Sacramento Stage & Theatre News
Updated Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 - 1 p.m.

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60TH ANNIVERSARY MUSIC CIRCUS SEASON ANNOUNCED   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Musical Theatre Executive Producer Richard Lewis has announced the line-up of shows for the 60th summer season of Sacramento Music Circus, America's Theatre-in-the-Round. The seven show season will include the Music Circus premieres of Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Marvelous Wonderettes, as well as stagings of Oklahoma!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 42nd Street, and Funny Girl, the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

    For more information, visit www.SacramentoMusicCircus.com.

CAPITAL STAGE HOLDS FUNDRAISER IN MAY   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Feb. 7, 2010) - Capital Stage is gearing up for its biggest fundraising event of the year on May 2, 2010 to be held at Sacramento's popular midtown restaurant and nightclub, Blue Cue.
    The 4th Annual "Get Your Bold On!" Capital Stage Benefit Bash will be a dynamic evening of wine, delicious food, entertainment, and fantastic live and silent auctions featuring get-aways to Sea Ranch, Bodega Bay, and Calistoga, as well as work from top local artists, and certificates from some of the regions best restaurants, and much more.
    Capital Stage is a charitable, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Monies raised from this event will help support the company's mission to enhance the landscape of the arts in our community by bringing bold, dynamic, thought-provoking professional live theatre to the Capital region.
    "This is our single most important fundraising event of the year," said Capital Stage Artistic Director, Stephanie Gularte. "It's a great party and it helps us raise the funds we need to kick off our new season."
    The date is Sunday, May 2, 2010. Time: 5pm- 8pm. Tickets: $65/person. Location: Blue Cue, 1004 28th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816.
    For tickets and information, call (916) 995-5464 or visit  www.capstage.org.
 

BOB AND RO'S OLD TIME RADIO SHOW   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Feb. 7, 2010) - In the old days, boys and girls, social media was called Radio.
    Live audiences would watch actors (both up-an-comers and established personalities) perform comedies, dramas and mysteries. The rest of the world would listen breathlessly to their radios for the next episode of their favorite programs.
    Now anyone can be a part of that studio audience when Bob and Ro’s Old Time Radio Shows perform at the Studio Theatre. Local actors take on the roles of established and timeless shows like Our Miss Brooks, Boston Blackie and My Friend Irma. Add in a musical interlude with singer Mike Branson and you’ve got a great evening’s entertainment.
    Performances in February are at the Studio Theatre, 1028 R St., Sacramento.

    Sunday, Feb. 14 • 7:00 pm • Tickets $10 - Boston Blackie • The Bickersons • Our Miss Brooks, Madison High is Cold. Also featuring the song styling by Mike Branson.
    Sunday, Feb. 21 • 7:00 pm • Tickets $10 - Richard Diamond Private Eye • The Bickersons • My Friend Irma. Also featuring the song styling by Mike Branson.
    Tickets can be arranged by calling (877) 532-7171 or purchased at the door.
    At the end of February shows will be at the Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom.
    Sat., Feb. 27 at 4:00 pm and Sun., Feb. 28 at 6:00 pm. Richard Diamond Private Eye • The Bickersons • Our Miss Brooks, Madison High is Cold. Also featuring the song styling by Mike Branson.
    Call Sutter Street Theatre for ticket prices! (916) 353-1001.

ARDEN PLAYHOUSE IS BACK   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Feb. 2, 2010) - Merriment is in the making in the north Sacramento area. Michael and Barbara Messmer are bringing Arden Playhouse back. The Messmers took over Stagedoor Comedy Playhouse and entertained audiences for three years under the name Arden Playhouse.
    Having been involved in community theater in Sacramento for over 25 years they never gave up the dream of once again having their own theater.
    It has taken over thirty months in construction (and a byzantine journey through the world of government rules and permits that only Kafka would have enjoyed) to convert a warehouse space into a theater. The new Arden Playhouse is located at 5640 Roseville Road (Suite D) and seats 150.

   Although a brand new facility, this community theater continues its tradition of presenting quality comedy in a casual, comfortable setting (with cushioned seats even better than before).
    The first production, an original comedy by Michael Messmer that the Marx brothers would have loved, has its opening preview on March 18 and continues on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. (with several Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.) until April 24th. Auditions for the new play, The Witherspoon Waltz, will be held on February 10 and 11 (at 7 p.m.) and 13 and 14 (at 2 p.m.) at the theater.

ARDEN PLAYHOUSE SCHEDULES AUDITIONS   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Jan. 30, 2010) - The Arden Playhouse will be holding auditions for The Witherspoon Waltz on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and Thursday Feb.11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 13 and Sunday Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. Callback dates: TBD.
    The plot: Hal (think Groucho Marx at his zaniest) wants to produce a musical but needs money from the rich Mrs. Witherspoon. She’s in the hospital to find out why she’s so tired. The doctor in charge, a charming but serious Dr. Butz has called for a psychiatrist to help. Aided by his cynical assistant, Cassy, and an unappreciated orderly enamored of Cassy, Hal pretends to be the psychiatrist in order to have time with Witherspoon to pitch his show. Butz, is suspicious of his methods but has heard he’s eccentric. In the process he finds a way to revive Witherspoon’s energy and slowly gets Dr. Butz’s interest. Hal has trouble staying focused on the objective, switching often and rapidly from zany romantic, to serious psychiatrist, to hustling producer and back again. And, his would-be pigeon is sharper than he realizes. Repeated attempts by Hal to have time with Witherspoon leads to wild chases with a wheel-chair, a waltz that gets out of hand and almost everyone trying to hide from everyone at one time or another.

    Rehearsal dates will be weeknights at 7 p.m. and weekends at 2 p.m. starting Feb. 17.
    Previews will be Mar. 18, Friday and Saturday nights Mar. 19 - Apr. 24, Sunday matinees on Mar. 28, Apr.4, 11 & 18. The theater is located at 5640 Roseville Road, Ste. D, Sacramento, CA 95842.
    Resume and headshot helpful but not essential; auditions are cold reading from script.
Types needed:
Hal, male, 35-55, hustler with charm
Cassy, female, 25-35, smart, cynical, sexy
Mark, male, 25-35, feels under-appreciated
Witherspoon, female, 65-75, blunt
Butz, female, 35-55, dedicated, clever

    Ages given are all relative to the makeup of the ensemble.
    This is a farce requiring people with a lot of energy, the ability to make zany completely believable and the desire to have a lot of fun and make people laugh.
    For information, call (916) 332-2582 or email mzmr@surewest.net or admin@ardenplayhouse.com, or visit www.ardenplayhouse.com.
 

WOODLAND OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS 'ALADDIN, JR.'   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Jan. 9, 2010) - The Woodland Opera House will present Disney’s Aladdin, Jr. January 22 through February 14 on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. The show is generously underwritten by Kevin and Lorie Haarberg and Roger and Judy Kohlmeier.
    All of the familiar Disney characters are included in this stage adaptation of the hit animated feature film. Join Aladdin (Cole Souza), Jasmine (Allison Ruanto), the evil Jafar (Spenser Micetich), his sassy parrot Iago (Abby Miles), the Sultan (Jordan Gutierrez) and of course the Genie (Casey Camacho) in this family musical complete with magic, mayhem, flying carpet rides, and the Academy award-winning score with songs including “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me”.
    The cast also includes; Taylor Hartsfield, Devon Hayakawa, Kara Sheldon, Emma Black, and Amy Miles as the Narrators, Carver Simmons as Razoul, Jordan Black as the Magic Carpet, and Quentin Carbajal, Brian Varley, Jacob Hopkins, Horace Gonzalez, as palace guards, Kimmie Ruanto, Alexandra Hill-Fisk, Olivia Roberts, Amanda Young as palace harem girls, Erin Bruni, Keri Ruanto, Omar Huerta, Alexander Badawi, Stephani Johnson, James Hayakawa, Jordan Hayakawa, Alaura Hill-Fisk, Bailey Robinson-Burmester, Casey Wathen, Victoria Young, and Gabriela Galvez as the townspeople. The show is directed and choreographed by Angela Frost Shellhammer. Music Director is Lori Jarvey and the stage manager is Kelly Fleischmann. Set design is by Jeff Kean with costume design by Laurie Everly-Klassen.
    Tickets are available online at www.woodlandoperahouse.org or by calling (530) 666-9617. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students , $8 for children 17 and under, and tickets in the balcony are $10 for adults and $5 for children 17 and under.
 

NEW THEATRE COMPANY OPENS WITH MURDER   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Jan. 9, 2010) - Murder at the Howard Johnson's is a story of three people filled with passion - for whatever it is they don’t have at the moment. This suspense comedy will be the first production from Bob and Ro Productions, opening in the Studio Theatre, 1028 R St, Sacramento on January 22, 2010.
    Arlene (Lee Marie Kelly) is a passionate woman of, well, she’s a little vague on the exact number of years. She’s tired of her marriage to the steady (but boring) Paul (Aurelio Martinez), a used car salesman with a penchant for the color gray. She is drawn to Mitchell (Dean Shellenberger), who’s exciting and dynamic, and could have any woman he wanted. After all, he’s a dentist! And there seems to be only one way to remove Paul’s devotion to her… Murder!
    If only they were good at it.
    Just nine months after leaving Magic Circle Theatre, Bob and Rosemarie Gerould have created a new community theatre organization, raised money, found a location and put together their first production. It couldn’t have happened without the support of many wonderful people in the theatre community, as well as patrons who believe in them. Opening night will be a Thank You Party for supporters as much as a celebration of the opening of this funny show. All tickets are $25 for this one performance.
    Murder at the Howard Johnson's will play Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets will be $20 general admission, $18 seniors and $15 students. Tickets can be arranged by calling toll free (877) 532-7171 between 12 pm and 5 pm Tuesdays - Saturdays, or can be purchased at the box office as early as one hour before the show opens.

    For information, visit www.BobandRoProductions.org.

    (NOTE: Bob and Ro Productions is experiencing some issues with their box office number. Please use (916) 532-0108 as an alternative until they resolve the issue).

B STREET'S HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Dec. 18, 2009) - B Street Theatre has the perfect gift. Treat your gift recipient to the experience of live theatre with a Mainstage subscription. With the early bird discount rate you'll get 7 shows for as little as $70 – but only until December 31. Purchase your 2010–2011 Mainstage subscription gift today at www.bstreettheatre.org or call the Box Office at (916) 443-5300.
    And, a special offer for Capital Public Radio Members...B Street Theatre is now partners with Capital Public Radio. For the month of December, Cap Radio members who newly subscribe for a Mainstage subscription will receive a free voucher to any B Street performance. This offer ends December 31 so take advantage of your membership by ordering the 2010–2011 Mainstage subscription today at www.bstreettheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (916) 443-5300.
 

COSMOPOLITAN CABARET SETS 2010 SEASON   

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Nov. 23, 2009) - Beginning in January, The Cosmopolitan Cabaret will open a new professional theatre production every four months, giving theatregoers a chance to visit the snazzy K Street venue more often. The new subscription season from California Musical Theatre, producer of Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento, will focus on three slices of Americana, a fitting theme for the theatre located at the newly renovated corner of Sacramento’s K and 10th streets. Subscriptions for the season (on sale beginning Nov. 30) are all less than $99 per three-show package.
    The season will start with My Way: A Musical Tribute To Frank Sinatra, January 26 - May 9 (previews January 26 – 28, opening night, Friday, January 29). The four person musical review celebrates the music of this icon of cool: a singer whose style, voice and attitude defined much of 20th century music. Two dynamic couples perform 58 songs made famous by the Chairman of the Board, including “Strangers in the Night,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and “New York, New York.”
    Shear Madness, currently the longest-running play in American history, makes its Sacramento premiere May 25-September 5 (previews May 25 – 30, opening night, Tuesday, June 1). Taking place in a beauty salon, this uproarious whodunit includes colorful characters, spontaneity and topical humor. And the audience gets to solve the crime! “Shear Madness” has had long-running engagements around the country including Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C. (9,000 performances and counting) and the original Boston production which opened in 1980 and is still going strong.
    The third show in the series will be Suds, a delightful musical about a teenage girl and the guardian angels who come to teach her about finding true love. Beginning September 21 and running through January 9, 2011 (previews September 21 – 23, opening night, Friday, September 24), this bubbly musical set in a laundromat features hits from the ’60s including “Where the Boys Are,” “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” “Respect,” “I Feel Good” and “Do You Want to Know a Secret.”
    Subscriptions are available for purchase beginning Monday, November 30, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, Sacramento, or by calling (916) 557-1999. Subscription tickets are discounted more than 20 percent off the price of the tickets sold separately. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances and Thursday matinee performances are $79 for the three-show package. Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday and Sunday matinee packages are only $89. Subscriptions for premium tables on the first tier are $89 and $99 respectively. Discounts are available for groups from 12 to 199 by calling (916) 557-1198.
    Single-show tickets for each of the productions will go on sale at a later date. All productions performed at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret, 1000 K Street.
    The Cosmopolitan Cabaret is a 199-seat cabaret-style theatre, featuring 23 tables of four and seven rows of tiered seating with beverage counters. Adjacent to Paragary Restaurant Group’s Cosmo Café, patrons can take advantage of cocktail service inside the theatre before the show.

'SANTALAND DIARIES," "FICTION" CASTING ANNOUNCED

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (Oct. 28, 2009) - This holiday season Capital Stage will present the David Sedaris cult-hit Santaland Diaries, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. Capital Stage associate artist Janis Stevens will direct actor Gary Wright (formerly of the Foothill Theatre Company) in this sardonic one-man holiday tour-de-force.
    In January, Capital Stage continues its fifth season with Steven Dietz's Fiction. Part mystery, part romance Fiction will be directed by Capital Stage associate artist Peter Mohrmann and will feature Capital Stage regulars, artistic director Stephanie Gularte, associate artist Janis Stevens and Eric Wheeler.
    Performances for Santaland Diaries will begin with five previews on Friday, November 27 at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 28 at 7 p.m., Sunday, November 29 at 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 2 at 7 p.m., and Thursday, December 3 at 8 p.m.. Santaland Diaries will open on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 8 p.m.. Performances continue through December 27, 2009.
    Performances for Fiction will begin with four previews on Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m., Saturday, January 23 at 7 p.m., Sunday, January 24 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, January 28 at 8 p.m.. Fiction will open on Friday, January 29 at 8 p.m.. Performances continue through February 28, 2010.  Tickets to both productions are currently available at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464 or online at www.capstage.org.

DAVIS MUSICAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE

    DAVIS, Calif. (May 27, 2009) - The Davis Musical Theatre Company proudly announces their 25th

season of Broadway Musicals, to be performed at the DMTC Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Drive, Davis.
    Seussical the Musical (Sept. 18 – Oct. 11, 2009) Join the mischievous Cat in the Hat in this fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Seussical lovingly brings to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville!
    Carousel (Nov. 13 – Dec. 6, 2009) In a classic tale of love and redemption, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel is an inspiring musical that will tug at your heart and leave you humming such tunes as “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
    The Producers (Jan. 8 – 31, 2010) For the first time on a local community theatre stage, Mel Brooks’ smash musical sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds nationwide.
    Kiss Me, Kate (Feb. 26 – Mar. 21, 2010) “Brush up your Shakespeare…” for a modern take on the Bard’s Taming of the Shrew! Filled with bawdy humor and well-known standards, this updated version of Cole Porter’s classic satire is “too darn hot!”
    Gypsy (Apr. 23 – May 16, 2010) “Let us entertain you…” with Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s musical fable of a determined mother living her life vicariously through her children, one of whom grows up to be the one…the only…Gypsy Rose Lee.
    Crazy for You (Jun. 18-Jul. 11, 2010) All-singing! All-dancing! All-Gershwin! It’s the spectacular musical, Crazy for You! With such well-known songs as, “Embraceable You,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and show-stopping “I Got Rhythm,” who could ask for anything more?
    Season tickets for all 6 shows are $90 General and $80 for Students/Seniors (55 & over), and are available online at: http://www.dmtc.org or send for season tickets by writing to: DMTC-Season Tickets, 607 Pena Drive #10, Davis, CA 95618. For more information call DMTC at (530) 756-3682, e-mail DMTC at info@dmtc.org.
 

BROADWAY SACRAMENTO ANNOUNCES 2009-10 SCHEDULE

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2009) - California Musical Theatre's Broadway Sacramento has announced its slate for the 2009-10 season, including four shows never before seen in the Sacramento region.

    Legally Blonde (September 30-October 11, 2009) The hilarious MGM film is now a smash hit musical. Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn't take "no" for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
    Spring Awakening (November 4-15, 2009) Broadway's most talked about new musical is now the biggest Tony Award winner in years. Spring Awakening is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock 'n' roll that has awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. Winner of eight Tony Awards including best musical, Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget. (Recommended for adult audiences for sexual content).
    Xanadu (December 30, 2009-January 10, 2010) Put a bunch of smash hit songs, Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane and the cutest couple in town into a Broadway musical comedy blender, and what do you get? "Heaven on Wheels" says The New York Times. Taking audiences back to 1980 California, this hilarious new musical follows the beautiful Kira, who travels to earth to inspire a struggling artist named Sonny, as she helps this aspiring painter to find his voice, discover true love and build the world's first roller disco (not necessarily in that order).
    Chicago (March 10-21, 2010) A sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz, it's no surprise that Chicago has wowed audiences from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa. And now it's returning to Sacramento. If you're looking for your first Broadway musical, Chicago has everything you could want: knockout dancing, an edge-of-your-seat story and one showstopper after another. If you loved the Academy Award-winning film, nothing beats the live show, and if you are already intimately acquainted with the musical, experience that sizzle again. Chicago always delivers. (An option to the subscription package).
    Little House on the Prairie (April 14-25, 2010) Little House on the Prairie has remained one of the most popular and beloved celebrations of early Americana since the appearance of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular classic book series 70 years ago. Now the inspirational stories take on a brand new frontier in an uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura for 10 years in the much loved television series, continues her legacy by starring as Ma.
    A Chorus Line (May 19-30, 2010) In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance. This is A Chorus Line, the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line.
    Tickets to individual shows will be available beginning in the late summer or fall. (The schedule of on sale dates is still to be announced).