Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - PRESS RELEASE

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE
Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer
Lewis Wilkenfeld, Artistic Director
Presents the First Show of their 2007-2008 Season!

SEVEN BRIDES for SEVEN BROTHERS
Music by Johnny Mercer
Lyrics by Gene DePaul
Additional Songs by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn
Book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay
Musical Direction by Steven Applegate
Choreographed by John Charron

Directed by Lewis Wilkenfeld

September 19, 2007…Thousand Oaks, Calif…Cabrillo Music Theatre presents the first production in its 2007-2008 Season, the all-singing, all-dancing, all-loving SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, with book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, music by Johnny Mercer, lyrics by Gene DePaul and additional songs by Al Kasha and Joel Hirshhorn. Academy Award-winning songwriter Al Kasha will be consulting on this production. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS will be directed by Cabrillo Music Theatre’s Artistic Director, Lewis Wilkenfeld, with musical direction by Steven Applegate and choreography by John Charron. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS will open on Friday, October 26, 2007 and run through Sunday, November 4 for Cabrillo Music Theatre in the Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Countrywide Performing Arts Center located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

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Based on the classic MGM musical set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, through dazzling dance and sparkling song, it tells the story of a husband who surprises his newlywed bride with the presence of his six uncouth brothers, each searching for a wife of his own. This tale of inevitable romance features comedy, beautiful music, and spectacular dance.

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS features songs from the movie, written by Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul. The stage version is enhanced with new songs by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, and a book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay. Al Kasha, who owns a pair of Best Song Oscars for his film work, will take an active role in the Cabrillo Music Theatre production. “We’re privileged to have Al, whose work on SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS earned him a Tony nomination. You won’t want to miss his post-show discussion on opening weekend,” says Carole W. Nussbaum, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Nussbaum goes on to say, “With talk of a return run in New York, Cabrillo Music Theatre once again gives its audiences an exclusive opportunity to experience Broadway in your backyard. Come see SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS before it heads to Broadway.”

Known for its dazzling dances, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS features such classic songs as “Goin’ Courtin’,” “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” and “The Sobbin’ Women.” The “Challenge Dance,” an iconic moment in musical film history, is a stage showstopper.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

AL KASHA (Additional Songs) is a two time Academy Award winner and four time Academy Award nominee. His first Oscar was for Best Song for "The Morning After," from “The Poseidon Adventure,” his second Oscar was for "We May Never Love Like This Again" from “The Towering Inferno.” Two additional nominations came from the Live-Action Animated Walt Disney classic “Pete's Dragon.” Two Tony nominations for "SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS" and the musical of Charles Dickens, DAVID COPPERFIELD, which he co-wrote the Libretto. Also, Grammy and Emmy nominations. In addition, he has received four Golden Globe nominations and the coveted People's Choice award, as well as the Dramalogue Award for best musical. He co-wrote with his collaborator Joel Hirschhorn … many of songs for the Charles Aznavour International "One Man Show,” which included the standard song, “The Old Fashioned Way. Amongst some of his scores they did are; "CHINA CRY," (which won the coveted Angel Award) and "Giant Of Thunder Mountain.” Mr. Kasha wrote the Animated Movie Musical, "Rudolf, The Red Nosed Reindeer," starring John Goodman and Whoopi Goldberg. He scored the theme for the Fox Television Series “Beyond Belief.” Kasha received the ASCAP Award for his “Streets Of Heaven” which reached number one on the Country/Christian charts.


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Al Kasha has also enjoyed a very successful relationship with recording artists over the years, starting with six hits in a row for Jackie Wilson. As a producer at CBS Records', he wrote and produced, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. Additionally he wrote for such recording artists as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Lisa Minnelli , Andy Williams. James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Irene Cara, Freddie Jackson, Sheena Easton, Julian Lennon and Donna Summer, etc.

He co-authored, with Joel Hirschhorn, three best-selling books, “If They Ask You, You Can Write A Song” for Simon & Schuster, which in Marvin Hamlisch's words, “is the definitive book on songwriting.” And “Notes On Broadway,” which has been called "the best book ever written on the making of the American musical” and “Reaching The Morning After,” by Nelson Books.

He currently is working on an animated musical feature, "The Greatest King" with fourteen time Grammy winner David Foster. He recently co-wrote the Broadway-bound musical "Ordinary Girl," based on the life of and starring Donna Summer. Al has also co-written with Ms. Summer, four new songs for the upcoming Donna Summer CD which will be released in spring of 2008.

Al Kasha is now writing the life story of rhythm-and-blues super star Jackie Wilson who he wrote and worked with for years. Two-time nominated SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS is now on National Tour.

LEWIS WILKENFELD (Artistic Director/Director of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) celebrates the start of his second year as Artistic Director, and his twelfth directorial production for CMT productions during the last decade. These include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, Annie, West Side Story, Carousel, and The Secret Garden. His production of Bye Bye Birdie! was named Ventura County’s Production Of The Year. Additionally, Lewis’ work has won him an AriZoni Award (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Phoenix Theatre), a Drama Logue Award (The Wizard of Oz, starring Cathy Rigby) and a Robby Award (Gypsy! at the Lawrence Welk Resort Theatre). His directing work has taken him to Ogden, UT (Children of Eden); Houston, TX (Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby); Norris Theatre, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (I’m Not Rappaport starring Ted Lange); Moonlight Amphitheatre, Vista, CA (Hello, Dolly and Sweet Charity); Brea, CA (They’re Playing Our Song and Sleuth); and Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West (A Funny Thing… Forum) and International City Theatre (1940s Radio Hour). Lewis is proud to have directed six shows for the award-winning Musical Theatre Guild in Los Angeles, including two productions to have played in the Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks: I Can Get It For You Wholesale and Roberta. Lewis represents Cabrillo Music Theatre on the Membership Committee of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre. At home, Lewis and his wife Serena enjoy the high-kicking and brawling antics of daughter Melody and son Jesse.


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JOHN CHARRON (Choreographer). Broadway and National Tour (Associate Choreographer) of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Emmy Nomination, Tony Nomination Best Revival), National Tour Suessical the Musical. Regionally over 25 musicals including The Wizard of Oz (Drama Logue Award), Beehive (Drama Logue Award), Funny Girl and Gypsy! (Robby Award Nominees) and Oklahoma!, Show Boat, The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. Previous shows for Cabrillo Music Theatre include The King and I, Damn Yankees, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie, Gypsy! and The Music Man. Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disney Seas are a few of the many theme parks for which John has choreographed. Recently, John had the pleasure of directing and choreographing Ann-Margret's Here and Now, which is currently touring the country. John has been a director/choreographer for Holland America Cruise Line for the past ten years with over 30 shows on the high seas.

STEVEN APPLEGATE (Musical Director/Conductor) is thrilled to be making his debut with CMT, and to be working again with Lewis. Steven is an award-winning Musical Director, and his theatrical experiences have included: Godspell (1st national tour), The Rocky Horror Show (San Francisco production), Cabaret, Showboat, Jacques Brel, Secret Garden, Camelot, Meet Me In St. Louis, Candide (Colony Theatre), Rags, Joseph..., Can Can, Roberta, No No Nanette, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,, Forever Plaid, Steven has been the guest conductor with the Dallas Symphony and the Denver Symphony, and has worked with such notables as: John Raitt, Sandy Duncan, Shirley Jones, Maureen McGovern, Cybil Shepherd, Jack Jones, Lorna Luft, Sally Struthers, Ken Page, and Susan Watson. In his spare time, Steven is a very sought-after record producer and arranger/orchestrator, and is also Director of Music for the Valencia United Methodist Church.

ABOUT THE CAST

STUART AMBROSE (Adam Pontipee) has had an extensive musical theatre career, performing all around the country in dozens of theatres. Most recently, he played the role of Sir Lionel in the new national tour of Camelot, starring Michael York, and understudied the role of Lancelot for which he got to go on 8 times. Most notably, Stuart was seen in: The Ten Commandments, starring Val Kilmer at the Kodak Theatre; The Phoenix Theatre's production of Beauty and the Beast in Arizona playing the title role; 110 in the Shade at the Pasadena Playhouse, starring Marin Mazzie; and playing one of the lead roles in one of Cy Coleman's last musicals Lawyers, Lovers & Lunatics, starring Barbara Walsh and Michael McGrath and directed by Pat Birch. Other theatre credits include: 1940s Radio Hour (The Phoenix Theatre - Johnny Cantone); Floyd in a production of Floyd Collins in Hollywood. A New Brain: In concert, starring Malcolm Gets (REPRISE! Theatre - Minister); Annie Get Your Gun (Frank Butler); Carousel (Billy Bigelow); West Side Story (Tony); The Scarlet Pimpernel (Percy); and South Pacific (Lt. Cable). Stuart has also had multiple appearances on the daytime dramas Guiding Light and As the World Turns.


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Singing since the age of eight, Stuart has sung on concert stages all over the world. More recently, Stuart has been seen starring with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra alongside Dick Van Dyke and Alan Menken, singing with the Indianapolis Symphony along with five time Grammy winner Sandi Patty, and in March of 2006 headlining with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra in Georgia. Stuart’s first solo album, “Making it Through,” has just been released to rave reviews. In addition to his performing career, Stuart is also a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps Reserve. A proud member of one of the best infantry battalions in the USMCR, Stuart finds military service a great escape from the "me first" attitude of Hollywood, and looks forward to serving in the years to come.

SHANNON WARNE (Milly) has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity since 2002. Shannon recently returned home after playing Nimue in the McCoy-Rigby National Tour of Camelot starring Michael York. She had the great honor of sharing the stage opposite Michael in the role of Guenevere on six occasions, including opening night in Philadelphia. Shannon was thrilled to return to Sacramento for her second Music Circus Season in 2006 as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. She was previously seen as Kate in The Pirates of Penzance, The Wizard of Oz, and The Scarlet Pimpernel in 2004. Recent credits include: Hippolytos (Getty Villa,), Chanel in the Los Angeles production of Bark! (Coast Playhouse), Baz Luhrmann’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme (Ahmanson Theatre), Emily in the Ovation award-winning new musical Empire (Hudson Theatre/ Rich Forum), Ronnie Boylan in Annie (McCoy-Rigby Ent.), and u/s Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Interact Theatre Company). Originally from Minneapolis, MN, she has been seen as Hope Harcourt (along side Jim Walton and Sandy Duncan) in Anything Goes! (Ordway Center), Meg Kincaid in Merrily We Roll Along (Guthrie Theatre), and Violet Hilton in the Midwest premiere of Side Show (directed by book-writer and lyricist Bill Russell at Park Square Theatre). Other credits include: Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), Smokey Joe’s Café (Principal), and Milk and Honey (Barbara).

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS will Open on Friday, October 26, 2007 and run through Sunday, November 4. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm and Sunday, October 28 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks or through any Ticketmaster location or by phone (805) 583-8700. For groups of 12 or more, please call Group Sales, Cabrillo Music Theatre at (805) 497-8615. Ticket prices range from $22 – $68. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-2787.

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE is located at the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Countrywide Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.


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To schedule press interviews, photos, press comps or for additional information, please contact David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or by e-mail at ELZERD@aol.com or visit www.demandpr.com.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is the resident musical theatre company of the Countrywide Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a non-profit theatre group. For over three decades, Cabrillo has been enriching the cultural life of Ventura County and its surrounding areas by providing an extraordinary performing arts experience through live, Broadway-quality productions of musical theatre. It is Cabrillo’s mission to provide the highest quality musical experience, to foster educational opportunities, and to promote cultural and artistic enrichment to enhance the quality of life in our community. To this end, Cabrillo Music Theatre has established the ADOPT-A-SCHOOL and ADOPT-A-SENIOR programs. Since the inceptions of these programs, over 1,400 underserved children and 300 in-need seniors have enjoyed Cabrillo Music Theatre’s productions at no charge. With the ADOPT-A-SCHOOL and ADOPT-A-SENIOR programs, Cabrillo makes live theatre accessible to children and seniors who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience a live musical theatre performance.


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