Rubicon's Summer Youth Program Opens BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR., Today

Rubicon's Summer Youth Program opens BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR. featuring songs from the Academy Award-winning animated feature. This stage version of the beloved Disney classic includes music by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Directed by Carolanne Marano with musical direction by Miriam Arichea, the one hour long production features many local youth performers in a production perfect for all ages.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR. opens today, July 18th at 7 p.m. and runs through July 20th with performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For tickets, call 805.667.2900 or go to rubicontheatre.org.

In this classic Disney rendition of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR., audiences are transported to the heart of a quaint French town where Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, yearns for something more than her provincial life. When her father Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to present his latest invention at a local fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle but is taken captive by the master of the house, a horrible Beast. Belle surrenders her freedom to save her father's life and, in time, shows the Beast the meaning of love.

CAST: Daniel Brackett, Ava Burge, Grayson Button, Meghan Carter, Lexie Collins, Riley Conrad, Cassidy Craig, Abigail Creech, Giselle Gallardo, Madeline Gambom, Elijah Graham, Gus Graham, Brian Ibarra, Yalda Kotobi, Carly Leandro, Lillian Lippold, Elena Marshall, Allison Martinez, Brenda Mayorga, Kevin Ochoa, Alisha Patel, Bella Sanford, Louis Santia, Leah Sehati, Elizabeth Urwick, Ashlynn Vaglica, Jillian Vallance, Taylor Vaughan, Michael Negley, and Talia Walsh.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Carolanne Marano (Director / Choreographer) has been a professional dancer for the past 25 years. During that time she has been training and performing throughout the country with San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet West, Metropolitan Ballet, and Dance Foundation of Kansas. Along with her extensive Ballet experience, she is also trained in Jazz and Musical Theatre. A member of Actors Equity, she most recently performed as Nellie Forbush in Downey Civic Light Opera's South Pacific and at the Hollywood Bowl with Reba McIntire in South Pacific. She has also performed in such shows as Man of LaMancha (Gypsy Dancer, Rubicon Theatre), Evita (Tango Dancer, Taiwan Tour), Gypsy (Louise), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Can-Can (Claudine) and West Side Story (Anita). As a choreographer her most recent work was the Belinda Carlisle/ Rufus Wainwright "A Night in Paris A Go-Go" New Year's Eve show for the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall. Carolanne has choreographed numerous musicals including West Side Story, Music Man and The Boyfriend. Her choreography for Studio 1 has won numerous awards. Carolanne is currently choreographing the independent film "The Ghastly Love of Johnny X."

Miriam Arichea (Musical Director) is known locally for her performances as a concert pianist and soloist with the Ventura College Symphony and the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. Miriam has collaborated with vocalists and instrumentalists in a variety of venues including the Ventura Music Festival, the Ventura Master Chorale series, and the Ventura Unified Festival of Talent. It was through her work at Festival that Miriam began working with Brian McDonald and started to become involved with Rubicon Theatre productions. Miriam also directs the youth music program at her church and has worked with the Ventura Unified School District choirs as well as the Camarillo Youth Theatre. A lawyer by training, Miriam received her undergraduate and law degrees at Duke University. She presently handles criminal appeals as a court-appointed attorney with the California Appellate Project. Miriam lives in Ventura with her husband Jeff Brackett and their children Josh, Arielle and Daniel.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

July 18 at 7 pm, July 19 at 2 pm & 7 pm, July 20 at 2 pm & 7 pm.

FREE DRESS REHEARSAL PERFORMANCE open to the public on Thursday, July 17th at 7pm. First come, first seated - attendees are encouraged to get to the theatre early!

TICKETS

Adults: $15 | $20 at the door

Kids 12 & under: $10 | $15 at the door

Tickets may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Box Office, located at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance), by phone at 805.667.2900 or by visiting rubicontheatre.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, August 13th through Saturday, August 16th Rubicon's Musical Theatre Camp presents THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE, directed by Brian McDonald with musical direction by Miriam Arichea and choreography by Carolanne Marano. Tickets are $20 for adults ($25 at the door) and $15 for kids 12 years old and under ($20 at the door).

On Sunday, August 17th at 7:30 pm, a Benefit Concert for Rubicon's Education and Outreach Program will take place named KIDS FOR KIDS: The Magic of Motown. Produced by Akira Dann and directed by Seryozha La Porte with choreography by Natalie Graham and musical direction by Miriam Arichea, the event is Rubicon's sixth youth produced fundraiser to benefit the theatre's Education & Outreach program. Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door.

Tickets may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Box Office, located at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance), or by phone at 805.667.2900 or by visiting rubicontheatre.org. Twenty-four-hour-a-day ticketing is available online, thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation Regional Arts Initiative.