Cabrillo Music Theatre to Stage Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY in 2015

Cabrillo Music Theatre takes audiences to the island of Manhattan for the Civic Arts Plaza Professional Premiere of COMPANY. The first-ever "concept" musical is by turns funny, pointed and hopeful. Stephen Sondheim's score is packed with some of his best-known tunes. And the honest and witty look at love and relationships is as contemporary as ever. Plus, the intimacy of the Scherr Forum provides the perfect locale, bringing the audience into the action, and creating a theatre experience that unique... and uniquely Cabrillo. Cabrillo Music Theatre's brand-new production of COMPANY opens on Friday, January 23rd, 2015, playing until Sunday, February 8th, at the 396-seat Scherr Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

COMPANY examines relationships - love, romance, marriage - through the eyes of Robert, single and celebrating his thirty-fifth birthday. Idealized by his married friends, Robert takes stock of his own life as he spends time with each of five married couples, as well as the single women in his life. Through unique and innovative storytelling, George Firth's script brings both comic and painfully honest insights into relationships - as contemporary now as when COMPANY first took the Broadway stage in 1970. Stephen Sondheim's score is filled with his finest work - timeless classics that speak to the characters in COMPANY, and in all of us. Songs include, "Side By Side," "Another Hundred People," "Not Getting Married Today," "Being Alive," and "The Ladies Who Lunch."

Cabrillo Music Theatre's COMPANY marks a new chapter in the company's history, by taking a book musical into the Scherr Forum, next door to the larger Kavli Theatre. Leading the charge is Director Nick DeGruccio, who's previous Cabrillo work includes JEKYLL & HYDE (for which he won a Best Director Ovation Award), 1776, THE ANDREWS BROTHERS, and GUYS & DOLLS. Musical Direction is by Cassie Nickols, fresh off the successful MEMPHIS. Southern California theatre veterans Tom Buderwitz and Thomas Marquez design the new scenery and costumes, respectfully.

"We've been wanting to move a show to the Scherr Forum for a few years now, "says Cabrillo's Artistic Director, Lewis Wilkenfeld. "There are shows that call for a more intimate experience - a way to bring the audience closer to the action. COMPANY is the perfect show to launch this new series. It's a show that we likely wouldn't have done in the Kavli, but will benefit greatly by the Forum's cozy confines." Adds Wilkenfeld, "I'm thrilled to have Nick DeGruccio direct COMPANY - from the moment we started looking at this show, I thought of Nick. His work is always original and engaging, and he'll come up with a COMPANY unlike any other!"

A who's who of Southern California theatre talent have formed the cast of COMPANY, including Cabrillo favorites Tracy Lore (this year's Ovation Award Winner) as "Joanne," Michael Andrew Baker as "Harry," Nick Tubbs as "Paul" and Shelley Regner as "Amy." Local talent includes Elissa Wagner (Cabrillo's OLIVER, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANNIE and more) as "Sarah" and Thousand Oaks mainstay Paul Babb as "Larry." Alxander Jon portrays the key role of "Robert." Other cast members include Heather Dudenbostel, Chelsea Emma Franko, Aly French, James Padilla, Jane Papageorge, Elizabeth Smith, and Kevin Story.
The winner of 6 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, plus two successful Broadway revivals, a live televised production, and countless interpretations of its' groundbreaking songs, COMPANY at the Scherr Forum promises to be an electrifying theatre experience, and truly puts Broadway into your Backyard. Recommended for mature audiences, COMPANY provides Cabrillo audiences with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be there when COMPANY comes.... to Cabrillo Music Theatre!

NICK DeGRUCCIO (Director) Next To Normal (La Mirada Theatre, San Diego Music Theatre), Capote's A Christmas Memory (The Laguna Playhouse), The Laramie Project (LA Premiere: Colony Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Ovation Award for Direction), Jekyll & Hyde (Cabrillo Music Theatre: Ovation Award for Direction), and 1776 (Musical Theatre West/Performance Riverside/Cabrillo: Ovation Award for Direction), The Andrews Brothers (Coyote StageWorks, Desert League Award for Direction), Caught (World Premiere, Zephyr Theatre), Putting It Together, A Year With Frog and Toad (South Coast Repertory), Cinderella (The Ordway), The Last Five Years (LA Premiere, Pasadena Playhouse), Man of La Mancha, RENT, La Cage Aux Folles, The Andrews Brothers (Musical Theatre West). Havok Theatre Company: LA Premieres of: Dog Sees God, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Ovation Award for Production), Thrill Me, and The Story Of My Life. LA Premiere of Side Show (Colony Theatre), The Spitfire Grill (Laguna Playhouse), Zanna, Don't! (West Coast Ensemble: LADCC Award for Direction), Side By Side By Sondheim (The Rubicon Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse), Bad Apples (Rubicon Theatre: World Premiere), Beehive (El Portal Theatre), Guys and Dolls (MTW, Cabrillo), The Full Monty (San Diego Music Theatre). 2008 LADCC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. www.nickdegruccio.com

CASSIE NICKOLS (Musical Director) This is Cassie's third production with Cabrillo, and follows her work as Musical Director on the Ovation Recommended Memphis! An LA native, Cassie has become a sought-after accompanist, musical director, performer, teacher, and coach, winning such accolades as Most Outstanding Graduate from the Thornton School at USC. Her performances have taken her to New York and London, and range from classical recitals to rock concerts to musical theatre. Credits: Assistant Musical Director: In the Heights (Cabrillo), Next to Normal (La Mirada); Musical Director: The Fantasticks (Pierce College), Cabaret (Repertory East Theatre). Cassie has also been the pianist and music director for multiple musical theatre cabarets, classes, and workshops in LA.
ABOUT THE CAST

ALXANDER JON (Robert) After High School, Alxander went to Berklee School of Music, but left shortly thereafter. Upon returning home, he received a Musical Theatre internship at McPhail Center of the Arts in Minneapolis, where he was introduced to acting and theatre. Since then, he has had the good fortune to work and study with professionals in just about every performance medium, from Broadway to major feature films to the Metropolitan Opera. Alxander is elated to have his Cabrillo debut be with this production of Company. Some favorite roles on stage include: "Roger" in Rent, "Jamie" in The Last 5 Years, "Lancelot" in Camelot, and "Harold Gorringe" in Black Comedy.

TRACY LORE (Joanne) NY & National Tour: Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby. Regional: CMT - Once Upon A Mattress ("Queen Aggravain", Ovation nom.), 42nd Street; MTW - Young Frankenstein ("Frau Blucher", Ovation Award), Hairspray ("Velma", Ovation nom.), The Wedding Singer, The Producers, All Shook Up ("Sandra", Ovation nom.), The Full Monty, Me & My Girl, The Will Rogers Follies; Moonlight - Young Frankenstein, Anything Goes, Hairspray, Crazy for You, Guys & Dolls, Me & My Girl; 3D Theatricals - The Drowsy Chaperone; Reprise - Carousel; MTWichita - Betty Blue Eyes, The Drowsy Chaperone; SCR - A Little Night Music; CLOSBC - Cinderella; The Norris - Boeing, Boeing ("Berthe", Desert Theatre League Award), Thoroughly ModernMillie, Proposals, Noises Off. Other: Chicago ("Velma", AriZoni Award), Company ("Joanne"), The Wizard of Oz, Into the Woods. Member of MTG.

MICHAEL ANDREW BAKER (Harry) Theatre: 1776 (Cabrillo Music Theatre), Dangerous Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse), The ExpendLABles (Groundlings), Yank! (York Theater, NY), Crazy For You (Ogunquit Playhouse), Shel's Shorts (Project: Theatre, NY), Assassins! (Berkshire Theatre Festival), and Carousel (Hollywood Bowl). Film: "The Perfect Guy" (2015), "Deadline". TV: "Workaholics", "90210", "The Young and The Restless", "Guiding Light." BA, Cal State Fullerton. MFA, Temple University.

PAUL BABB (Larry) Long ago, Paul was a working actor. Highlights? A tour (as a singing can of cleanser), and a pirate in the film, "Hook" (don't blink). He lived in style (one-room guest house), was extremely sought-after (by creditors), and amassed a devout fan base (three cats). At his pinnacle of success, he chose new challenges (a real job), so he could enjoy the little things (kids Lilli and Ryan). He now performs daily as the CEO of a software company in Thousand Oaks. This year, his lovely wife, Wendy (27 years), encouraged him back on stage, and for that, he is profoundly "Sorry Grateful."

COMPANY will open on Friday, January 23rd, 2015, and run for three weekends, through Sunday, February 8th. Performances are Thursday at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. A post-show discussion with cast, staff, and audience will follow the Saturday, January 24th, 2:00pm performance. A signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will take place on Friday, January 30th, at 8:00PM.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, or through any Ticketmaster location, or by phone (800) 745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, please call Group Sales, Cabrillo Music Theatre at (805) 497-8613 x6. Ticket prices range from $30-$69. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787). COMPANY performs exclusively at the Ray & Janet Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Need more Thousand Oaks Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Winter season, discounts & more...