Kirby Ward

New Art City Theatre Now Accepting Submissions for 2026 Playwrights Festival
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 8, 2025

New Art City Theatre is now accepting submissions for its 2026 Playwrights Festival in Ventura, CA. Selected playwrights will receive a stipend, residency, and staged reading. Submit by August 12, 2025.

New Art City Theatre is Accepting Submissions of New Original Plays and Musicals
by Stephi Wild - Jul 1, 2024

New Art City Theatre is accepting submissions of new, original plays and musicals for inclusion in their second annual playwrights festival. Festival '25 will be held May 29 to June 1, 2025.

New Art City Theatre Accepting Submissions For Inaugural Playwright's Festival
by Stephi Wild - Oct 31, 2023

New Art City Theatre (NACT), a Ventura, California pioneering theatre company dedicated to the development of new theatrical works, is accepting original plays and musicals from playwrights for NACT's inaugural playwright's festival to be held in April 2024.

Ensemble Theatre Company to Present PLAY IT FORWARD Benefit Concert Supporting Education
by Blair Ingenthron - Jul 22, 2023

Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC), Santa Barbara's esteemed resident theatre company, is has announced 'Play It Forward,' a benefit concert featuring current and former ETC students alongside six renowned Broadway stars.

Review: PROKOFIEV'S ROMEO & JULIET at Robinson Center
by Theresa Bertram - Feb 1, 2023

What did our critic think of PROKOFIEV'S ROMEO & JULIET at Robinson Center?

Karyl Lynn Burns Retires as Artistic Director of Rubicon Theatre After 25 Years
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 17, 2022

Rubicon Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder Karyl Lynn Burns retired from the company on Sunday, November 13, following the acclaimed sold-out run of In the Heights.

Rubicon Theatre Company Announces Plans For 'The Amanda McBroom and George Ball Rose Room'
by Stephi Wild - Jul 27, 2022

At a gathering last week of local dignitaries, RUBICON THEATRE, Ventura’s non-profit professional theatre company, shared progress and plans for a new community gathering space at the theatre.

Rubicon Theatre Company Announces Three Youth Theatre Summer Shows Under The Stars In Ojai
by Stephi Wild - Jul 8, 2021

Tickets are available now! Learn more about the productions and how to attend here!

Bryan Cranston, Norm Lewis, and More Join Rubicon Theatre STREAMATHON
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 26, 2020

Rubicon Theatre Company concludes the company's September Theatre Love-Fest and 'Rise to the Challenge' Match Campaign with a Streamathon on Wednesday, September 30 from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Rubicon Theatre Company Announces Summer Youth Program Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell, Stephen Schwartz, and More!
by Stephi Wild - Jun 4, 2020

Just like many other theatres from Broadway to Boise, Rubicon's goal has always been to bring people together and build a sense of community.  Priority one for Rubicon at this time of year is the Summer Youth Program.

Broadway Veterans Celebrate The American Songbook In Support Of Ensemble Theatre Company's Education Programs
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 11, 2020

Ensemble Theatre Company presents the 2nd annual benefit concert for its education and outreach programs with Broadway alumni performing music from the great American songbook on Sunday March 22, 2020.

Rubicon Theatre Company Announces Extension Of BIG RIVER: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 8, 2019

Rubicon Theatre Company has just extended the company's acclaimed, sold-out production of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which now continues through November 17, 2019. Directed by Kirby Ward, with a company of 24, the production runs Wednesdays through Sundays in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District at the company's home at 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA  93001.

BWW Interview: Josey Montana McCoy & David Aron Damane of BIG RIVER at Rubicon Theatre Company
by Cary Ginell - Nov 6, 2019

An interview with Josey Montana McCoy (Huck Finn) and David Aron Damane (Jim), stars of Rubicon Theatre Company's current production of 'Big River.' The immersive, atmospheric production has been critically acclaimed by press and audiences alike and has been extended for an additional week, until November 17.

BWW Review: BIG RIVER at Rubicon Theatre Company
by Cary Ginell - Nov 1, 2019

An innovative immersive production, in which orchestra musicians step on stage to perform with the cast and an in-the-round configuration, highlights Rubicon Theatre Company's evocative, atmospheric production of 'Big River.' With a score by country music's Roger Miller, 'Big River' won 7 Tonys in 1985. The cast features Broadway veterans Josey Montana McCoy, David Aron Damane, and, in a special appearance, Renn Woods as Alice.

BWW Interview: Beverly & Kirby Ward of BIG RIVER at Rubicon Theatre Company
by Cary Ginell - Oct 29, 2019

An interview with Beverly and Kirby Ward, producers and directors of the new production of 'Big River' at the Rubicon Theatre Company.

Photo Flash: First Look at Rubicon Theatre's BIG RIVER: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 26, 2019

Rubicon Theatre opens the company's 22nd Season with an environmental production of the musical Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, opening October 26 at 7pm and continuing through November 10, 2019. Directed by Kirby Ward, with a company of 23, the production runs Wednesdays through Sundays in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District at the company's home at 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA  93001. 

Rubicon Opens 22nd Season With Immersive BIG RIVER: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2019

Rubicon Theatre opens the company's 22nd Season with an environmental production of the musical Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, opening October 26 at 7pm and continuing through November 10, 2019. Directed by Kirby Ward, with a company of 23, the production runs Wednesdays through Sundays in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District at the company's home at 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA  93001. 

BARNUM To Open Musical Theatre Guild's 24th Season
by Julie Musbach - Aug 26, 2019

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will open their 24th Anniversary season with BARNUM, the Tony Award-winning musical by Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. The one-night-only concert will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 7:00 PM.

Two End Of Summer Fundraising Events Will Support Rubicon's Education Programs
by Stephi Wild - Aug 14, 2019

Rubicon Theatre wraps up its extraordinary 2019 Jack Oakie Summer Youth Program with the annual Kids for Kids fundraiser. This year's concert is titled a?oeBroadway Through the Ages.a?? This exuberant evening of song and dance will be guided entirely by student directors, choreographers and designers, and will feature some of Broadway's hottest tunes including a?oeEpic 2a?? (Hadestown), a?oeGod, I Hate Shakespearea?? (Something Rotten), a?oeA Change in Mea?? (Beauty and the Beast), a?oeAstoundinga?? (Little Women), a?oeYour Daddy's Sona?? (Ragtime), a?oeNowadaysa?? (Chicago), a?oeHopelessly Devoted to Youa?? (Grease), a?oeNothinga?? (A Chorus Line), and more! Songs will be performed by students from across all of the summer programs.

Rubicon Theatre Company Closes Youth Program With INTO THE WOODS
by Stephi Wild - Aug 5, 2019

Rubicon Theatre Company closes the 2019 Jackie Oakie Summer Youth Program with the Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods. Twenty-seven young performers tell the story of how to get your a?oehappily ever aftera?? -- and what happens once you have it. Into the Woods is one of Sondheim's most highly regarded shows with a remarkable score.