[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Theatre West presents Broadway Bound! A Love Letter to American Musical Theatre, created by John A. Goux, directed by Victoria Lavan, and running May 8-May 10 only.
I can think of little better than a Theatre West musical show! I’ve seen quite a few now and they are always brilliantly put together with a live band, entertaining choreography and gifted singers belting out classics!
This time we are gifted Broadway Bound, whose only goal is to entertain, delight and remind us all in these stormy times that there is always light, if you look for it.
With gorgeous songs from Wicked, Hamilton, Pippin, Hairspray!, Camelot, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Waitress, Funny Girl, Dreamgirls, Rent, and many many more, I am thrilled to wind my way up Cahuenga, grab a glass of wine at Theatre West’s welcoming bar and take my happy seat to simply forget about everything for a while and fall in love with musical theatre once more!
I always have a lot of curiosity about how these wonderful shows are put together, why the songs are chosen, and how it all works. So I asked the show’s director, Victoria Lavan, a few questions so we can get to know the show before we all buy our tickets!
Hi Victoria! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! What gave you the inspiration to put this show together at Theatre West?
Theatre West has a long and storied history relative to the genre of Musical Theatre. Betty Garrett, the music workshop’s namesake, was a golden age musical theatre star and moderated the workshop for 40+ years. This is the first show the musical workshop has presented that is a long overdue homage to American Musical Theatre.
With so many incredible songs to choose from, how did you pick and why?
Broadway is such a vast genre it took several months to decide what songs to include. John Goux knew from the start it would not be possible to include every single Broadway favorite in a 75-minute show! His main criteria were to focus on songs that might motivate audiences to go out and see a Broadway show! Songs with strong storytelling elements that encompassed a range of emotions and moments that would include a diverse group of performers. What has emerged is a show that is exciting, unique, emotionally contoured, beautiful and fun!
How do you cast?
Our productions are unique in several aspects and that starts with casting. Our musical theatre workshop has a strong following of members who attend the workshop every week. We cast from our membership first and then bring in young emerging artists as guest artists. Broadway Bound’s cast includes well-known Theatre West artists, including David Mingrino, Michael Gabiano, Anibal Silveyra, Michael Van Duzer, Constance Mellors, Scottie Nevil, Coko Kirton and Beto Ruiz. Guest artists in this show include Zach Gordon, star of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Toni Lorene, Top 16 The Voice 2025, Jerrell Melton, The Voice 2025, Vertreace Sanders, who is back with us by popular demand, and three new guest artists, Karis Brizendine, Alyssa Rupert, Olivia Antu and DC Carver. The multi-generational casting of our shows creates a beautiful, distinct energy that also provides the opportunity to present not only a wide variety of material but an incredible array of vocal power.
What makes Theatre West such a good place to perform?
Theatre West is a membership company whose foundation is in craft. Our weekly workshops provide members with the opportunity to continue to develop and refine their skills as actors and singers – a crucial element in a business that is constantly evolving.
Theatre West is also a Company that is known as a community where artists can nurture and create new work. John Goux has created a unique “template” through which he crafts the structure of our shows, incorporating as much music as possible into a 75-minute show, selecting the best parts of 25+ songs per show and then editing them together into sections that connect and tell a theatrical story, giving every performer a moment to shine on their own and in multiple ensemble numbers. This is a process that takes months of song selection, editing, thoughtful consideration of the artists involved in the project and workshopping the material until it all fits together in an interesting, beautiful and fun tapestry of story in song.
Why is it so important to see Broadway show songs performed in a more intimate space?
One could argue all theatre is about telling stories about our common humanity. We are so lucky to live in Los Angeles, where we enjoy a wealth of artistic offerings from around the world performed in stadiums and large theatre venues. There is nothing quite like experiencing the glorious spectacle of a Broadway production or a rock concert together with a massive audience of 1000 plus strangers!
However, small, intimate theatre offers a very different experience that is equally important to the stories we tell and how we tell them. Intimate theatre collapses the distance between performer and audience member, creating an intense, immersive and sometimes uncomfortable experience that heightens the emotional stakes, authenticity and vulnerability of a performance. The close proximity between performers and audience provides an intimate, personal experience, often giving viewers an opportunity to experience their own internal emotions. Small theatre invites audience members to become witnesses to the story, to the vulnerability of the performer telling the story and opens the door for them to be part of an intimate, personal connection, reminding us of our common humanity on this planet.
What is it about live theatre that keeps bringing you back?
Live theatre is intoxicating!! It is extremely difficult to create and produce anything in live theatre these days. Particularly small live theatres that rely on grants and donations and constantly marketing ticket sales! But there has always been a moment in every rehearsal process of every project I have ever been involved with where the struggle becomes pure joy and the magic of storytelling through music elevates everyone involved in the project. There is truly nothing like it and I hope to be a part of it for some time to come.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the show?
YES!! It’s not possible to present a show about Broadway without dance! It is an element we have not incorporated into our previous shows. We have been so lucky to have Hector Guerrero as our choreographer! Hector is an esteemed choreographer/director/performer and has brought to our show a level we have not had before. His skill, discipline and kindness working with singer/actors has inspired the entire cast to reach beyond what they thought they could do!!
We also have an incredible band for this show led by Jan Roper, our Music Director, that includes Tom Griep, Keyboard 2, Kenny Lasaine, guitar, Bill Von Ravensberg, bass and Jim Varley, drums.
Thank you, Victoria! Well I am going, that’s for sure! Supporting the arts is hugely important, now more than ever, with the recent cuts in funding. Theatre has taken an absolute bashing over the last few years, with Covid and funding and fires. So keeping these iconic neighborhood theatres alive is vital. Not just for the patrons, but for the actors and musicians, the producer, directors, stage managers, technicians, set designers and wardrobe artists. For the local restaurants and bars that can rely on the additional customers both before and after the show! The economic value the arts bring to our city is undeniable and it also brings us all together. Where else can you sit with strangers in the dark and laugh, or cry or sing along? Where you can feel connected to each other and to the artists who work so hard for a few moments on stage, a few shining faces looking up at them, truly seeing them as the creative souls they are. I love the theatre, not just for my own enjoyment but for the joy it brings absolutely everyone else involved in it too.
So buy your tickets now and give. Give to yourself, give to the theatre and to all the wonderful artists who make it happen and give us joy.
Tickets:
https://theatrewest.org/on-stage/broadway-bound
Where:
Theatre West
3333 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles
When:
May 8-May 10
Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 3PM
Mother’s Day Mimosas on May 10 (must be 21 or over).