By Christopher Cappiello

American Idol Finalist Buzzes into NoHo Beehive

Ever since the historic El Portal Theatre reopened in 2000, it seems to have had difficulty establishing an identity, hosting plays, musicals, revues and celebrity solo shows. Ronn Goswick's Valley Musical Theatre plans to change that with a full season of musical offerings beginning with a revival of Beehive, the 1980s off-Broadway hit revue that celebrates the best of '60s female singers.

With a cast of six women, headed by American Idol 2004 finalist LaToya London, Beehive includes familiar hits from the Shirelles, the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Connie Francis and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, among others.

“It's fun, hilarious, entertaining, and even informative,” London says over the phone a few days into rehearsals. “We portray different girls from the '60s.” While audience members who recall the era and the acts will enjoy the show, she emphasizes that “it teaches us young people the history of the music. A lot of the samples of today are from the music of that time. I'm learning myself.”

Beehive's list of beloved songs ranges from “My Boyfriend's Back” to “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” Does London have a favorite? “I enjoy singing 'Academy Award' by Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. It's just so funny! 'You should win an Academy Award/For the way you broke my heart,'” she shares, laughing at the song's bitterly ironic lyric.

Goswick has lined up a crack creative team for the production, headed by director Nick DeGruccio who has become one of the Southland's most reliable musical theater directors. Most recently he directed The Last Five Years and I Do! I Do! in rotating rep for Pasadena Playhouse under the banner “The Marriage Musicals.” A perennial best-director Ovation Award nominee, he has won twice: for 1776 in 2004, and for the Colony Theatre's acclaimed Laramie Project in 2002. Lee Martino handles choreography duties and Jim Vukovich is musical director.

“The first day [of rehearsals], we learned a lot of music,” London shares. “And the second day we started to learn the dances. They start on time and get right down to business.”

After rising to fame as one of the “three divas” (with Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson) on American Idol 3, London has branched out into acting. She spent a couple of months on the road this year, touring the play Issues: We All Got 'Em with a cast that included singer Angie Stone, actor/choreographer Darrin DeWitt Henson and The Facts of Life's Kim Fields. Does London see more acting than singing in her future? “I can't say,” she replies, after a thoughtful pause. “I definitely love, love, love to sing. And the acting is something that I'm definitely interested in and it's a challenge for me.” While she admits she enjoyed doing Issues, “After the play was over, I started performing again—and it's so hard to choose!”

Readers hoping for any juicy AI-related feuds or hints of jealousy over Hudson's upcoming Dreamgirls film will be disappointed. When asked if she's still in touch with her Idol co-star, London laughs: “I just got off the phone with my Momma, and Jennifer called me while I was talking to her. I'm going to call Jennifer back as soon as we get off the phone!”

Beehive runs Sept. 22-Oct. 8 at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. For tickets ($32.50-45) and information, call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.ValleyMusicalTheatre.com.