Press Releases 2007

CONTACT: Jana Marcus, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-5744
jamarcus [at] cabrillo.edu

June 1, 2007

CABRILLO STAGE REVIVES REPERTORY SEASON
Two Musical Blockbusters Slated for Summer 2007

Aptos, CA. June 1, 2007—Cabrillo Stage is proud to announce its 26th season of presenting live, professional theatre, with this summer’s repertory productions of two favorites: Ashman and Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors performing in the Cabrillo Erica Schilling Forum June 29 — July 22, and the Cole Porter classic Kiss Me Kate, playing on the Cabrillo Theater mainstage, July 20 — August 19.

“By returning to a two-show season, we are able to provide audiences with a wide variety of entertainment,” says Jon Nordgren, as he launches into his second year as Producing Artistic Director for the company. “We have a show suited for everyone—Little Shop of Horrors is outrageous campy fun, while Kiss Me Kate is a BIG mainstage romantic comedy with the sophisticated irony of a show-within-a-show plot and unforgettable Cole Porter songs.”  Both productions promise to be crowd-pleasers as Nordgren has spared no expense to assemble an outstanding team of renowned designers, actors and musicians from all over the country.

The season opens with Little Shop of Horrors, June 29 —July 22, in the Schilling Forum, which holds an intimate 240 seats. Known as one of the longest running off-Broadway shows, this gleefully gruesome musical will be directed and choreographed by the acclaimed team that brought you West Side Story in 2003, Dustin Leonard and Trevor Little. Bay Area favorite Andrew Ceglio takes the lead as Seymour and New York actress Ariel Buck plays Audrey. Michael McGushin returns as musical director.

Little Shop of Horrors will make you scream with laughter, as a down-and-out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation after discovering an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore that offers the florist fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite.  Finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination, this affectionate spoof on 1950s sci-fi movies has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty And The Beast” and “Aladdin.”

The season continues with Kiss Me Kate performing on the Cabrillo Theater mainstage, July 20 — August 19. Janie Scott returns as director and choreographer, after last year’s hit, Guys And Dolls. Assisting Scott in bringing this huge production to life is an award-winning team of Broadway and Los Angeles designers including costumer Thomas G. Marquez, scenic designer Charlie Smith, and lighting by Richard Winkler. Artistic Producer Jon Nordgren conducts the full-pit orchestra.

Starring in Kiss Me Kate is Los Angeles Equity and SAG actress Teressa Byrne. Byrne, who grew up in Carmel, has performed on a global scale, from playing opposite Rita Moreno in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Maria Callas to singing La Boheme at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy; she has sung for U.S. ambassadors and dignitaries in Malta, and graced the stage at the Hollywood Bowl in The Sound of Music. Her remarkable voice will add just the right flair to the classic Cole Porter music of Kiss Me Kate.

Porter’s Tony award-wining masterpiece takes its inspiration from Shakespeare, as it recounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding romantic couples during a touring production of The Taming of the Shrew. The bickering couples hilarious offstage disputes ultimately entangle them with a pair of unexpectedly erudite gangsters and a megalomaniacal U.S. Army general. Sparkling with 18 Cole Porter songs—including “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,”  “From This Moment On,”  “So in Love,” “Always True to You in My Fashion,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”—Kiss Me Kate epitomizes the Broadway musical comedy at its irresistible best.

Cabrillo Stage's unsurpassed reputation for presenting Broadway musicals continues to leave thousands of theatre-goers and critics alike cheering. Ann Bennet of The Santa Cruz Sentinel wrote, "Cabrillo Stage’s reputation for superb entertainments seems to get bigger and better every year."

About Cabrillo Stage 
Cabrillo Stage is a non-profit, non-union, professional summer stock musical theatre company dedicated to presenting full-scale Broadway musicals to the greater Monterey Bay area.   Producing a diversity of musical theatre works with the goal of educating as well as giving its audiences quality family entertainment, Cabrillo Stage is now recognized as one of the three major performing arts events in Santa Cruz County. It draws an enthusiastic crowd of more than 15, 000 viewers to the 28 performances on the Mainstage alone. Each summer since 1981, the Company has provided thousands of Santa Cruz county residents and visitors with unforgettable, critically acclaimed productions such as Guys And Dolls,West Side Story, The Fantasticks,Some Like it Hot, Peter Pan, and Annie, as well as regional premieres of new musicals such as Honk!  Cabrillo Stage is noted for innovative sets, beautiful costumes, an outstanding pit orchestra and talented, professional performers.  Cabrillo Stage is committed to providing a nurturing, supportive artistic environment that allows all of its artisans, professional and non-professional, the opportunity to create musicals with high quality production values. Producing Artistic Director: Jon Nordgren

WHAT:       Cabrillo Stage presents two Broadway favorites: Little Shop of Horrors, the gleefully gruesome musical comedy about a down-and-out skid row florist who discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood which grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers the florist fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite.June 29- July 22, in the Cabrillo Schilling Forum. And…

Kiss Me Kate, the Tony Award -wining masterpiece by composer Cole Porter, takes its inspiration from Shakespeare, as it recounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding romantic couples during a touring production of The Taming of the Shrew. Features 18 classic Cole Porter songs—including “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “So in Love,” “Always True to You in My Fashion,” and “Too Darn Hot.” July 20 - August 19, in the Cabrillo Theater.

WHEN:       Repertory season runs June 29 – August 19, 2007
Thursday through Saturday evening performances at 8pm, weekend matinees at 3pm.

WHERE:      Cabrillo College Campus, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA. 

TICKETS:    Charge by phone: 831-479-6154. Box office opens June 4. Discount ticket packages available..Charge online at www.cabrillostage.com 

INFORMATION: www.cabrillostage.com