Covina Center Presents 13, Opens 7/25

The Young Performers Institute of Covina announces its summer youth musical, Jason Robert Brown's 13 which opens for a 10 performance run July 25 at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts at Citrus and Badillo in Covina. The show is directed by Jill Gerber, YPI founder and educational director.

A coming of age musical that opened in 2007 at the Mark Taper Forum, the YPI production features of a cast of 20, all participants in YPI's summer educational program. Performances begin July 25 and run through August 7 with evening curtain at 7:30 pm and matinees at 2 pm on July 31 and August 7. All tickets are $16.

"YPI has produced an extraordinary ensemble cast," according to director Gerber. "The show tells the story of Evan Goldman's life as it spins out of control when his parents divorce and he is forced to move from New York to Indiana with his mother. These events coincide with Evan's thirteenth birthday and his upcoming bar mitzvah. All of these changes are told through Jason Robert Brown's brilliant music and lyrics. Audiences will appreciate the adolescent angst in this group's rendition of 13." Eddie Salas of Covina plays the Goldman character.

Other Covina residents in the cast include Kendra Harris, Brinie Wallace, Matt Diaz, Matt Casimiro, Alex Garcia, Baxton Keese, Jacquie Fregeolle, Shane Schildmeyer, Caitlin Carino, Benny Avalos, Victoria Ruiz, and Mary Sarabia. Rounding out the ensemble are Katie Jolgren of Glendora; Arthur Brown and Michelle Gutierrez of West Covina; Ann Marie Correa of La Puente; Danika Fischer of Upland; Andrea Seeget of Walnut, and Lacy Stephens of Sierra Madre.

Allen Casey is the instrumental director for 13; Taylor Tracey choreographed, and Josh Prisk is technical director. Mark Peterson provides piano accompaniment with an ensemble of four Northview High School students: Gabriel Sifuentes on lead guitar, Xavier Preciado, also guitar, Joseph Hans on bass, and Jacob Miranda, drums.

YPI's 13 shares the stage with CCPA's currently running production of Oliver!. Tickets and further information for 13 or Oliver! may be obtained by calling the CCPA box office at 626 331 8133 or by visiting the website at www.covinacenter.com.