Laguna Playhouse Kicks Off 2014 with RING OF FIRE Tonight

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham kick off the New Year with the legendary songs of that legendary man in black, RING OF FIRE, The Music of Johnny Cash, with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and musical direction and direction by Steve Steiner.

"What better way to begin 2014 than to offer our subscribers and audiences a musical tribute to an American Icon," offers Wood. "Who doesn't love such classics as "I've Been Everywhere," "I Walk The Line" and so many more! A fascinating look at a fascinating man." "With thirty extraordinary songs performed by a talented cast of 10, this "Ring" starts our new year off 'On Fire,'" adds Wareham.

RING OF FIRE will begin previews tonight, January 7 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

There's a little Johnny Cash in everyone, which is one reason why his music has transcended decades and America has lifted him up to the iconic status that he has become. RING OF FIRE features a talented company of 10 performers who will guide you on a journey through Cash's storied life and celebrated music, from the cotton fields of Arkansas to the Grand Ole Opry. Nearly eleven years after his passing, Johnny Cash remains one of the most popular entertainers of all time.

His success is incomparable - 11 Grammy Awards (including the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Grammy), inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock Music Hall of Fame, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He has placed 48 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop charts and over 130 hits on the Billboard Country singles chart - more than anyone in history. His autobiography, "Man in Black," has sold approximately 1.5 million copies, and the official Johnny Cash website, www.johnnycash.com, receives more than 9 million hits per day.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST:

Steve Steiner (Director & Musical Director) serves as Artistic Director of Boebe Productions, Ocean Professional Theatre Company and Jersey Shore Entertainment. He has been an Actor, Director and/or Musical Director for 3 Broadway, 3 Off-Broadway, 3 National Tours and hundreds of Regional Productions. In 2004 Steve began producing shows for casino venues in Atlantic City and Reno, producing more than 25 highly acclaimed productions. In 2009 that work began to include National Tours. That now includes 4 National Tours while directing many regional productions. This past Fall Steve directed the National Touring Company of Buddy...The Buddy Holly Story while also serving as the Musical Director. Ring Of Fire will travel next to Reno, NV to play 3 months at The El Dorado Casino and Resort. In addition to his work in the theatre, Steve is a board member of the following service organizations: The South Jersey Cultural Alliance (President), ArtPride New Jersey (Arts Advocacy), The Ocean County Tourism Advisory Committee (Former Chair). He has also served 10 years on the Council (Board) of Actors Equity Association. Steve has been honored many times with the Governor's Excellence in Tourism Award, and is the proud recipient of The Cultural Access Task Force's Innovator Award for his forward thinking and hiring practices for Artists with Disabilities. In April 2013 the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission awarded Steve a Special Recognition for the Advancement of the Arts in Ocean County, New Jersey.

PAULA HAMMONS SLOAN (Choreography & Assistant Director)) is pleased to be in Laguna Beach with the cast of Ring of Fire. Her work as Director & Choreographer and Master Teacher has been recognized nationally for almost 40 years. Ms. Sloan has directed or choreographed numerous national tours including: Music Man, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Little Women, Urban Cowboy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Copacabana, Funny Girl, George M, Singin' in the Rain, Titanic, My One and Only, Crazy for You and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Having mounted several productions at the Tropicana Resort and Casino and Resorts in Atlantic City she also directed and choreographed productions of Miracle on 34th Street on the West Coast and at the Tropicana Resort and Casino. She was choreographer for Jekyll and Hyde and Singin' in the Rain' for the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino Broadway Series in Atlantic City which also played for an extended run at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida. Ms. Sloan has directed and choreographed regionally including, Kansas City Starlight (The Producers, Anything Goes), Casa Manana (Oklahoma), West Virginia Public Theatre, Surflight Theatre (On Your Toes, Sisters of Swing, Lady Be Good, Ragtime, Joseph, Will Rogers, White Christmas, Ebenezer), Gateway Playhouse, Plan B Productions (The Producers, Footloose), Theatre Under the Stars (Houston) (110 in the Shade, Wonderful Life, Disney's When You Wish), the Houston Symphony, the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade and opening ceremonies of the 100th Anniversary Convention of Girl Scouts. Her work is often seen in New Jersey at Ocean Professional Theatre Company where she also serves as the Director of the Apprentice Program.

The cast of RING OF FIRE will feature (in alphabetical order): Stephen Brunson, Nathan Yates Douglass, Justin Droegemueller, Logan Farine, Allison Fund, Dale W. Given, Romain Rachline, Courtney Rada, Amberly Rosen and Zach Sicherman.

The design team for RING OF FIRE is as follows: The Scenic Design is by P & G Designs. The Lighting and Sound Design is by Eileen Smitheimer. The Costume Design is by Keith Schneider. The Sound Design is by Phil Allen. The Production Stage Manager is Kristin Sutter.

RING OF FIRE will begin previews on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Performances will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm; Sundays at 2pm. There will be additional performances on Thursday, January 9 at 2pm; Sunday, January 12 at 7pm; Sunday, January 19 at 7pm; Thursday, January 23 at 2pm & Thursday, January 30 at 2pm.

Tickets range from $36 - $71 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Student discounts are available at the Box Office. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. The box office is open Mondays - Sundays: noon to 5pm (open until 7:30pm on performance days). For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 LagunaCanyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Founded in 1920, The Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is noted for its artistic excellence, wide-ranging theatrical programming, award-winning youth education offerings and community partnerships. A member of the League of Resident Theatres, The Laguna Playhouse is a valued part of the Laguna Beach arts community that serves all of Southern California with year-round, professional, high-quality productions in theatre, music and dance.

Because of its longstanding commitment to the arts, The Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for excellence by the LA Drama Critics Circle, NAACP, Backstage, ArtsOC, OC Weekly, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and more. Laguna Playhouse educational programming, which includes classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and a school tour, has been honored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education.

Serving more than 100,000 patrons each season, The Laguna Playhouse has brought many talented performers to Southern California, including Davis Gaines, Stephanie Zimbalist, Rita Rudner, Sally Struthers, Cloris Leachman, Julie Harris, Harrison Ford, Charles Durning, Marlo Thomas, Roddy McDowell and Bette Davis, who have performed in world, national and regional premieres, as well as national tours of The Belle of Amherst and Copenhagen.

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