Monty Python's SPAMALOT at MTWichita

King Arthur (Bruce Winant) and his Knights of the Round Table
(Monte Riegel, Larry Raben, Damon Kirsche, Tim Robu and Brad Bradley) in Monty Python's SPAMALOT
MTWichita, June 2013, © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits

Each of Arthur's knights plays a host of characters in Monty Python's SPAMALOT and I delight in each, from the filth-gathering Dennis (transformed into the fair Galahad), to the maniacal Black Knight, to the swamp-dwelling King (father to the lyrical Prince Herbert). The backstage and on-stage challenges are many, but the delight of celebrating the best of Python humor with a live audience is a real thrill. Our invited dress last night was just a taste: we open tonight!

UPDATE: MTWichita's SPAMALOT receives a winning review from Bob Curtright of The Wichita Eagle:

"It sprawls and soars, dances and prances, charms and sometimes alarms sensitive souls with its brash, rude irreverence as Music Theatre of Wichita successfully finds its comic Holy Grail with “Monty Python’s Spamalot.... Damon Kirsche (last year’s “9 to 5”) uses his big voice to great effect as Sir Galahad — Dennis Galahad, that is — for a Webber-esque duet, “The Song That Goes Like This,” with the Lady of the Lake, who turns him from a muddy peasant into a blow-dried blond surfer-knight. Kirsche, who has proved himself a romantic lead before (coincidentally as Arthur in 2009’s “Camelot” as well as Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady”), shows he also has a ridiculously silly comic side."

Dennis (Damon Kirsche) in Monty Python's SPAMALOT
MTWichita, June 2013, © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits

Galahad (Damon Kirsche) and The Lady of the Lake (Jennie Greenberry) in Monty Python's SPAMALOT
MTWichita, June 2013, © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits

The Black Knight (Damon Kirsche) and King Arthur (Bruce Winant) in Monty Python's SPAMALOT
MTWichita, June 2013, © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits

Prince Herbert (Skyler Adams) and his Father (Damon Kirsche) in Monty Python's SPAMALOT
MTWichita, June 2013, © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits

6/12-16: Monty Python's SPAMALOT

I next appear as "Galahad" in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical SPAMALOT, a witty and raucous re-telling of the legend of King Arthur, “lovingly ripped off” from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” A team of brilliant comic actors will wring every laugh from this outrageously silly extravaganza. Get your coconuts ready! 

MONTY PYTHON'S

SPAMALOT

June 12 – 16, 2013

MTWichita

Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center

225 W Douglas Ave  Wichita, KS 67202

Book and Lyrics by ERIC IDLE

Music by JOHN DU PREZ and ERIC IDLE

A new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”

From the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Original Broadway Production produced by Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Producers Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Live Nation

Here's a Sneek Peek of the cast and rehearsal process:

Showtimes: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: Call 316-265-3107. For more information, visit: www.mtwichita.org.
MTWichita Premiere / Rated PG-13 

>> View more photos and Bob Curtright's interview
with MTWichita's creative team and cast at The Wichita Eagle. <<

Damon Kirsche and Jennie Greenberry star in Music Theatre of Wichita's
"Monty Python's SPAMALOT." Photo: Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle

Music Theatre of Wichita opens its 2013 season with "Monty Python's SPAMALOT."
Photo: Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle.

05/31: Dean Mora and His Latinaires

On Friday, May 31, Dean Mora and His Latinaires return to the Cicada Club, located in the historic 1928 Art Deco Oviatt Building in downtown Los Angeles, featuring Kayre Morrison and Damon Kirsche with special guest Rebekah Del Rio. 

Dance to the Tango, Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Mambo, Swing and more! Dine and dance to the great Big Band Latin and Swing music of the 1930s and '40s.

Visit CicadaClub.com for full details.

DEAN MORA AND HIS LATINAIRES

Celebrate MAXWELL DEMILLE'S ANNUAL 39TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Friday, May 31, 2013 at 8:30 PM (Doors: 6 PM)

Maxwell DeMille's Cicada Club

The Historic 1928 Art Deco Oviatt Building
617 S. Olive Street

Los Angeles, California

ClubCicada.com

21 and Over - Fine Dining - Full Bar - Valet Parking

Vintage or Evening attire suggested

PRE-SALE TICKETS: $18
($1.99/TICKET SERVICE FEE)
DOOR TICKETS: $20.

Buy your admission in advance.

Dinner reservations: 213-488-9488

5/11: The Avalon Ball

Featured vocalists Damon Kirsche and Kayre Morrison
at the 10th Annual Avalon Ball (Photo: Dave Welch)

This Saturday, I join Dean Mora and the Avalon Ball Dance Orchestra singing songs of the 1920s and '30s with fellow vocalist Kayre Morrison at the 11th Annual Avalon Ball, presented by The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles:

"On May 11, 2013, the 11th Annual Avalon Ball will allow you a glimpse of that glamorous bygone era.  Table-hop with a cocktail you purchased at the vintage bar, or enjoy the ocean breezes high above the moonlit waves, admire the sea-themed medallions set into rose-colored walls under an arching fifty-foot ceiling studded with Tiffany chandeliers, or join the dancers on a 10,000 square foot circular floor as Dean Mora and his Avalon Ball Orchestra play hits from the 1920s and 30s."

Ferry tickets can be purchased through Catalina Express.
For tickets and more information, visit the Art Deco Society website.

The Avalon Ball

at the Casino Ballroom

Featuring Dean Mora

and His Avalon Ball Orchestra

Saturday, May 11, 2013

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Avalon, CA

4/7: Just in Time: The Songs of Comden & Green

Kritzerland at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal presents

Just in Time:

The Songs of Comden and Green

SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013 — 7:00 pm

Starring (in alphabetical order):

UPDATE: Read Don Grigware's review at BroadwayWorld.com.

Cynthia Ferrer (Happy Days, Goodspeed; Kathy, Singin’ in the Rain, 1st nat’l tour; Blood Brothers, Li’l Abner, MTG) 
Damon Kirsche (Duke/Carrasco: Man of La Mancha, Musical Theatre West; 9 To 5, Musical Theatre Wichita)
Lisa Livesay (Nat’l Tour, Wicked, Glinda; Monteen, Parade, Center Theatre Group; Tribute to Alan Menken, NY) 
Madison Claire Parks (Laurey, Musical Theatre West, Oklahoma!; Full Circle Opera, Christine, Phantom of the Opera)
Jenna Rosen (Disney’s Sofia the First, Carpenter Performing Arts Center; Outside The Box’s The Exorcist, The Musical)
Robert Yacko (Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof. Company with Carol Burnett; Sunday in the Park with George)

and Special Guest:

Jason Graae (Broadway: A Grand Night for Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy! Off-Broadway: Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, All in the Timing, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination, Best Actor in a Musical. PBS: Guest soloist with the Boston Pops and once with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony, his voice appears on more than 40 CDs). Movies, TV, Los Angeles Opera, he does it all.)

Music Director: Lloyd Cooper

     "Our April 2013 Kritzerland at Sterling’s, our 32nd show, features the songs of the legendary Comden and Green, or Betty and Adolph as they liked to be called. Producer Bruce Kimmel recorded and released a lot of their music, from a Sally Mayes solo album, devoted to them, to the revival cast recording of Bells Are Ringing, to reissues of A Doll’s Life and Subways are for Sleeping.
     Comden and Green burst on the Broadway scene with On The Town and after that auspicious debut they wrote an amazing array of Broadway musicals, including Wonderful Town, Peter Pan, Bells Are Ringing, Subways are for Sleeping, Do Re Mi, Fade Out - Fade In, Hallelujah, Baby, On the Twentieth Century, and The Will Rogers Follies. They also wrote the MGM musical, It’s Always Fair Weather, and provided the screenplays for some pretty amazing MGM musicals, including Good News, The Barkleys of Broadway, The Band Wagon and, of course, perhaps the greatest MGM musical of them all – Singin’ in the Rain. They worked with amazing composers – Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Andre Previn, and Cy Coleman, and gave the world such incredible standards as “New York, New York,” “The Party’s Over,” “Just in Time,” “Make Someone Happy,” “I Can Cook, Too,” “Never Never Land,” “Long Before I Knew You,” and many, many others.
     We have a great cast for this show, along with the always-amazing Jason Graae, our guest star. There’s even a rumor that Guy Haines may make an appearance. So, join us for a celebration of Comden and Green and some of their most beloved songs – as always with a Kritzerland show, you’ll get the classics along with some lesser-known gems."

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Reservations: 818 754-8700

Your phone reservation will be confirmed. Dinner reservations: From 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm.

Cover charge $15 + $10 food minimum + $3 facility charge.

Sterling’s at The Federal

5303 Lankershim Blvd., 
North Hollywood, CA 91601

The Federal Bar is adjacent to the El Portal Theatre.

The North Hollywood Stations for the Metrolink Red Line and Orange Line are directly across the street, north of Chandler on Lankershim. Parking is available – entrance for Federal lot is on Weddington Street (directly behind the building) at $3.50. There is also available street parking.

For more information visit Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal.

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“Bruce Kimmel’s winning Kritzerland formula: talented singers, special guest stars and entertaining narration by Kimmel himself.” — Les Traub, Cabaret Scenes

“If you have never experienced a Kritzerland show, you do not know what you are missing. Forever humorous Bruce Kimmel presents a dazzling array of talent singing some very precious material. And there are always surprises.” — Don Grigware, Broadway World

“Once again the inimitable Bruce Kimmel has brought together a group of superior singers to present an informative, delightful, musically satisfying evening of song.” — Robert Machray, Stage Happenings 

3/9: American Showstoppers: An Evening with Jule Styne

This Saturday, I return to the "American Showstoppers" series at Pace University, this time presenting the music of Jule Styne. Noted arranger and producer Fred Barton conducts his orchestrations of Styne's Broadway and popular songs, and featuring singers Patrick Boyd, Tari Kelly, Damon Kirsche, Jesse Luttrell, Nora Mae Lyng, Karen Murphy, Pamela Myers and Vivian Reed.

Pace Presents: AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS

An Evening with Jule Styne

Featuring The Fred Barton Orchestra

Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 PM

Tickets: $30 to $55

Student rush tickets are available on the day of the performance after 12pm with a valid student ID or use discount code "Friends" for $20 tickets.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Schimmel Center site or call toll-free (866) 811-4111. More details at BroadwayWorld.com and Playbill.com.

UPDATE: Tony Award-winning writer/director Gerard Alessandrini gives the concert a glowing review; Photos from the evening:

Damon sings "My Fortune Is My Face" from FADE OUT/FADE IN
(Photo: Kevin Yatarola ©)

Damon Kirsche and Tari Kelly: "Call Me Savage" from FADE OUT/FADE IN
(Photo: Kevin Yatarola ©)

Vivian Reed sings "I Wanted to Change Him" from HALLELULJAH, BABY!
with Damon Kirsche (Photo: Kevin Yatarola ©)

"Penniless Bums" from SUGAR: Damon Kirsche, Fred Barton and Jesse Luttrell
(Photo: Kevin Yatarola ©)

Vivian Reed, Damon Kirsche, Fred Barton, Tari Kelly and Patrick Boyd greet the fans. (Photo: Kevin Yatarola ©)

3/6: Dean Mora's California Poppies – Palm Springs Pavilion Ballroom

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Dean Mora's
California Poppies
Palm Springs Pavilion Ballroom
Palm Springs, CA

Dean's 1920s combo travels to Palm Springs! This is a "Gatsby Night" dance event sponsored by the Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Department and the band will be playing swing and ballroom dance numbers from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Tickets are $12 each, there will be a complimentary dance lesson at 6:30 PM, and the band starts at 7:00 PM. Come out in your swellest 1920s garb! More details and ticket info can be found here.