Nonprofit California Musical Theatre Changes Company Name To Broadway Sacramento

Broadway Sacramento President/C.E.O. Richard Lewis announced today that the name of the nonprofit arts organization he heads, formerly known as California Musical Theatre, has been changed to Broadway Sacramento. Lewis said the summer series of shows that take place in the Wells Fargo Pavilion, formerly known as Sacramento Music Circus, will now be called Broadway At Music Circus; and the series of touring Broadway productions that take place in the Community Center Theater, formerly known as Broadway Sacramento, will now be called Broadway On Tour.

"We believe these names better articulate what we do as a company, which is to bring top Broadway talent to Sacramento-at Music Circus during the summer, at the Community Center Theater during the fall, winter and spring, and with our arts education programs throughout the year," Lewis says.

"We found that, despite its 67-year history, there are many people in the Sacramento region who are unfamiliar with Music Circus, likely because they're confused by the word 'circus,' mistakenly believing it has something to do with a circus in the traditional sense," Lewis adds. "And the former company name didn't properly convey the esteemed status Music Circus enjoys throughout the theatre industry, or the incredible Broadway talent involved in creating our shows, both onstage and behind the scenes, for both the Broadway At Music Circus and Broadway On Tour series."

Broadway Sacramento Producing Artistic Director/C.O.O Scott Klier, who oversees production of Broadway At Music Circus shows, points out that Broadway At Music Circus is revered among theatre professionals throughout the country. "Each year we receive submissions from nearly 10,000 professional actors who want to perform in our shows," Klier notes. "Of those, we audition about 3,000 in person, in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento. And from that group of actors, we are able to cast 100 or so for a typical summer season. We are fortunate to be able to feature only the very best of the best on our stage."

"I hope the theatre community will join us in embracing these changes," Lewis says. "One thing that will not change is the superb quality of our musical theatre productions. With Broadway At Music Circus, we'll continue to create the spectacular shows our patrons have come to expect. And with Broadway On Tour, we'll continue to present some of the most popular nationally touring Broadway shows available."

Broadway Sacramento (formerly California Musical Theatre), Sacramento's oldest professional performing arts organization and California's largest nonprofit musical theatre company, is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of American musical theatre as an art form. Broadway Sacramento believes that the arts are a necessary component of cultural identity and is committed to nurturing the arts as an expression of culture.

Broadway Sacramento produces musicals for the Broadway At Music Circus series at the Wells Fargo Pavilion (established in 1951), presents touring Broadway musicals for the Broadway On Tour series at the Community Center Theater (established in 1989), and offers arts education programs through the Broadway Sacramento Academy. Each year more than 250,000 people benefit from Broadway Sacramento's theatrical productions and education programs.

The Broadway Sacramento Academy offers theatre arts education programs throughout the year for all ages, but most importantly for school children and special needs groups. The Academy's educational programs, including master dance classes and internships, allow students to learn from Broadway actors, dancers and creative professionals. Interns are instrumental in creating Broadway At Music Circus productions and provide support throughout the company.

Richard Lewis is Broadway Sacramento President/C.E.O. Scott Klier is Producing Artistic Director/C.O.O.