Brian Christopher Williams Wins the LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins

And the winner is... Brian Christopher Williams, Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins, West Coast Ensemble at the El Centro Theatre!

Congrats to Brian! His play is wonderful, touching and very funny! Next stop is a production in the Bay Area late this summer.

For the full list of winners go here: http://www.ladramacriticscircle.com/awards.htm

dreampeddler

LA Drama Critic's Nominations - ANTIA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS - Brian Christopher Williams (writing) and Heather Lee for Featured Performance

Two shout outs to Brian and Heather for their nominations from LA Drama Critics Circle. Two very derserving artists!

For the full list go here: http://www.ladramacriticscircle.com/awards.htm

Congrats,

dreampeddler

New Year - New Networking Opportunities - LA Version

In Los Angeles this time! Join Bruce Lazarus' networking event for his LinkedIn Group:

Group: Broadway Producers and Investors

Particulars are below:

Broadway Producers and Investors-Networking Event this Wednesday 6pm in North Hollywood.

Please join Bruce and other members of Broadway Producers and Investors LINKEDIN Group for the quarterly networking event on:

Wednesday February 3rd

from 6pm to 8pm

at El Portal Theatre (http://www.elportaltheatre.com/contact.html)

Interested guests welcome. Don’t forget to bring your business cards.

Happy New Year to all.

Dreampeddler

New Year - New Networking Opportunities

For all of those in NYC Jan. 13, join Bruce Lazarus' networking event for his LinkedIn Group:

Group: Broadway Producers and Investors

Particulars are below:

Broadway Producers and Investors-Networking Event this Wednesday 5pm in NYC.

Please join Bruce and other members of Broadway Producers and Investors LINKEDIN Group for the quarterly networking event on:

Wednesday January 13th

from 5pm to 7:30pm

at THE TIME HOTEL (49th between Broadway and 8th Ave.) INC LOUNGE, VIPROOM.

Chris Raphael of the Really Spectacular Company will be offering us a complimentary glass of red or white wine on arrival along with a few complimentary appetizers from Serafina Restaurant at THE TIME. Interested guests welcome. Don’t forget to bring your business cards.

For those of you in LA there may be a west coast version of this meeting at a different time and location in LA.

Happy New Year to all.

Dreampeddler

Comedy Duo Hopes Social Media Power Will Secure Slot on Showtime

This is a great article for artists looking to capitalize on social media to get their shows picked up. It is always a challenge but sometimes you just have to stop waiting and start doing!

http://mashable.com/2009/12/30/ronna-and-beverly/

PARADE at the Mark Taper

A very well done production of PARADE at the Mark Taper. J.R. Knight is terrific as Leo Frank and the supporting cast delivers as well.

This production makes you think and is a "serious" musical. It reminded me of a production of RICHARD CORY that I produced at NYMF back in 2005 - and the struggle to get something "serious" to be produced on a large scale. Even though we won the NYMF Best Musical Award and sold out our limited engagement we have been unable to give it a life it deserves on Broadway. Launching "serious" musicals can be very difficult for many reasons: 1) Not many folks in this economic climate want to spend $80-$150 bucks to be depressed; 2) No commercial producer wants to risk millions of dollars on a "serious" show that will not appeal to the younger market (the ones who ask their parents to buy them tickets over and over again, i.e. Wicked) 3) No not-for-profit theater has any money at all to risk right now - they are just trying to make payroll if they haven't already closed their doors. Just those reasons alone make me depressed and in need of an entertaining "forget your troubles" musical!

But thoughtful pieces must continue to be done, and we have to continue to find a way to make it happen. If this economic climate is indeed about to change, and I hope it is, perhaps we will all want to start "thinking" again - and not just get through the day whistling happy tunes to distract us through our 60 hour work week!

dreampeddler

ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS - West Coast Ensemble

Was at the opening night of Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins at the West Coast Ensemble Theater. It was my favorite play I've seen this year, and probably the best play I've seen since August, Osage County. I simply can't recommend this show enough. It is pure joy - funny, touching, smart and did I say funny?

Written by Brian Christopher Williams, he takes you through the coming of age of Horace Poore from 1969 - 1977 in lightening speed while sprinkling in the backdrop of the nation's political upheaval of the time. His writing is funny, economical and smart. But by the time you reach the end of the play you are fully invested in the characters he has carefully developed and you can't help but root for them all.

The center of the action and the heart of this play is the character of Horace. It requires an actor of extraordinary talents to drive this show and Wyatt Fenner is more than up to the task. A fellow graduate of the University of Southern California BFA program he draws you in with his charm and disarms you with his ability to deliver a sophisticated barb disguised in naivete.

The rest of the cast is equally sharp and delivers a true ensemble performance. There really is not a misstep in any performance. A nod also goes out the the director, Richard Israel. The show moves so quickly through time that it requires a very sure hand at the helm. Mr. Israel keeps the pace moving and never lets the action get stuck or linger in caricature.

The show is scheduled to go through Oct. 4th, but go see it as soon as you can. It certainly bears repeated watching.

Dreampeddler