Chance Theater's DOGFIGHT Begins 2/5

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater is pleased to present the Los Angeles and Orange County premiere of ... Dogfight. Book by Peter Duchan, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, directed by Matthew McCray, music direction by Taylor Stephenson, and choreographed by Angeline Mirenda. Dogfight will preview from February 5 through February 12, regular performances will begin February 13 and continue through March 6 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

In this 2013 Lucille Lortel Outstanding Musical Award winner, a plain young woman not accustomed to men's attention is approached by a young Marine the night before he ships out for Vietnam. Little does she know why he's really invited her to a party, and little does he know that this "common girl" is going to change him in ways he could never imagine.

"Easily the most delicate, surprising musically satisfying score since Spring Awakening." - Time Out New York

"This is musical theater at its finest. Superbly crafted, gratifyingly intelligent, richly observant, and immensely enjoyable."-- Backstage

Expanding on the 1991 Warner Brothers film of the same name (which starred River Phoenix, Lili Taylor and Brendan Fraser), the award-winning team of Broadway's A Christmas Story and television's "Smash" have created a new musical that brings an unexpected lesson on love and the power of compassion.

"It's the beautiful story of a Vietnam vet returning home to San Francisco where on the eve of his departure he met a woman that he never stopped thinking about," said director Matthew McCray, who makes his Chance debut with this production. "But it's really about the way a person can change and the impact of a single individual on another individual if you're willing to be open to that person. These characters are young people really doing the best that they can and learning who they are as people."

Matthew McCray (director) has directed productions and workshops at Center Theatre Group, StudioSCR at South Coast Repertory, the LA Philharmonic at Disney Concert Hall, Deaf West Theatre, Theatre @ Boston Court, REDCAT, Circle X, Son of Semele, Moving Arts, Rogue Machine, among others. As the Founding Artistic Director of Son of Semele Ensemble, he has produced 15 seasons of theatre in Los Angeles. Directing awards have included recognition from the LA Drama Critics Circle and the Sage Awards, as well as nominations from the Ovation Awards and LA Weekly Awards. As a performer, credits include REDCAT, Disney, REPRISE!, Overtone Industries, Theatre @ Boston Court, Musical Theatre West, Shakespeare Orange County, as well as on the TV shows Parenthood, New Girl, Will & Grace, Boston Legal, and the feature The Commission (w/ Martin Sheen). Executive Officer, Theatrical Producers League of Los Angeles. Ovation Voter since 2008. BFA, Chapman University. Member: SDC, AEA & SAG/AFTRA.

The production team for Dogfight includes director Matthew McCray, along with music director Taylor Stephenson (Ovation Award winner for Chance's Triassic Parq), choreographer Angeline Mirenda, scenic designer Christopher Scott Murillo (A Bright New Boise), lighting designer KC Wilkerson (LADCC Award winner for The Who's Tommy), sound designer Ryan Brodkin (Samsara), costume designer Christina Perez (In The Heights) and stage manager Courtny Greenough.

The cast for Dogfight includes resident artist James McHale (Samsara), returning Chance artists Andrew Puente (After the Revolution), Ashley Arlene Nelson (Lysistrata Jones), Joseph Ott (Hairspray), Robin Walton (The Legend(s) of Sleepy Hollow), Nohely Quiroz (In The Heights), and Monika Pena (Hairspray). Artists making their Chance debut in this production include Jonathan Rosario, Kim Dalton, Cassandra Rieck, John Wells III, and David Sasik.

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