Tag Archives: Colony Theatre

Kids Love the Tale Of Turnadot at The Colony Theatre

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Imagine Project’s inaugural production, The Tale of Turnadot, filled The Colony Theatre with one of the sweetest sounds there is: the delighted laughter of children.  

Geared “for kids 4+”, Turnadot offers a full menu of commedia dell’arte:  puppetry, circus tropes, elegant staging, some improv (like when a cell phone rang,) a side of video projections, sweet original songs and a helping or two of audience participation (like pelting the villain with rubber balls), all seasoned with broad comedy.  Think of a big, creative clan putting on a family-friendly play in their den, with their friends and neighbors joining in the fun.  Indeed, Colombina (played by Aviva Pressman) is a wonderful jester, setting the play’s comedic tone.

But Imagine’s version of Turnadot is more than great fun. As classic fables are wont to do, they invite their listeners to recognize profound observations about life.

The traditional Turnadot, reflected in Puccini’s operatic version, is a centuries-old fable of a beautiful-but-cold-hearted princess who requires her suitors to solve three riddles before they can seek permission to marry her.  And if they give so much as one wrong answer, they are sent to their deaths.  For the Colony’s audience, that would be The Pit of Doom, whose very mention summons forth the Chords of Dread.

But Writer/Director Armina LaManna wanted to give Princess Turnadot her own voice, and so re-imagined her as an intelligent, spirited woman seeking control over her life.  In this version, her emperor father had fired her curiosity and encouraged a love of stargazing when she was a child, only to be surprised that she wants to explore the world and pursue astronomy rather than immediate marriage as an adult.  (Perhaps single fathers who had raised only daughters have their own version of this story.)

And so we have one of the play’s major themes: our tendency to underestimate each other as well as our impact on other people.

Princess Turnadot (Arianne Villareal) really didn’t want anyone to die in The Pit of Doom (da-DAH). She thought any would-be suitor would be too afraid to try. She underestimated a young man’s willingness to dare under the right incentives. And she certainly didn’t count on Prince Calaf (Joe DeSoto) coming along and actually being intelligent enough to solve all three riddles. For his part, Prince Calaf underestimated the Princess’ ability to manage her own life, as evidenced by his well-meant offer to build an astronomical tower for her.

Nevertheless, the Princess risks her life to save her emperor father (Mueen Jahan) and his realm; her personal ambitions have not blinded her to valuing her family and society.

At the play’s end, you’re pretty certain the Princess and Prince will marry, but first they will spend some enjoying their newfound friendship, born from a well-deserved mutual respect.

Within the play, there is a wonderful scene where the Princess urges her friend Zilla (Makha Mthembu) to overcome her fear of riding horses (and so carry out her mission), reminding her of how they had both thrilled as children to tales of bravery.  Zilla then realizes it’s time to become that hero, illuminating the wider purpose of the play itself towards its young audience members.

LaManna uses Turnadot to challenges the idea that smart female characters are somehow “less feminine, less desirable and less human.”  (Two mid-century examples of this attitude: Think Zelda in Dobie Gillis.  Or remember the line “No more a smart little girl with no heart” from the South Pacific song, “Wonderful Guy”.) She and Imagine Project take seriously the lines from a more recent musical, Into the Woods: “Careful the things you say, children will listen…Children may not obey, but children will listen, Children will look to you for which way to turn, to learn what to be…”

LaManna points out that “study after study strongly demonstrates the impact high-quality plays have on children’s empathy and education.” That’s why LA’s new Equity theatre for young audiences chooses to tell stories that spotlight female heroes with the courage to find their own voices. 

Be assured, though, that the boys were greatly enjoying themselves as well, being particularly taken with the gaudily-costumed comic villain The Evil Sultan of Tashkent (Matthew Henerson.)

So perhaps 10 years down the road or so, when one of those boys is attracted to a girl that seems aloof, he’ll remember the LaManna’s Turnadot, and wonder to himself, “Maybe she’s just afraid I only like her pretty face, and I won’t like her being smart, or having big dreams.” And maybe, just maybe he’ll dare to face the Pit of Rejection (da-DAH) and pleasantly surprise her.

The Tale of Turandot runs at The Colony Theatre through November 17th and includes five school matinee performances.  The next public shows are on Friday the 15th at 7 p.m.; on Saturday the 16th at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sunday the 17th at 4 p.m. Tickets are $17 for patrons 12 years old or under, and $25 for the general public. The Colony Theatre is at 555 N. Third St., Burbank. For more information, please visit http://imagineprojectca.com.

Burbank High Students Present “The Crucible”

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Students in the Burbank High School Drama program present The Crucible at The Colony Theatre with four shows on Thursday through Saturday, April 11 – 13. The Crucible is a partially-fictional 1953 play by Arthur Miller that dramatizes the 1692-93 Salem witch trials at the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Directed by Drama teacher Donovan Glover, who’s in his second year at BHS, The Crucible includes the entire advanced Play Production class, some students from Karen Broderick’s Theater Tech class and a few students from the Drama 2 class who make up the costume and prop crew.

Burbank High School students rehearse for “The Crucible”: (left to right) Jake Noren (John Proctor) 12th grade, Tyler Wahe (Giles Corey) 12th Grade, Azat Sayadi (Anne Putnam) 11th grade, Mohamed Malla (Thomas Putnam) 11th grade, Brie Carns (Rebecca Nurse) 12th grade, Parker Swierczynski (Reverend Parris) 11th grade, Natalie Haroun (Betty Parris) 10th grade. (Photo Courtesy Analise Torres)

“I love the art of directing, particularly when it’s combined with teaching,” said Glover, who previously ran the Theatre Academy at CHAMPS Charter High School before landing at BHS. “I am intent on developing a truly great high school Drama program – one not simply for putting plays together, but one devoted to driving, inspiring, and honing the voices of young artists; as well as producing top-notch, thought-provoking theater (regardless of the actors’ ages).”

“The young artists involved in this current production are remarkable,” commented Glover, who has been directing, writing and acting in theater for almost 30 years. “This is largely the same group of folks that co-created last Fall’s kooky and colorful Spamalot.”

“Last January, they presented a student-written, student-directed One-Act Festival – an eclectic array of original works. And now, we’ve switched gears entirely to delve into this raw, dark, and all too timely world of bullying and intolerance.”

“There is a central force of devotion in this production,” Glover said. “Each cast member is so entirely committed to their role in making this bleak work beautiful and haunting.”

“It is such an important work, perhaps now more than in many decades. I hope people will take the time to come see it, think about what is said, and be impressed by how we all say it.”

Burbank High School students rehearse for “The Crucible”: (left to right) Will Stern (Ezekiel Cheever) 11th grade, Baylen Johnson (John Willard) 10th grade, Kobe Jones (Francis Nurse) 12th grade, Karo Dzhgalian (John Hale) 12th grade, Tyler Wahe (Giles Corey) 12th grade, Carter Nicklaus (John Proctor) 11th grade. (Photo Courtesy Mama J)

Helping the young actors connect with their Crucible characters and time period more than 300 years in the past was an exercise in itself.

“A couple months ago, I gave the cast an assignment to share their character’s life (via an original monologue), as well as present a painting and a piece of music that represented the essence of their Salem character,” Glover explained. “One after another, these presentations were astoundingly profound and challenging… and often beautiful.”

“Many of the music pieces inspired me in my score-creation for this show. Other than the score, we have stripped the show’s production elements down to focus on the actors and Arthur Miller’s words.”

“Of course, we have costumes (dingy, non-traditional), stark lighting and a minimal, Expressionist set, but what will really stand out when one sees this show will be the grave understanding and powerful depth of these actors’ work.”

“Along with Karen Broderick and Patricia Tripp [costumes], I’ve also been helped immeasurably by my acting-coach wife, Maria McCann,” Glover added. “Because I get so utterly devoted to what I’m creating on stage, this allows us to be in the same world, and talk the same talk together… which is nice.”

Burbank High School students rehearse for “The Crucible”: (left to right) Richard Duenckel (John Hale)12th grade, Lily Kamm (Elizabeth Proctor) 11the grade, Jake Noren (John Proctor) 12th grade. (Photo Courtesy Analise Torres)

“It’s been a super awesome experience,” said junior Abby Griffith, who plays Elizabeth Proctor. “Personally, it’s probably been one of the most challenging roles I’ve had because typically we do comedies or musicals and haven’t done anything dramatic to the scale of The Crucible.”

“Getting into her character can be really vulnerable and challenging but it’s also been very rewarding,” Griffith also said. “It’s also been so amazing getting to perform in The Colony Theatre, being able to perform in a professional theater with legitimate dressing rooms.”

“My experience with The Crucible was pretty special and different in that there was a major focus on individual character development,” commented senior Karo Dzhgalian. “Mr. Glover let us pick a piece of music and a work of art to show that we understand the essence of the character.”

“We also were able to go through with Glover’s wife, Mrs. McCann, line by line to really dig deep as to what the character is trying to communicate. I thought this really helped me understand my intentions and allowed me to craft a better performance.”

“Being in The Colony was interesting in that I think makes the whole experience more genuine,” Dzhgalian added. “As someone who wants to pursue acting as a career, I think being able to work and perform in an actual theater as opposed to the school theater was important in that those types of theaters are the ones I want to perform in. Overall I’m pleased with the whole experience and being able to dig deep into this classic and important piece of theater.”

Burbank High School students rehearse for “The Crucible”: Lily Kamm (Elizabeth Proctor) 11th grade, Jake Noren (John Proctor) 12th grade. (Photo Courtesy Patricia Tripp)

Senior Analise Torres counts The Crucible as her third project as stage manager.

“I love it so much,” Torres said. “I have been working with our costuming team and our tech team, and I keep communication flowing between everyone.”

“I also help with the creative process like when it comes to movement of the actors or anything tech wise.,” Torres also said. “Working with everyone is so great and I thrive in the work environment.”

“This show is one of the best I’ve seen from our ensemble, especially the younger members. It is all coming together beautifully and I can’t wait for opening night.”

Burbank High School has four performances of The Crucible set at The Colony Theatre: Thursday, April 11, through Saturday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank, with plenty of free parking in the adjacent parking structure.

Some of the roles are double cast – specifically the roles of Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Reverend Hale, John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor. The two groups – the Salem and the Devil casts – perform two of the four shows each.

Tickets are $10 for students pre-sale and at the door with ASB card and $15 for general admission pre-sale and $18 at the door. Tickets are available in advance here.

Image Courtesy Burbank High School Drama Department.

“DIVERSITY” Show Set To Raise Funds For Family Service Agency

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After the success of the November 2017 show, DIVERSITY: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle returns with a new cast and set of stories for a performance on Wednesday evening, February 27, at The Colony Theatre.

“I am excited to bring this group of irresistible and gutsy storytellers to The Colony Theatre for this one-night-only show,” commented Suzanne Weerts, JAM Creative Founder and Producing Artistic Director. “Their stories are as diverse as their life experiences, but I personally find either something I can relate to or something I am grateful to now understand having heard them share their vivid perspectives.”

“As rushed as we often are in our lives and as bombarded as we can be by information overload, I find it so worthwhile to sit for an hour and a half and just listen. Listen to Peter Skrabak’s beautiful guitar. Listen to the voices of storytellers who dare to share true tales from their lives. Listen to people who make us laugh at our misconceptions and make us think about how we can be more open-hearted going forward.”

The cast of the 2019 show includes: Maia Akiva, Lawrence Dotson, Jules Ford, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Jenny Mosley, Oscar Sagastume, Ellen Switkes, Lan Tran, Janette Valenzo and Betty Yee.

The cast of the 2019 “DIVERSITY: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle” share their perspectives at The Colony Theatre on Wednesday, February 27. (Photo By Ross Benson)

Burbank resident Skrabak plays guitar from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. to open the event. Proceeds from the 90-minute show benefit Family Service Agency. Weerts’ events have raised nearly $12,000 to date for FSA.

“I hope that people walk away from the DIVERSITY show feeling we’ve watered a seed of change within them,” commented Ford. “Hearing the powerful, relatable stories from these people with so many different perspectives may just wake up a part of them to make them feel more connected with others, regardless of their race, gender, or identity. We’re all people, and we’re all in this together.”

“I know that coming to terms with having a child who doesn’t behave along expected gender norms can confuse or even scare some parents,” Ford added. “My hope is that those parents that recognize themselves in my story will be able to reach out to their LGBTQIA kid with love and compassion, recognizing and accepting their truth, especially if they haven’t yet taken that step themselves.”

“PROGRESS is what excites me most being in a show celebrating this theme, a show celebrating, honoring, and listening to stories from individuals of all different backgrounds, races and ethnicities,” said Nicholas-Lippman. “It’s a chance for us to begin to really understand one another instead of using preconceived notions, stereotypes, etc. to pass judgment. This show offers the space for a conversation to occur. And that is progress.”

“Through DIVERSITY, Suzanne is offering a platform for the conversation to be had,” she added. “It really just takes a conversation. My hope is simple… an understanding. Hate, prejudice, racism, etc., all stem from a lack of understanding. Because people don’t take the time to talk to one another, to listen, to educate themselves on those who look different than them…hate creeps in due to ignorance or lack of understanding.”

The cast of the 2019 “DIVERSITY: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle” share their perspectives at The Colony Theatre on Wednesday, February 27. (Photo By Ross Benson)

“Having the opportunity to raise money and awareness about the valuable work done in our community by Family Service Agency is important to me,” Weerts added. “FSA provides mental health counseling for students in all BUSD schools.”

“They work with victims, families and perpetrators of domestic violence as well as provide support for veterans, homeless families and foster youth. Challenges with mental health and mental illness cross all gender, racial, and cultural lines. Everyday, the dedicated therapists at FSA are working to ensure that the stories they hear can result in happy endings.”

“This show demonstrates that even though we are different we are all people who are trying to make our way through life the best way we can, with the challenges we face,” said Akiva. “The piece I’m sharing is a big part of my personal healing story and it’s very empowering to share it and be honest and vulnerable and not hide the parts of my life I am challenged with. My journey is another side of what people who are confused about their (gender) identity, go through.”

“The most empowering (and I do not use this word often) instrument we each possess is our personal story,” added Yee, who currently serves as California State Controller. “Unique and owned by each of us that no one can take away, our personal stories have the power to help us find the ties that bring us together, affirming time and time again we are of one common humanity.”

Tickets for DIVERSITY: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle are $25 for general admission and can be purchased in advance here or at the box office ahead of the show. More information about the show can be found here.

The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank. Parking is available in the adjacent parking structure.

“Manecdotes” Shares Stories Of Fatherhood To Benefit FSA

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Ten local storytellers share true stories of fatherhood for Manecdotes, a one night only show, on Sunday evening, June 3 at The Colony Theatre in Burbank.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Ty Fance, Dan Freedman, Erica Gerard, Mike Lambert, Patricia Mitchell, Margot Rose, Steve Rosen, Jack Sundmacher, Ellen Switkes and Suzanne Whang will talk about their own fathers or about their experienes with fatherhood.

Manecdotes is produced and directed by writer and storyteller Suzanne Weerts, who has produced and directed two seasons of the national show Listen To Your Mother as well as her own shows Momnipresent and Diversity: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle at The Colony Theatre.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

“I’ve produced three storytelling shows about motherhood and at one of them, my friend David Laurell (former Burbank Mayor) came up to me and asked, ‘Where are the stories about fatherhood” and I realized that, while I occasionally hear dads come up in stories, I’d not seen a show where fatherhood was the theme,’ she said. “And so Manecdotes was born!”

“Our cast is half men sharing their experiences as dads or what they learned from their dads while the other half of the cast are women reflecting on the legacies of their fathers in their lives,” explained Weerts. “The relationships may be funny or they may be difficult, but so many of the truths that are revealed are relatable and will make the audience laugh with connection and feel through reflection.”

“Every time we put on one of these shows, people fill the lobby in awe afterward and I hear ‘I wish you were doing another night!’ or ‘My father, husband, friends, colleagues would have loved this! So we urge people to get their tickets before this ONE NIGHT ONLY production sells out!”

As a Producing Artistic Director for JAM Creative, Weerts develops storytelling productions as benefits for worthy causes. To date, JAM Creative has raised over $10,000 for local charities since 2016.

Manecdotes proceeds benefit Burbank’s Family Service Agency, an organization that has for 65 years provided mental health and counseling services for students, families, couples, and veterans. FSA operates three shelters in Burbank for victims of domestic violence, homeless families, and emancipated teens.

“Our entire cast is thrilled for the opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for the important work of Family Service Agency through this production, knowing that FSA has made such an impact on our community in the 65 years of their work in Burbank.”

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Manecdotes stories include: “a man recalls his parent’s bitter divorce and how he learned to forgive his dad, and one father tells the tale of a particularly difficult sleepless night when his daughter was little. In one story, a gangster father influences his daughter’s wedding plans while another woman shares how her WWII veteran dad refuses to move into a nursing home. One father adopts a special needs infant and his life changes immensely and another dad realizes he’s transferring own fears to his young daughter at a playground.”

“I’ve been involved with personal storytelling since 2004,” commented Switkes, whose father, Joseph fought in the Battle of the Bulge and served throughout Belgium, France and Germany from March 1943 through November 1945.  “During that time, I’ve come to appreciate that the process of crafting a true, personal story helps me understand and organize my life.”

“The story about my father, which I will be sharing at Manecdotes, has helped shape my memories of Dad. I look forward to sharing those memories with the audience. Maybe my memories will help others tap into theirs.”

“Having been through a very traumatic and trying situation, I enjoy having the ability to share my thoughts and experiences with others as either inspiration or motivation that life does get better and pain – while still there – fades with the passage of time,” said Freedman, who lost his wife shortly after childbirth.

Live music by local folk singer Robert Morgan Fisher opens the show at 6:30 p.m. and the 90-minute program of storytellers begins at 7:00 p.m.

General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased at jamcreativegroup.com. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank. Plenty of free parking is available on site.

“Diversity” Show Raises Funds For Family Service Agency

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Diversity: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle appears at The Colony Theatre on Monday, November 13, for a one-night-only show. A collection of true stories told live on stage, Diversity runs the gamut from the humorous to the poignant. All proceeds from the performance benefit Burbank’s Family Service Agency.

Produced and directed by Burbanker Suzanne Weerts, Diversity showcases live music by Burbank resident and award-winning guitarist Peter Skrabak and the irreverent country-comedy duo Mommy Tonk.

Diversity

Storytellers Hedia Anvar, Katsy Chapell, Megan Dolan, Carlos Lacamara, Liza Marquez, Janora McDuffie, Horus Ra, Lila Lee Silvern and Suzanne Skrabak share their interesting and often hilarious takes on experiences with immigration, interracial marriage, racism, neurodiversity and cultural challenges, according to Weerts.

“After several years of performing in/sharing my stories on stages across Southern California in other people’s shows, I decided to produce my own,” commented Weerts. “In 2016 and 2017, I co-produced/co-directed the two sold out Listen To Your Mother shows at The Colony Theatre as benefits for FSA.”

“Through those shows, we were able to raise over $6000 for FSA while raising awareness for their important work in the community,” she went on to say.

“As Family Service Agency prepares to celebrate their 65th Anniversary in Burbank in 2018, it is all the more important that their work with the mental healthcare and preventative programs on 19 Burbank campuses, the three long-term transitional shelters and support programs for battered women and their children and homeless families be recognized and celebrated.”

“Every person who connects with FSA has a story, and often times ones that involves seemingly insurmountable challenges. The meaningful work done by FSA in counseling and mental health services is always aimed toward ensuring those stories have positive outcomes.”

“Productions like Diversity and Listen To Your Mother use the time-honored tradition of storytelling to get people talking about similarities in our experiences and the challenges we all face and help us to see how more alike we are than different.”

“I wanted to bring Diversity: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle to the stage because my heart has been so heavy in the wake of divisive rhetoric in our country,” added Weerts. “When we put out the call for submissions, we had no idea what kind of stories we’d receive. And certainly the show has taken a different form than I might have predicted with tales that are brilliant, surprising, heartbreaking and hilarious.”

Weerts expressed gratitude for story curators Marsha Ramos, Dan Tirman and Stan Sellers, who helped select the stories, and Jennifer Hughes for graphic design. She also noted the Burbank Human Relations Council is a sponsor of the show, “knowing the value of promoting understanding and cooperation among the diverse groups that compose our community.”

The show is supported by JAM Creative and is also sponsored by Cusumano Real Estate Group, Alisa Cunningham Properties, Universal Studios Hollywood, Volpei Gussow Real Estate Group, Color Images and Susy Shearer Photography.

Diversity: Stories of Connection in an Urban Jungle has one show at The Colony Theatre on Monday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available in advance here. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank, with ample free parking available on site.

Donna Mills Opens “Driving Miss Daisy” At The Colony

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Emmy Award-winning actress Donna Mills appears in Driving Miss Daisy for a limited engagement at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. Two preview performances will be held on Thursday and Friday, November 2 and 3. Opening night is Saturday, November 4, with shows through December 10.

Directed by Tony Award-nominee and Colony Director of Development Heather Provost, the cast features Broadway veteran James Leo Ryan and stage and screen actor Arthur Richardson.

Driving Miss Daisy won several Academy Awards for the 1989 movie release featuring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd.

As the beautiful, scheming, manipulative businesswoman, Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner on the long-running primetime drama series Knots Landing, Mills became a household name. She has appeared in many television, film and stage productions throughout her career.

“I am so honored to get the opportunity to play the iconic role of Daisy Werthan,” commented Mills. “I am beyond thrilled to be onstage and to show audiences my take on this character, which is so different from my roles in film and television.”

“It’s so exciting to relaunch production at The Colony Theatre by revisiting this beautiful play and working with the incredible Donna Mills,” said Provost. “The story and the issues the play examines continue to reflect the current times.”

Driving Miss Daisy takes place in the 1940s through 1970s at the height of the Civil Rights movement. The play delicately explores racial tensions when a warm friendship evolves between an elderly Jewish woman and her black chauffeur. The play, written by Alfred Uhry, won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The two preview performances of Driving Miss Daisy begin at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday November 2 and 3. The opening night show on Saturday, November 4, is also set for 8:00 p.m.

The regular show schedule will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. through December 10. There will be no performance on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 23.

Admission is $39 and tickets may be purchased online at www.colonytheatre.org or by phone at (866) 811-4111. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street (between Cyprus and Magnolia) in Burbank, 91502. Ample free onsite parking is available.

Fritz Coleman Opens One-Man Colony Theatre Show

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NBC4 Weathercaster Fritz Coleman opens his solo show, An Evening with Fritz Coleman, tonight, October 19, at The Colony Theatre in downtown Burbank.

“The forecast is for fun and laughter when An Evening with Fritz Coleman arrives on the Colony stage,” commented Colony Theatre Director of Development Heather Provost in a media release. “Everyone’s favorite weatherman shares his hilarious, insightful take on growing up and growing older. He proves that aging isn’t pretty… but it’s pretty funny!”

Fritz Coleman

NBC4 Weathercaster Fritz Coleman brings his take on life to The Colony Theatre in Burbank with “An Evening With Fritz Coleman.” (Photo Courtesy The Colony Theatre)

Coleman is a three-time Emmy Award winner and has been the weathercaster for NBC4 for 35 years. He has appeared eight times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno and is a sought after Master of Ceremonies for many events around Burbank and Los Angeles.

He started out in Los Angeles as a standup comic in 1980, segueing into the weekend weathercaster role at KNBC in 1982. By 1984, Coleman was the main weekday weatherman. He has continued to write and perform standup and theater pieces through the years.

An Evening with Fritz Coleman completes the Colony’s It’s Showtime series which began in July and included Reign Morton’s ICONversations: A Musical Tribute to the Masters, Magic Mania, I’d Enjoy Being a Girl … On Broadway!  starring Mark C. Reis, and a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.  

Coleman takes The Colony Theatre stage at 8:00 p.m. on  Thursday, October 19, Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21. The final performance of the four-show run is Sunday October 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Admission is $35 and tickets may be purchased online at www.colonytheatre.org or by phone at (866) 811-4111. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street (between Cyprus and Magnolia) in Burbank. Plenty of free parking is available in the adjacent parking garage.

Colony Theatre Screens “Halloween” Friday The 13th

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The Colony Theatre offers a night of spooky fun with a Halloween-themed party Friday evening, October 13. While the marquee event is the screening of John Carpenter’s 1978 classic teen scream movie Halloween, the party kicks off with a live DJ and drink specials along with a horror and sci fi art show in the theater’s gallery.

halloween

Art by George Kalcoff available at The Colony Theatre’s Friday The 13th party. (Image Courtesy The Colony Theatre)

Popular local artists featured in the gallery include Glen Orbik, Laurel Blechman, Shawn Zents, Paul Wee, Drew Ragland, George Kalcoff and more. The art will be available for purchase.

“I’m so excited about this event,” commented Heather Provost, The Colony Theatre Director of Development.

“It’s different, it’s fun, it’s edgy and the combination of these mediums – art, music, film, is going to make it really special.”

“So much art happening in one place, at one time, is always a great thing… and bringing something unique like this, in our very own way, to the community, is important.”

The screening of Halloween, which features Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence, will be the first time the cult classic has been shown on the big screen in more than 20 years in Burbank.

Pre-sale tickets are $10 and $15 at the door. Seating is limited and assigned and tickets can be bought via the theater’s website here. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the movie begins at 8:00 p.m.

The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank. Plenty of free parking is available in the attached parking garage.

Colony Theatre Opens Two September Shows

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The Colony Theatre presents two shows in September as part of the company’s It’s Showtime! series. I’d Enjoy Being a Girl … On Broadway! runs from September 14–17 and A Little Night Music in Concert runs from September 21 – 24.

I’d Enjoy Being a Girl … On Broadway! stars writer, performer and dancer Mark C. Reis in a solo show directed by Michele Lynch. The humorous show is choreographed by Lisa Mandel, with musical direction by Scott Harlan.

colony theatreReis, a Broadway veteran, uses music and dance to explore continuing his career and consider how his success may have been different had he been a girl. Most recently Reis was seen in Mary Poppins at MTW and Spamalot with 3D Theatricals. He currently appears in the live Frozen show at Disneyland.

“I am thrilled to have my work included in the Colony’s It’s Showtime! series,” commented Reis. “I’ve always loved the theatre and dreamed of performing there. I never thought it could happen, but here I come!”

I’d Enjoy Being a Girl … On Broadway! is scheduled for four performances: Thursday, September 14, at 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 15, at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 16, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 17, at 3:00 p.m.

The Colony Theatre’s concert presentation of A Little Night Music in Concert features (in alphabetical order) Liza Baron, Angela Baumgardner, Carly Bracco, Marc Ginsburg, Erica Hanrahan-Ball, Michelle Holmes, Taj Jegaraj, Jennifer Kumiyama, Stanton Morales, Joey Nisivoccia, Sara St. Pierre, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Peyton Thomas Tucker, Alison Whitney and Robert Yacko.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, A Little Night Music in Concert is directed by Laura Stribling and features musical direction by Jennifer Lin. Sarah Jo Provost serves as assistant director. The show is produced by Noelle Berry, Carly Bracco, Liza Baron and Marc Ginsburg.

“This concert presentation is the first in a series committed to creating a platform where beautiful scores come to life focusing on diversity in casting and featuring talent that is often underrepresented,” said Colony Theatre Director of Development Heather Provost. “The series will encourage women to step off the stage and into leadership roles behind the scenes.”

A Little Night Music In Concert is scheduled for four performances: Thursday, September 21, at 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 22, at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 24, at 3:00 p.m.

Admission for both shows is $35 and tickets may be purchased online at www.colonytheatre.org or by phone at (866) 811-4111. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street (between Cyprus and Magnolia) in Burbank, 91502. Plenty of free onsite parking is available.

MagicMania Brings A Festival Of Magic To Burbank

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MagicMania, a four-day festival of magic shows, opens Thursday, August 17, at The Colony Theatre. Created and hosted by Albie Selznick, each 90-minute performance is a unique combination of sleight of hand, interactive parlor magic and illusions.

More than 25 performers will appear during MagicMania‘s run, including Jon Armstrong (two-time Magic Castle “Close-up Magician of the Year”), Dana Daniels (Broadway’s The Illusionists 1900 and 5-time Magic Castle “Magician of the Year”), Andrew Goldenhersh (two-time Magic Castle “Parlour Magician of the Year”), Christopher Hart (award-winning magician who played ‘The Thing’ in The Addams Family films), Pop Haydn (seven-time Magic Castle “Magician of the Year”), Ivan Pecel (nine-time world champion juggler), Naathan Phan (Masters of Illusion, Wizard Wars, America’s Got Talent) and Joel Ward (Penn and Teller’s Fool Us), plus The Bistrevsky Bros., The Bornsteins, Simon Coronel, Derek the Mime, Bruce Gold, Chris Juggerio and Matt Marcy.

Selznick is known for his theatrical magic show Smoke and Mirrors, which ran for four years in Los Angeles and New York City. He began Magic Monday in late 2015 with fellow magicians and variety acts, including Hart, Haydn, Daniels and Pecel.

“We put on a casual Monday magic show,” explained Selznick. “It was a fun little experiment. But it did well, so we kept going through summer 2016 and brought it back this summer.”

“We didn’t expect it to snowball like it has but it gave us the idea for MagicMania which is basically the best of the best of all the Magic Mondays.”

MagicMania is “kind of like the Lollapalooza of Magic!” he added. “Twenty-five different acts, five different shows, all one weekend!”

“Each show is so good, I really hope people take advantage of this festival and see more than one,” Selznick said. “I’m very excited about bringing all these acts together over one weekend at one theatre!”

Tickets are $35 per seat for one show. Discount passes of $70 for three shows or $110 for all five shows are also available via the website MagicManiaLA.com. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank. Plentiful parking is available in the attached mall parking garage.

Shows are at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 17 through Saturday, August 19. On Saturday, August 19, and Sunday August 20, a 3:00 p.m. performance will also be held. Audiences are invited to arrive early for pre-show entertainment which begins one-half hour prior to each performance.