FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
DECEMBER, 2008
*CRITIC'S PICK*
"This is a lovingly crafted production, glimmering with musical excellence, visual grace, zesty humor, and compelling drama."
LES SPINDLE
BackStage WEST - REVIEW
"absolutely perfect!"
STEVEN STANLEY
StageSceneLA.COM - REVIEW
"experience this timeless musical in peak form."
F. KATHLEEN FOLEY
Los Angeles Times - REVIEW
MISS SAIGON
MAY, 2008
 |
WINNER "Best Musical" NOMINATIONS |
"Miss Saigon" Civic Light Opera's excellent production delivers high-end spectacle with the company's characteristic energy and style "
CHARLOTTE STOUDT
LA Times - REVIEW
'Miss Saigon' heart-wrenching
KENT STODDARD
The Beach Reporter - REVIEW
The helicopter landing, though impressive, wasn't needed for this "Saigon" to succeed, but CLOSBC pulled out all the stops, and deserves kudos for the results.
JEFF FARVE
DailyBreeze - REVIEW
"Brilliant!"
TOM FITT
Easy Reader - REVIEW
"From the big-spectacle helicopter landing to world-class voices, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities creates a Broadway-caliber version of the 1989 classic megamusical"
JEFF FARVE
BackStage West - REVIEW
"a wonderful production worthy of playing for a much longer run."
CAROL KAUFMAN SEGAL
StageHappenings.coom - REVIEW
THE NERD
MAR, 2008
"outrageous, absurd delights...an almost perfect production at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse."
STEVEN STANLEY
StageSceneLA - REVIEW
TWICE UPON A TIME
NOV-DEC, 2007
“an opportunity to see a fun and
entertaining show before it hits Broadway"
KENT STODDARD
Beach Reporter - REVIEW
“CRITIC'S PICK!"
LES SPINDLE
BackStage West - REVIEW
“so memorably retro, you just might exit the theater
humming a tune or two."
F. KATHLEEN FOLEY
Los Angeles Times - REVIEW
“as good, if not better than musicals I have seen on Broadway."
JOAN PINE
Beverly Hills Outlook - REVIEW
CINDERELLA
NOV-DEC, 2007
“Certainly, children exposed to this magical production of R&H’s Cinderella will want to re-experience musical theater again and again. ”
STEVEN STANLEY
LAStageScene.com Review
“this holiday offering...doesn't disappoint.”
LYNNE HEFFLEY
LA TIMES Review
SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM
NOV, 2007
“Sister Maripat blends wit with theological contradictions for genuine gut-wrenching, knee-slapping humor.”
KENT STODDARD
DAILY BREEZE Review
COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN
OCT, 2007
“touches the heart, as well as the funny bone, in ways the film does not. It's a perfect example of an ensemble cast running on all cylinders.”
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE Review
KISS ME KATE
SEP-OCT, 2007
“serendipitous magic in the casting and dazzling artistry in the designs.”
JIM FARBER
BACK STAGE WEST Review
FULLY COMMITTED
MAY-JUN, 2007
“Gangly, game and humorously frenetic, Ted Escobar rises to the occasion, splendidly.
”
F. KATHLEEN FOLEY
LA TIMES Review
“Coltrin builds her show to an almost uncomfortable white-knuckle, butterfly-in-the-stomach climax that emphasizes the absurd nature of Sam's world.”
KENT STODDARD
DAILY BREEZE Review
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
MAY, 2007
“a superior rendition of this 1946 chestnut, scoring a bull’s-eye”
LES SPINDLE
BACK STAGE WEST Review
“Win, lose or draw, "Annie Get Your Gun" is a lot of fun.”
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE Review
“big voices, high-kicking cowboy boots and, of course, Irving Berlin's memorable lyrics and melodies..”
KENT STODDARD
THE BEACH REPORTER Review
“simply one of the most impressive productions you'll ever see and is not to be missed”
MELINDA CALVERT
EASY READER Review
GODSPELL
MAR-APR, 2007
“Contemporary 'Godspell' with post-Katrina setting is still about hope ”
JEFF FAVRE
DAILY BREEZE Review
“Praising Godspell”
KENT STODDARD
THE BEACH REPORTER Review
SOPHISTICATED LADIES
FEB-MAR, 2007
“Stylish, Sexy and, yes, Sophisticated”
DAVID C. NICHOLS
LA TIMES Review
“You'd have to have one foot in the grave not to enjoy this show.”
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE Review
QUILTERS
JAN, 2007
CRITIC'S PICK
“Quilters" is a show that will appeal to everyone.”
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE Review
OLIVER!
NOV - DEC, 2006
CRITIC'S PICK
“as pleasurable as a festive Yorkshire pudding with a cherry on top...
a fresh and vibrant rendition of this classic”
LES SPINDLE
LOS ANGELES TIMES Review
42ND
STREET
APR – MAY, 2006
“The soul – and soles – of the show, they make it easy to fall in love with this slice of Americana all over again.”
VICTORIA
LOOSELEAF
LOS ANGELES TIMES Review
THE
RAT PACK
FEBRUARY, 2006
“Audiences entering this time machine…come away entertained and satisfied.”
DARYL
H. MILLER
los
angeles Times Review
TRIPLE
ESPRESSO
JANUARY
2006
“…comedic
timing is perfect and the wealth of talent these guys have makes
itself more evident.”
SHIRLE
GOTTLIEB
LONG
BEACH PRESS TELEGRAM Review
“…reminiscent
of the early Marx Brothers…”
KENT STODDART
BEACH REPORTER
Review
FAB
FOUR
SEP/OCT
2005
“…highly
developed impersonations and top-flight musicianship”
JIM FARBER
DAILY
BREEZE Review
“…these
guys have it down pat…”
KENT
STODDART
BEACH
REPORTER Review
“…impressive dedication to musical skill and accuracy”
PHILIP
BRANDES
LA
TIMES Review
INTO THE WOODS
APR/MAY
2005
“...witty and wise, this is wonderful, thoughtful entertainment...”
“...experience a pristine production...”
“...as vibrant as a Grimm’s Fairy Tale pop-up book...”
GREASE
FEBRUARY 2005
"The performers knock out number after number with energy, clarity, and connection… leaving the audience clamoring to get up on stage and dance with them."
DEANNA
ALISA ABLESER
EASY
READER Review
"...a contagious energy that either has the audience laughing or snapping their fingers."
KENT
STODDART
BEACH
REPORTER Review
ETHEL
MERMEN’S
BROADWAY
JANUARY 2005
“…The golden age of the American musical is resurrected in Ethel Merman's Broadway…”
DAVID
C. NICHOLS
LA TIMES Review
“…Rita McKenzie’s
musical tribute to Ethel Merman…is
a joy to behold…”
ED
KAUFMAN
HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER Review
“…captures the essence and spirit of the absolutely amazing Ethel
Merman…”
DEANNA
ALISA ABLESER
EASY
READER Review
CIRQUE
DREAMS
DECEMBER 2004
“Cirque Dreams is two hours of imaginative, funny and often breathtaking action that can be equally enjoyed by children and adults.”
JIM
FARBER
DAILY
BREEZE Review
“Cirque
Dreams is
exactly as the title suggests…The
actual circus acts are top-notch…they do it
with amazing skill, talent, and passion. The entire company exudes
quality…a
beautiful art form…allow
yourself to be transported into the world of fantastical journeys.”
DEANNA ALISA ABLESER
EASY
READER Review
Entertainment News
Theater Review
LATE NITE CATECHISM
2
The Sequel
OCTOBER 2004
“...
go see Late Night Catechism 2 now! Cleanse your soul, your heart,
and those good ’ole laughing muscles, infuse your brain with some
new (or old) knowledge, and have a grand time with Sister. ”
DEANNA
ALISA ABLESER
EASY
READER Review
“...
funnier than most stand-up routines...”
JEFF
FAVRE
DAILY
BREEZE Review
“...
Donovan really shines."
F.
KATHLEEN FOLEY
LOS
ANGELES TIMES Review
AROUND
THE WORLD IN A BAD MOOD!
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2004
"Flying unfriendly skies with Rene is a crack-up."
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE
OVATION
AWARD NOMINATION
NOVEMBER 2003
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES WINNER: BEST MUSICAL
RAGTIME
Best Musical
Best Director
Best Choreographer
And more!
AWARD-WINNING
RAGTIME
FEBRUARY 2003
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...gloriously full-hearted production..."
DAVID C.
NICHOLS
LOS ANGELES TIMES
THE
WIZARD OF OZ
DECEMBER 2002
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...this may be the slickest production this company has yet mounted."
DAVID C.
NICHOLS
LOS ANGELES TIMES
OVATION
AWARD
NOVEMBER 2002
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES WINNER: BEST MUSICAL
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES won in an unprecedented event for the third time. The Award for Best Musical went to George Gershwin's CRAZY FOR YOU, the third production of the 10th Season in September 2001.
JOHN
ASTIN IN EDGAR ALLAN POE – ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT
OCTOBER 2002
THE HERMOSA BEACH PLAYHOUSE
"...Astin's performance is flawless."
PHILIP BRANDES
LOS ANGELES TIMES
OVATION
AWARD NOMINATION
NOVEMBER 2001
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES WINNER: BEST MUSICAL
TITANIC
The musical
CAROUSEL
JUNE 2001
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...A shining standout of the evening is Trevor Brackney, a Baryshnikov look-alike who dances the role of the Carnival Boy with breathtaking virtuosity."
F.
KATHLEEN FOLEY
LOS ANGELES TIMES
PETER
PAN
DECEMBER 2000
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...Higgins' Peter Pan is never more appealing than in song, when her clear voice soars as fleetly as if fueled by Peter's magic pixie dust."
DARYL
H. MILLER
LOS ANGELES TIMES
OVATION
AWARD
NOVEMBER 2000
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES WINNER: BEST MUSICAL
DREAMGIRLS
Best Major Production
Best Actress
Best Featured Actress
Best Featured Actor
DAMN
YANKEES
SEPTEMBER 2000
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...a Broadway-caliber production with handsome technical elements and a great cast."
F.
KATHLEEN FOLEY
LOS ANGELES TIMES
THE
KING AND I
MARCH 2000
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...This is a solid production, from the curving tips of its Siamese palace set to the head-on-floor bows accorded the kingdom's ruling monarch...in some ways superior, to its New York predecessor."
JIM FARBER
DAILY BREEZE
FORBIDDEN
BROADWAY
FEBRUARY 2000
THE HERMOSA BEACH PLAYHOUSE
"It's an implicit rule of parody that the performer has to be as good as the target, and the touring production of 'Forbidden Broadway' at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse handily fulfills that mandate."
PHILIP
BRANDES
LOS ANGELES TIMES
OVATION
AWARD
NOVEMBER 1999
CIVIC LIGHT OPERA OF SOUTH BAY CITIES WINNER: BEST MUSICAL
Musical/Larger Theatre: "West Side Story," Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
DON
SHIRLEY
LOS ANGELES TIMES
AWARD-WINNING
WEST SIDE
STORY
MARCH 1999
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...superb company does full justice to [Jerome] Robbins' brilliant dances... musical magic..."
DON
SHIRLEY
LOS ANGELES TIMES
MEET
ME IN ST. LOUIS
DECEMBER 1998
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...a bright and bubbly seasonal pleaser...the action flows seamlessly into the dance numbers..."
JANA
J. MONJI
LOS ANGELES TIMES
EDUCATING
RITA
OCTOBER
1998
THE HERMOSA BEACH PLAYHOUSE
"...strong artistic values and a painstaking attention to detail... crystal-clear dialogue Superb casting and direction."
KATHRYN
MARTIN
DAILY BREEZE
LITTLE
SHOP OF HORRORS
SEPTEMBER 1998
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
"...impeccable in all particulars, with a terrific cast that milks every moment of the fun."
F.
KATHLEEN FOLEY
LOS ANGELES TIMES
© 2009 Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities. All rights reserved.