Four veteran Wonderettes — Julie Dixon Jackson, Misty Cotton, Bets Malone, and Lowe Taylor — discuss their Winter Wonderettes gig at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West. This latest production of Roger Bean’s jukebox musical incorporates new costumes and choreography, improved sets, a live band and a few plot changes and rewrites. READ MORE

Ed Begley Jr. has revised his 2003 musical Cesar and Ruben for a student production at Santa Monica College. All of the songs are now in Spanish, but as before, the main subject is Cesar Chavez. The late labor leader’s grandson Arthur Rodriguez now attends the college, studying recycling — a subject close to Begley’s heart. The two men discuss the evolution of the musical. READ MORE

After 15 years since the Long Beach Civic Light Opera (LBCLO) folded, the company’s former artistic director Luke Yankee has come back to the Long Beach Performing Arts Center to direct Noël Coward’s Private Lives for International City Theatre (ICT). READ MORE

Walking into Musical Theatre West’s administrative headquarters in Long Beach, you might wonder if you time-traveled back a few decades—bursting racks of glittering ’80s costumes for MTW’s upcoming production of The Wedding Singer crowd the hallways.  The whole building is alive with movement– the rehearsal room is bustling with activity, every desk in the office is occupied, and there is even a happy golden retriever making his way around the place.  After giving the pooch a pat on the head, Larry Raben, director of The Wedding Singer, takes a seat.  READ MORE

To many Southern Californians the phrase “Inland Valley” may not be synonymous with “theater.” Donna and Frank Minano, founders of Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, beg to differ. READ MORE

Known for big musicals, the partnership of La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment brings another favorite to its audiences with a new production of Little Shop of Horrors.  Occupying this Little Shop of Horrors are award-winning actors and real-life pals Lesli Margherita as Audrey and Brett Ryback as Seymour (and, of course, one very large alien plant, vocalized by Michael Shepperd).  READ MORE

Roger Bean, creator of the long-running hits The Marvelous Wonderettes and Life Could Be a Dream, directs his latest musical, Summer of Love, in a Musical Theatre West production opening Saturday. READ MORE

Stage and screen veteran Michael Learned pairs with her equally seasoned pal Granville Van Dusen as an unlikely couple in a new production of Kathleen Clark’s play Southern Comforts, directed by Jules Aaron at the International City Theatre (ICT) in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.  READ MORE

There is something about the white-face makeup and red nose of a clown that never fails to elicit strong emotions with audiences. For the American public, the image stirs up all kinds of associations: the circus, children’s birthday parties, or even Tim Curry’s sinister clown in It, the 1990 movie based on the Stephen King novel. Alive Theatre’s production of 4 Clowns at the Long Beach Playhouse promises to shake up these pop culture stereotypes, bringing clowning back to its artistic origins with a modern twist.  READ MORE

With countless radio stations dedicated to the music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, the recent release of the entire Beatles catalogue on iTunes, and even covers of oldies like “River Deep, Mountain High” on the popular TV show Glee, the music that defines the Baby Boomer generation is perhaps as widespread in 2011 as it has ever been.  READ MORE

Amid the charming shops in the heart of Sierra Madre, a brilliantly lit marquee above the entrance of the Sierra Madre Playhouse lights up the night. Inside, a lobby lined with benches leads into the theater. READ MORE