Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

California School Of The Arts – San Gabriel Valley to Present OF THEE I SING This Week

"Of Thee I Sing" runs Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 11 with a matinee showing at 2 p.m. and an evening showing at 7 p.m.

California School Of The Arts – San Gabriel Valley to Present OF THEE I SING This Week

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) students share the love this February at the school's fifth-annual all-school musical, "Of Thee I Sing." The first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Of Thee I Sing" follows politician John P. Wintergreen as he runs for President of the United States on a "platform of love". The score features a patriotic mix of music including marches, ballads and large ensemble with choral commentary. "Of Thee I Sing" runs Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 11 with a matinee showing at 2 p.m. and an evening showing at 7 p.m. at the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College, located at 1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, Calif.

CSArts-SGV's annual all-school musical is celebrated as the largest cross-conservatory collaboration for both students and staff. For the first time since the school opened merely six years ago, the all-school musical "Of Thee I Sing" features a cast and crew of over 90 students from all 10 of the school's conservatories: acting, ballet & contemporary dance, commercial dance, creative writing, instrumental music, integrated arts, musical theatre, production & design, visual arts, and vocal arts. The school of dance staff is developing choreography and instrumental music students and staff are performing in the full 24-piece pit orchestra. Additionally, visual arts students are designing several props, while production & design students are handling staging and lighting.

The stage will be set at the Haugh Performing Arts Center - nearly four times larger than the one CSArts-SGV students are accustomed to - which allows students the chance to work with more scenery and technology than the average CSArts-SGV show. Professional labor has been brought in to guide these more expansive set builds, allowing students the opportunity to learn from more teachers, work on more items and utilize new techniques, promising CSArts-SGV's most elaborate performance thus far. The talented team leading the production also includes Director Jud Williford , Choreographer Bridget McNally and Music Director Graham Jackson. Tyler McGeogh, director of the Instrumental Music Conservatory will conduct the orchestra in George Gershwin's nationalistic score.

Williford, who is also the school's Chair of Theatre, emphasized how the cross-conservatory collaboration could not be more perfect for the themes and scale of this performance. The score does not feature traditional verse-and-chorus songs, yet multiple recitative and chorale commentaries performed by a large ensemble and company.

"This particular show provides opportunities for our student artists across multiple conservatories" said Williford. "But most of all, it teaches students what it takes to tell a story together as an ensemble, an ensemble that includes all parts of production."

He said "Of Thee I Sing" dives deep into motifs that CSArts-SGV students have yet to cover. While previous all-school musicals have followed a musical drama theme, "Of Thee I Sing" is a musical comedy that covers the ins-and-outs of politics on a national and international level. Because of this, there have been many conversations among the cast about the plays' relevance that other musical comedies don't usually bring up, Williford said.

Additionally, he said he hopes this show encourages the audience to see past the satirical humor of this reality TV-style presidential campaign of love, beauty pageants and corn muffins, and think about the real message.

"I think folks will find that not much has changed in 90 years of politics. In this production, based on our recent political past, some may find themselves laughing and thinking. Satire at its best is a mirror!" he said.

CSArts-SGV is grateful to Citrus College for hosting the performance at the Haugh Performing Arts Center. Tickets for "Of Thee I Sing" are $25 and available online at sgv.csarts.net/boxoffice.

About California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) provides an unparalleled arts and academic education in a creative, challenging and nurturing environment to a diverse student body with a passion for the arts. Serving more than 1,200 students in grades seven through 12, the public charter school draws students from more than 80 cities within and outside the San Gabriel Valley. CSArts-SGV is a place for aspiring young artists to refine their skills and flourish in one of the four schools of study offered, including: dance, fine & media arts, music and theatre. CSArts-SGV provides a rigorous college-preparatory academic program that includes a dual-enrollment program with Citrus College and a wide variety of Advanced Placement courses. CSArts-SGV received the national Arts Schools Network New and Emerging School Award and has been voted Best Charter School in the San Gabriel Valley.



Photos: Go Inside THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS 50th Anniversary Celebration Photo
The cast and crew of CBS and Sony Television’s THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS celebrated the 50th anniversary of daytime’s #1 drama at an exclusive event on Friday, March 17, in Los Angeles at The Vibiana. Check out the photos here!

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 Photo
On March 15th, “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” opened at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum. Playwright Anna Deavere Smith attended and posed with the cast, along with director Gregg T. Daniel, creative team members and special guests. Check out photos from the opening here!

Photos: THE MAN IN A GREEN SUIT Premieres in Los Angeles Photo
FYC Independents and the Van Nuys/Reseda Elks Lodge hosted 'The Man in a Green Suit' Premiere on Friday, March 10, 2023 in Los Angeles. Check out photos here!

Review: THE LONELY FEW at The Geffen Playhouse Photo
Zoe Sarnak’s score rocks. It sounds at times like Blondie or the B-52s (I like the B-52s so that comparison is not a dig here), but is so intrinsically connected to the emotional arch of the story being told that it soars like a musical theatre score should.


More Hot Stories For You


Michael-Leon Wooley, Israel Erron Ford & More Join MOSTLY MUSICALS: MAKE IT WORKMichael-Leon Wooley, Israel Erron Ford & More Join MOSTLY MUSICALS: MAKE IT WORK
March 20, 2023

On Thursday, March 23, join CMO (chief music officer) Gregory Nabours and the (mostly)musicals company for an evening of songs about work - the jobs you love, the jobs you hate, and the jobs you wish you had - at the Knitting Factory NoHo.

William Mastrosimone's Thriller CAT'S-PAW to be Presented by Momentum Theatre Company in MayWilliam Mastrosimone's Thriller CAT'S-PAW to be Presented by Momentum Theatre Company in May
March 20, 2023

Momentum Theatre Company will present its next production, William Mastrosimone's thriller, Cat's-Paw, directed by veteran television actor Tony Denison (Crime Story, The Closer, Major Crimes).

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper ForumPhotos: Go Inside Opening Night of TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum
March 18, 2023

On March 15th, “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” opened at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum. Playwright Anna Deavere Smith attended and posed with the cast, along with director Gregg T. Daniel, creative team members and special guests. Check out photos from the opening here!

Los Altos Stage Company Presents HAROLD AND MAUDELos Altos Stage Company Presents HAROLD AND MAUDE
March 17, 2023

Los Altos Stage Company presents Harold and Maude as the fourth production of its 2022-2023 season.

Critically Acclaimed Modern Parlor Magic Returns To The Iconic Biltmore Hotel With Spring Season Shows Premiering April 7Critically Acclaimed Modern Parlor Magic Returns To The Iconic Biltmore Hotel With Spring Season Shows Premiering April 7
March 17, 2023

The event is an intimate show of magic, mentalism, music and theater inspired by Victorian Era parlor shows and a found diary from 1895. Storyteller magician David Carlo weaves in personal diary entries and historical moments to transport audiences back in time.