Photo Flash: SUMMER OF LOVE Opens at the Carpenter Center

Musical Theatre West presents the world premiere of Roger Bean's groovy new musical SUMMER OF LOVE at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. SUMMER OF LOVE runs April 2 through April 17, 2011. The show's creator and writer, Roger Bean directs.

SUMMER OF LOVE is set in 1967 as the countercultural revolution exploded in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco with riotous politics, creative expression, and amazing music. Holly, a young runaway bride arrives on the scene, and learns to make her own kind of music amid the hippies and dropouts populating the Golden Gate Park. This psychedelic new show features music from some of the most impressionable artists of the love generation: The Mamas and the Papas, Sly & the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Blood, Sweat & Tears and many more. You'll love this flower-power, feel-good, musical experience. It's sure to be a real trip.

The Musical Theatre West cast of this world premiere includes: Eric Anderson (Broadway: SOUTH PACIFIC, Nat'l Tour: CAMELOT, Regional: MTW's RAGTIME, THE WILD PARTY, Blank Theatre Company and Musical Theatre Guild, MAN OF LA MANCHA & CABARET, Moonlight Stage Productions) as River, Callie Carson (Regional: MTW's RENT, Happy Days, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Cabrillo) as Janis, Doug Carpenter (Regional: CAMELOT, Pasadena Playhouse, MISS SAIGON, Moonlight Stage Productions, OKLAHOMA, WESTSIDE STORY, Fullerton CLO, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, Hudson Theatre) as Curtis, Katrice Gavino (Regional: THE F WORDS, AMDA, THE KING AND I, Fullerton CLO) as Daisy, Christine Horn (Broadway/National Tour: THE LION KING, Regional: WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE, Celebration Theatre) as Saige, Scott Kruse (Regional: WHEN GARBO TALKS, International City Theatre) as Dizzy, Frank Lawson (World Tour: RENT, Nat'l Tour: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, Regional: HAIR , 5th Avenue Music Theatre) as Rufus, James May (Regional: MTW's 1776, MY LIFE, THE MUSIC OF Billy Joel for Plan B Entertainment, HAIR, Chance Theatre) as Donovan. Melissa Mitchell (Regional: MTW's ANNIE, JOSEPH, CINDERELLA, Cabrillo Music Theatre, OKLAHOMA, CLO of South Bay Cities, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, Hudson Theatre) as Holly. Alyssa Simmons (Regional: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Hale Center Theatre, HAIR, Egyptian Theatre Company) as Willow. Victoria Strong (Nat'l Tour: RAGTIME, Regional: CAMELOT, Glendale Center Theatre, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Covina Center, JEKYLL & HYDE, KING AND I, Fullerton CLO, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, CLO of South Bay Cities as Mama and Michael J. Willett (Regional: LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, Hudson Theatre, THE GREEN ROOM, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) as Coyote.

The performance schedule for SUMMER OF LOVE is Thursdays and through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance added on April 10th. Tickets start at $30, with last-row seating available at an additional discount. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Tickets for SUMMER OF LOVE are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Photo Credit: Lily Lim

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