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Tag: michael donovan

  • FNAM’s ShowSearch 2025 Finalist Event NOV 22 at The Colony Theatre – Free Admission

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    ShowSearch 2025

    The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM) announced today the finalists for their annual ShowSearch 2025. On Saturday, November 22, FNAM will showcase the finalists’ original 10-minute musicals as they compete for cash-award scholarships through ShowSearch, a Southern California–wide program designed to discover emerging talent and support the development of new short musicals created by high school and college students.

    This year’s ShowSearch finalists from the high school division features students from Girls Academic Leadership Academy: Audrey Becker, Julia Buss, Gemma Cates, Sydney Garcia, Elena Miles, Asha Miller, and Isla Sidtis. The college division finalists are N. Samuel Heard from Pepperdine University and Ian Pirotto from UCLA.

    These five short musicals will be presented in a staged reading with direction by Michael Donovan and musical direction by Kyle de Tarnowsky. ShowSearch 2025 features performances by Lauren Curet, Isabelle Harris, Rachel McLaughlan, Coby Rogers, Hannah Sedlacek, Spencer Williams, and Frankie Zabilka, also serving as the evening host. Event judges include Ebony Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Wren T. Brown, ICT Artistic Director and Producer caryn desai, Ensemble Theatre Company Executive Artistic Director Scott DeVine, and The Colony Theatre Producing Artist Director Heather Provost. ShowSearch 2025 is produced by FNAM Board Member Christopher Sepulveda.

    “We’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s remarkable finalists,” said FNAM Board President Michael Donovan. “Their talent, imagination, and passion for musical storytelling inspire us year after year. We hope the community will join us in championing these emerging artists as they take the stage and share their original works.”

    Open to enrolled students ages 13 to 25 and free for all participants, FNAM’s nationally recognized program ShowSearch, is a juried competition in which applicants submit unedited 10-minute videos of original musicals in development. Submissions are evaluated on storytelling, musicality, and originality. Each selected finalist is selected and receives a month- long intensive mentorship with a leading musical theatre professional. Past mentors have included Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), Jeff Marx (Avenue Q), John Bucchino (A Catered Affair), Cinco Paul (Schmigadoon!), and Michele Brourman (The Land Before Time series), among others. All finalists receive cash awards, with additional prizes awarded to the top submission in each category.

    Past ShowSearch alumni have gone on to successful careers in musical theatre as composers, writers, orchestrators, and conductors on Broadway and beyond, many citing the program as a formative step in their creative journey, including writers Nicholas Connors (Paper Valley) and Jimmy Marino (Homecoming).

    ShowSearch 2025 will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at The Colony Theatre (555 N. 3rd St, Burbank, CA 91502). Visit FNAM.us to reserve free tickets or for more information. The event is open to the public and will be followed by a reception with participants and members of the Southern California theatre community.

    The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM), now in its 18th year, is dedicated to educating, mentoring, and showcasing emerging creators of original musicals for stage, screen, and new platforms. FNAM supports the creation of new content and provides a voice for the next generation of creators. Embracing four powerful disciplines — story, song, dance, and visuals – musicals have uniquely and memorably inspired deeper empathy and understanding across cultures, ethnicities, and generations. Today, musical theatre has earned a top spot in the cultural conversation. However, while there are many opportunities for performers and technical teams to learn and grow, there are very few programs that introduce musical theatre show writing to high school through college age students and develop promising story tellers, composers, and lyricists. The keystone of all FNAM programs is to provide opportunities for talented newcomers to create and showcase their art.

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  • Catch Me If You Can Comes to the Colony Theatre in 2026

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    Catch Me If You Can: The Musical, coming to The Colony Theatre.

    The Colony Theatre (Heather Provost, Producing Artistic Director) has announced a new production of Catch Me If You Can, the musical, in 2026. With music by Marc Shaiman, book by Terrence McNally, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, ten- time Artios Award-winner Michael Donovan, director of The Colony’s smash hit The Wedding Singer this past summer, is set to direct. The original Broadway production of Catch Me If You Can ran in 2011, receiving four Tony Award nominations including Best Musical and winning one (Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Norbert Leo Butz).

    Based on the hit DreamWorks motion picture and the incredible true story that inspired it, Catch Me If You Can is a high-flying, splashy Broadway musical that tells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. But when Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, Carl chases Frank to the end … and finds something he never expected.

    Said Colony Theatre Producing Artistic Director Heather Provost, “We’re thrilled to bring this wildly entertaining, high-energy musical to our stage. At The Colony, we’re drawn to shows that dazzle the senses while speaking to the heart, and this show does both in spectacular fashion. It’s an incredible, character-driven story brought to life through the kind of vibrant theatricality we love sharing with our audiences. This production promises to be one of our most joyful yet.”

    Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA, and Richie Ferris, CSA. Casting news and design team will be announced later.

    The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street (between Cypress and Magnolia) in Burbank, 91502.

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  • The Colony Theatre Scripts & Sips: Playreading Series Presents “What Doesn’t Kill You Hurts You Longer”

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    Scripts & Sips: A Playreading Series

    The Colony Theatre Scripts & Sips: Playreading Series presents “What Doesn’t Kill You Hurts You Longer,” by Steve Apostolina and directed by Michael Donovan, coming Sunday, November 16, at 3:00PM.

    The Colony Theatre in Burbank has announced the second installment of its Scripts & Sips playreading series, What Doesn’t Kill You Hurts You Longer by Steve Apostolina, directed by 10-time Artios Award-winner Michael Donovan, who also directed the inaugural Scripts & Sips reading in November 2024 and The Colony’s smash hit The Wedding Singer this past summer. Scripts & Sips is a casual, fun, immersive afternoon, giving audience members a taste of the creative process of bringing new work to life. Enjoy themed cocktails and mocktails, complimentary light bites, and a post-show panel discussion with the writer, director, and cast.

    The play: months before their 60th anniversary, a Burbank couple separates, dividing their home and saddling their perpetually rejected actor son with the impossible task of mediating in this comical battle over life, death, and the fervent pursuit of immortality. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA, and Richie Ferris, CSA.

    Colony Theatre Producing Artistic Director Heather Provost said, “I have been a fan of Steve Apostolina’s writing for a while now, and I am thrilled to have What Doesn’t Kill You Hurts You Longer on The Colony stage for our Scripts & Sips staged reading event. Steve’s work always has such a distinct voice. This play is a beautiful example of the remarkable gift he has in blending humor with humanity. I look forward to watching this piece grow and develop. At The Colony, we are dedicated to supporting work that engages, entertains, and sparks meaningful conversation, and I know this presentation will do just that.”

    Steve Apostolina is a writer-actor-director and a longtime Burbank resident. As a playwright: Hold Up the Sun (semi-finalist at Premiere Stages 2025), Jar of Lightning (finalist at The Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival), A Gentle Lift (produced by EDP), Killer (finalist at Ashland NPF 2023, semi-finalist at Premiere Stages 2023, and winner of the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition 2022). Other plays: Derelict in Fairville, Broken, Forever Bound (Ovation Award nomination), Flight of the Penguin (Drama-Logue Award and LA Weekly Award nomination), Embroiled (New Jersey Rep Festival finalist). Two-time finalist: Labute New Theatre Festival, Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival. After a successful run in LA starring French Stewart, Forever Bound subsequently had a reading in NYC for Williamstown Theatre Festival with Amanda Seyfried and Tommy Sadoski. 

    Michael Donovan is a casting director, producer, director, and teacher. He has cast over 1,000 theatre productions (including shows at The Colony) and is the recipient of 10 Artios Awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in Casting. He has directed many productions, readings, and showcases. He is also President of the Board of the Foundation for New American Musicals.  

    Admission prices range from $13.00–$23.00 and tickets are available online at https://www.colonytheatre.org/scriptsandsips. Scripts & Sips is supported in part by a Community Arts Grant from the City of Burbank. The Colony Theatre is located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank, 91502. Free parking is available.

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  • Select Board awards two marijuana licenses | News – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Select Board awards two marijuana licenses | News – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    TEWKSBURY — The Tewks­bury Select Board met on July 18, 2023 at town hall.

    The board approved a common victualler license application for Brothers Sports Bar & Grille at 553 Main St. Brothers has a lo­cation in Dracut and is purchasing the Skybox Sports Bar and Restau­rant. The restaurant will be more family-style than Skybox, and will seek a liquor license in the coming months.

    The board set Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, as the date for special Town Meeting. The warrant will be open through Friday, Aug. 18, at 12:30 p.m.

    The board discussed openings on various town committees and boards. Residents can apply on the town website to serve on the Conservation Com­mission, Economic Devel­opment Committee, Green Committee, Historic Com­mission, Local Historic District Study Committee, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Beautification Committee, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad­visory Committee.

    The board voted to designate firefighter Michael Donovan as a special mu­nicipal employee to work as a traffic control guard for the Tewksbury Police Department.

    The board took up the long-awaited designation of retail marijuana establishment licenses. With three licenses potentially up for grabs, eight pro-ponents completed the Sel­ect Board application pro­cess and passed Planning Board review, some of whom had been working towards the licensure stage…

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