Diablo Theatre Company Will Forego Musical in 2014-15 Season

Diablo Theatre Company, one of the premiere producers of musical theatre, announced that they will not be presenting a musical season next year at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. The company, who just closed their 54th season with Guys and Dolls and in January were honored with six Shellie Awards including Outstanding Musical Production for Singin' in the Rain, can no longer afford to produce main stage musicals at the Lesher Center.

"It was a banner year for us and we are very saddened to announce that we will not have a 2014-15 season at the Lesher Center. The costs of producing main stage shows at the Lesher Center have escalated beyond our resources, compelling us to take a year off to retool and evaluate options," states Sherry Caraballo Dorfman, Board President. She continues, "We hope to produce on a main stage again in 2015-16."

Diablo Theatre Company is not going out of business, but will be taking next year off from the main stage and concentrate efforts on supporting their education programs. Managing Director, Krissy Gray adds, "It has always been the mission of the company to educate the next generation of theatre enthusiasts and so we are excited to take this opportunity to further support and develop these programs."

The company's acclaimed STARS 2000 Teen Theatre (ages 13 and up) will present eight performances of Thoroughly Modern Millie, July 25 through August 3, 2014, at Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center in Pleasant Hill. Their youth Performing Arts Academy (ages 6-13) will present two performances of Peter Pan Jr. on August 2, 2014, at the Village Theatre in Danville, in addition to offering classes and workshops in triple threat technique - singing, dancing and acting. The company will also continue to rent rehearsal space, costumes, props and sets.

Diablo Theatre Company, who has been one of the anchor tenants at the Lesher Center for the Arts since its opening in 1990, has produced critically acclaimed and audience favorite musicals such as: Singin' in the Rain, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Legally Blonde the Musical, Peter Pan, Miss Saigon, West Side Story and Ragtime.

The company will be launching a "Back to the Main Stage" fundraiser in hopes to raise enough money to begin producing large-scale musicals again. To make a donation or for more information, please visit their website at: www.diablotheatre.org.

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