New/Hot The very hot “True West” opened to critical acclaim Saturday at Capital Stage. SacPress colleague Barry Wisdom did a great, informative preview with several excellent photos that really capture the show. Grab a ringside seat to some of the funniest, most intense family squabbling ever written and performed. Tickets and More Information Opening/In Previews “Barrymore”    Sacramento Theater Company  Pollock Stage In previews, opens Saturday night. High expectations for a play from William Luce who specialized in one person plays. Luce is best known for “Belle of Amherst” his one woman show originally staring Julie Harris. Broadway veteran Gregory North stars as John Barrymore

Cosmopolitan Cabaret opened with the September 2008 to September 2009 run of “Forever Plaid,” which remains the biggest success as a show. “Forbidden Broadway,” which opened Friday night, may just rival “Plaid.” There are lots of similarities. Both have talented creators, lots of hysterically funny scenes, songs, costuming, props and more. "Forbidden Broadway" creator and continuing writer, Garrard Alessandrini, aims his sharp pen at mostly easy targets but in incredibly funny ways. You may never have seen “Annie,” “Les Miserables” or “Lion King,” but are still very aware of them and lots of other Broadway shows through popular culture. Both have four very talented actors, who understa

Sacramento Theatre Company associate producer Michael Laun shakes up the STC Cabaret format with some good surprises. SacPress community contributor writer/photographer Barry Wisdom has a great preview of the latest show. Changes included the type of theme. Many previous shows have centered around specific composers. “Make Em Laugh” which runs for a short four show run this weekend on the STC Cabaret Stage, is centered around the title subject. It is a collection of songs, many of which are very well known songs by extremely well known composers from timeless shows. Many of the songs are also from “who wrote that”? Great song, but “what show”? Never heard of it. And it all works well tog

William Selby remembers well when he first heard about a little cabaret show that was generating buzz among New York theater fans. “I was a full-time actor at the time, and I had a roommate who was a waiter at this place – Palsson’s (Supper Club) on West 72nd Street,” Selby said. “He came home one night raving about something called ‘Forbidden Broadway’ and did a number for me. “I fell off the bed laughing – I knew I loved it right then and there.” Selby wasn’t the only one who embraced Gerard Alessandrini’s concept of a satiric revue that both celebrated and skewered musical theater. Since its opening 30 years ago this month, “Forbidden Broadway” played almost continuously in New Yor

New Helvetia Theatre ends its three-weekend run of Michael John Lachiusa’s off-Broadway show “Little Fish” this weekend. While Lachiusa is known for two Broadway shows, "Marie Christine" and "The Wild Party," he has written several smaller-scale off-Broadway shows. Most of these have a reputation of being very serious. “Little Fish” is one of his lighter works and was suggested from the short stories of Deborah Eisenburg.   “Little Fish” is New York City-centric. It is the setting of the play, and some of the interactions of the characters can be described as very “New York.” The play itself is part of a genre of musicals, many by Lachiusa, that are specifically written for off-Broadway w

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Running through January 2012: Bingo The Winning Musical at Cosmopolitan Cabaret at 10th & K street in Sacramento. Shows at various times. Tickets are $32.00- $48.00. Friday, October 14th: Journey with Foreigner & Night Ranger at Sleeptrain Amphitehatre. Concert at 7PM. Tickets are $30.00 - $280.00. Saturday, october 15th & Sunday, October 16th: Sacramento Philharmonic presents Rachmaninoff featuring pianist Olga Kern. SAT at Sacramento Communit Center Theatre at 8PM. SUN at Thr

Some Bingo players are notorious for not letting anything get in the way of their Bingo night. That is definitely the case of Vern, Patsy and Honey, the trio of women at the center of “Bingo the Winning Musical,” which opened this last weekend at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret. The show begins with our trio of bingo addicted ladies listening to emergency weather reports describing a major storm raging outside. No one should leave their home except in the most dire emergency, but does this faze our intrepid gang? Not in the least. Besides, this is not just any Bingo night. This is the anniversary of the local bingo parlor featuring a double prize! No little storm is going to keep our girls away

On sporadic Sundays an audience gathers in the cosy Geary Theater in Midtown for an evening of songs performed by some of Sacramento’s best actor/singers at a cabaret event known as Graham-A-Rama, named after its’ founder and musical director Graham Sobelman. In June Graham-A-Rama did something different. They devoted a weekend to three performances of William Finn’s one act musical play “In Trousers” in concert. “In Trousers” which Finn wrote the book, lyrics and music is the first of what became trilogy of three one act plays. Finn joined with James Lapine to create two more one act plays “March of the Falsettos” and “Falsettoland.” The second two shows were combined to create a two act

Last Thursday B Street Theatre previewed  a new concept to a sold out house at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret  after Cosmo Cabaret regular show of the evening, "Defending the Cave Man."  The new concept is sketch comedy and some improv performed by some of B Street's funniest actors.   The actors in the show along with B Street producing artistic director Buck Busfeild wrote the material. Think the funnier sketches from "Saturday Night Live"   B Street veteran Dave Peirini emcees along with appearing in several of the sketches.  Peirini has appeared in many of the funniest shows at B Street over the years including last seasons opener "Love Child"  The SacPress review of "Love Child" started wi

Los Angeles-based actor Cody Lyman is the first of four actors appearing in the solo show “Defending the Caveman” at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret. A review of the show was published earlier on SacPress. SacPress caught up with Lyman on his day off Tuesday. You grew up in Durango, Colo. How did you end up being an actor? I was a baseball and football player in high school. Played in an all-state game. Didn’t think I was good enough for college. I fell into acting in college. Kept going. It seemed like a lot of fun. It was a good group of people. I feel that theater is pretty important. It helps people look at the world. “Defending the Caveman” is about more than just male-female relationshi

Is there a difference in how men and women communicate? Do they, in fact, view the world differently? Rob Becker’s comedic play “Defending the Caveman” demonstrates not only that this is true, but that this can be traced all the way back to when Homo sapiens lived in caves. Now don’t confuse “Defending the Caveman” with some academic lecture. The show is much more akin to stand-up comedy — stand-up comedy with a nice set design, sound track and introduction video. Speaking of the set, it looks like Fred and Wilma Flintstone meet HGTV. The Cosmopolitan Cabaret production of “Defending the Caveman” opened Thursday evening with Cody Lyman in the role of today’s caveman. Lyman is one of sev

The struggling California Musical Theatre in Sacramento will receive $300,000 from the city to help it stay afloat. The Sacramento City Council unanimously decided Wednesday to loan the amount to the theater over the next three years. The theater can withdraw the money in $50,000 increments each quarter until the $300,000 total is reached, according to a report by city staff. The money will go toward the theater’s operations. California Musical Theatre runs Music Circus, the Broadway Series and Cosmopolitan Cabaret. “It’s an important piece of downtown,” Councilman Jay Schenirer said, referring to the theater. The business the theater brings to downtown is “incredibly important,” he add

Theater Openings “The Bell of Amherst” Sacramento Theatre Company Opened Saturday Great performance by Jackie Vanderbeck SacPress review       Schedule and Tickets "FROM GODSPELL TO WICKED: The Musicals of Stephen Schwartz"  STC Cabaret                                                                                      Thursday through Saturday only    Last of STC Cabaret shows this season                                                                                                                     SacPress preview      Tickets and Info   “Young Frankenstein” Broadway Sacramento Opens Wednesday April 13   Mel Brooks’ insanity brought to the stage Schedule and Tickets Last Chanc

New Helvetia Theatre is dedicated to performing American musical theater shows. Their selection tends to be contemporary, as the most recent productions were “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “tick, tick, Boom!,” “It’s Only Life” and “[title of show].” The current production, “They’re Playing Our Song,” reaches much further back, to December 1978. The book is by one of American theater’s most established playwrights, Neil Simon. The composer is Marvin Hamlisch and the lyricist is Carole Bayer Sager. The book is based very loosely on their personal relationship at the time. Both Hamlisch and Sager are also very established popular songwriters. The show was a success on Broadway and continues

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Through Sunday, March 20th: 9 to 5 The Musical at The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street in Sacramento. Shows at 8PM, 2PM, and 7:30PM depending on date. Tickets are $18.00 - $70.00. A Grand Night For Singing at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Friday, March 18th - Saturday, March 19th: Sacramento Ballet In-Studio Celtic Experience at 1631

In the 1980s, even though he had written numerous highly successful plays (“The Odd Couple,” “The Sunshine Boys”), Neil Simon’s career and his own satisfaction with his work was at a low point. By looking back on his own life as source material, Simon was able to go from seriously funny to a funny and serious play. The result was “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” a fictional look at his childhood in the seaside neighborhood of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York. It is the fall of 1937. The world is in the worst depression ever and on the brink of the World War II. The Jerome family is typical of the many Jewish families that settled in Brighton Beach. They are trying to live as normal a life as p

Theatre Opening In a community-center drama class, four lost souls act out hilarity, sadness, desperation and hope. But are they really acting? B Street Theatre Mainstaige Preview Saturday/Sunday 2/26-27 Opening Sunday 2/27 Tickets and Information. Sacramento Theatre Company BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS by Neil Simon MARCH 2 – MARCH 27, 2011 (Main Stage) Neil Simon’s award-winning play of a boy’s rocky journey to adulthood, and all of the rocks live under the same roof !   Broadway Sacramento  Comunity Center Theatre  March 9-20, 2011  Tickets and Information, including video clips. New Helvetia Theatre   "They're Playing Our Song"  March 11-April 2 2011  The Artisan Theatre  Ticket

  Theatre Last Chance "reasons to be pretty "  Neil LaBute  Contains Strong Language and is Intended for Mature Audiences Capitol Stage Closes Saturday 2/20 SacPress review   Tickets & Information THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS THE MUSICAL ! Music by Eric Rockwell    Lyrics by Joanne Bogart Book by Eric Rockwell & Joanne Bogart JANUARY 12-FEBRUARY 20, 2011 (Pollock Stage) A hilarious homage to the great musical theatre genres of our time. Fun for musical fans and foes alike! Sacramento Theatre Company Closes Saturday 2/20 The show has been extremely popular and continues to sell out. SacPress review. Tickets & Information.  B Street Theatre Mainstage Closes Saturday 2/20 Reopens 3/4 for

From “Oklahoma” (1943) to “The Sound of Music” (1959), composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, popularly know as Rodgers and Hammerstein, were arguably the largest contributors to what is known as “The Great American Songbook.” Five of their musicals were major hits. Their work has been described as groundbreaking. Revivals and regional productions of their shows continue to this day. “South Pacific” recently ended a Broadway run, and “Oklahoma” was a big hit at the Sacramento Music Circus last summer. They won numerous awards, including Tonys, Oscars and Grammys. Richard Rodgers rt. Oscar Hammerstein II photo: http://www.morethings.com What sets Rodgers and Hammers

THEATER Last chance.  Tonight at 8:00  Tomorrow at 2:00 "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST" by Oscar Wilde OCTOBER 6 – OCTOBER 31, 2010 (Main Stage) Oscar Wilde’s sparkling comedy of mistaken identities, frothy wit and a million laughs.  Saw it last night.  Oscar Wilde's humor still shines over 110 years later.  Great acting, delivery and set design.   Tickets         Last chance this week.  Rave reviews from all the Sacramento critics including SacramentoPress.com's Barry Wisdom. Capitol Stage "MAURITIUS" From the creator of the Capital Stage hit "The Scene" comes an edge-of-your-seat, gripping dark comedy about…stamp collecting. After their mother's death, two estranged halfsister