"MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL Offers a Heartwarming Take on a Love-Always-Wins Fantasy Story. Admit it: People can be suckers for a story with romance. Especially women. And even more so for those addicted to watching Hallmark Movies based on fantasy romance novels in which the girl always finds her true love in the end. If only that scenario was always true in real life, right?
To fill in that gap of fantasy vs. reality, P3 Theatre Company is presenting the world premiere of MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL, an innovative live one-woman show written and performed by Eloise Coopersmith, who is supported by a cast of eight characters in her imagination via multimedia screens. Audiences will escape into her Hallmark movie fantasy, where men and women find courage and acceptance to speak their own voices without judgment. The show will run through December 19 at The Broadwater Main Stage Theatre, 1078 Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038.
Directed by Broadway veteran Anne Runolffson, Coopersmith portrays a writer who dreams herself awake and rediscovers romance in a nonconventional way as one live actor interacting with a three-screen multimedia video directed by Crissy Guerrero, featuring 8 very dynamic and talented actors (Nina Herzog, Benny Perez, Andrew Joseph Perez, Jim Blanchette, Tess Adams, Monika Pena, Maggie Howell, Samantha Lebecque) who converse, sing, and dance with her onstage in front of a live audience. Technical wizardry abounds as the multimedia presentation moves from screen to screen in perfect timing with Coopersmith’s live onstage dialogue – all the more amazing since the video presentation is on a continuous reel, thus requiring Coopersmith to keep up with it – no matter what! And that she does!
In Coopersmith’s world where love always wins and women can control their own lives, the message of female (and male) empowerment by finding one's own voice is not limited to gender, race, religion, or any other cultural and social identifiers. After all, Hallmark fans are not the only ones who desire robust and healing storytelling, and this show offers live theatrical experience that, no doubt. we have all secretly played out in our dreams. Coopersmith offers audiences an escape into a melding of the world of film and live performance. And best of all, this show is life-affirming, where love always wins and life is filled with chocolate and wine!
As Coopersmith introduces the audience to her world as a “love warrior” writer who invites us to join her to bring on the cheese so we can all have some fun, we are introduced to her story’s heroine Emma (Nina Herzog, who reminded me of Emma Stone in LA LA LAND with her red hair offset against her yellow wardrobe). Emma’s search for empowerment takes her on a journey through unfulfilling jobs and supportive friends on her journey to find true love. Throughout the play, we are treated to well-choreographed musical numbers, especially the Andrews Sisters tribute number performed by the red shorts-clad The Doodly Do Girls: Monika Peña (Patti), Maggie Howell (Maxine), and Samantha Labrecque (Laverne).
There is a point in the story where Coopersmith sings about her middle-of-the-night writer’s block, something with which this writer is very familiar! So, I certainly loved her song, “Pity the Poor Writer,” after which she shows us that everything is better after we dance! “After all,” she shares, “life is messy but Hallmark movies are not!”
I loved the line, “Men are like ice dream. You have to try all the varieties before deciding on the one.” And in MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL, those choices, both good and bad, are performed to perfection by the dreamy Andrew Joseph Perez as Prince Hollister and Benjamin Perez as the Maestro, a controlling yet very appealing devil if there ever was one! But of course, love wins in the end and I guarantee audiences will cheer!
"This is such a feel-good story that if you don't walk out with the 'fuzzies' you might want to check your pulse," said P3 Theatre Company Executive Artistic Director Jon Peterson. "The talent, story, and innovation behind this production is sheer brilliance!"
MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL with Book and Lyrics by Eloise Coopersmith; Live performance directed by: Anne Runolfsson; Multimedia performances directed by: Crissy Guerrero; with Music by Roxanna Ward and arranged by Tony Guerrero, is presented by: P3 Theatre Company at The Broadwater Main Stage, 1078 Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038, with performances through Sunday, December 19, 2021 on Fridays @ 7pm; Saturdays @ 3pm and 7pm; and Sundays @ 3pm. Special appearance by Nina Herzog as the in-person writer onstage as well as playing Emma onscreen at performances December 4 at 3 PM, December 11 at 3 PM and December 17 at 7 PM.
Estimated Running Time: 80 minutes without an intermission
Admission is Adults-$38; Seniors/Students/Military-$35; with Group Discounts Available. More information and reservations at https://our.show/p3-theatre-company/lovealwayswins with tickets also available for purchase at the door. Street parking only so arrive early and read all parking signs carefully!"
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