REVIEW: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS BY RYAN M. LUEVANO It’s the perfect season for a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale! The Ahmanson Theatre is currently showing the classic 1960s musical Once Upon a Mattress, which is a funny adaptation of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” The musical features the legendary musical theatre […]

REVIEW: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES BY RYAN M. LUEVANO Step into the glamorous world of Saint-Tropez Pasadena with the Pasadena Playhouse‘s dazzling new production of La Cage aux Folles. Directed by Sam Pinkleton, this captivating show features a book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, and is based on the play by […]

REVIEW: BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL BY RYAN M. LUEVANO The Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical, will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited four-week engagement from November 5th to December 1st, 2024. The critically acclaimed West End production of BACK TO […]

REVIEW: KIMBERLY AKIMBO BY RYAN M. LUEVANO As the curtain rises on the highly anticipated Los Angeles premiere of Kimberly Akimbo, audiences are in for a treat with this remarkable musical that has captured hearts and accolades alike. Winner of five Tony Awards in 2023, including the coveted Best Musical, Kimberly Akimbo has been hailed […]

REVIEW: MRS. DOUBTFIRE BY RYAN M. LUEVANO Experience the beloved story of Mrs. Doubtfire as you’ve never seen it before, with a delightful blend of song, dance, and uproarious antics, as it comes to life in an all-new musical adaptation on stage. Starring Tony-nominated Broadway actor Rob McClure and renowned actress Maggie Lakis, this production […]

BY RYAN M. LUEVANO Get ready to be dazzled by the sensational Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. This limited four-week engagement from April 2 to April 28, 2024, is a must-see for musical theater lovers. With a star-studded cast including Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester as Mrs. Brice […]

BY RYAN M. LUEVANO In the heart of Los Angeles, the dazzling lights of the theater are set to ignite as the celebrated songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their triumphs like the Tony Award-winning “Dear Evan Hansen,” the Academy Award for “La La Land,” and the Golden Globe for “The Greatest […]

REVIEW: THE SECRET GARDEN BY RYAN M. LUEVANO A revival of the 1991 musical The Secret Garden is now underway at the Ahmanson preceding a national tour. The musical with book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon boasts that its been “developed for a new generation.” In an interview with the […]

REVIEW: THE PROM BY RYAN M. LUEVANO The national tour of the 2019 Drama Desk Award winner for Outstanding Musical The Prom is now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre. The musical takes the familiar notion of a school dance, adds a touching tale of acceptance, then wraps it in a glitzy musical theater bow. It brings new […]

REVIEW: MOULIN ROUGE BY RYAN M. LUEVANO In the ever-growing cannon of jukebox musicals (e.g., Rock of Ages, The Boy from Oz, All Shook Up, Jersey Boys etc.) Moulin Rouge takes the cake—as a matter of fact it is the cake. Moulin Rouge is a jukebox musical of a jukebox musical film. The multi-award-winning musical (including a Tony for Best […]