Keith Randall

Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura’s non-profit professional theatre company, will continue the company’s 2022-2023 Season with the World Premiere of LONESOME TRAVELER: GENERATIONS, conceived by George Grove and James O’Neil, with musical direction by Rick Dougherty and George Grove and direction by Rubicon Co-Founder James O’Neil.

It's not every day that Audra McDonald stands twenty feet in front of you and says, 'Tonight, we are all a part of history.' Then again, it's not every day that music history gets made in Orlando - real-deal, textbook-worthy history - so when it does happen, I reckon Audra McDonald is as eager to be a part of it as anyone else...

Continuing with the celebration of the opening of Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall will be the professional world premiere of Duke Ellington’s BLACK, BROWN AND BEIGE, a piece that first played at Carnegie Hall in 1943 and was created to “provide a more accurate accounting of African American history written for the first time by a member of his race.” Critically panned simply because it was ahead of its time, Ellington never performed it in its entirety again. This version of the piece, which was commissioned by G. Schirmer, Inc. through Ellington’s son Mercer in 1987 is arranged and orchestrated by music scholar and former Ellington bandmate Randall Keith Horton. I caught up with Mr. Horton to learn more about this piece, why it is so important (and appropriate for the Steinmetz opening celebration) and what audiences can expect from this performance.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will present the professional world premiere of Duke Ellington’s most significant work Black, Brown and Beige, the only-full length orchestration, as well as the composer’s equally pioneering and swinging work, Sacred Music, in a special, one-night event on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. 

This magical time is back with The Vegas Room. The intimate supper club is now celebrating A Vegas Room Christmas, complete with a delicious six-course holiday meal (with a vegan option). Along with a handcrafted dining experience (including the dessert “Let It Snow”), the complimentary entertainment celebrates the classic holiday movie, White Christmas, and the music of Irving Berlin (over two dozen songs). Along with the talent dance team of Benjamin Tucker (choreographer) and Emma McGirr, rotating cast members will add their particular interpretations during the run of A Vegas Room Christmas through Dec. 27.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the final production of the inaugural 5A Season, the NYC premiere of LONESOME TRAVELER, written and directed by James O'Neil. Produced by Off-Broadway Across America in association with the Rubicon Theatre Company (Ventura, California), LONESOME TRAVELER begins performances on Saturday, March 7 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 19.