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 […]

REVIEW: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO 1964 was a great season for Broadway—it included Funny Girl, Hello Dolly!, Man of the Manchaand Fiddler on the Roof, the revival of which is having its Orange Country debut at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. It’s hard to believe that Fiddler is now fifty-five years old. Yet even so, […]

REVIEW: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO Opening the 2019 season for Domino One Productions is the swashbuckling play with music Peter and the Starcatcher adapted for the stage by Rick Elice. This play tells the story of how an unnamed orphan boy becomes the beloved Peter Pan we all know and love. Starcatcher also […]

REVIEW: MATILDA BY RYAN LUÉVANO Matilda the musical is now on stage at 5-Star Theatricals with a splendid production that’s a treat for the whole family. This British import plays like a delicious British cake—it’s chock full of hilarious physical comedy, witty and charming songs, and storytelling that so perfectly from the across the pond. […]

REVIEW: THE GLASS MENAGERIE BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO For Tennessee Williams, his 1944 autobiographical play, The Glass Menagerie changed his life forever. Upon its premiere in Chicago, then its transfer to Broadway, William’s went on to become one of America’s most beloved playwrights. The motto “write what you know” comes to mind when discussing Menagerie—there are glimpses […]

REVIEW: RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL BY RYAN. M. LUÉVANO The Pasadena Playhouse’s first offering in 2019 is the American musical Ragtime: The Musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty—and what an offering. Ragtime is a big show on so many levels, thematically it deals with immigration, racism, white privilege, women’s […]

REVIEW: COME FROM AWAY  BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO The musical Come from Away is a love letter to humanity, a reminder that when times are tough you can always count on people to help you weather the storm—especially Canadians. The “9/12” musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein tells the story of what transpired when […]

BOOK REVIEW: DEFYING GRAVITY BY CAROL DE GIERE 512 pp. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. Paper, $29.99 By Ryan M. Luévano At seventy years young Stephen Schwartz is still dancing through life as one of the most prolific composer/lyricists of our time. This is means that Schwartz’s biographer, Carol de Giere has lots of ground to cover. […]

REVIEW: VALLEY OF THE HEART BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO Proclaimed by president Barack Obama for “bringing Chicano culture to American drama”, playwright Luis Valdez’s (most notably known for Zoot Suit) latest play Valley of the Heart brings both Chicano and Japanese culture to the stage. Based on Valdez’s life experiences as a child growing up […]

INTERVIEW: RON DANTE BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO Producer Ron Dante is known for producing of Barry Manilow’s first nine albums including: “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Could It Be Magic,” and the Grammy-winning “Copacabana”. However, Dante is also an experienced theatre producer notably of the two Tony Award-winning Broadway shows Ain’t Misbehavin and Children of a Lesser God. […]