Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown..... "The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln".... Theatre 40

MIchele Tauber as Mary Lincoln.... photo credit: Jess Block

I thoroughly enjoyed the new workshop production of "The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln" by an award winning team now playing at Theater 40 in Beverly Hills.  Michele Tauber is excellent in this one woman show as troubled first lady Mary Lincoln.  The play is well written by Tom Dugan & well directed by Jenny Sullivan.  I loved Ms. Sullivan's production of "Tea at 5" starring Stephanie Zimbalist as Katharine Hepburn a few years ago at the Falcon Theater so I was eager to see her latest & I was not disappointed for a moment.  The play takes place on a dark stormy nite in the attic of Mary Lincoln's sister Elizabeth where Mary was ensconced towards the end of her life.  Ms. Tauber skillfully & magically takes the audience on the colorful life journey of the often misunderstood first lady breathing life into the historical & sometimes hysterical multi dimensional woman.  Following shows audiences are welcome to give feedback to playwright Tom Dugan as he prepares the production for it's premiere mid October at the Townsend Arts Center at the University of West Georgia.  I think you'll enjoy this elegant, educational & entertaining show. The production values are first rate also.  For more information call 310-364-3606.  HH

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... Actors Fund 2013 Tony Awards Viewing Party.... Taglyan Cultural Complex

 Elena Vasilenha arrives with Actors Fund Tony Awards Viewing Party Host Tommy Tune... Photo by Billy Bennight

Mickey Rooney, Mitzi Gaynor & Norm Crosby... Photo by Billy Bennight

Loni Anderson... Photo by Billy Bennight

Desperate Housewives'  Marc Cherry sings to Artistic Achievement Award winners (from left)  Nancy Dussault, Anne Jeffreys, June Lockhart, Millicent Martin (not seen), Charlotte Rae, Cathy Rigby & Marissa Jaret Winokur... Photo by Nina Prommer/Milestone Photos

For more information about the Actors Fund visit www.actorsfund.org

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... Film Festival Flix Presents "Love, Sex & Missed Connections"...Regal Theater

Kenny Stevenson

Alex Enriquez, Shane Elliot, Abraham Smith & director Eric Kissack 

Dorien Davies

Samantha Klein...  Photos by Billy Bennight

Had a great time at my first Film Festival Flix event, a screening & after party for the winning new indie comedy "Love, Sex & Missed Connections" directed by Eric Kissack & written by & starring Kenny Stevenson.  The ambitious low budget movie rich in humor & talent tells the story of Neal (Kenny Stevenson) trying to get his life back together after walking in on his best friend Allan (Avi Rothman) & girlfriend Christine (Julie Mitchell) sleeping together.  His scheming wisecracking pals George (Alex Enriquez) & Barry (Shane Elliot) encourage him to hook up with emotionally vulnerable, sexy hungry women he meets off the internet thru the missed connections ads on craigslist.  Joining in on the amorous adventures are Neal's offbeat funny neighbor Bryce (Abraham Smith), Jane (Dorien Davies) & her best friend Cassandra (Samantha Klein). Neal's sister Jillian & brother-in-law Daren are played by Stephanie Escajeda & Scott Beehner.  Most of the appealing cast have performed with comedy improv groups like The Groundlings & The Upright Citizens Brigade & the film was shot over weekends totaling about 20 days and for about $25,000 via two kick starter fund raisers - that is what I call a movie miracle!  

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... Premiere of "Sleepless in the Seattle - The Musical".... Pasadena Playhouse

Audiences are in for a treat when they see "Sleepless in Seattle -The Musical" now playing at the Pasadena Playhouse through June 23rd.  I really loved this heart warming, magical, family friendly new stage production directed with skill & flair by artistic director Sheldon Epps with book by Jeff Arch who created & wrote the film "Sleepless in Seattle",  music by Ben Toth, lyrics by Sam Forman & choreography by Spencer Liff.  The funny, romantic & poignant successful stage adaptation stars Tim Martin Gleason, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Todd Buonopane, Robert Mammama, Sabrina Sloan, Joe West with Sachin Bhatt, Terron Brooks, Jay Donnell, Cynthia Ferrer, Charissa Hogeland, Katherine Leonard, Teya Patt, Adam Silver, Yuka Takara, Lowe Taylor & Carter Thomas.  Young Jonah (Joe West) has lost his mom & lives with dad Sam (Tim Martin Gleason) in Seattle.  Jonah wishes Sam would meet & marry a new woman so they both will be happy again and  he will have a mother.  Jonah takes the initiative by calling in to a radio talk show explaining the situation.  Women across the country become enamored with the man known simply as "Sleepless in Seattle" including a lovely reporter named Annie (Chandra Lee Schwartz) from Baltimore.  Annie is engaged to well meaning Walter (Robert Mammana) but in her heart of hearts feels her destiny rests with Sam.  She is encouraged & cajoled by her boss Becky (Sabrina Sloan) to take a chance & pursue him.  "Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical" features over fifteen new songs including "Out There",  "Not Like the Movies", "We're Doing Fine", Rock Stars", "Don't Give Up on Cary", "Safe at Home", "It Might Be Magic", "Look at Me Now" & "Something's Calling Me".  Triple threat performers Tim Martin Gleason & Chandra Lee Schwartz shine as Sam & Annie & child actor Joe West is terrific, reminiscent of a young Mickey Rooney.  The supporting cast is terrific too as is the ensemble & scenic design by John Iacovelli, costume design by Kate Bergh,  musical supervision by Larry Blank & musical direction by David O.  For more information visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

                                                                             
                                                                           

"Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical" stars Tim Martin Gleason, Joe West & Chandra Lee Schwartz.... Photo by Jim Cox

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... "Putzel" Premieres Opening Nite of The 8th Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival.... WGA

Melanie Lynskey & Jack Carpenter star in "Putzel"

Fran Kranz & Jack Carpenter star in "Putzel"

The 8th Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival got off to a roaring start Saturday night with the premiere of the crowd pleasing independent movie "Putzel" starring Jack Carpenter, Melanie Lynskey, John Pankow, Susie Essman, Fran Kranz, Allegra Cohen, Steve Park, Fred Berman & Adrian Martinez.  The stylish character driven edgy romantic comedy, well directed by Jason Chaet, tells the story of  likable loser Walter Himmelstein aka "Putzel" who dreams of running the family fish store known as Himmelstein's on Manhattan's upper west side.  The store is run by his older over bearing  married cousin Sid (John Pankow) who he grew up with after being orphaned as a baby after his parents' death.  One day a pretty dancer with a yen for kosher fish platters named Sally (Melanie Lynskey)  ventures into Himmelstein's & Sid is smitten.  Sid's plans to retire and move away with his wife Gilda (Susie Essman) are thrown out the window & Putzel's life is thrown upside down.  The original quirky romantic comedy script penned by Rick Moore was shot over 18 days on a $200,000 budget but looks like it cost millions more.  Resourceful  producer Allegra Cohen (Putzel's estranged wife Willa) was able to secure an authentic Manhattan deli for Himmelstein's when they closed the store for 10 days to observe Passover.  The film features terrific performances throughout by it's talented cast members & Jack Carpenter who carries the film is a standout as Putzel.  For more information about the festival visit www.lajfilmfest.org....   "Shalom"

Glee's Josh Sussman joins Putzel's Jack Carpenter & his wife Michelle

Director Jason Chaet (center) is joined Deverill Weekes & Juliet Landau whose film "Mr. Gutman's Eulogy" screens Tuesday nite at Sinai Temple 

Ron Gilbert, Deverill Weekes, Juliet Landau, Robert Uher & Harry Demas

Guest M.C. Larry Miller & the film's Allegra Cohen

SceneAroundTown... Claire Booth Luce's "The Women"... Theatre West

Heather Alyse Becker and Maria Kress....  Photo by Thomas Mikusz

Caitlin Gallogly...  Photo by Thomas Mikusz

Cast of  Theatre West's "The Women"... Photo by Thomas Kinusz 

Theatre West's latest production transports audiences winningly back to the 1930's via Claire Booth Luce's comedic satire "The Women" gamely directed by Arden Teresa Lewis.  The story is about a circle of several affluent Manhattan society women and their far from healthy and far from perfect relationships with each other and their men though no men appear in the production.  The hired help in their lives at their homes, salons and stores are also featured prominently and often show better judgement, kindness and good will than they do. Likable Maria Kress stars as Mary Haines, a lovely, sensible happily married wife and mother.  Happy that is until her scheming bitter friend Sylvia Fowler (Leona Britton) bragging about her "jungle red" nail polish sets her up with well meaning but gossiping manicurist Olga (Heather Alyse Becker) to find out her husband is cheating on her with conniving gold digger shop girl Crystal Allen (Caitlin Gallogly).  The women love their "jungle red" nails and love to use them to claw at each other.  It's hard for them to fathom the idea of a shop girl like Crystal getting her claws into someone like Stephen Haines and moving into their social class.  Mary's mother (Sandra Tucker) advises her to turn the other eye and ignore the affair just as she did when she found out her husband had a mistress years before.  Mary can't believe that her own father cheated on her mother and for a while goes along with her mother's advice to ignore the situation.  That is until the sparks fly when Mary and Crystal meet shopping at the ritzy department store they both patronize.  Idealistic Mary believes that she must file for divorce and then her husband will come to his senses and come back to her but in time she finds out that "Reno's full of women who love their pride".  Kudos to the talented cast and crew on a very entertaining show. "The Women" features beautiful sets and costumes by David Offner and Valerie Miller respectively and plays until June 16th.  Visit www.theatrewest.org for details.        

SceneAroundTown.... World Premier Of "The Magic Bracelet".... WGA Theater

Stacy & Ari Goldberg arrive for the premiere of Rina Goldberg's "The Magic Bracelet"...  photo courtesy Ella Batalon

Bailee Madison & Hailee Steinfeld...  photos by Ella Batalon

 Lana Parrilla joins The Magic Bracelet's  Bailee Madison & Tamika  Lamison....  photo by Ella Batalon

Last nite was the very moving premiere of the late Rina Goldberg's short film called "The Magic Bracelet" at the WGA in Beverly Hills.  Rina was a smart, sweet, socially conscious creative teen from Philadelphia that died from mitochondrial disease in December 2010 a fews weeks after her 15th birthday.  "Mito" is a genetic disorder that prevents the body's cells from producing enough energy for the body to function. Rina wrote a feature length film in the hope of raising awareness about the disease and one of her dying wishes was for the film to be completed and have a big Hollywood premiere. Rina's mantra was "Always Love Life, Dream Big, Be Positive".   Last nite Rina's wish came true thanks to Tamika Lamison's extraordinary "Make A Film Foundation", who's mantra is "LIFE... Camera... Action!", the film became a reality.  Academy Award winning writer Diablo Cody came on board to streamline the story into a wonderful, family friendly short film starring popular young actresses Bailee Madison as Ashley, a young girl living with mito and Academy Award Nominee Hailee Steinfeld as Angela.  The cast of the very inspiring, magical film directed by Jon Poll also includes Jackson Rathbone, Kaitlin Doubleday, James Van Der Beek, J.K. Simmons, Scarlett Estevez, Eve Janey, Shawn Klush, Macy Victoria Gumm & canine thespians Biscotti & Ricochet The Surf Dog.  The evening was hosted by the colorful J.R. Martinez & also included a Mentorship Award to actor Chad Coleman & a Humanitarian Award to producer philanthropist Peter Samuelson of First Star.  Teen singer Vasi Hunton performed her lovely song "7 Wonders" featured in the film.  To learn more about volunteering or donating to Make A Film Foundation visit www.makeafilmfoundation.org

Director Jon Poll & Bailee Madison last December on location for Rina Goldberg's "The Magic Bracelet"...  photo courtesy MAFF

"Putzel" is the opening nite film of The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival which starts June 1st

Visit www.lajfilmfest.org for more details