theatre by scott leonard ELLIOT & ME
This musical comedy is based on the lives of songwriter Elliot Willensky and his younger brother Steven. Elliot is a charming, free-spirited ladies’ man overflowing with talent and joie de vivre … with a knack to drive Steven crazy. The brothers have written a two-man show they are preparing to pitch to legendary Broadway producer Max Stone. It’s a heartfelt story of brotherly love based on a powerful bond that has grown through the years. Elliot and Steven reflect on the volatile ups and downs of their
shared experiences: from their raucous “wonder years” growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey; to the painful conflict when Elliot defies the expectations of his traditional middle-class Jewish family and drops out of medical school to write pop songs; to Elliot’s rise to stardom writing hits for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and Steven’s starry-eyed admiration for his Hollywood lifestyle; and eventually to their role reversals when Elliot’s career hits a few bumps in the road and he needs to rely on Steven for help. Join Laguna Playhouse for an evening filled with humor, colorful personalities, unexpected situations and uplifting musical moments. Streaming takes place through Sunday, May 16.
lagunaplayhouse.com
JUKEBOX HERO Get ready to twist and shout and shake it all about with San Diego
Musical Theatre’s (SDMT) Jukebox Hero, a benefit concert sched- uled to stream through Sunday, May 30. Jukebox Hero will feature Broadway’s favorite jukebox musicals including the iconic music of Moulin Rouge, The Cher Show, Mamma Mia and Rock of Ages. Follow Shirley Johnston’s wild and comical journey through the
Top 40 hits over the decades as she goes from a small-town girl to stardom in this original jukebox musical revue. The story goes full circle with a star-studded cast featuring: Berto Fernandez, Jennifer Hubilla, Luke Harvey Jacobs, Karyn Overstreet, Neil Dale, Shirley Johnston and Bryan Barbarin. “Jukebox Hero is such an entertaining show it will have the stream- ing audience jumping to their feet to dance and sing-along,” said Jill Townsend, SDMT artistic director. “It is comical with a subtle reminder for everyone to ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ in their dreams while providing much needed funds to help SDMT get closer to our dreams of returning to the Horton Grand Theatre very soon!” “We are proud to report that Jukebox Hero was filmed exercising all the CDC’s recommended safety protocols,” said Erin Lewis, SDMT producer. “Additionally, all cast members were fully vac- cinated at time of filming thus we were able to safely create a more traditional performance.” “Performing Jukebox Hero in front of a live audience was abso-
lutely exhilarating,” Johnston said. “To work with these amazing fellow actors and be inspired by the audience was only second best to being back on the stage for a San Diego Musical Theatre’s Broadway musical production!”
sdmt.org
NICHOLAS, ANNA & SERGEI
The world premiere of Hershey Felder as Sergei Rachmaninoff in Nicholas, Anna & Sergei, a streaming film written by and starring the virtuoso pianist/performer. The production will also feature soprano and actress Ekaterina Siurina as Natalia Alexandrovna Rachmaninoff and actor and master violinist Igor Polesitsky as Dr. Golitzin. Nicholas, Anna & Sergei will stream live on Sunday, May 16 at 5 p.m. with the recording available on demand through Sunday, May 23. Taking place as a memory play in the house in which Rachmaninoff died in Beverly Hills, Nicholas, Anna & Sergei is the story of a very strange and little-known real-life meeting between the famed Russian composer and pianist and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the Princess Anastasia, the sole surviving member of the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas, Anna & Sergei will feature many of Rachmaninoff’s most beloved melodies and music. Originally scheduled as part of San Diego Repertory Theatre’s
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ragemonthly.com | MAY 2021
2020/21 onstage season, San Diego REP and Hershey Felder Presents – Live from Florence will provide patrons who held tickets for the in-person production an exclusive package of bonus content only for San Diego REP audiences. Interested patrons who did not previously have tickets can also purchase the bonus package, including a special cooking show hosted by Hershey as well as two exclusive talkbacks. Felder’s arts broadcasting company, Hershey Felder Presents – Live
from Florence, produces high quality streaming arts programming for international audiences, both for the period while theatres remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. Since the start of the pandemic, Felder’s live streams have generated more than $2.6 million in sales. Felder has donated 80% of these proceeds mainly to theatres in the United States, as well as several abroad, arts organizations, schools, artists and publications that have been financially impacted by the worldwide health crisis.
sdrep.org
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