Thursday, September 17, 2009

GUYS AND DOLLS comes to Cabrillo Music Theatre


Ovation Award Winner Nick DeGruccio returns to
Cabrillo Music Theatre to direct the classic musical comedy…

The guys are gambling, the dolls are dancing, and the audience will come up a winner when Cabrillo Music Theatre launches its 2009-2010 season with GUYS AND DOLLS. Returning is Director Nick DeGruccio, whose previous Cabrillo production of JEKYLL & HYDE led to three Ovation Awards, including Best Director. Returning with DeGruccio is Choreographer Roger Castellano, Ovation-nominated for JEKYLL. Musical Direction is by Darryl Archibald, and the production will be overseen by Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld. Cabrillo’s production of GUYS AND DOLLS, created exclusively for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, will open on Friday, October 16th, 2009 and run through Sunday, October 25th, for Cabrillo Music Theatre in the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Damon Runyon’s colorful characters come to life in GUYS AND DOLLS. Suave Sky Masterson wages a bet on whether he can woo the buttoned-up Sister Sarah Brown. Meanwhile, Nathan Detroit puts his floating crap game ahead of his long-suffering fiancĂ© (of 14 years!), Miss Adelaide. The score features “Luck Be A Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat,” “I’ve Never Been In Love Before,” and the title tune.

“GUYS AND DOLLS might be the best musical ever,” says Carole W. Nussbaum, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It’s a perfect blend of music and dance, and of comedy and glamour. It’s no wonder that GUYS AND DOLLS has enjoyed three successful Broadway revivals, a memorable film version, and a rumored new movie version on the way.” Continues Nussbaum, “And with Nick DeGruccio at the helm, Cabrillo Music Theatre will surely ‘rock the boat’ at the Kavli Theatre, here at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza!”

Cabrillo Music Theatre’s production features another triumphant return, when Barry Pearl, of Cabrillo’s successful 1996 production, once again stars as Nathan Detroit. Pearl, a veteran of film (“Grease”) and Broadway (“Oliver,” “Bye Bye Birdie”), will be joined by Southern California theatre favorites Jeff Griggs as Sky Masterson, Alet Taylor as Miss Adelaide, and Jessica Bernard (star of Cabrillo’s recent CATS) as Sarah Brown. Featuring a cast of 30 and a full professional orchestra, GUYS AND DOLLS is a “sure bet” for the entire family, and is recommended for all audiences.

ABOUT THE STAFF

NICK DEGRUCCIO (Director) is a three-time recipient of the LA Ovation Award for Direction and has received the 2008 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Joel Hirschhorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre, as well as the 2009 BackStage Garland Award for Direction for an Outstanding Season of Work. Nick happily returns to Cabrillo having directed Jekyll & Hyde last season (Ovation Award for Direction). He also received Ovation Awards for his direction of The Laramie Project at the Colony Theatre and Laguna Playhouse and 1776 at Performance Riverside. Recent credits include Putting It Together, A Year With Frog and Toad for South Coast Repertory, the West Coast Premiere of The Andrews Brothers at Musical Theatre West (LA Ovation Award for Ensemble, Nomination for Direction), as well as Kiss of the Spider Woman (4 LADCC Nominations) and the LA Premieres of Thrill Me (2 LA Ovation Noms, LADCC Nom) and Dog Sees God (2 LADCC Noms, 3 LA Weekly Noms, GLAAD Media Nom) for Havok Theatre Company’s inaugural season. His other productions and Ovation-nominated works include Side By Side By Sondheim for The Rubicon Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse, the LA premiere of Side Show (Colony Theatre), Guys and Dolls and La Cage Aux Folles (Musical Theatre West), The Last Five Years in rep with I Do! I Do! (Pasadena Playhouse), The Full Monty (San Diego Music Theatre), The Spitfire Grill (Laguna Playhouse/OC Weekly Award Best Musical), Zanna, Don’t! at West Coast Ensemble (LADCC Award for Direction), Bad Apples, a World Premiere Play for The Rubicon Theatre Company, Beehive at the El Portal Theatre and City of Angels, An Ideal Husband and Putting It Together (Colony Theatre). Other directing credits include: I Left My Heart...a tribute to Tony Bennett (Welk Resort), My Way (La Mirada PAC) and Altar Boyz for The Welk Resort. For Musical Theatre Guild, he directed the L.A. Premiere of A Man Of No Importance (GLAAD Award Nomination) and Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party. Other credits: Basic Training (2nd Stage/NAACP Award Nomination for Direction), The Fantasticks (Performance Riverside), Pippin (BCLO), and Happily Ever After…After All (voiceovers by Angela Lansbury) (9 O’clock Players). Nick is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab West.

ROGER CASTELLANO (Choreographer) works extensively as a Director/Choreographer of Theatrical and Special events. He has had great opportunities to work and collaborate with many Professional Regional Theatre Companies such as Musical Theatre West, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, Laguna Playhouse, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Performance Riverside, International City Theatre, The Center Theatre Group, The Phoenix Theatre in Arizona, and Music Theatre of Wichita in Kansas. He has also created original shows, parades, and special events for companies like Sesame Street Live, Sanrio Inc., The Walt Disney Company, and has worked with personalities like Reba McEntire, Stevie Nicks, Chicago, Gladys Knight, The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, Natalie Cole, Christopher Reeve, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby and Walter Cronkite, to name a few. Theatrical Awards include: LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award Nominee for best choreographer (Jekyll & Hyde – Cabrillo Music Theatre), LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award Nominee for Best Choreographer (The Andrews Brothers, Musical Theatre West), Los Angeles Time’s Critic’s Pick (Me and My Girl, Musical Theatre West), Drama Logue’s Critic Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, “Best Choreography” (A Little Night Music, The Center Theatre Group), Drama Logue’s Critic Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre – “Best Choreography” (La Cage Aux Folles, The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities), Drama Logue’s Critic Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, “Best Choreography” (Oliver – The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities), Inland Theatre League Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, “Best Director” (Suessical, Performance Riverside), AriZoni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre – “Best Choreography” (A Chorus Line, The Phoenix Theatre.)

DARRYL ARCHIBALD (Musical Director/Conductor). Tours include: Disney's The Lion King (vocal coach/assistant conductor), A Grand Night for Singing, The All Night Strut, and Jerry’s Girls. Other shows include: Wicked at the Pantages Theater (substitute conductor), Smokey Joe's Cafe (El Portal Theater), Ragtime (Musical Theatre West); Swing! (Sacramento Music Circus); A Chorus Line directed by Kay Cole, and The King and I with Deborah Gibson (Cabrillo Music Theatre); Swing! (McCoy/Rigby Ent.); Merry Me A Little - revised version (Celebration Theater); The Fantasticks with Eric McCormack, Once On This Island, Li'l Abner with Cathy Rigby and Fred Willard; Merrily We Roll Along with Teri Hatcher; I Do! I Do! with Diana Canova and Harry Groener (Reprise); My Fair Lady, 1776, Little Shop Of Horrors, Camelot, and Forever Plaid (Utah Shakespearean Festival); Ain’t Misbehavin’ directed by Ken Page (CLOSBC); The Threepenny Opera, Raisin and A Christmas Carol (ICT); The Fix, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Lady In the Dark, and Sail Away (Musical Theatre Guild). Arrangement and orchestration credits include: the prime-time television special A Hollywood Holiday Celebration (ABC), The Fountain Show and Christmas Trolley Show (The Grove Los Angeles). Upcoming productions include: White Christmas (CMT), Carousel, Two By Two, How To Succeed... (Reprise), Great Expectations (USF).

ABOUT THE CAST

JEFF GRIGGS (Sky Masterson) has a Bachelors Degree in Theatre from New Mexico State University where he studied under Tony Award-winning playwright Mark Medoff. Favorite roles in the King in The King and I, Harold Hill in The Music Man, P.T. Barnum in Barnum, Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, Oscar Jaffe in Twentieth Century, Tito Morelli in Lend Me a Tenor, General Howell in Kiss Me, Kate, Jack in Reefer Madness, and Macheath in the critically acclaimed The Threepenny Opera at ICT earlier this year. He is probably best known as the villainous Jude St. Clair on Days of Our Lives. Jeff is also an accomplished artist and was honored by the President with a personal invitation to the White House for his 9/11 memorial painting, The Eyes of a Nation.

JESSICA BERNARD (Sarah Brown) returns to the Cabrillo stage, having just been seen as Jellylorum/Griddlebone in CATS. LA/Regional Credits: Guys and Dolls (“Sarah Brown,” Performance Riverside & Candlelight Pavilion), My Fair Lady (“Eliza,” Candlelight Pav), The Music Man (“Marian Paroo,” California Theater.), Pirates of Penzance (“Edith,” California/Pechanga Theaters), Oklahoma (“Laurey,” Marmac Repertory), Showgirl of 52nd Street (The Colony), The Secret Garden (Lewis Family Playhouse) and The Scarlet Pimpernel (“Marguerite”). Jessica also recently returned from singing in Hong Kong Disneyland.

BARRY PEARL (Nathan Detroit) reprises the role he first played on the CMT stage fourteen years ago, in Cabrillo’s previous production of Guys and Dolls. This is a first for the 48-year stage, TV and film veteran. Audiences may remember him from two other CMT productions: Bye Bye Birdie ("Harry MacAfee") and Anything Goes ("Moonface Martin"), as well as the characters he's most recognized for, "Doody" from Paramount Pictures’ Grease and "Professor Tinkerputt" from Imagination Island and Barney’s Big Surprise. With a Drama-Logue Award ("Dirk Nob", That Other Woman’s Child), Santa Barbara Independent Press Award ("Fagin" in the 2000 production of Oliver! for SBCLO), San Diego Playbill Award ("Ali Hakim" in the Welk's Oklahoma) and a 2008 Ovation Nomination (MTW's All Shook Up), this Carnegie-Mellon University grad recently came off the road from playing "Arnold Delvecchio" in Garry Marshall's Happy Days: A New Musical. Broadway: Bye Bye Birdie and Oliver! (original productions); TV: "House MD" (second week of this season), "ER", "Criminal Minds”, "Days of Our Lives", "Baywatch Hawaii", "Growing Pains", "Even Stevens" etc; Film: "My Favorite Martian", "Avenging Angel"; Regional and Tour: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ("Hysterium" in Utah); and last month as "Senex" for The Norris Theatre. Grease (First National as "Sonny"), Crazy for You, ("Bela"), Chapter Two ("Leo"), The Immigrant ("Haskell"), and many, many more.

ALET TAYLOR (Miss Adelaide) makes her Cabrillo Music Theatre debut with Guys and Dolls. She was last seen in the First Ever Nudie Musical at Noho Arts Center, as well the musical Respect at the El Portal. Alet has spent the last 5 years either pregnant or performing in various productions of Mel Brooks' The Producers, including the First National Tour (Leo Co.) as Lick-Me/Bite-Me, and the Vegas production at the Paris Hotel as Hold-Me/Touch-Me. New York: NYMF's The Brain From Planet X (Yoni), The Boys From Syracuse, Sweet Adeline, L'il Abner, One Touch of Venus (City Center Encores!), Tip Toes and Louisiana Purchase (Carnegie Hall). Regional: Passion (Fosca), A Funny Thing...Forum (Philia), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Drood). Recordings: “Sondheim at the Movies”, “Lost in Boston IV”, “Unsung Musicals”, “Cinderella”, “Peter Pan” (Varese Sarabande). Alet has a B.A. in Psychology and is a Montessori Teacher in Early Education.

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

GUYS AND DOLLS will open on Friday, October 16th, 2009 and run through Sunday, October 25th. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. A post-show discussion with cast, staff and audience will follow the Saturday, October 17th, 2:00pm performance. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 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 $25-$55. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787).

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE’s 2009-2010 season continues with a special, added production of IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS (December, 2009), THE ANDREWS BROTHERS (February 2010), HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (April 2010), and RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA (July 2010).

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE performs exclusively at the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is the Ovation Award-winning Resident Musical Theatre Production Company 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 and Los Angeles Counties and the 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 Southern California. To this end, Cabrillo Music Theatre has established the Adopt-A-School, ADOPT-A-SENIOR, PET (Project Entertainment Troops) OUTREACH programs. Since the inceptions of these programs in 2005, over 22,000 underserved children, in-need seniors, and active military 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 active military members who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience a live musical theatre performance. Cabrillo’s Animal rescue OUTREACH program, instituted during this summer’s production of CATS, facilitates the placement of homeless dogs and cats. For more information about Cabrillo Music Theatre’s OUTREACH programs, contact Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer at (805) 497-8613.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Ovation Award-winning Cabrillo Music Theatre produces the timeless Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical....

CATS
Music Direction by Ilana Eden
Directed and Choreographed by Dana Solimando


Memory…. all alone in the moonlight… I can smile at the old days…. I was beautiful then…..

Cabrillo Music Theatre concludes its 2008-2009 season with the most memorable musical of all, CATS. Directed and choreographed by original Broadway cast member, Ovation Award-winner Dana Solimando, Cabrillo’s CATS marks the first time that the seven-time Tony Award winner has been produced exclusively for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Joining Solimando on the creative staff is Music Director Ilana Eden, and the production will be overseen by CMT Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld. CATS will open on Friday, July 24th, 2009 and run through Sunday, August 2nd, for Cabrillo Music Theatre in the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Set in a junkyard, the tribe of Jellicle Cats emerge from the darkened landscape of broken bottles and boxes. They take in the audience, and celebrate on this, their one special night of the year, in a fusion of song and dance. Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” by T.S. Eliot, and set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, EVITA), CATS launched the hit song, “Memory,” plus “The Rum Tum Tugger,” “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer,” and “The Jellicle Ball.”

“CATS is THE one our audiences have been asking for, time and time again. We’re thrilled to grant their wish!” says Carole W. Nussbaum, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It ran for 18 years on Broadway, and is the longest running tour in American Theatre History. And our production is not a tour. As with all our shows, we audition, produce, perform and produce the entire show, uniquely for Southern California audiences.”
Cabrillo Music Theatre’s production features Melissa Lyons, (“Eponine” in the Broadway National Tour of LES MISERABLES,) plus Will North, Jo Patrick, and nineteen more of Southern California’s finest singer-dancers. Dazzling to the eyes and ears, CATS is the “purr-fect” musical for the entire family, and is recommended for all audiences.

As part of its OUTREACH programs, Cabrillo Music Theatre is expanding its OUTREACH mission to include another in-need group —homeless, abused, and abandoned dogs and cats. The Animal Rescue Program is devoted to increasing awareness for rescue missions that serve them. At its production of CATS, Cabrillo Music Theatre will designate a portion of proceeds from sale of merchandise to groups that serve these animals. Also, patrons who adopt an animal during the run of CATS will receive two complimentary orchestra tickets for an upcoming show.

ABOUT THE STAFF AND CAST

DANA SOLIMANDO (Director/Choreographer) made her Broadway debut in Cats at the Winter Garden Theatre as Rumpleteazer and is excited to be a part of the show once more. Other director/choreography credits include various productions of SWING! (2004 & 2006 Ovation Awards), Crystal Cruise Lines ROUTE 66, Too Old For the Chorus, Jesus Christ Superstar starring the late Carl Anderson (NAACP Theatre Award Nomination-Best Choreography) & Oliver! Also a performer, Dana played Tiger Lily on the Broadway A&E Video production of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, as well as numerous other Broadway Nat’l tours & regional productions: SWING! Sugar Babies, Grease, Oklahoma, Gypsy, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, J.C.Superstar, A Chorus Line …TV Credits: VH-1, MTV, The Today Show & General Hospital. Dana also enjoys molding young minds as a teacher for the University of California Irvine.

MELISSA LYONS (Grizabella) returns to Cabrillo Music Theatre, where she performed the title role in their production of Peter Pan. A native of Southern California, Melissa holds a B.A. in music from UCLA and is a proud member of Musical Theatre Guild. Most notably, Melissa was the final Eponine in the Broadway Touring Company of Les Miserables. She has recorded numerous voice-overs for Mattel and is the singing voice of Barbie for several films, toys, albums and commercials, including the recently released animated features “Barbie and the Diamond Castle,” “Barbie in A Christmas Carol” and “Barbie as the Island Princess.” Most recently she was seen in The Water at the Colony Theatre, and in the concert "Rated RSO: The Music and Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver" at Boston Court. Some of her other credits include Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (MTG), Alisande in A Connecticut Yankee (MTG), The Marvelous Wonderette (El Portal), Star-To-Be in Annie (Music Circus and McCoy/Rigby), Lady Larken in Once Upon A Mattress (UCLA, dir. Carol Burnett) and the television show “Passions.”

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

CATS will open on Friday, July 24th, 2009 and run through Sunday, August 2nd. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. A special mid-week performance has been added on Wednesday, July 29th, at 11:00AM. A post-show discussion with cast, staff and audience will follow the Saturday, July 25th, 2:00pm performance. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 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 $38 – $74. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787).

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

Cabrillo Music Theatre is the Ovation Award-winning Resident Musical Theatre Production Company 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 and Los Angeles Counties and the 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 Southern California. To this end, Cabrillo Music Theatre has established the Adopt-A-School, ADOPT-A-SENIOR, PET (Project Entertainment Troops) OUTREACH programs. During the production of CATS, Cabrillo has added an Animal Rescue Program. Since the inceptions of these programs, thousands of underserved children, in need seniors, and active military 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 active military members who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience a live musical theatre performance. For more information about Cabrillo Music Theatre and its OUTREACH programs, contact Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer at (805) 497-8613.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Cabrillo Music Theatre's 42ND STREET

Come and meet those dancing feet. . . .

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with the grandest and most spectacular musical of all, 42ND STREET. Directed and Choreographed by original Broadway cast member and Dance Captain, Jon Engstrom, 42ND STREET features a cast of 40, a full professional orchestra, and some of the greatest songs and dances ever to hit the great white way. Joining Engstrom on the creative staff is Musical Director Steven Applegate, a recent Ovation Award nominee for his work on Cabrillo’s JEKYLL & HYDE. The production will be supervised by Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld. 42ND STREET will open on Friday, March 27th, 2009 and run through Sunday, April 5th, for Cabrillo Music Theatre in the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Set in Depression-era New York, 42ND STREET spins the classic showbiz tale of a young hopeful hoping to join the cast of her first Broadway show. When fading star Dorothy Brock breaks her leg onstage, director Julian Marsh plucks young Peggy Sawyer out of the ensemble and makes her a star. The score, by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, features such musical classics as “Lullabye of Broadway,” “We’re In the Money,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and the title tune.

With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, 42ND STREET showcases the original Tony-winning choreography of Gower Champion in a brand-new production. “From the first tap, everyone will know those dancing feet have been directed and choreographed by “Mr. 42nd Street,” himself, Jon Engstrom,” says Carole W. Nussbaum, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Jon, formerly the Dance Captain from the original Broadway production, brings all the glamour, glitz and Broadway sparkle to the stage. With 32 tappers, dressed in the original Broadway costumes, it’s the real deal,” exclaims Nussbaum.

Cabrillo Music Theatre’s production stars Southern California theatre veterans Michael G. Hawkins and Tracy Lore as Julian Marsh and Dorothy Brock. Returning to Cabrillo Music Theatre is SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS’ Cassie Silva as Peggy Sawyer. Cassie recently enjoyed a “Peggy Sawyer” experience of her own, as one of the finalists on the MTV series, “Legally Blonde; The Search for Elle Woods,” which focused on casting the next star of that Broadway production. Silva will take the stage with 31 other tappers in some of the most amazing dance showstoppers ever featured on a musical theatre stage. 42nd STREET is family-friendly entertainment, perfect for all ages.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Jon Engstrom (Director/Choreographer) has a long association with Gower Champion’s 42nd Street. He was a featured dancer and Dance Captain of the original Broadway production. His career as a director/choreographer started with the restaging of this Tony Award winning show. Since then Jon has worked throughout the United States, Europe & Asia. Other productions that Jon has directed & choreographed for major venues include: The King and I, White Christmas, Stephen Sondheim’s Saturday Night (Los Angeles premiere), Bye Bye Birdie, The Desert Song, My One and Only, Annie Get Your Gun, They’re Playing Our Song, Damn Yankees, West Side Story, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Singin’ in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis, Mame, Guys and Dolls, The Will Rogers Follies, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, No, No, Nanette, Into the Woods, Anything Goes, Oliver, Oklahoma, Sweet Charity, Can-Can and Brigadoon. Jon was guest director/choreographer for Pepperdine University’s prestigious fall musical for five years in a row. Jon has also been guest director/choreographer and teacher for a number of other educational institutions. He is currently on staff at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Jon’s career started with a Ford Foundation Scholarship. He went on to become a soloist with San Francisco Ballet. He was an original member of Eliot Feld’s company and also guest artist with the Lar Lubovitch Company before moving on to “The Great White Way” where he was a featured dancer in five Broadway musicals: No, No, Nanette, The Pajama Game, Very Good Eddie, Whoopie! & finally 42nd Street. During that time he was also featured in two National Tours: Chicago with Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach & Seesaw with Lucie Arnaz & John Gavin. Jon has been fortunate to work with such notable director/choreographers as: Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Donald Saddler, Donald McKayle, Alan Johnson & Danny Daniels. Jon is a proud member of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

STEVEN APPLEGATE (Musical Director/Conductor) is excited to be back with CMT for the third time, following Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and his Ovation Award-nominated work on Jekyll & Hyde. 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, Beauty and the Beast, Forever Plaid, Guys and Dolls (with Maureen McGovern and Jack Jones). 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

MICHAEL G. HAWKINS (Julian Marsh) has most recently appeared as Captain Hook in the National tour of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, as Mervyn Kant in The Sisters Rosensweig for TheatreWorks in San Francisco, and as George Dillingham in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects Of Love at the Alex Theatre in Los Angeles. He has appeared as Georges in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles production of La Cage Aux Folles, as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd at the Music Circus in Sacramento and as Billy Flynn in Chicago in Las Vegas. He spent a summer portraying Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at Harrah’s in Atlantic City and was proud to originate the role of Adam in the world premier of Dale Wasserman’s new musical Western Star. Michael also had the joy of touring as Julian Marsh in the European Company of 42nd Street. His other theatrical credits include Franklin Shepard in the west coast premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, Michael in I Do! I Do! for the Music Theatre of Southern California, the Back Alley production of Jacques Brel Is…, and Roberto in Irma La Douce at the Music Center in Los Angeles. Michael has received Drama-Logue Awards for his performances of Alan in Baby, Bill Sykes in Oliver, Nick in Funny Girl, Sky in Guys and Dolls, Cliff in Cabaret, and Georges in La Cage Aux Folles. His television credits include guest appearances on “Eli Stone,” “Frasier,” “Charley Lawrence,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Wings,” “Colombo Movie of the Week,” “Cheers,” “Newhart,” “The Young & The Restless,” and the Hallmark Hall Of Fame presentation of “A Place For Annie.” Michael is a founding member of the Musical Theatre Guild in Southern California.

TRACY LORE (Dorothy Brock) was last seen here with Cabrillo Music Theatre’s production of The Will Rogers’ Follies as Betty Blake. Her credits include The Producers – Hold Me, Touch Me, All Shook Up - Miss Sandra - Ovation nominee, The Full Monty – Vicki, Me and My Girl – Lady Jacqueline, The Will Rogers’ Follies – Betty Rogers, Into the Woods - The Witch (all for Musical Theatre West); Guys and Dolls - Miss Adelaide, Me and My Girl - Lady Jacqueline (for Moonlight Amphitheatre); Thoroughly Modern Millie - Mrs. Meers (Norris Theatre); Cinderella - The Queen, The Will Rogers’ Follies - Betty Rogers, Crazy for You – Irene, Cabaret – Sally (for CLO of South Bay Cities); A Little Night Music - Mrs. Segstrom (South Coast Repertory); Mrs. Darling – Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (New York/National Tour); The Wizard of Oz - Wicked Witch (San Diego Starlight); CHICAGO – Velma - “ariZoni award” (Phoenix Theatre). Other favorites are Blood Brothers - Mrs. Lyons, Company - Joanne, Brigadoon - Meg, Gypsy - Tessie, A Chorus Line - Cassie & Sheila, Working - Waitress, the Southern California Premiere of GUN-SHY and West Coast Premiere of GUNMETAL BLUES (Original Cast Recording), both for Laguna Playhouse. Member of Actor’s Equity and Musical Theatre Guild.

CASSIE SILVA (Peggy Sawyer) is humbled and excited to be working with Cabrillo again after her debut last season as Ruth in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She has been training since the age of 2 and can most recently be seen on TV in projects such as the critically acclaimed Showtime series “Dexter,” “Valentine,” and MTV's “Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods.” She can also be seen in the feature films, “Walk Hard,” and as Brenda in “Hairspray.” She would love to give big hugs to all who have come to support especially and as always, "wishes everyone a million grilled cheese sandwiches."

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

42ND STREET will open on Friday, March 27, 2009 and run through Sunday, April 5th. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. A special mid-week performance has been added on Wednesday, April 1st, at 11:00AM. A post-show discussion with cast, staff and audience will follow the Saturday, March 28th, 2:00pm performance. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 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 $38 – $74. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787).

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

Cabrillo Music Theatre’s “Must-See” 2009 Season concludes in July with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is the Ovation Award-winning resident musical theatre production company 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 Southern California. 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, and active military 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 and its OUTREACH programs, contact Carole W. Nussbaum, President/Chief Executive Officer at (805) 497-8613.