Kelly Lester News

What did our critic think of CABARET at Asolo Repertory Theatre?

Saturday’s opening night crowd was all a buzz as they stepped into the halls of the Asolo Repertory Theatre for the opening of their 2022/2023 season. Their season opener being the stunningly beautiful, sexy, and haunting work of Kander & Ebb, and a production none other than Cabaret. This was my first experience at the Asolo, and after what I saw Saturday night, I will be back again and again. First off, let me start by saying that there is truly nothing like sitting in an audience of 400+, with everyone sharing the same excitement, all leading up to the moment the lights descend and we are plunged head first into a world much different from our own, but also very similar all the same.

Asolo Repertory Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the opening show in its 64th season, CABARET. Broadway and Asolo Rep favorite Josh Rhodes returns to direct this classic musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

This week I saw productions of two decades-old musicals, each written by one of theatre's great composer/lyricists, which, in their original productions, ran a combined total of nine performances on Broadway.

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company is opening the third production of its 2022 season, Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Joseph Stein’s (book) celebrated musical The Baker’s Wife, based on the film La Femme de Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono tonight, Thursday, March 10  at Theater Row (410 West 42nd Street). 

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company announced the company, along with photos from the first day of rehearsal, for the organization’s third production of its 2022 season, Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Joseph Stein’s (book) celebrated musical The Baker’s Wife, based on the film La Femme de Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. 

This month, Theatre Now is producing staged readings of new musicals Fountain of You and The Pelican, presented in repertory with their full developmental production of The Jury now running at the Jeffrey & Paula Gural Theatre at the A.R.T./New York Theatres.

This is the last chance to vote for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Time is running out to vote for for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Producer and multi-award-winning director and choreographer Marcus S. Daniel’s rendition has magically transformed this stage musical into a hilarious, provocative, and sometimes frighteningly heightened parody that is filled with deliciously unsavory archetypes and caricatures. 

MSD Productions will premiere URINETOWN THE MUSICAL for free on YouTube August 1, 2021.  Marcus S. Daniel produces and directs a diverse cast from across the entire country; including Kennen Butler, Kevin Carranza, Ethan Daniel Corbett, Lisa Dyson, Grant Hodges, Erech Holder-Hetmeyer, Katie McConaughy, Kelly Lester, Loren Lester, Nathan Mohebbi, Ashley Arlene Nelson, Monika Pena, Greg Ramsey, Garrett Russell, Ashley Marie Samudio, and Jake Sung-Guk Sullivan.

MSD Productions, who previously brought you the smash hit Virtual Spring Awakening, bring you a brand new virtual musical experience! URINETOWN THE MUSICAL will stream for free August 1, 2021!

Stephanie J. Block, former MTG member turned Tony Award-winning Broadway star, will reflect on her experiences with Musical Theatre Guild, and the shows in which she performed, during a candid conversation with friend, fellow Broadway veteran, and MTG member Jason Graae.

McCoy Rigby Entertainment is presenting SWEAT by Lynn Nottage: A Livestream Fundraiser for Broadway for Racial Justice on Saturday, April 17 at 5PM PT/8PM PT. The event will star Jennifer Holliday, Erica Hanrahan, Cary Hite, Guiesseppe Jones, Tyrick Wiltez Jones, Hugh Kennedy, Cedric Leiba Jr, Kelly Lester & Rick Podell.

Peter Mark Richman, the acclaimed actor, author, playwright and artist, died of natural causes at his home in Woodland Hills, California at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2021. He was 93.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the premiere of Awake at Night, a virtual reading of modern takes on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, adapted by Will Pomerantz, on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. at baystreet.org.

n today's world, entertainment is all about personalization, customization, and influence. From television shows that allow you to choose the direction of the plot (e.g., BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH) to the numerous on demand books, podcasts, and films that are ready whenever the mood strikes, audiences today are used to having choices. But what about the theatre? How often does the gathered crowd have the opportunity to impact the outcome of the story unfolding in front of them? Well, with Connecticut Repertory Theatre's latest production THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, Rupert Holmes' Tony Award winning musical, that happens every performance - making for a wild, wacky, and wonderful experience for everyone.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) begins the second half of the 2018-19 season with Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Paul Mullins will direct the interactive musical mystery. Performances will be held in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre February 28th - March 10th. For tickets and information, please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) begins the second half of the 2018-19 season with Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Paul Mullins will direct the interactive musical mystery. Performances will be held in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre February 28th - March 10th. For tickets and information, please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

The nominees for the 29th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were announced this week.