Cabrillo Music Theatre will have you SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!

Cabrillo Music Theatre
Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer
Lewis Wilkenfeld, Artistic Director
Presents the final production of its 2007-2008 Season!
Singin’ In The Rain

Choreographed by and Starring David Engel
Directed by Larry Raben

What a glorious feeling… I’m happy again!

February 27, 2008…Thousand Oaks, Calif…The 2007-2008 season ends with a “splash” as Cabrillo Music Theatre presents SINGIN’IN THE RAIN. Based on the classic M.G.M. movie, with choreography by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN comes to life on the Kavli Theatre stage. Theatre veteran Larry Raben will direct, and David Engel will choreograph the show, as well as star as “Don Lockwood,” the role made famous by Gene Kelly. Accomplished actor and Emmy-winning writer Randy Rogel will play the Donald O’Connor role of Cosmo Brown. Lloyd Cooper will serve as Musical Director and Conductor. The show features songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, with screenplay adaptation by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN will open on Friday, July 25, 2008 and run through Sunday, August 3, 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.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN takes a humorous look at the “birth of the talkies,” when the silent era of motion pictures came to an end, and movies began to talk. And sing. And dance. Woven into the show are some of the most memorable musical moments ever captured on film, and the stage production brings all of them to life: “Good Morning,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “You Are My Lucky Star,” “You Were Meant For Me,” and the title tune are just a few of the musical showstoppers. In addition, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s new production will feature the “Broadway Melody Ballet,” the classic dance made famous in the movie by Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly, but rarely performed onstage!

“SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, our summer sensation, is perfect entertainment for the entire family,” says Carole W. Nussbaum, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Cabrillo’s production puts on stage everything you love about the movie . . . including the rain!”

David Engel returns to the Kavli stage in the role of “Don Lockwood,” the role he played in Cabrillo Music Theatre’s 1999 production. Since then, David has played the role across the country to great acclaim. In addition, the multiple Ovation-Award winner has established himself as one of Southern California Musical Theatre’s premiere leading men. Randy Rogel, who has played Cosmo Brown in productions across the country, will bring the role to life in the Cabrillo Music Theatre’s production.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is the perfect family show, and is suitable for all audiences.

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

LARRY RABEN (Director) is delighted to return to Cabrillo Music Theatre, where he directed 2006’s Forever Plaid. Larry is a recent Best Director nominee for his direction of Sweet Charity in Buenos Aires starring Latin American superstar, Florencia Pena. Southern California credits include: the post-Broadway premiere of Never Gonna Dance at Musical Theatre West. Also at MTW, he directed the Southern California premiere of The Thing About Men and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He has directed numerous US and international stagings of Forever Plaid. He directed Always Patsy Cline at the Welk Resort Theatre starring Cissy King of “Bobby & Cissy” fame, and an original musical revue that he also co-authored, Hollywood’s Heyday, a tribute to the great movie musicals. In Canada, he co-authored and staged Motown at the Twilight. In New York, Larry Assistant Directed the Off-Broadway musical Catch Me If I Fall, and Breaking Up starring Matthew Modine and Allison Janney at the American Stage Company, He also directed The Velveteen Rabbit at Off-Broadway’s Promenade Theatre for Theatreworks/USA. Also an accomplished actor, Larry has just finished a year in Las Vegas playing Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers, a role he also played in the Broadway production. Larry is a proud member of S.S.D.C., Actors’ Equity Association and the Musical Theatre Guild.

DAVID ENGEL (Choreographer/Don Lockwood). A five-time LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award winner, David starred as Don Lockwood in CMT’s 1999 production of Singin’ in the Rain. He appeared on Broadway in Putting It Together, Seussical: The Musical, La Cage Aux Folles and both stage and film versions of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. He is most noted for creating the role of Smudge in the original off-Broadway production of Forever Plaid and its holiday sequel Plaid Tidings. Other stage credits include starring roles in Crazy For you, White Christmas, Kiss Me Kate, Children of Eden, The Full Monty, Dames at Sea, Never Gonna Dance, and Pasadena Playhouse’s newly re-envisioned Can-Can. He also shares an on-screen romance with RuPaul in the musical short film “Zombie Prom.” In addition to his acting career, Mr. Engel has directed and choreographed major productions of Seussical, Forever Plaid, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and collaborated with Singin’ In The Rain director Larry Raben on Toronto’s original production Motown at the Twilight.. David has directed the original commercials for Forever Plaid, The World Goes ‘Round, and created and directed the MGM/UA Home Video "Logo-Fanfare". He produced and directed a documentary as a companion to the video release of “That’s Entertainment III,” and served as the Film Sequence Director for “Judy Garland, A Tribute” at Carnegie Hall, “The Busby Berkeley Suite” with The Boston Pops, and “Carnegie Hall Celebrates the Glorious MGM Musicals.”

LLOYD COOPER (Musical Director/Conductor) has had a long and successful career in musical theatre. He is a three time Drama-Logue Award winner for best musical direction and recently received awards for Plan-B Entertainment’s production of Beauty and the Beast. He has served in the past as resident musical director for The San Bernardino Civic Light Opera, San Diego Civic Light Opera and Theater League. He was recently the musical director for Happy Days - A Family Musical! written by Garry Marshall and Paul Williams. Lloyd has worked on such movies as “The Prince Of Tides,” “Godzilla,” “Bewitched” and “The Holiday.” In television he has worked in the capacity of composer, arranger, and/or conductor for the music in such shows as "Father Dowling," "Matlock" and "Perry Mason." He appeared on television with David Hyde Pierce in a special episode of "Caroline In The City" and has appeared twice with ventriloquist Jay Johnson on "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson. Lloyd had the great pleasure of working with Barbra Streisand and Stephen Sondheim in rehearsing and choosing music for her "Back To Broadway" album. Lloyd and his wife, singer Barbara Matteson Cooper, have a successful night club career and have recorded four albums of original music which have reached audiences all over the world. This is Lloyd’s third Cabrillo production, following Smokey Joe’s Café and Oliver.

RANDY ROGEL (Cosmo Brown) has won three Emmy awards (ten nominations), a Peabody Award, and two Annie awards for his work as a television writer, composer, and producer. He spent nine years on staff at Warner Bros before moving to the Disney studios. He helped create television shows such as Steven Spielberg’s “Animaniacs,” “Pinky and the Brain,” “Batman,” and “Histeria,” and at Disney he wrote on “Tarzan,” “House of Mouse,” “The Three Caballeros,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan- Return to Neverland,” “101 Dalmatians II,” “The Three Musketeers,” and “Winnie the Pooh.” He is currently the head of music for a kids show on PBS entitled “Danger Rangers.” Randy's new musical recently premiered in New York at the National Alliance of Musical Theaters and is now slated for a workshop production in London this fall. As an actor and director, Randy has won five Dramalogue awards. He has played leading roles in major theaters around the country, including the Paper Mill Playhouse, Seattle’s 5th Ave Theater, Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars, the St. Louis Muni, The Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, the Seattle Repertory Theater, ACT, the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, and the Sacramento Music Circus. At the Goodspeed Theater, Randy played the lead role in the revival of their Broadway production of “Very Good Eddie” for which he won the Connecticut Critics Circle award for Best Actor. He has also performed leading roles in Singin’ in the Rain, Me and My Girl, George M, and Whoopee! Randy is a West Point graduate with ten years service as a military officer in the combat arms. He received an Engineering Degree from the Academy and a Masters Degree in International Relations from Boston University.

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN will open on Friday, July 25, 2008 and run through Sunday, August 3. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:00pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm; Sunday, July 27 at 7:00pm; and Wednesday, July 30th at 11:00am. A post-show discussion with cast, staff and audience will follow the Saturday, July 26, 2:00pm performance. 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 $36 – $64. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (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.

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 http://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 and a non-profit theatre organization. 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, ADOPT-A-SENIOR, and PET (Project Entertainment Troops) outreach programs. Since the inceptions of these programs, thousands of underserved children, in need seniors, active military and their families have enjoyed Cabrillo Music Theatre’s productions at no charge. With the ADOPT-A-SCHOOL, ADOPT-A-SENIOR, and PET programs, Cabrillo makes live theatre accessible to children, seniors, and military men and women who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience a live musical theatre performance. For more information about Cabrillo Music Theatre’s outreach programs, contact Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer at (805) 497-8613.

L.A. Times Review of Cabrillo Music Theatre's JEKYLL & HYDE

THEATER REVIEW
'Jekyll & Hyde'

Energetic performances and staging by the Cabrillo Music Theatre make the most of the gothic musical.
By Philip Brandes, Special to The Times March 12, 2008

Granted, Dr. Henry Jekyll's quest to find a chemical cure for mental illness would have to be considered an early misstep on the road to Prozac. But as a mirror for contemplating the conflicted good and evil in each of us, the remarkably effective Cabrillo Music Theatre revival of "Jekyll & Hyde," the Frank Wildhorn-Leslie Bricusse gothic musical, finds continuing resonance in the cautionary tale penned by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886.Credit the producers for committing the talent and resources to making the most of the creators' epic ambitions. Drawing on the show's many variants on the long road to its three-year Broadway run, this updated "2nd Edition," adapted by Broadway cast member Paul Hadobas, includes the substitution of the bawdy cabaret number "Bring on the Men" in place of the heavy-handed "Good 'n' Evil," as well as streamlined characters and story lines to improve clarity.In the title role(s), Robert J. Townsend handily demonstrates the requisite versatility and vocal chops, relying on posture and inflection to switch between the cultured, primly ponytailed Jekyll and his snarling, disheveled alter-ego, Edward Hyde.
Hyde is the more compelling character, a portal for audiences to vicariously indulge forbidden impulses within a safely defined theatrical context. Director Nick DeGruccio understands this, and his inventive staging revels in the story's darkness and eroticism. Hyde's murderous excesses are given free rein, complete with Grand Guignol-caliber effects.It's the Jekyll role, though, that showcases Townsend's singing prowess, particularly in "This Is the Moment," a song with a triumphant tone better suited to a "Rocky" installment than a harbinger of tragedy. Yet for all his nobility of spirit, Jekyll is a bit of a simp -- five murders in, he gets around to noting in his diary, "I'm convinced that I must find an antidote." D'ya think?In the critical role of Lucy, the doomed prostitute who gets caught between both personalities, Lulu Lloyd's pitch-perfect precision sometimes coasts on plot rather than emotional exploration, but she hits her stride in the show-stopping "A New Life." As Jekyll's upper-class fiancée, fine-voiced Beth Obregon heads up a polished supporting cast that includes Jack E. Curenton, Douglas Crawford and Aaron Phillips.Under musical director Steven Applegate, the live 17-piece orchestra delivers a lush rendition of Wildhorn's brooding, romantic score, while Jonathan Burke's well-balanced sound engineering ensures the singers' audibility.That's a mixed blessing given the show's Achilles' heel in Bricusse's often pedestrian lyrics. Where the best-crafted songs elegantly crystallize a moment or insight that would otherwise take ages of prose to capture (think any song from "Sweeney Todd"), the plodding verses in "Jekyll & Hyde" are mostly spoken dialogue set to melody. It's a testament to Wildhorn's compositional skills and DeGruccio's lively staging that the energy never flags.

JEKYLL & HYDE performs Thursday through Sunday, March 13th through 16th, at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Performances are at 8:00PM Thursday-Saturday, and 2:00PM Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks, or through any Ticketmaster location, or by phone at 805-583-8700, or at www.Ticketmaster.com.