Barbara Meister News

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues."

Rubicon Theatre Company presents GULF VIEW DRIVE , the third and final play in Arlene Hutton's Nibroc Trilogy, directed by Indy award-winning Katharine Farmer with the same cast reprising their critically-acclaimed roles from the Los Angeles Times "Critic's Choice" productions of Last Train to Nibroc and last season's See Rock City. Lily Nicksay ("Boy Meets World"/The Wild Duck at A Noise Within) and Erik Odom ("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2"/Sons of the Prophet at The Blank) return as May and Raleigh, along with See Rock City featured cast members Clarinda Ross (Spit Like a Big Girl/Steel Magnolias) and Sharon Sharth (Waiting for Grace/ member of Actors Studio and Circle Rep in New York). Joining the cast is returning Rubicon artist Faline England (Crimes of the Heart (Indy Award)/Turn of the Screw (Ovation Nomination). The ongoing love story of May and Raleigh concludes with the Kentucky couple now living comfortably in Florida in the 1950s. But their settled life is once again rocked by the arrival of family and turbulent events that threaten their sunny existence. Their love and devotion are put to the test when they must make unconventional decisions in a rapidly changing world. GULF VIEW DRIVE opens in Ventura on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a post-show party with cast, crew and local VIPs. Low-priced previews are January 25-27. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through February 12, 2017.

Rubicon Theatre Company presents GULF VIEW DRIVE , the third and final play in Arlene Hutton's Nibroc Trilogy, directed by Indy award-winning Katharine Farmer with the same cast reprising their critically-acclaimed roles from the Los Angeles Times "Critic's Choice" productions of Last Train to Nibroc and last season's See Rock City. Lily Nicksay ("Boy Meets World"/The Wild Duck at A Noise Within) and Erik Odom("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2"/Sons of the Prophet at The Blank) return as May and Raleigh, along with See Rock City featured cast membersClarinda Ross (Spit Like a Big Girl/Steel Magnolias) and Sharon Sharth (Waiting for Grace/ member of Actors Studio and Circle Rep in New York). Joining the cast is returning Rubicon artist Faline England (Crimes of the Heart (Indy Award)/Turn of the Screw (Ovation Nomination).

 Last season's critically acclaimed, World Premiere hit CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL returns to Rubicon Theatre Company this holiday season with Broadway, TV and film veterans Peter Van Norden (RTC's Copenhagen) and Joe Spano ("NCIS," RTC's Bucky) reprising their roles in this innovative retelling of the classic. Adapted by Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and directed byBrian McDonald, the 25-member cast features many of the same actors from the original production that earned a "Critic's Choice" in the Los Angeles Times and rave reviews from Ventura County Star, CASA Magazine, VIDA Magazine and the Ventura Breeze. Presented as a play with music, this dynamic and compelling stage version is highly theatrical. Actors narrate at various times, play multiple characters, sing and contribute to the soundscape for the production in the style of the Royal Shakespeare Company's landmark production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL opens in Ventura on Today, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. followed by an after-party at Rhumb Line Restaurant. Low-priced previews are December 7-9. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through December 24.

 Last season's critically acclaimed, World Premiere hit CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL returns to Rubicon Theatre Company this holiday season with Broadway, TV and film veterans Peter Van Norden (RTC's Copenhagen) and Joe Spano ("NCIS," RTC's Bucky) reprising their roles in this innovative retelling of the classic. Adapted by Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and directed byBrian McDonald, the 25-member cast features many of the same actors from the original production that earned a "Critic's Choice" in the Los Angeles Times and rave reviews from Ventura County Star, CASA Magazine, VIDA Magazine and the Ventura Breeze. Presented as a play with music, this dynamic and compelling stage version is highly theatrical. Actors narrate at various times, play multiple characters, sing and contribute to the soundscape for the production in the style of the Royal Shakespeare Company's landmark production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL opens in Ventura on Saturday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. followed by an after-party at Rhumb Line Restaurant. Low-priced previews are December 7-9. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through December 24.

Following a critically hailed, highly successful extended run of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2015-2016 Season with another American premiere -- eXtras  by Sabina Berman. Loosely adapted from Marie Jones' Olivier Award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets, eXtras is the hilarious story of what happens when a Hollywood film company descends upon a small California/Mexico border town to shoot a major motion picture, wreaking havoc on the fragile ecosystem of the community.  eXtras will open on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm and run through Sunday, May 1 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Following a critically hailed, highly successful extended run of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2015-2016 Season with another American premiere -- eXtras by Sabina Berman.

Following a critically hailed, highly successful extended run of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2015-2016 Season with another American premiere -- eXtras by Sabina Berman.

Rubicon Theatre celebrates the holidays with the company's first presentation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a World Premiere adaptation written by Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and directed by Brian McDonald. Rubicon's A Christmas Carol features a 24-member cast (the largest ensemble since the company's production of Fiddler on the Roof and the largest ever for a play).

The director and designers behind Rubicon Theatre Company's acclaimed environmental productions ofFiddler on the Roof and Man of La Mancha have reunited on the two-piano chamber version of the legendary Lerner and Loewe's classic My Fair Lady. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, the musical tells the story of Professor Henry Higgins, an arrogant and attractive phonetician who makes a wager that he can transform a 'deliciously low' Cockney flower-seller (Eliza Doolittle) into an elegant lady by teaching her to speak more beautifully. The magnificent score includes 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' 'On the Street Where You Live,' 'Wouldn't It Be Loverly,' and 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face.' For Rubicon's production, Director James O'Neil returns to the source material to explore the Shavian themes of class struggle, social reform and women's rights.

On the heels of successful runs at the Royal George in Chicago, and at Laguna Playhouse and The Broad in Southern California, JACK LEMMON RETURNS makes its way to California's Central Coast for a limited engagement March 11 through March 29 at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre. This enchanting play-with-music is both a revealing portrait of legendary actor Jack Lemmon (Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot, Days of Wine and Roses, The Odd Couple), and an in-depth, personal look at his relationship with his only son, actor and musician Chris Lemmon (Duets, That's Life, Lena's Holiday, etc.). The production is adapted and directed by impresario Hershey Felder, whose gifts for melding music and story have been celebrated through productions of George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein and The Pianist of Willesden Lane.

December 18, 2014 (Ventura, CA) - Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura has just announced the director and cast for the company's mainstage production of The Last Five Years, Jason Robert Brown's emotionally powerful, intimate pop musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in love and try to hold on to each other when life leads them in opposite directions. Rubicon's production will be helmed by Rubicon Resident Artist Stephanie A. Coltrin, who won an Ovation Award for Miss Saigon in L.A. The role of up-and-coming novelist Jamie Wellerstein will be played by Louis Pardo, whose credits include the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley and work with South Coast Rep, San Diego Rep, and Musical Theatre Guild. Ashley Fox Linton stars opposite Pardo as Cathy Hiatt, an aspiring young actress. Fox Linton's credits include Glinda in the Broadway National Tour of Wicked and Cosette in Les Miserables.

Rubicon's Summer Youth Program presents The Drowsy Chaperone, the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison based on a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. With direction by Brian McDonald, musical direction by Miriam Arichea and choreography by Carolanne Marano, The Drowsy Chaperone features over 25 local youth performers in a production well suited for children, adults and families. Opening today, August 13th and running through Saturday, August 16th, performances of The Drowsy Chaperone begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and continue 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Rubicon's Summer Youth Program presents The Drowsy Chaperone, the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison based on a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. With direction by Brian McDonald, musical direction by Miriam Arichea and choreography by Carolanne Marano, The Drowsy Chaperone features over 25 local youth performers in a production well suited for children, adults and families. Opening Wednesday, August 13th and running through Saturday, August 16th, performances of The Drowsy Chaperone begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and continue 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday. For tickets, call 805.667.2900 or go to rubicontheatre.org.

Rubicon Theatre Company is humming with much anticipation as the Musical Theatre Camp's production of Urinetown the Musical directed by BrIan McDonald with choreography by Carolanne Marano and Musical Direction by Miriam Arichea opens for a five public performance run from tonight, August 9 through Sunday, August 11.

Rubicon Theatre Company is humming with much anticipation as the Musical Theatre Camp's production ofUrinetown the Musical directed by Brian McDonald with choreography by Carolanne Marano and Musical Direction by Miriam Arichea opens for a five public performance run from Friday, August 9 through Sunday, August 11.

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns today announced the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner DANIEL TATAR kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites. Following intermission, Tatar will be joined by other members of the singing group The Company Men, who will mash the hits of six decades in tight four-part harmonies with choreography.