Performances Magazine | La Mirada Theatre, November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021

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MAGAZINE

contents P1 Program Cast, performances, who’s who, director’s notes and donors

6 In the Wings The Band’s Visit at the Dolby; L.A. Chamber Orchestra soloists at the Huntington; Love Actually Live at the Wallis

10 Dateline Tony Award-sweeping Moulin Rouge! The Musical in New York; Life of Pi in London; Cosí fan tutte in San Francisco

Home Improvement: Performance venues posthiatus are looking better than ever—and are safer, too.

22 Dining Saso—chef Dominic Crisp’s new Basque-inspired bistro at the Pasadena Playhouse—is so, so good!

26 Travel SLO down! A pair of chic new properties transform San Luis Obispo from drive-by to check-in.

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32 Parting Thought Performances’ new program platform for shows and concerts can be accessed from any digital device.

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2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

P. 18, COURTESY AMBASSADOR AUDITORIUM. P. 22, FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH STUDIOS. P. 26, TANVEER BADAL / HOTEL SLO

18 Performing Arts

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4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

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2021 / 2022 Season Thordal Christensen & Colleen Neary Artistic Directors

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IN T H E W IN GS

The Band’s Visit comes to Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre

MUSICAL

UNDER THE DESERT SKY BASED ON THE 2007 Israeli film of the same name, The Band’s Visit checks in at the Dolby Theatre Nov. 30-Dec. 19.

The show won 10 Tony Awards in 2018—making it one of the most Tony-winning musicals in history—as well as the 2019 Grammy Award for best musical theater album. It also garnered top musical theater honors at the Obie and New York Drama Critics’ Circle awards. The show follows an Egyptian police band arriving in Israel to perform a concert. When the band members find themselves lost in a remote village after a mix-up at the border, a cafe owner and her fellow locals take them in for the night. Under the spell of the desert sky, with its music perfuming the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected ways—a glimmering and hopeful spark of shared humanity in the war-torn Middle East. Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.308.6300, dolbytheatre.com

6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

Baroque Gems IN ADDITION TO its regular five-concert season, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra showcases its members in more intimate chamber presentations. The first of six programs features concertos for violin, oboe, flute and harpsichord Dec. 4 at the Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall. The series is curated by concertmaster Margaret Batjer and performed without conductor. “Under those circumstances,” Batjer says, “communication between the musicians becomes

paramount and is almost palpable, making for particularly exciting performances.”

Works include the Concerto in A by Seixas with harpsichord soloist Patricia Mabee; Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto in F with Claire Brazeau; and Pergolesi’s Violin Concerto in B Flat with Tereza Stanislav.

Haydn’s first string quartet and Telemann’s Concerto in A minor for diverse soloists add Jason Issokson, violin, and Sandy Hughes, flute.

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 213.622.7001, laco.org

HUGHES, KSENIA EVERTON; ISSOKSON COURTESY THE ARTIST. OPPOSITE: EVAN ZIMMERMAN

CHAMBER MUSIC

L.A. Chamber Orchestra soloists Jason Issokson and, above, Sandy Hughes

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 7

IN T H E W IN GS

LOVE ACTUALLY . . . IS BACK

Ruby Lewis and Rogelio Douglas Jr and, top, Rex Smith in a previous Love Actually Live production at the Wallis.

8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

INSPIRED BY THE Universal Pictures/ Working Title holiday film Love Actually—and the biggest hit in the Wallis’ history—the multimedia celebration Love Actually Live returns to the venue Nov. 27-Dec. 31. During the show’s runs in 2018 and 2019, nearly 30,000 people flocked to the Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Its staging and video design seamlessly inter-

twine film and live action in a three-dimensional London setting. The hit soundtrack includes “Christmas is All Around,” “Trouble with Love,” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” Love Actually Live is adapted and directed

by Anderson Davis with musical supervision and arrangements by Jesse Vargas; it’s co-produced

by Shane Scheel and the Wallis. 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills, 310.746.4000, thewallis.org

PHOTOS KEVIN PARRY

HOLIDAYS

25TH

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SEASON

POWER OF SAIL WEST COAST PREMIERE

02.01 – 03.13.2022

WRITTEN BY

DIRECTED BY

PAUL GRELLONG

PRODUCED WITH

WEYNI MENGESHA

DARYL ROTH

Harvard professor Charles Nichols (Emmy & Tony Award winner Bryan Cranston) finds himself in hot water after inviting an incendiary white nationalist to speak at his annual symposium in a profoundly relevant new play by Paul Grellong (The Boys, Manuscript).

S I N G L E T I C K E T S O N S A L E I N D EC E M B E R Sign up for pre-sale access at geffenplayhouse.org/powerofsail.

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DA T ELIN E

NEW YORK

Tony Awardsweeping Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical, the Australian-produced theatrical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Oscar-winning film, won 10 Tony Awards this year including best musical as well as best scenery, costume, lighting, sound, choreography, orchestration and direction in a musical; Aaron Tveit won for best actor in a musical. “A keg-stand when the keg is filled with absinthe, a banquet of drug-laced truffles, a riot, a wallow, a leg show and an all-time greatest hits radio countdown run amok, Moulin Rouge has arrived on Broadway,” writes The Guardian. Specifically, it’s arrived at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The show presents a world of splendor, romance, excess, glitz and grandeur remixed as a mash-up extravaganza of the greatest pop hits of the last 50 years. Alex Timbers directs; book is

by John Logan, choreography by Sonya Tayeh and music supervision and arrangements by Justin Levine. The original Broadway cast recording has also been nominated for a Grammy Award for best musical theater album.

10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

MATTHEW MURPHY

MASH-UP EXTRAVAGANZA

rachmaninoff’s

all-night vigil NOVEMBER 20, 2 PM NOVEMBER 21, 7 PM

ON SALE NOW L A M A ST E R C H O R A L E .O R G G R A N T G E R S H O N , K I K I & D AV I D G I N D L E R A R T I S T I C D I R E C T O R J E N N Y W O N G , A S S O C I AT E A R T I S T I C D I R E C T O R R E E N A E S M A I L , S W A N FA M I LY A R T I S T- I N - R E S I D E N C E

DA T ELIN E

Hiran Abeysekera as Pi and Richard Parker the Bengal tiger in Life of Pi.

LONDON

LIVE THEATER IS back in London, with stages across the city presenting numerous not-to-be-missed shows. Life of Pi, based on director Ang Lee’s Academy Award-winning film and Yann Martel’s bestselling novel, runs Nov. 15-Feb. 27 at Wyndham’s Theatre.

When a cargo freighter sinks in the middle of the ocean, a boy from India finds himself

12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

lost at sea with animals, among them a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The dark satire Manor, at the National Theatre Nov. 16-Jan. 1, is another mustsee. Nancy Carroll stars as the owner of an old London manor that takes in a colorful group of guests during a storm; among them is an outspoken right-wing political leader played by Shaun Evans.

JOHAN PERSSON AND, BELOW, COURTESY NATIONAL THEATRE

Eye of the Tiger

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY Fri Nov 19 | 8PM

75th Anniversary of Appalachian Spring Janet Eilber, Artistic Director Wild Up, Christopher Rountree, Conductor The gold standard of modern dance returns for the fourth time with Appalachian Spring, accompanied with live music by Wild Up. Enjoy Copland’s iconic score, played live for the first time, with Graham’s most iconic choreography.

Stewart Copeland

David Sedaris

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Thu Nov 4 | 8PM Stewart Copeland: Police Deranged for Orchestra Music of The Police Cheche Alara, Conductor with Re-Collective Orchestra Wed Nov 10 | 8PM An Evening with David Sedaris Sat Nov 13 | 8PM FREE! The Colburn Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor Wed Nov 17 | 8PM The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra The Music of Ella Fitzgerald Directed by Scotty Barnhart Featuring Lizz Wright

TheSorayaStage

Esa-Pekka Salonen

TheSoraya.org | 818.677.3000

Lizz Wright

DA T ELIN E

THE WEST

Set for San Francisco Opera’s new production of Cosí fan tutte. Top: She the People in San Diego.

14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA continues its multi-year MozartDa Ponte Trilogy, setting the three collaborations of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte in an American house over a 300-year timespan. The second installment, Così fan tutte— Nov. 21–Dec. 3 at War Memorial Opera House—finds the house converted to a country club in the 1930s. The new staging’s cast includes soprano Nicole

Cabell and mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts as sisters and their beaus plus tenor Ben Bliss, baritone John Brancy, bass Ferruccio Furlanetto and soprano Nicole Heaston. Michael Cavanagh directs; Henrik Nánási conducts.

At the other end of the state and artistic spectrum, She the People, Nov. 18-Dec. 5 at San Diego Repertory, is a mimosaand-madness-fueled sketch show by the women of famed comedy troupe Second City.

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The WallisAT&AMBASSADOR For The Record presents AUDITORIUM

22 21 2 Welcome Back!

21 0 2 , BEETHOVEN RHAPSODY 1 3 C E D – 7 2 V O N SYMPHONY No. 7 IN BLUE OCT 16, 2021

NOV 13, 2021

BAROQUE: BRANDENBURG 5 JAN 22, 2022

Joseph Young, conductor Randall Goosby, violin

Anna Rakitina, conductor Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, piano

Nicholas McGegan, conductor Aubree Oliverson, violin

TCHAIKOVSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO

MOZART SYMPHONY No. 40

BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY No. 5

FEB 12, 2022

MAR 19, 2022

Lidiya Yankovskaya, conductor Live Brett Mitchell, conductor “Love Actually Chee-Yun, violin Aldo López-Gavilán, piano Delivers! Let this superbly mounted musical wash over you with warmth & joy.”

APR 30, 2022

Keitaro Harada, conductor Valentina Lisitsa, piano

–LA TIMES

Joseph Young

Chee-Yun

Randall Goosby

THEWALLIS.ORG/LOVE

Valentina Lisitsa

Brett Mitchell

6 2 6 . 7 9 3 . 7 1 7 2 | PA S A D E N A S Y M P H O N Y- P O P S . O R G

Lidiya Yankovskaya

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS and

McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present

Music and Lyrics by

BENNY ANDERSSON BJÖRN ULVAEUS and some songs with STIG ANDERSON

Book by CATHERINE JOHNSON Originally Conceived by JUDY CRAYMER Mamma Mia! was originally produced in London

by JUDY CRAYMER, RICHARD EAST and BJÖRN ULVAEUS for Littlestar in association with Universal Additional Material & Arrangements

MARTIN KOCH

Music published by Universal Music Publishing Group and Emi Grove Park Music Inc. and Emi Waterford Music Inc. Starring

MARIE-FRANCE ARCILLA DANNY BERNARDO CHRIS BONA GILLIAN BOZAJIAN GABRIELA CARRILLO MICHAEL CAVINDER MARKESHA CHATFIELD JUAN GUILLEN BRANDON HALVORSEN MICHAEL JAMES EMILY KING BROWN DILLON KLENA ERIC KUNZE ASHLEY EN-FU MATTHEWS JOI D. McCOY JONATHAN McGILL CANDI MILO TAUBERT NADALINI ISABELLA OLIVAS CHRISTINA PAPANDREA DYLAN PASS KELLY POWERS-FIGUEROA HANNAH JEAN SIMMONS SCOTT SPRAAGS MOMOKO SUGAI FANA TESFAGIORGIS ADAM TURNEY RODRIGO VARANDAS Scenic Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design Hair/Wig/Makeup Design STEPHEN GIFFORD WINFIELD MURDOCK JEAN-YVES TESSIER CRICKET S. MYERS KAITLIN McCOY

Projection Design Prop Design Casting Director Technical Director

JON INFANTE KEVIN WILLIAMS JULIA FLORES KEVIN CLOWES

MELANIE CAVANESS, GRETCHEN MORALES

Production Management General Manager Publicist ANA LARA, LINDSAY BROOKS, DAVID NESTOR PATTI McCOY JACOB DAVID ELZER/DEMAND PR

Production Stage Manager

JILL GOLD

Assistant Stage Manager

LISA PALMIRE

Assistant Choreographers

KELLY POWERS-FIGUEROA, RODRIGO VARANDAS

Musical Direction by

KEITH THOMPSON Choreographed by

DANA SOLIMANDO Directed by

T.J. DAWSON

Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

OPENING NIGHT OCTOBER 29, 2021

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

www.LaMiradaTheatre.com

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1

THE COMPANY

Marie-France Arcilla

Danny Bernardo

Chris Bona

Gillian Bozajian

Gabriela Carrillo

Michael Cavinder

Markesha Chatfield

Juan Guillen

Brandon Halvorsen

Michael James

Emily King Brown

Dillon Klena

Eric Kunze

Ashley En-Fu Matthews

Joi D. McCoy

Jonathan McGill

Candi Milo

Taubert Nadalini

Isabella Olivas

Christina Papandrea

Dylan Pass

Kelly Powers-Figueroa

Hannah Jean Simmons

Scott Spraags

Momoko Sugai

Fana Tesfagiorgis

Adam Turney

Rodrigo Varandas

P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

CAST OF CHARACTERS (In order of speaking)

Sophie Sheridan..................................................................GABRIELA CARRILLO* Ali......................................................................................................... JOI D. McCOY Lisa...............................................................................................MOMOKO SUGAI*

Donna Sheridan............................................................MARIE-FRANCE ARCILLA* Tanya......................................................................................EMILY KING BROWN* Rosie.....................................................................................................CANDI MILO* Sky............................................................................................TAUBERT NADALINI* Pepper.................................................................................RODRIGO VARANDAS* Eddie................................................................................................DILLON KLENA

Harry Bright..........................................................................DANNY BERNARDO*

Bill Austin.........................................................................MICHAEL CAVINDER*

Sam Carmichael...................................................................................ERIC KUNZE*

Father Alexandrios...............................................................................DYLAN PASS THE ENSEMBLE CHRIS BONA, GILLIAN BOZAJIAN, MARKESHA CHATFIELD*, JUAN GUILLEN*, BRANDON HALVORSEN, MICHAEL JAMES*, DILLON KLENA, ASHLEY EN-FU MATTHEWS*, JOI D. McCOY, JONATHAN McGILL*, ISABELLA OLIVAS, CHRISTINA PAPANDREA, DYLAN PASS, KELLY POWERS-FIGUEROA, MOMOKO SUGAI*, FANA TESFAGIORGIS*, ADAM TURNEY, RODRIGO VARANDAS* UNDERSTUDIES Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.

For Donna, Tanya: MARKESHA CHATFIELD*; for Sophie: GILLIAN BOZAJIAN; for Sky: DILLON KLENA; for Sam: MICHAEL CAVINDER*; for Bill: RODRIGO VARANDAS*; for Harry: JUAN GUILLEN*; for Rosie: MOMOKO SUGAI*; for Pepper: MICHAEL JAMES; for Ali, Lisa: ISABELLA OLIVAS; for Eddie: ADAM TURNEY SWINGS HANNAH JEAN SIMMONS*, SCOTT SPRAAGS

Production Stage Manager...................................................................JILL GOLD* Assistant Stage Manager................................................................LISA PALMIRE* Dance Captain..........................................................HANNAH JEAN SIMMONS* The Place: A Greek Island in the Aegean Sea The Time: A twenty-four hour period during the summer of 1999 There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.. *Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P3

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I (The day before the wedding) Prologue: The Beach (Postbox) “Overture” | Orchestra “I Have a Dream” (Prologue) | Sophie Scene One: The Beach “Honey, Honey” | Sophie, Ali & Lisa Scene Two: The Courtyard “Money, Money, Money” | Donna & Company Scene Three: The Courtyard “Thank You for the Music” | Harry, Bill, Sam & Sophie “Mamma Mia” | Donna, Harry, Bill, Sam & Company Scene Four: Donna’s Room “Chiquitita” | Rosie, Tanya & Donna “Dancing Queen” | Rosie, Tanya & Donna Scene Five: The Beach “Lay All Your Love on Me” | Sky, Sophie, Pepper, Eddie, Boys & Girls Scene Six: The Courtyard “Super Trouper” | Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Girls “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” | Lisa, Ali, Sophie, Sam, Bill, Harry, Girls Scene Seven: The Jetty “The Name of the Game” | Sophie & Bill Scene Eight: The Courtyard “Voulez Vous!” | Sky, Eddie, Pepper & Company ACT II (The day of the wedding) Entr’acte | Orchestra Scene One: Sophie’s Room “Under Attack” | Sophie & Nightmare Chorus Scene Two: The Courtyard “One of Us” | Donna “S.O.S” | Sam & Donna Scene Three: The Beach “Does Your Mother Know?” | Tanya, Pepper, Harry, Rosie, Lisa, Ali, Bill “Knowing Me, Knowing You” | Sam

P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS Scene Four: Donna’s Room “Our Last Summer” | Donna & Harry “Slipping Through My Fingers” | Donna & Sophie “The Winner Takes It All” | Donna Scene Five: The Courtyard “Take a Chance On Me” | Rosie & Bill “I Do, I Do, I Do” | Sam, Rosie, Tanya, Donna & Company Scene Six: The Jetty “I Have a Dream” | Sophie & Company Epilogue: “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” & “Waterloo” | The Company THE BAND Music Director/Keyboard 1 - KEITH THOMPSON Keyboard 2 – BRENT CRAYON; Keyboard 3 – ANDREW LEDERMAN; Keyboard 4 – RON COLVARD; Guitar 1 – Electric/Acoustic – JACK MAJDECKI; Guitar 2 – Electric/Acoustic/12-string – WILL YANEZ; Bass – JONATHAN RICHARDS; Drums – CHRIS THIGPEN; Percussion – NICK STONE; Orchestra Contractor – ERIC HEINLY

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTES MAMMA MIA! – Mother of the Jukebox Musical?

Some say MAMMA MIA! was the beginning of the “Jukebox Musical” – the type of show that takes pre-existing songs and strings them together in a newly-created plot. For example, MAMMA MIA! takes ABBA songs and folds them into a new plot about a daughter’s wedding. Similar shows: JERSEY BOYS (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ songs tell the story of the band’s rise) and MOULIN ROUGE (songs from various singers – from Beyoncé to the Beatles – serve a plot about Parisian bohemians).

These shows differ from traditional musicals that use songs written specifically for their plots – shows that range from SOUTH PACIFIC to WICKED. But MAMMA MIA! (2001) was not the first show to use the “jukebox” approach. Hollywood did it decades earlier. The best example is SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952), in which existing ’20s & ‘30s hits were folded into a new story about early Hollywood.

Other examples: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951) uses Gershwin songs in a new plot set in post-war Paris, and ROCKETMAN (2018) uses Elton John’s songs to tell the story of his life.

However, while it may not be the first jukebox musical, MAMMA MIA! is easily the most financially successful, playing the world over for years. With this talented cast and creative team… you’re about to find out why!

BT McNicholl Producing Artistic Director La Mirada Theatre

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5

WHO’S WHO

MARIE-FRANCE ARCILLA (Donna) Drama Desk recipient for Stephen Schwartz’s Working.

Other NY credits include cast recordings of Lizzie Borden, Shout! The Mod Musical, The Ark, Oklahoma!, Here Lies Love. Regional: Cash on Delivery (El Portal), Rain (Old Globe), Stuck Elevator (A.C.T.), Orphan of Zhao with BD Wong (La Jolla Playhouse), Sondheim on Sondheim (Great Lakes), Our Town (Pasadena), Simeon’s Gift (Bay Street). TV/Film: “Law & Order: SVU,” “Gossip Girl,” “Cashmere Mafia,” “Cinema AZN,” Johnny Loves Dolores, A Date with Jao Mapa. Upcoming: “Love and Gelato” (Netflix), “Sex Lives of College Girls” (HBO). Dramaturg: Artistic Stamp. Proud Filipino immigrant, mother of two, getting the job done.

DANNY BERNARDO (Harry) is thrilled to make his McCoy Rigby/La Mirada debut! Besides Mamma Mia! (East West Players) and Urinetown (Coeurage), audiences might recognize him as a frequent performer with Crazy Talented Asians, Backroom Shakespeare Project, and Mostly Musicals. Regional: Steppenwolf, Goodman, About Face, Victory Gardens, House Theatre of Chicago, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival.

Former company member: Porchlight Music Theatre, Bailiwick Chicago, Stir-Friday Night.

Favorite roles: Kayama (Pacific Overtures), Jed (Fifth of July), Bill (Kiss Me, Kate). Love and thanks to the cast and team, everyone at MRE, Flores Casting, the Happen Agency, his family, and Padfoot. As always: for Mom. @thatdannyb CHRIS BONA (Ensemble) is very honored to be back again in Greece for his 3rd time while also making his McCoy Rigby Entertainment debut with Mamma Mia! He is also a BFA Musical Theatre graduate from AMDA-LA. Regional: Invisible the Musical (54 Below), Disney’s Mulan P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

(Tuacahn), On This Side of the World (Musical Theatre West), Kinky Boots (3-D Theatricals), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Palos Verdes), Seussical the Musical (Candlelight Pavilion), Little Shop of Horrors (New Village Arts). Special thanks to TJ, Dana, and Julia Flores. Gratitude from God. Support from DA/ BM/CM. For Mama and Papa, Love you!

GILLIAN BOZAJIAN (Ensemble, u/s Sophie) is thrilled to be back on stage performing in this production of Mamma Mia! Regional Credits: 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer, 3-D Theatricals), Elf The Musical (Tuacahn Center for the Arts), Sweet Charity directed by Kathleen Marshall (LA’s Reprise 2.0), Nice Work if You Can Get It (Musical Theatre West), The Producers (Peterborough Players), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Cabrillo Music Theatre). National Tour: Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer: The Musical (McCoy Rigby Entertainment). Proud graduate of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. Huge thank you to the Mamma Mia! creative team, cast, and crew! @gillianbozajian GABRIELA CARRILLO (Sophie) is overjoyed to finally play one of her dream roles in Mamma Mia! Gabriela is a Chicago native, first generation Mexican-American and a proud alumna of Berklee College of Music. Some of her favorite previous roles include Elsa in Frozen – Live at the Hyperion (Disneyland), Miriam in The Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn Amphitheatre), and Lucha in American Mariachi (South Coast Repertory). Gabriela is also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, musical artist (under the name ‘Gabriela Francesca’), voiceover/film/TV actor, and social media content creator, with more than 133K subscribers on her YouTube channel! Follow Gabriela on Instagram @gfrancescamusic.

MICHAEL CAVINDER (Bill, u/s Sam) is so grateful to be involved in this production of Mamma Mia! He’s performed in several theaters throughout southern California, and has toured internationally and nationally. Michael enjoys gardening, long walks, hand carving wooden spoons, and stuffing his face. Most of all he loves making laughter and uplifting his fellow man. Creator and Artistic Director of Ambush Cabaret. Check us out! AmbushCabaret.com, @AmbushCabaret on IG, and like our Ambush Cabaret FB page! Thank you for coming to live theater, thanks to his agent Nicole, Julia Flores, his friends and family, and to McCoy Rigby Entertainment; they really are good people.

MARKESHA CHATFIELD (Ensemble, u/s Donna, Tanya) Born in Germany and raised in Georgia, Markesha Chatfield grew up singing in church while also studying gymnastics throughout middle school, and she later earned a BFA in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre from AMDALA. Some of her favorite and most rewarding show experiences include all shows on Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, Beehive National Tour, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, LA Rockwell’s: Never Been Kissed: The Unauthorized Musical, Hairspray, Dream Girls and many, many more. Markesha feels so much gratitude for every chance to perform and connect with others and can’t wait to help tell another amazing story!

JUAN GUILLEN (Ensemble, u/s Harry) is thrilled to be returning to the stage at La Mirada Theatre in Mamma Mia! Juan performed on the National Tour of Mamma Mia! (Swing/ Eddie u/s) for three years and is so happy to be visiting the Greek island once again. Other Favorites: Cinderella (The Muny, Duke of Cheshire/Ensemble), Evita (Riverside Theatre, Perón u/s), Evita (Bay Street Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf) 3-D

Theatricals, In the Heights (Musical Theater West).

Juan would like to thank his family, my new nephew Luca, and Lil Baby for their love and support. Enjoy the show! Insta: @juanguillenactor.

Website: juan-guillen.com.

BRANDON HALVORSEN (Ensemble) is grateful to be returning to McCoy Rigby after performing in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and playing Specs in Newsies! Brandon graduated in 2020 from Elon University with a BFA in Music Theatre and a minor in Dance. Film: Koreatown Ghost Story starring and produced

by Margaret Cho, which has won over 70 awards around the world. Selected regional credits: The LEX – Newsies (Elmer), West Side Story (Luis). The Muny – Hairspray. PCPA – Newsies (Finch). Brandon would like to thank his family, friends, Cathy, Tom, T.J., Dana, Julia, and all the creatives! Represented by Avalon Artists Group.

Seeking management. Instagram: @brandostar.

MICHAEL JAMES (Ensemble, u/s Pepper) is back with McCoy Rigby Entertainment! He was last seen here in Newsies as Racetrack!

Regional: Maltz Jupiter Theatre (West Side Story, Chicago, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Goodspeed Opera House (Bye Bye Birdie), Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Altar Boyz, Newsies, Mamma Mia!), and Sacramento Music Circus (Mamma Mia!). Television: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” BFA in Musical Theater and Dance, Point Park University. Proud member of AEA. Thank you to Julia, Dana, TJ, and Keith for the first opportunity back after a crazy two years for the arts. Michael is currently looking for bi-coastal representation. www.michaeljames.info EMILY KING BROWN (Tanya) is thrilled to be making her La Mirada debut! Highlights include Original Cast of the re-imagined Footloose for Norwegian Creative, the West Coast Regional PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7

premiere of Shrek the Musical at 3-D Theatricals, Antony & Cleopatra at Classic Stage, and originating the title character in Kentucky Madam, an immersive theatrical experience. Starring roles in film/tv: “A Haunting,” The Re-Renaissance and Kaleidoscope. EKB is a writer and producer of the all-female sketch comedy group LibTarts (TikTok @libtarts), and has her own branding, coaching & styling business, Styled by EKB. Training: BFA/ Shenandoah Conservatory, Advanced Acting Certificate/MxAT. www.emilykingbrown.com DILLON KLENA (Eddie, Ensemble, u/s Sky) is honored to be making his La Mirada Theater debut. Previous credits: Newsies (Jack Kelly), Story of My Life (Tom), Spring Awakening (Melchior), Big River (Huck), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston). He was recently a part of Starry: A New Musical reading in New York City. BFA from California State University Fullerton, where he majored in musical theater, class of 2020. Special thanks to McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Julia Flores, Natalie Kollar with LA Talent, and TJ Dawson for this amazing opportunity and much love to his family and friends for their constant and impactful support! Instagram: dillon_scott_klena.

ERIC KUNZE (Sam) Broadway: Les Misérables (Marius), Miss Saigon (Chris), Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy, with Jerry Lewis), Fun Home (Bruce, opposite Lea Salonga). La Mirada: Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Captain Phoebus), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric) National Tour. IRNE Best Actor: Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Whistle Down the Wind (The Man), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita (Che, L.A. Ovation Nomination), Pippin (title role, L.A. Robbie Award), South Pacific (Lt. Cable), The Who’s Tommy (title role), Jesus Christ Superstar (with Carl Anderson). Symphonic orchestral appearances: P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

“Music of the Night” (Kennedy Center), New York Pops (Carnegie Hall), Do You Hear the People Sing (principal soloist). www.erickunze.com ASHLEY EN-FU MATTHEWS (Ensemble) is Down to Disco and so excited to return to the Greek Islands and the MRE stage! Before the world was paused, she was last seen in the 10th Anniversary NYC Revival of Rock of Ages as Constance Sack. Recent credits include Mamma Mia! at The Hollywood Bowl, The Rock of Ages Las Vegas Co. (Sherrie/Waitress #1), MRE’s acclaimed production of Miss Saigon (Yvonne), and Sweet Charity directed by Kathleen Marshall.

TV: “Katy Keene” (CW). Full time Cat lady and part time Activist. Endless thanks to family, Lakey, Thomas & Michael, and MRE fam. Proud Actors’ Equity Member. @ashleyematthews JOI D. McCOY (Ali, Ensemble) a recent graduate of UCLA’s Musical Theatre program, she grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Vocal Studies. Through the years she has acted in Bring It On (Eva), Spamalot (Patsy) and Once on this Island (Little Ti Moune). This is her first season with La Mirada Theatre but she’s excited to begin her professional career with them.

JONATHAN McGILL (Ensemble) is thrilled to be back on stage with Mamma Mia! Credits: Wicked (Broadway and Tour), Movin’ Out (Tour), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (NY), A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas (Walt Disney World).

TV: “Hacks” (HBO). Special thanks to MTA, MRE, and Mom (always)! Prov. 3:5-6 @iamj.mcgill CANDI MILO (Rosie) is best known for voicing over a thousand half-hours as an award-winning actress including Space Jam 2: A New Legacy as Granny with LeBron James and Don Cheadle, and Adventures of Pinocchio as Lory. 1st National Tour of Dreamgirls (Michael Bennett, Jennifer

Holliday). Broadway Workshops: To Sir, With Love with Stephanie Mills, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens. Film: Bark Mitzvah (Best Actress, Chelsea Film Festival), Gloria Talks Funny (Cannes Winner), When Jeff Tried to Save The World. TV: “Boomers,” “Girl Meets World,” “The Tonight Show.” Author: Surviving the Odd. Instagram: @thecandimilo. IMDb.com/candimilo.

(AMDA) in Los Angeles, earning her BFA in Dance.

Now, Christina is professionally represented by Go2Talent agency, actively performs in equity house regional theater productions, as well as choreographing for dance teams, school musicals, and is the elective dance teacher at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Ca. Her smiley and optimistic personality are driven from her goal to always inspire and influence TAUBERT NADALINI (Sky) is abbasolutely hon- younger generations of performers to thrive ored to be making his McCoy Rigby debut. TV: and seek their passions – on and off the stage!

“This is Us” (NBC), “Sterling” (HBO). Theatre: The IG: @christinapaps.

Lion in Winter (Laguna Playhouse), Evita (Palos Verdes), Shooting Star (Hudson Theatre), Bronco DYLAN PASS (Father Alexandrios, Ensemble) Billy (Skylight Theatre), Bright Star (Musical couldn’t be more grateful to be joining this Theatre West), Frozen – Live at the Hyperion company on the “little island.” He was last seen (Disneyland), The Fantasticks (CB Mountain as Headwaiter in She Loves Me with San Diego Theatre). USC alum. Much gratitude goes to Musical Theatre. Select credits include Evita Heidi Rotbart Management, Dennis Sevier at (2019 National Tour), Bright Star (Darly Ames), The House of Representatives, Heidi Crane, and Cabaret (starring NKOTB’s Joey McIntyre), his singular parents, Jim and Shan, for their sup- regional premieres of Legally Blonde and Mary port. taubertnadalini.com Poppins (Moonlight Amphitheatre), La Cage aux Folles (Virginia Musical Theatre), Crazy for ISABELLA OLIVAS (Ensemble, u/s Ali, Lisa) You (Sam), The Addams Family (3-D Theatricals) is delighted to make her La Mirada debut in Oklahoma!, Chicago, Gypsy and more. Thanks Mamma Mia! Past credits include Phyllis in to the creative team and the McCoy Rigby 42nd Street, Parade, Young Frankenstein and family for this opportunity, my agent, and to my Hello, Dolly! (3-D Theatricals), Catch Me If You family and friends for their unending support!

Can, Guys and Dolls (Musical Theatre West), and @madeofdylan Bye Bye Birdie (Cabrillo Music Theatre). Recent television credits include “Reasonable Doubt” KELLY POWERS-FIGUEROA (Assistant (Investigation Discovery) and “Something Bit Me” Choreographer, Ensemble) is thrilled to be back (National Geographic). Isabella trained at the with her McCoy Rigby family in Mamma Mia! She Houston Ballet and Long Beach Ballet and gradu- played Fritzie in Cabaret and toured nationally ated from UCLA with a BS in Biology. When she’s with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The not performing, she’s probably doing math for Musical. Other theatre credits include Disney’s fun. Many thanks to her loving family and the Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing creative team! IG: @isabellamolivas.

Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Mamma Mia! at 3-D Theatricals. She played Maria Elena and CHRISTINA PAPANDREA (Ensemble) is an choreographed The Buddy Holly Story at Beef Australian-born triple threat. She attended & Boards and was a dancer at Disneyland in the American Musical and Dramatic Academy Mickey and the Magical Map. Kelly holds a BFA PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9

in Jazz Dance Performance from UArts. She Regional: A Chorus Line (Hollywood Bowl, 3-D would like to thank her amazing husband, Theatricals, Musical Theatre West, Olney Theatre family and studio for all their love and support. Center, 5th Avenue Theatre), Hair (Seacoast Repertory Theatre), Sideshow (3-D Theatricals), HANNAH JEAN SIMMONS (Dance Captain, Seussical the Musical starring Cathy Rigby (3-D Swing) is stoked to be returning to La Mirada Theatricals), The King and I (Olney Theatre and be a dancin’ queen in Mamma Mia! Recent Center), How to Succeed in Business Without productions include Transcendence Theater Really Trying (Performance Riverside). Love and Company (Performer/Dance Captain), Swing! thanks to her family, friends, the production (Comic), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The team, ATB, and Connor.

Musical (Swing), CATS (Rumpleteazer), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Oklahoma! FANA TESFAGIORGIS (Ensemble) is from (Gertie), Hairspray (Tammy), A Chorus Line Madison, WI. She graduated from Ailey/ (Bebe), Billy Elliot (Ensemble/Dance Captain), Fordham’s BFA Program with a degree in Dance, Hello, Dolly (Minnie Fay), All Shook Up (Dancer), and minor in Journalism. Professionally, Fana and shows for Disney Entertainment. Offstage danced with The Alvin Ailey American Dance she choreographs for the Young Americans, Theater, Evidence Dance Company, and The teaches yoga, loves anything outside with Black Iris Project, among other companies. Fana water, and baking her heart out. She would like studied at The Freeman Studio, The Kimball to thank Dana and TJ, McCoy Rigby, her family Studio, Lelund Durand Studios, and Lesly Kahn and friends for their love and support. Cheers! Acting Studio. She appeared in the film, In the Heights, the 1st National Tour of My Fair SCOTT SPRAAGS (Swing) Originally from Lady, the “The 73rd Annual Tony Awards” and Chicago, Scott has lived across several states the short films, Booked and Love on Speed. training in many dance styles including Ballet, Please find Fana’s website: FanaMinea.com, and Tap, and Jazz. After graduating from high school Instagram: @fanaminea! in Texas, he made the big move to California.

Traveling around the world for six years he ADAM TURNEY (Ensemble, u/s Eddie) grew has seen, met and walked the lifestyle of many up performing in school productions and different cultures and people, learning to never community theater. He went on to attend UCLA’s take what you have for granted, but to also School of Theater, Film, and Television, where he never settle for less than you are. He is thrilled to received a BA in Theater with a minor in Music be in this production of Mamma Mia! and can’t Industry. While at UCLA, he was a member of wait to share his love with you all. Keep up with the internationally recognized a cappella group, Scott on Instagram @scottspraags.

ScatterTones, with whom he travelled to New York twice to perform on Broadway stages.

MOMOKO SUGAI (Lisa, Ensemble, u/s Rosie) Recent credits include Godspell (Glendale Centre is thrilled to be returning to the beautiful Theatre), Hairspray (Palos Verdes Performing La Mirada Theatre and grateful to be doing Arts), In the Heights (Berkeley Playhouse), and what she loves again! Past credits include La a solo cabaret show at Pacific Resident Theatre.

Mirada: Mary Poppins. Broadway: Allegiance.

National Tour: Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

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RODRIGO VARANDAS (Assistant Choreographer, Pepper, u/s Bill) This performance is dedicated to David Robinson. Favorite choreography/direction credits: One War for Another (Choreographer), Waiting for Godot (Director), Romeo and Juliet (Choreographer) and Broadway to the Rescue (Choreographer). Favorite theatre credits: Peter Pan (Saudi Arabia Tour). Mamma Mia!, Shrek, Kinky Boots and 42nd Street (3-D Theatricals), West Side Story and Legally Blonde (Candlelight Pavilion), Singin’ in the Rain, In the Heights and White Christmas (Musical Theatre West), Children of Eden and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (5-star Theatricals), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Musical Theatre Guild) and Empire, Cabaret, 1776 and Singin’ in the Rain (McCoy Rigby Entertainment).

BENNY ANDERSSON (Music & Lyrics) Born in Stockholm on December 16, 1946. Instructed by his father and grandfather, he started to play the accordion at the age of 6 and he has not stopped yet.

BJÖRN ULVAEUS (Music & Lyrics) was born in 1945 in Gothenberg. After a successful local career in Sweden with a folk group in the mid 1960s, he started his collaboration with Benny Andersson. They then went on to form ABBA with Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Even during the ABBA years, the idea of writing a musical seemed appealing and, in 1981, Björn and Benny met Tim Rice and co-wrote Chess with him, which opened in the West End in 1986. In 1995 Björn and Benny opened a new musical called Kristina Från Duvemåla, which played for three years in Sweden.

Their most recent musical is the Stockholm production Hjälp Sökes, which opened in 2013. Bjorn is one of the producers for

Mamma Mia! The Party, which opened in Stockholm in January 2016.

CATHERINE JOHNSON (Book) Theatre: Rag Doll, Renegades, Suspension (Bristol Old Vic), Too Much Too Young (Bristol Old Vic and London Bubble), Boys Mean Business, Dead Sheep, Little Baby Nothing (Bush Theatre, London), Shang-a-Lang (Bush Theatre and national tour), Mamma Mia! (worldwide), Through the Wire and A Letter to Lacey for NT Connections. Creative consultant on ABBA the Museum, Stockholm. Television: “Casualty,” “Byker Grove,” “Love Hurts,” “Gold,” “Linda Green.” Original screenplays: Rag Doll and Where’s Willy? (HTV) and “Sin Bin” (BBC), the series “Love in the 21st Century” (Channel 4) and “Dappers” (BBC3).

Awards: Catherine has won the Bristol Old Vic/HTV Playwrighting Award, Thames Television’s Writer-in-Residence Award and Thames Television’s Best Play Award and was nominated in 2002 for a Tony Award for Best Musical Book for Mamma Mia! Film: Catherine wrote the screenplay for the Mamma Mia! movie released July 2008.

T.J. DAWSON (Director) is thrilled to be making his MRE directorial debut! T.J.’s the Executive Producer for 3-D Theatricals. T.J. has received Ovation nominations, and an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Lifetime Achievement Award for his direction of Parade (4 Ovation awards including Best Musical) and Ragtime. He was last seen at La Mirada as “Big Bopper” in The Buddy Holly Story! Directing: The Drowsy Chaperone, All Shook Up, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Avenue Q (Ovation Nomination), 9 TO 5, Into the Woods, Peter Pan, Ragtime, Side Show (Robby Award Best Director, Best Musical), The Addams Family, Hello, Dolly, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Full Monty, Oklahoma!, The PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P11

Secret Garden, The Wild Party, Bat Boy: The Musical, Cabaret, Seussical the Musical and West Side Story. He would like to thank Tom, Cathy and BT for their trust, the mother of his children and hero, Jeanette, for holding down the fort and being the strongest and most incredible human he knows and God for being his constant source of love, strength and inspiration. IG: tjdawson81.

DANA SOLIMANDO (Choreographer) Recent LMT/MRE credits include: American Idiot (2016 Ovation nom), Cabaret, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, RENT, Spring Awakening and Billy Elliot (2015 LADCC Award nom). Other favorites: 3-D Theatricals: Ragtime (2015 Ovation nom), Parade (2013 Ovation nom), Damn Yankees (2014 Ovation nom), The Addams Family, Hairspray, All Shook Up, Swing! (2004 and 2006 Ovation Award, Best Choreography). Miss Saigon (Macau International Arts Festival/MRE 2012 Ovation nom), Jesus Christ Superstar national tour (NAACP Theatre Award nom) and the world premiere of Rebel Genius. Other credits: Sacramento Music Circus: Hair, La Cage aux Folles, and The Wizard of Oz. Rubicon: Little Miss Scrooge (world premiere). 5th Avenue: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Dana is also co-writer/director/choreographer for Maestro and Rte. 66 on Crystal Cruises and director/choreographer for the national tour of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.

Musical, “Best in Fest” at NYMF 2008, presented in first-class production at The Smith Center in 2016. Keith was vocal director and arranger for “RoundHouse,” a television series aired on the Nickelodeon Network.

STEPHEN GIFFORD (Scenic Designer) has designed more than 200 productions during his time as a Los Angeles resident. His design work has been featured at numerous theaters nationally and internationally including: The Grand Ole Opry, The Chicago Theatre, Madison Square Garden, the Om Kalthoum & Abdel Halim Theaters (Riyadh), Sacramento Music Circus, The Walnut Street Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, Juneau Lyric Opera, La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby, 3-D Theatricals, and many more.

He has garnered many awards and nominations for his work and was awarded The Bob Z Award for career achievement in set design by the LADCC. www.stephengifforddesign.com

JEAN-YVES TESSIER (Lighting Designer) was born quite small but thanks to advances in medical and nutritional science grew into a larger version of himself. He hails from the cold reaches of Canada and has made a strange little life for himself lighting somber plays, happy-ending musicals, thrill-a-minute theme parks and funky looking structures. Projects Here: Boeing!

Boeing! (it’s been a while!), There: On Your Feet at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista, CA and Everywhere: Jurassic World Exhibitions in KEITH THOMPSON (Musical Director) was direc- Paris, Madrid and Seoul. tor/producer of The Cocktail Cabaret at Caesars Palace, founder and host of The Composers CRICKET S. MYERS (Sound Designer) On Showcase, featuring all original music at The Broadway, Cricket earned a Tony Nomination and Smith Center in Las Vegas. Professional credits a Drama Desk Award for her design of Bengal include musical director for Las Vegas compa- Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Regional designs nies of Jersey Boys, The Producers, Hairspray, include La Jolla Playhouse, The Ahmanson, The and We Will Rock You as well as first nation- Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, al tours of Mamma Mia! and Cabaret. Keith Shakespeare Theatre Company of DC, The is co-composer of IDAHO! The Comedy- Kirk Douglas Theater, Pasadena Playhouse, P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

and the Geffen Theater. She has earned 24 Ovation nominations, as well as winning The Ruth Morley Award from the League of Professional Theater Women, The Kinetic Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Design, an LADCC and a Garland Award in Los Angeles. www.cricketsmyers.com

The Rev Theatre Co., Ensemble Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, TheatreWorks, Denver Center Theatre, A Noise Within, The Pasadena Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, B Street Theatre, Onstage Series, Universal Studios and LA Phil. For my Dancing Queens: Cathy, Livy, Paige and Gracie. I love you with all of my heart and would jump off a pier with KAITLIN McCOY (Hair/Wig/Makeup Designer) you any day!! is thrilled to be back and working for McCoy Rigby Entertainment. Her design credits DAVID ELZER (Publicist) represents La Mirada include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Man Theatre, 5-Star Theatricals, Circle X Theatre of La Mancha, Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, Les Company, Ensemble Theatre Company, Misérables, Miss Saigon, Carrie the Musical. Laguna Playhouse, Road Theatre Company, She has also supervised on numerous national Rubicon Theatre Company, Troubadour tours. Kaitlin loves the work she does and the Theater Company and the Los Angeles Drama joy it brings to the audience.

Critics Circle. He is also an Ovation, Drama

Desk, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, and Garland Award-winning theatrical producer and the proud recipient of the LADCC Joel Hirschhorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre.

Productions include Justin Love (Best Production, LA Drama Critics Circle Award) which he conceived and co-wrote, The Color Purple, and the multi-Ovation-nominated, world premiere musical Having it All. He also produced the record-breaking, 19-month run of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Winter Wonderettes at the El Portal Forum Theatre and Life Could Be a Dream, which ran for a year at the Hudson Mainstage. Many thanks to BT, Jane, Tom and Cathy for having me along for the ride and thank you for JULIA FLORES (Casting Director) Celebrating supporting La Mirada Theatre!

27 years with McCoy Rigby Entertainment and La Mirada Theatre. MRE: touring productions ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Peter founded in 1913, represents more than 49,000 Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Camelot starring actors and stage managers in the United Lou Diamond Phillips and Jesus Christ States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and Superstar starring Carl Anderson. Additional foster the art of live theatre as an essential credits: productions for Boston Court Theatre, component of our society. Equity negotiates JILL GOLD (Production Stage Manager) celebrates her 32nd production for McCoy Rigby with this joyful show! She has also stagemanaged numerous shows at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Geffen Playhouse, Reprise, LATC, and Sacramento Music Circus. Jill toured the US with Les Misérables, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, City of Angels, and Wicked, as well as Germany and Austria with Sisterella. She teaches Stage Management at Occidental College, Advanced Stage Management at UCLA, and is the co-author of Stage Management by Lawrence Stern and Jill Gold (12th edition coming in November!). Do you detect a theme?!

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LA MIRADA THEATRE IS A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE EMPLOYING MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION. THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

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LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS The Tony-nominated theatre has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California.” This beautiful stateof-the-art theatre has been producing quality productions since 1977. The theatre has produced several national tours and is the recipient of many accolades, including Tony, Emmy and Ovation Award nominations. For its 2012-13 season, it won the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for “Best Season of the Year.”

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McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (Tom McCoy & Cathy Rigby McCoy, Executive Producers) Celebrating its 28 th Anniversary season at La Mirada Theatre, McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (MRE), is one of the world’s premier theatrical production companies and continues to be grateful to share a wildly successful collaboration with the City of La Mirada. Headed by Executive Producers Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby, MRE has produced over 100 musicals, plays, and concerts featuring some of the biggest stars in the industry today and garnering many Emmy Awards, Tony nominations, and LA Ovation Awards. In addition, MRE has launched several Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Broadway, international, and national touring productions including ASIA: Dreamgirls (Japan), Miss Saigon (China), Peter Pan (China), SAUDI ARABIA: Peter Pan (this was the first Broadway Musical to ever play in Saudi Arabia), USA: Seussical the Musical, and Annie Get Your Gun, starring Cathy Rigby, Jesus Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson and Sebastian Bach, Camelot starring Michael York and Lou Diamond Phillips, Happy Days written by Gary Marshall and Paul Williams. Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde starring Grammy Award nominee Deborah Cox and “American Idol” and Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis, and Disney’s the Little Mermaid. Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby has made four stops on Broadway and received four Tony Award nominations

including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. The A&E TV network premiere of Peter Pan received one Emmy Award and four Emmy Award nominations.

Our productions of A Night with Janis Joplin starring Mary Bridget Davies and Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby are now streaming on Broadway HD.

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wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFLCIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org

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The Designers at this Theatre are Represented by

United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes

THE MUSICIANS EMPLOYED AT THIS THEATRE ARE MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

LA MIRADA CITY COUNCIL ED ENG....................................................................................................................................................... Mayor ANTHONY OTERO..................................................................................................................... Mayor Pro Tem STEVE DE RUSE, D. MIN.......................................................................................................... Councilmember JOHN LEWIS............................................................................................................................. Councilmember ANDREW SAREGA................................................................................................................... Councilmember JEFF BOYNTON............................................................................................................................ City Manager SPECIAL THANKS City of La Mirada and Friends of the La Mirada Theatre LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS STAFF BT McNICHOLL.................................................................................................Producing Artistic Director DEVIS ANDRADE..................................................................................................................House Manager JANE LYNCH............................................................................................. Theatre Operations Supervisor HELENE DUARTE.....................................................................................................Department Secretary ELIZABETH CARLOCK..........................................................................................Ticket Services Manager AMELIA LINDQVIST........................................................Assistant Audience Development Coordinator CHRIS CONRAD.............................................................................................................Technical Director ROBERT FELIX..................................................................................................................Master Electrician JOSH BESSOM......................................................................................................................Audio Engineer ADRIAN THOMAS , BILL BELL.......................................................................Assistant Technical Directors STEVEN BEARD, FLAVIO DIAZ, JONATHON GUERRERO, LETICIA HERNANDEZ, ALLISON MAMANN, CARI NOEL, ANDREW RIVAS, JAVIER RUIZ, MELISSA SKAU, AARON STEVENS.......................................Stagehands JENNIFER REILLY......................................................................................................... Marketing Associate SARAH PETHER-HAMILL........................................................................................ Box Office Coordinator ADRIENNE MEDRANO....................................................................................................Graphic Designer DAVID ELZER...................................................................................................................................... Publicist ROBERT SWEIBEL.......................................................................................................Marketing Consultant ALYSSA ADKINS, JESSICA ANDRADE, CASIE GALLARDO, MICAH JOHNSON, BEVERLY KIRTON, MADISON QUIROZ, JOHNNY STEIN, CATHERINE VARTAN............................................Box Office Staff DIANE MARKWELL, PAT WRIGHT..........................................................................................Lead Ushers MERCY BLUMBERG, ALEXANDRA BRACCIO, HAZEL BUSCAINO, LISA CESLIKOSKI, JENNIFER DE LEON, NORRIE FAULKNER, SONJA JOHNSON, JESSICA KING, DANA MARTIN, NOA MARTIN, SAMUEL MAURER, GARY WONG, DELIA YBARRA...........................................................................Ushers DONNA THEECK...........................................................................................................Customer Relations KYLE DURAN............................................................................................................Facilities Coordinator RANDALL GALLEGOS, ANTHONY GONZALEZ, JEREMY HUME CLARK MORALES, FRANK PRINZEN, RAY ROMERO...............................................Theatre Maintenance McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION STAFF TOM McCOY AND CATHY RIGBY............................................................................... Executive Producers ANA LARA.............................................................................................................................Office Manager PATTI McCOY JACOB......................................................................................................General Manager DAVID NESTOR..............................................................................................................Company Manager LINDSAY BROOKS..........................................................................Associate Producer – Marketing & CEI BRANDON NASE.......................................................................................Executive Diversity Consultant KELLEY DORNEY, EMMA FASSLER, TALIA GLOSTER..................................................Casting Assistants SAM PIETENPOL..........................................................................................................Assistant to Producer BRENT CRAYON...............................................................................................................Rehearsal Pianist PHILIP HOLDEN....................................................................................................... Projection Programmer DONNA MacNAUGHTON......................................................................................... Wardrobe Supervisor KAITLIN McCOY..................................................................................... Hair/Wig/Makeup Running Head MADISON MEDRANO.........................................................................................Hair/Wig/Makeup Intern ELISSA SZIEFF..........................................................................................................Production Accountant ALEX BARIL.................................................................................................................Production Assistant TITUS TELGE.......................................................................................................Production Assistant Intern AUDREY COLINDRES, CHELSEA MORGAN..................................................COVID-19 Safety Managers Visit www.LaMiradaTheatre.com or call us at (562) 944-9801 Share photos of your experience with us on social media!

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SUPPORTERS OF OUR 2021-2022 SEASON $1,000 & Above Ms. Carol Gardner James Oviatt Mr. Robert K. Peirson The Walt Disney Company Foundation $500 & Above Forklift Nation Bob and Marianne Hughlett Mr. James Kenzik Ms. Joan M. Lewis In Honor of Myllie Taylor Ms. Alice Van Klaveren

Georgina Guardado Tom and Melissa Schulman B Lavern Shaffer Robert and Kandice Sherwood Drs. Neal Shindel and Joan Dengrove Mrs Jean Sigler Ms. JoAnne Sims David and Linda Smith Ms. Kathy Songer Ron and Cathleen Stearns Frederic and Karen Steinke John and Jeanette Svet Ron and Jeannette Tozaki Mrs. Jean Tsunekawa Art and Linda Van Epps Peter Vandeventer Ms. Sandy Wanamaker Mr. Ray Ward Lawrence and Marjorie White James and Jennifer Whiteaker Robert and Maralys Wills Ms. Gwen V. Woirhaye Steven Wren and Andrea Morales Ms. Beverly Yamagata

Mr. David Moore Ms. Linda C. Mose Ms. Joalyn Mushin Mr. David Nagy Mrs. Ann O’Rourke Ms. Veronica Orrick Geoffrey and Keren Pankau David and Kathleen Pasillas Kathy Permenter Mr. Daryl G. Pruett Mr. Daniel G. Riddle Ms. Toni L. Rohrig Joan Rudner Anthony and Shelli Santos Ms. Diane Schultheis Joseph and Gail Shine Kellie Simpson Richard and Cynthia Stoecklein Michael and Hilda Sugarman Mrs. Donna Jo Thompson In Honor of Myllie Taylor, Love Harold & Patti Maurice Tiernan Chrys Tillman Ms. Barbara-Leigh Tonelli David and Rosemarie Whitaker Ms. Carol Wiseman Ms. Harriet Yamada Lawrence and Mary Ann Yeager

Steven and Mary Shandrow Mr. John Singer Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith Anonymous Ms. Kathy Takeda Neil Torres Silissa Uriarte Smith Mrs. Dana Waite James Weber Barry and Joan Willett

Up To $25 Marlon G. Abad Dr. Yolando Aguerrebere Lorraine Aguilar $250 & Above Mrs. Cassie Allen Mr. William G. Braden, Jr. Mr. Satish Amin Ytzhak and Rhona Gewelber Mr. Gary J. Anderson Mr. Herb Hundt Alin Andrade Mr. Larry W. Lamb Ms. Corin Andrade Marcie and Tom Matassa Mr. David Anis Mr. Paul David K. Naval Jessica Arteaga Mr. Glenn Osborne Ms. Pam Au Jeanne and Larry Reddel Mrs. Blanche Aviles Gary and Carole Bacher $100 & Above $50 & Above Ilse Baeck Richard and Carol Abram Erwin and Stephanie Adler James Bagwell Mr. James Allen Mr. Lawrence Allred Melissa Mary Bakeman Ms. Gayelea Allison Aura Argueta Ms. Natalia Balestra Deborah Anderson Rodney and Susan Arp Ms. Carolyn Baltazar Mr. Max Arbolida Bret Bagne/Bud Franz $25 and above Willard L. Barnes Ms. Ellen Ardman John and Sharon Beauman Paula Abbott Edward Becerra Betsy Azariah William and Rowena Beinbrech Ms. Lupe Aguayo Ms. Stephanie Bertelson Mr. Paul Bailey In Memory of Myllie Taylor Mr. Michael Aranda Mr. Fred Boehm Arthur and Katie Balazs Mrs. Idalia Berriozabal Preciado Mr. David W. Armbruster Deborah F. Boersma Mrs. Virginia Ball Wilma Bradley and Penny Watkins Mrs. Olga S. Barnes Mrs. Cathy L. Boon Ms. Leslie Bauce Mr. Barry J. Brann Lorraine and Greg Bornstein Mr. Timothy Borruel Nancy Bauer Michael and Christine Ikeda Robert and Bonnie Bowman Mr. Erick Bostrom Frank and Susan Beigbeder Chester and Nancy Brown Frank and Loretta Boyce Kevin Boyce Dale and Mary Botts Mark and Kathy Brown Kristen Brownell Craig Boyer Ms. Marilyn E. Bradley Mrs. Sandra M Calcagno Mrs. Brenda Bryan Nancy Jane Branchaud Jan Burnett Ms. Prudy Carter Tim and Carol Burke Mrs. Pearlene Brar Mrs. Susan Lynn Butler Ms. Nancy Cesar Ronald and Julie Burrows Ms. Charity Bryant Ms. Rosa Carrillo-Coronado Joseph and Barbara Chamberlain James and Betty Cauley Mr. David Buck David and Julie Cole Ms. Joan Choice Neil and Marlene Clements Prof. Dorthea R. Burns-Morris Thomas and Alison Condon Ms. Rhonda D. Cohen Bill Cooper JT Calditaran Mr. Randall I. Cox Tom and Sue Copsey Mr. Eric Cottrell Joshua Camarena Ivan and Eleanor Cranston Mrs. Brooks-Anne Crumley Donald and Lucy Crumrine Carolyn Cardamis Dale and Mishael Croft Lisa Cutts Jeffry Diacono Ramona Carrillo-Trujillo Dr. John and Mitzy Demman Ms. Stephanie Davis Ms. Crystal Dovalina Debby Cass Joel Drum John and Patricia Desler Ms. Jeanne Ellison Ms. Cynthia Castaneda Vivian Dufresne Ms. Nancy Donahue Ms. Zenthia Everett Peter Coleman Anonymous Ms. Toni Eastwood Carolyn Flynn Mrs. Blanca Contreras, B.A. Dr. Wendy Elliott Fred and Marilyn Fineman David and Laurel Forward Charles and Shirley Conway In Memory of Myllie Taylor from the Ms. Janet Garcia Mr. Eugene Fryling Mr. John Cordova Fleischmann Family Gary and Mary Golden Mr. Polycarpio Gomez Jesus S. Coria Bonnie Freitag Tedd and Susan Goldstein Ms. Janet Gourley Suzanne Coulson Friends of the La Mirada Theatre Ms. Susan Gregg Mrs. Jodell Gray Ms. Mary E. Crawford Richard Galyon and Christine Cawelti Mr. Edward Dean Gutierrez Ms. Jean Hall Clifford and Kathleen Crites Paul and Linda Geier Hanson Family Kerry Harr Mrs. Beverly Dachenhausen Ms. Cecilia A. Glorud Mrs. Christine Harker Lanny and Pat Hawkinson Mrs. Ann Davila Rick and Peg Haburjak Mallory Harris Mrs. Grace V. Heggie Mr. William E Davis Mark and Doris Hayes Michael Hegeman Ms. Kimberli Heim Anonymous Patrick and Connie Hershelman Mr. Douglas Heisler Mrs. Helen Higgins Jim DeBaun Barry and Cathi Hofstetter Mr. Albert Hernandez Mr. Steven Highland Ms. Alice Del Pozo Jim and Marjorie Howard Ms. Marilyn A. Hills In Memory of Myllie Taylor Kim Derrick Michael and Nina Iachelli Tom and Cheryl Hoban Mr. Andrew Hopwood Mrs. Phyllis DeYoung Mrs. Virginia Lee Jacobs Nancy Huebotter Gary and Karla Hufenbach Ani Dikranian Ms. Sylvia Jarvi Sandy Hyder Ms. Patricia Ilharreguy Mrs. Jennifer DiLeva Nancy Jenkins Mr. Douglas L. Iford Ms. Roberta Innes David Dixon Daniel and Kathryn Johnson William and Colleen Ingalls Harry and Victoria Jacobs Theresa Dixon Mr. Keith Kato Ms. Cherie Ivers Mike Johnston and Eileen Ernest Mrs. Barbara Duncan Mr. John Kendall Gary and Claire Jackson Mrs. Barbara Keenoy Ben and Jennifer Durrant Dr. Kay C. Knepp Ms. Lolita Jackson Mr. Norwood L. King Ms. Kelly Easdale Al Kornblatt and Lisa Lawrence Timothy and Pamela Jackson Marshall Kramer Armel Sharon Eslava Steve and Judy Kroll Mrs. Sandra Jeffers Mrs. Ann LaPorte Mrs. Veronica Espinoza Mr. Howard Lefton Ms. Sharron E. Kelly Mr. Robert Laxton Brenda Esposito Peter Lorman and Nancy Beck Ms. Pat Kent In Memory of Myllie Taylor Jennifer Estavillo Byron Macdonald Joseph and Susan Kraics Ms. Ann Lester Mr. Michael James Fairbanks Russell and Mary Maguire Harry and Linda Kusuda Ms. Elizabeth L. Loh-Chen Rosario Fajardo Frank and Alicia Marshall Ms. Mireya M. Lange Ms. Mary Lorge Frances Falt Raymond and Susie Martinez Ms. Dorothy Lauterborn Colin McKinney and Mary Hudson- Lisa Fearing Ms. Judith Matsen Ms. Janice Lindsey McKinney Mrs. April Felix Mrs. Helen Michaels Mrs. Reine Little Mr. Dave Michelsen Alice Fernandez Frank and Sandy Micheletti Ms. Darlene Lorelli Dalyn Miller-Geiser Diane Ferrante Anonymous Joel and Devora Lowenstein Mr. Arthur Mitchell Mr. Liam Ferris Elbert and Patricia Moore In Memory of Myllie Taylor Arthur and Barbara Moncrief Carrie Fischer Anonymous Miss Laura Macias Ms. Robbie Nagashima Myrian Flores Robert and Marge O’Brien In Memory of Myllie Taylor Ms. Barbara Navarro Karie Foster Mr. William Oneida In Memory of Myllie Taylor from the Ms. Susan Newman Geneva Frailey Robert and Myriam Owiecki Marks Family Mr. Andy Nguo Ms. Carolee Freer Peter and Ursula Piotrowski In Memory of Joyce Fern Witherow Jim and Edna Olsen Ms. Diana Fujimoto Mrs Bonnie Poff Robert and Theresa Mayes Ms. Cathryn O’Neil Mr. David R. Gamboa Ms. Phyllis Pringle Sean and Dianne McCarley David Perry Grethen Gamet Betty Jean Reinard Mr. David D. McFarlin Greg and Michelle Peters Ms. Maureen Gandee Fausto and Cindy Rowlan Ms. Marilyn McNulty Linda Ramsay Mrs. Christine Garcia In Memory of Myllie Taylor Jose and Judite Mendes Richard and Joan Redmayne Jenn Garcia Linda and Jim Ruth Joe Montanari and Christine Ericson Joseph and JoAnn San Paolo Mrs. Maria S. Garcia

P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

Ms. Noreen Garcia Starr Garcia Mary Beth Garza Sara Gomez Ms. Patsy Gonzales Marappa Gopinath Pedro Govea Ms. Debby V. Grachen Robin Grant David Greenwood Ms. Shirley Griffith Lesa Grovas David and Christine Gunther Ms. Laura Gutierrez Ms. Josephine Haffner Chelsea Hansen Ms. Sara Hernandez Virginia and Raul Herrera Ms. Irene Hinojosa Ms. Hiromi Hiraoka Thomas Hoffman Mrs. Julie Howard Mr. Richard Howard Jennifer Isai Ishibashi/Stonebridge Mr. Craig Jackson Jinta and Sara Jackson Alex Jaimes Maria Jaramillo Ms. Sondra J. Johnson Ms. Kathryn Katz Mr. Jeffrey Kearney Ashley A. Kennedy Ms. Tanya Knott Amy Krell Chris Krummell Maria Ku Ms. Josephine Kuner Estell Kunter Peter and Carol La Rock Erin LaBrada Maria Ladd Martha Landry Celia Laureles Dr. Julie Lavezzari Judith Leal Ms. Karin Leffler Nancy Letofsky Melissa Lewis David Lieberman Alexander Limbert Ms. Erica Lizano Mrs. Jamie Gray Lopez Robert Lopez Victoria M Lopez Ms. Alysha Loumakis-Calderon Oscar Lugo Celina Lung Shaad Madison Tyrone Madoo Ms. Barbara Mahan Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth Mahoney Mrs. Raquel Malibiran Wendy Mann Darin Manser Claudia Marin Ms. Jane Elizabeth Martin Maureen Martinson Ms. Patricia Martzen Jane G. Maslog Dave McColum Michael and Kellie McConnell Mrs. Wind Adyanti McFerran Ms. Donna R. McIntosh Colin McKenna Dean McVay Mr. John Melchor Lauren Melendez Prof. Nancy J. Melucci Mr. Wayne Merrick Darlene Milton Mr. Mark S. Mintzer Mrs. Teodora Simas Miranda Rafael Monsivaiz Mr. Dwight Morgan Ms. Johanna Moyal Celia Muñoz Ms. Faye Munoz Mario Munoz Sorah Myung Linda M. Nakatani Pam Neil Mrs. Huyen Nguyen Judy L. Norlander Alan OConnell Mr. Matt Ordaz Editha Palad Elaine Paquet

Ms. Heather Park Mr. Nick Patapoff Mrs. Peggy Patterson Nicole Payne Mr. Robert K. Pearce Michael Pendleton Ms. Berta I. Perales Mr. Daniel Peterka Ms. Camille Pettigrew Son Pham Josie Phelps Kelley Ponce Darla Pope Marika Poynter Ms. Alondra Prado Mrs. Julie L. Ramos Revelyn Repaje Carole Rice Mr. Ricky Rice Mrs. Mary Lou Riddlebarger Catherine Risling Anonymous Ms. Ivonne Rivera Ms. Sharon Rizzo Hughes Tony Robinson Victor Romero Ulysses Rosales Alicia Rubio Ralph and Anna Ruiz Robert and Laura Sacino Ms. Rozanne Saglin Rhonda Sande Ms. Yvonne Santos Ms. Freya Schmus Ms. Eileen M Schumann Ms. Yvonne Schwab Ms. Barbara Schwartz Monica Sepulveda Sona Seymour Mr. Brydon Shirk Julie Shook Ms. Laura Sibley Ms. Thea Siegel Mr. Jose Miguel Silveyra Daniel and Joyce Smith Marci Smith Pegi Smith Maria Soto Dennis and Judy Steckman Mrs. Belinda E. Stevens-Bernal Alan Strickland Diana Stuve Jon Swedlund Stacy Sweeting Ray Tae George and Herminia Talledo Rebecca Thompson Mr. George Tom Robert and Nyada Turner Mr. Michael Uyeno Ms. Aida Valencia Peter and Barbara Verdoljak Mr. James S. Vitale Mrs. Kathy Voreh-Husek Ms. Alicia Vrolijk Jeff and Beverly Wakefield Mr. Fred Wall Victoria Waller Mrs. Kathy J. Wattenberg Ms. Marie Welbourne Suzan Welsh Cheryl Wessel Jacqueline Williams Michael and Irmgard Williams Hannah Williamson Ms. Georgeann Wyatt Viki Yamashita Emmy Yen Mr. Jer Yu Sheeza Zuberi

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HOME IMPROVEMENT PERFORMING-ARTS VENUES ARE BACK—AND BETTER THAN EVER. / BY SHERRY STERN / SAY HELLO TO THEATER post-lockdown. First thing you can do is breathe easy—literally. ♦ During the darkest of days, venues up and down Southern California quietly found a silver lining to empty stages: They used the downtime to embark on much-needed updates and, most pressing, to enhance air quality. ♦ Astonishingly, the theaters undertook these projects when they were at their most vulnerable, in a period of evaporating revenue and with a finish line that kept moving. ♦ The focus at all of them: how best to welcome back audiences. At Geffen Playhouse, for instance, the desire was for people to find the physical space better than when they last saw it in spring 2020.

18 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

HUNTER KERHART AND, OPPOSITE, GEORGIA ARNOLD. AMBASSADOR, ANA PONZO

Ambassador Auditorium. At Geffen Playhouse: updated fountain, right, and Founders Room, below opposite.

“The feeling,” says Gil Cates, Jr. the Geffen’s executive director, “was that when we get back to doing live theater that it doesn’t feel like we just flipped on the lights, replaced a few light bulbs and moved some of the cobwebs out of the way.

“We want people to feel like, wow!”

That meant projects from redoing the landscaping, refinishing the lobby floors and adding an entry door off the Founders Room patio down to replacing door handles and repairing water damage.

At La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, producing artistic

director BT McNicholl recognized the importance of seizing the moment.

“We had to take advantage of this opportunity,” McNicholl says.

“It’s the first time the building has been shut down in 44 years, the first time we’ve had an extended period where we could actually work on the building and the facility.”

Health and safety standards topped the lists everywhere.

Performing-arts spaces of all sizes, from Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa to Pasadena Playhouse to the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, reopen with

upgraded ventilation systems.

Outside experts and advisors were called in; suddenly, artistic directors knew an alphabet soup of requirements and recommendations. HVAC, IAQ, UL, GBAC, HIPA and MERV became part of everyday conversation. (“Before this, the only Merv I could think of was Merv Griffin,” one theater leader jokes.)

For the audience, it all spells healthier buildings.

At Pasadena’s 48-year-old Ambassador Auditorium, improving the air dovetailed with a massive environmentally green retrofit that had already been in the works. The

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 19

New patio door at the Geffen Playhouse and, below, revamps at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

20 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

programs can be accessed by scanning a QR code on smart phones. All Music Center, Geffen Playhouse and Segerstrom restrooms now have touchless faucets. Theaters everywhere underwent deep cleaning and installed hand sanitizer dispensers.

La Mirada Theatre updated its rehearsal space, refreshed its backstage and brightened its lobby, taking a year to beta test signage and hold what McNicholl calls trash can and tablecloth auditions for their replacements. A new patio with dining options opens presently.

The Broad Stage in Santa Monica reupholstered its seats and replaced its sound system. Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine installed new seats and carpeting. La Jolla Playhouse near San Diego replaced its rigging system and installed a new fire curtain in its Mandell Weiss Theatre.

For some organizations, financing was a creative endeavor. At East West Players, a grant from the Ahmanson Foundation for facility upgrades was adjusted to pay for an essential revamp of its 23-year-old sound system. That project could

TOP, GEORGIA ARNOLD. PHOTOS BELOW COURTESY LA MIRADA THEATRE

venue’s sustainability renovation increases power efficiency to such an extent that, over time, the $4.5 million cost will be made up by energy savings. The shutdown allowed the undertaking to be completed quickly; it was finished in less than a year.

“Because of COVID, we chose to condense the timeline,” says Bill Tilney, executive director of the Ambassador Foundation of Pasadena. “This has afforded us the opportunity to work on key components of the building that haven’t been touched since 1974.”

Fresh air now flows into the auditorium every six minutes compared to 24 minutes previously.

“The Ambassador improvements are going to save tons of energy and bring a beautiful comfort to the people who are in here,” says project engineer Dereck Rascon, Sr., adding that electrical usage will also be cut down. “Our carbon footprint is going to be reduced.”

Also in the name of safety and health, digital ticketing has all but replaced paper at most venues;

only have been accomplished during the extended shutdown.

“We were suddenly, shall we say, blessed with an open calendar?” muses Andy Lowe, director of production and casting. The modern sound system will enhance the experience, which previously varied depending on where the audience member was sitting, Lowe says.

Some changes are purely aesthetic. Coincidentally, three theaters updated and improved operations of neglected fountains, all projects dear to the venues’ leadership. The Ambassador’s treasured egret fountain returns to its original bronze; fountains outside the Geffen and La Mirada will run water as initially designed.

For McNicholl, improving the entrance was a necessity. “I do think that the show begins at the curb,” he says.

Let the curtain rise on a new act for Southern California’s theater and performing arts.

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Now Playing on the Patio AMONG THE PASADENA Playhouse’s many virtues is a new one that shares its inviting patio. Basque-inspired Saso opened during challenging times in a space where other respectable restaurants had failed, but its prospects appear bright, thanks to its well-executed cuisine and the charm of the Playhouse itself, a landmark founded a century ago, not long after the 1918 pandemic.

Saso’s dining room, in the structure adjoining the Spanish Colonial Revival-style theater, offers generously spaced booths amid colorful

22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

murals. For many of the guests, the more coveted tables are those that spill out onto the Playhouse’s stone-clad patio, which features an ornate fountain, an ancient tree and lights strewn overhead.

Patio seating is on directors’ chairs.

Chef/partner Dominique Crisp developed his deft touch with seafood at Santa Monica’s Blue Plate Oysterette and Silver Lake’s L&E Oyster Bar—skills that he has only amplified at Saso. The son of an Oregon winemaker, Crisp is clearly passionate about his craft and is building something really worth-

while in the district, which was recently renamed Playhouse Village.

One could easily compose an entire meal from the bistro’s diverse selection of pintxos, as tapas are known in Spain’s Basque region.

They include organic handcrafted sourdough with tomato jam; prized jamón ibérico dusted with orange zest and served with vegetable crudités; grilled octopus; and a quintet of spherical croketas filled with whatever inspires the chef and a velvety béchamel sauce.

Chimichurri and horseradish enliven skewers of wagyu beef bites; deli-

PHOTOS FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH STUDIOS

New Saso presents the cuisine of Spain’s Basque region adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse. / by roger grody /

Clockwise from top left: The New Moon with horseradish vodka and squid-ink ice cube; Navarra-style bonein Wagyu steak; Saso interior; Santa Barbara crab claws.

Opposite: outside on the Playhouse patio.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 23

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Wagyu beef tartare with anchovy aioli and trout roe

cately fried oysters with anchovy and peppers, plated with a saffron gribiche sauce, may be the standout.

Saso’s crudo bar turns out items such as freshly shucked oysters and salmon carpaccio; a beautiful disk of anchovy aiolilaced wagyu beef tartare is artistically crowned with trout roe, chives and edible flowers and plated with sourdough crisps.

Larger plates include a whole fish basquaise— usually striped bass from Baja—simply prepared with crispy garlic, chili and olive oil; it emerges from the Josper charcoal oven that Crisp installed. Also offered are Navarra-style steak and a crispy-skinned seared Ora king salmon plated with fennel, citrus and charred avocado.

The medium-rare salmon, from the same Josper oven and served without sauce, is a testament to quality ingredients treated with respect.

Cocktails are imaginative; among unexpected elements are shiitake mushroom-infused spirits and ice cubes tinted black with squid ink. Saso’s short but intriguing wine list has a few Basquecountry bottles priced at under $50.

Desserts include a version of torrijas, a deceptively decadent Spanish-style French toast served with housechurned rosemary-vanilla ice cream; a chocolate pot de crème is topped with maple-infused cream and dusted with paprika.

Saso is one of several restaurants contributing to the recent revitalization of Pasadena’s dining scene; other notable additions include the Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, which also includes a wine shop, and Perle, an excellent French bistro that debuted last year. 37 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, 626.808.4976, sasobistro.com

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PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 25

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Hotel San Luis Obispo. Opposite: the rooftop pool at Hotel Cerro

26 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

OBISPO GETAWAY Chic new hotels transform the Central Coast city from drive-by to check-in. / by benjamin epstein /

COURTESY IMAGES

San Luis Obispo has always been at a crossroads—literally, at the intersection of California’s Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101. Best known as a college town, it’s roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles; most travelers think of it as an offramp to and from Big Sur or wine country. In fact, the city, often abbreviated to “SLO” by locals, offers one of the state’s most vibrant and walkable downtowns, full of eateries and drinkeries and hip upscale shopping, plus a Spanish mission for history buffs, galleries for art lovers and a renowned farmers market. Now there are two new reasons to take that offramp. Both are ultra-cool luxury properties that opened within blocks, and months, of each other.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 27

Living room, Hotel SLO suite

Hotel San Luis Obispo, almost universally referred to as Hotel SLO, opened in late 2019. It’s steps from the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which marks its 250th anniversary next year, in the heart of histor-

ical Chinatown. Chinese artistic and cultural elements can be seen throughout the hotel’s architecture and design.

For starters, there’s a neon “Chop Suey” sign on the side of the building.

Reflecting the area’s

rugged ranch and coastal landscape, its public spaces and nearly 80 rooms use warm woods, terra cotta, Corten steel, succulents and heritage olives in a modern context. The hotel is managed by Piazza Hospitality, known for Hotel Healdsburg and others in Sonoma wine country.

Chef Ryan Fancher heads up two onsite restaurants: Piadina, offering farm-fresh Cal-Ital dishes; and Ox + Anchor, a contemporary take on the classic steakhouse.

The Piadina lunch/dinner menu is served throughout the hotel: in the gar-

den courtyard and S.Low lobby bar; and on the High Bar rooftop terrace, which has a bocce court and herb garden. Particularly memorable are pizzas such as one with blue cheese, Brussels sprouts, bacon and Bautista Farms lettuces. The 50-foot, garden-terrace swimming pool has cocktail and food service, too.

For an elevated meal, Ox + Anchor—arguably the city’s finest-dining destination—presents the local terroir both on the plate and in the glass, the latter Central Coast wines, of course. Consider Laura Chenel Chevre croquettes and Snake

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River Farms kobe flat-iron steak; start with a barrelaged vieux carré cocktail.

The next morning, enjoy the Sol Spa—Sol is SLO sideways!—fitness center, yoga, guided hikes and complimentary bikes.

877 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, 805.235.0700, hotel-slo.com Hotel Cerro looks intimate from the street, but its vintage brick storefronts are deceiving: The property occupies nearly a square block—with 65 rooms and suites, eight residences and a stunning rooftop pool. Decor merges contemporary with Spanish Mission and 19th-century industrial influences. The hotel is filled with cool furnishings and provocative art.

Even before Hotel Cerro opened in early 2020, National Geographic Traveler named it one of the world’s best new green hotels; eco-conscious details marry luxury and sustainability.

The raised-bed Edible Garden, on a second-floor terrace, is the property’s heart; its organic herbs and vegetables are destined for the hotel’s Brasserie SLO. Guests can forage, too, but most simply enjoy a glass of wine in the verdant space.

Inspired by a “head to tail, root to fruit” philosophy, Brasserie SLO offers modern Mediterranean dishes from its wood-

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30 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

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burning oven and grill.

Riffs on brasserie classics might include mussels in coconut poblano broth or Butcher’s Steak with bone-marrow butter and thyme fries. Using local botanicals and citrus oils, its onsite distillery produces spirits in its copper Holstein still for the restaurant’s cocktails and desserts.

Behind the eatery’s SLO focus is a SoCal pedigree. Kenny Seliger, opening chef at Henry’s in Huntington Beach, launched the brasserie before departing for Paso Robles. Chef Vartan Abgaryan—of L.A.’s 71Above and Yours Truly, now at new A Crystal Cove in Newport Beach— was a guest chef last summer. New chef Derek Brooks, most recently at Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel, helmed Pelican Grill in Newport Coast for six years.

The hotel’s new Life of Pie bakery serves tarts

COURTESY HOTEL CERRO

and savory and sweet pies. The rooftop pool deck has a dedicated bar and pantry; the fitness center is adjacent.

Many treatments at Spa Cerro sound colorful, e.g., blue poppy organic enzyme, organic almond orange body polish and chromotherapy cascade.

Other amenities include bicycles and gigabite Wi-Fi. 1125 Garden St., San Luis Obispo, 805.548.1000, hotelcerro.com Bike paths and trails are draws at both hotels. The nearby coast invites surfing, kayaking, fishing and sunbathing. There are 30 wineries in the San Luis Obispo area and 200 in Paso Robles, a half hour north. Hearst Castle is an hour toward Big Sur. In his book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, best-selling author Dan Buettner named San Luis Obispo the “happiest place in America.” SLO down, check in and check it out.

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PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 31

P A RTIN G TH OUGH T

reprogra mmed!

Performances Magazine unveils a digital program platform for shows and concerts

DROP DOWN MENU Table of app contents.

SEARCH Find whatever it is you want to know—easily.

REGISTER Stay arts-engaged, access past programs.

SIGN IN Link to your performing-arts companies and venues.

THE ESSENTIALS Acts, scenes, synopses, repertory and notes.

THE PLAYERS Bios and background for cast, crew and creators.

CONTRIBUTORS Donors and sponsors who make it all possible—you!

32 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE

The touchless platform provides cast and player bios, donor and season updates and arts-centric features. Audiences receive a link and code word that instantly activate the app; QR codes are posted, too.

Screens go dark when curtains rise and return with the house lights.

Updates—repertory changes, understudy substitutions, significant donations—can be made right up to showtime, no inserts necessary.

Other features include video and audio streams, translations and expanded biographies.

For those who consider printed programs keepsakes, a limited number, as well as commemorative issues for special events, will continue to be produced. Collectibles!

Meanwhile, there will be less deforestation, consumption of petroleum inks and programs headed for landfills. For the ecologically minded, the platform gets a standing ovation.

Theaters and concert halls are reopening after a long intermission.

The stage is set, excitement is mounting. Activate your link and enjoy the shows. —CALEB WACHS

COURTESY L.A. PHIL

NO RUSTLING PAGES, no killing trees.... Of all the innovations to have come out of the pandemic, the new Performances program platform, accessed on any digital device, may be least likely to disappear in the foreseeable future.

Not only has its time come—it was long overdue.

Performances provides the programs for 20 SoCal performingarts organizations, from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Ahmanson to San Diego Opera, where the app made its debut.

WHAT’S ON What’s coming at a glance and ticket information.

HAVE A BALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY MATINEES NOV 28 & DEC 12 EVENINGS: NOV 20, DEC 1, 4, 8

Cinderella L A CENERENTOL A

PHOTOS COURTESY DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA

Tickets for ALL Budgets

Half-Price Tickets for Children

LAOPERA.ORG 213.972.8001

INTEGRITY

310.285.7508

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