Best Production of a […]

TOP THEATER PICKS STILL PLAYING: 1) WEST SIDE STORY La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (April 21 – May 14, 2017) West Side Story is unlike any other musical. Generation after generation, it stands the test of time both in admiration and in the message it relates: hope heals and hate destroys. This beloved musical was […]

TOP THEATRE PICKS STILL PLAYING: 1) THE LAST FIVE YEARS  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, JANUARY 21 through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Imagine witnessing the last five years of one of your failed relationships played out on stage for all to see—that’s what the Jason Robert Brown musical The Last Five Years accomplishes. The show written in 2001 is […]

2017 ASCAP FOUNDATION MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP (DAY 2) By RYAN LUÉVANO While the first evening of the workshop only offered a sampling of the musicals presented, the second evening featured a 45-minute presentation of the musical The Ballad of Brightwater (Book, Music and Lyrics by Matthew McCollum). This musical was given a full reading, complete with […]

2017 ASCAP FOUNDATION MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP (DAY 1) By RYAN LUÉVANO Whether you’re writing, planning, or just contemplating writing a musical, every February, alongside Valentine’s Day, the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop is here for you. Composer/ lyricist Stephen Schwartz continues to lead the workshop hosted at the exquisite Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts—and […]

2016 Ovation Awards Exclusive BY RYAN LUÉVANO The 27th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Tuesday, January 17 at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center. Thirty-five awards were bestowed upon 19 different Southern California theatre companies. The ceremony was hosted by Alexandra Billings, and this year’s presenters […]