Musical Theatre West Announces Their 58th Season Line Up

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer and Steven Glaudini, Artistic Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West are proud to announce the 2010-2011 Season at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Recent world class productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD have solidified MTW's reputation as southern California's premier musical theatre company. Critics agree that Musical Theatre West is "currently the Southland's finest" musical theatre company (BackStage West) and "sets the bar for musical theatre in Southern California" (Gazette Newspapers).

This new season offers something for everyone. Steven Glaudini, MTW's Artistic Director/Producer, stated, "We are thrilled to provide a season that truly has something for everyone. From the Tony-Award winning musical ANNIE, which introduces many families to Musical Theatre for the first time, to our number one patron requested show - Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS, to maintaining our commitment to producing newer works such as the World Premiere of the New Roger Bean musical SUMMER OF LOVE, to the recent New York hit THE WEDDING SINGER, we at MTW continue to promise to provide the highest quality of Musical Theatre to our region solidifying our claim as Southern California's Premier Musical Theatre Company!"

The season will open with everybody's favorite orphan, ANNIE, (October 29-November 14, 2010) Based on the Tribune Media Service Comic Strip, Little Orphan Annie, ANNIE is the story of a spunky depression-era orphan determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family in the home of billionaire, Oliver Warbucks (where we meet a wonderful mutt named Sandy). Winner of nine 1977 Tony Awards--including Best Musical, ANNIE features a bright tuneful score which has long since become a part of our nation's cultural heritage.

For its second production, MTW is thrilled to present CATS (February 11-February 27, 2010), based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The story is set at the annual reunion of the Jellicle cats at the Jellicle Ball. The eldest of this special breed, Old Deuteronomy, seeks to select which of the many cats in the neighborhood will be reborn to begin another life. Potential candidates named Jennyanydots, Rum Tum Tugger, and Bustopher Jones plead their case. Ultimately, it is Grizabella's plea for a new life that wins the old cat over. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, CATS features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless melodies, including the hit song "Memory."

For its third production, MTW is proud to present a world premiere of a groovy new musical from Roger Bean, the creator of "The Marvelous Wonderettes" and "The Andrews Brothers," SUMMER OF LOVE (April 1- April 17, 2011). In 1967, the countercultural revolution brought a melting pot of music, creative expression, and politics to the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. A few years later, a young flower child named Daisy arrives on the scene, yearning to experience her own summer of love amid the hippies and dropouts populating the Golden Gate Park. This new show features music from some of the most impressionable artists of the love generation: The Mamas and the Papas, Donovan, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and many more. You'll love this flower-power, feel-good, family-friendly musical experience!

MTW will close the season by taking you back to 1985 to relive the days of big hair with the Southern California regional premiere of the musical based on the hip Adam Sandler film, THE WEDDING SINGER. Wannabe rock star Robbie Hart is everyone's favorite wedding singer and life of the party until he gets jilted at the altar. Embittered, he vows to make every wedding as disastrous as his own. But then he meets Julia, a waitress who wins his heart - but she's already engaged. Can he win her heart before she says "I Do" or will it be too late? It's totally 80s from big hair to Billy Idol! If you love weddings and remember skinny ties, shoulder pads and leg warmers, you'll fall in love with THE WEDDING SINGER.

ABOUT MUSICAL Theatre West

Now in its 58th season, Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, the company has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its work presenting the entire spectrum of musical comedy (including 21 Ovation Award nominations over the past three seasons and the Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre).

Musical Theatre West performances are at the beautiful 1070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. Season Tickets are available now and can be purchased through the MTW Box Office at (562) 856-1999 x4 or online at www.musical.org.