San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre Launches with 'Music'

The San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre (SGVMT), a newly formed not-for-profit producing organization, will bring a series of Broadway musical theatre productions at the historic San Gabriel Valley Civic Auditorium (Mission Playhouse) after a five year absence.

"After almost two very successful years of fund raising, the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre is ready to raise the curtain on The Sound of Music as the inaugural production for our 2006-2007 Broadway season," said SGVMT Executive Producer John Peters. "In this effort, which has not only been a tremendously exciting venture - but a true labor of love, I am particularly proud to be joined by an extraordinarily talented and very loyal creative team consisting of Artistic Director Bill Shaw, Choreographer Rikki Lugo and Musical Director Lloyd Cooper.  Additionally, we are blessed with a phenomenal, deeply dedicated Board of Directors headed by President Mary Cammarano, former Mayor of San Gabriel," concluded Peters.

"The first steps in an effort to bring musical theatre back to the city of San Gabriel were taken January 23, 2005 when the then, newly formed San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre presented Open A New Window - a benefit performance featuring a cast of Broadway and regional musical theatre veterans.  As the foundation for a follow-up series of fundraisers throughout 2005 and 2006, Open A New Window led to the SGVMT's The Monday Night Cabaret – Broadway at The Playhouse ('The Playhouse' being the original name of the legendary San Gabriel Civic Auditorium), and once again garnered overwhelming support, not only by professional musical theatre performers, but an ever growing base of patrons of the arts," state press materials.

"Recent auditions for the timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein classic drew throngs of talented performers from the greater Los Angeles area culminating in the casting of Broadway musical theatre veterans Victoria Strong as Maria Rainer and Michael G. Hawkins as Captain Georg von Trapp."

The Sound of Music first opened on Broadway November 16, 1959 with Mary Martin (as Maria Rainer) and Theodore Bikel (as Captain Georg von Trapp).  It was the recipient of 7 Tony Award nominations and 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Actress and ran for 1443 performances, closing June 15, 1963. It remains one of the world's most beloved musicals featuring such songs such as "Climb Every Mountain", "Do-Re-Mi", "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", "Edelweiss", "Maria", and the title song "The Sound of Music"

The lead cast for the production follows:

Maria Rainer:  Victoria Strong of Alhambra

Captain Georg von Trapp: Michael G. Hawkins of Los Angeles

The Mother Abbess: Kris Wildman of Burbank

Max Detweiler: George Stratten of Burbank

Elsa Schraeder: Ann Peck McBride of Burbank

Frau Schmidt: Cheryl Shryock of Monrovia

Franz: James Robuck of Temple City

Sister Berthe: Laurel Robinson of Burbank

Sister Margaretta: Jennifer Stratten of Burbank

Sister Sophia:  Kelly Dodson of Winnetka

Liesl von Trapp: Nickie Gentry of San Marino

Friedrich von Trapp:  Zach Jacobson of Claremont

Kurt von Trapp: Quintan Craig of Brea

Louisa von Trapp: Mollie Rae Craig of Brea

Brigitta von Trapp: Alissa Anderegg of Arcadia

Marta von Trapp: Rebecca Thomas of La Crescenta

Gretl von Trapp: Taylor Longbrake of Corona

Rolf Gruber: Chris Ciccarelli of Burbank

Admiral von Schreiber: Gene Wallace of Arcadia

The San Gabriel Civic Auditorium (Mission Playhouse) is located at  320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776.  Performances are Friday, November 3 at 8pm - Saturday, November 4 at 2pm and 8pm - Sunday, November 5 at 2pm.  Tickets: Terrace Boxes: $60. Orchestra I: $40. Orchestra II: $30. Orchestra III and Balcony: $20.  Call 626-282-1440 or 626-308-2865 x350, or visit www.Seatadvisor.com or www.sgvmusictheatre.org for tickets.

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