Unleashed True Stories About the Animals We Love
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
Saturday, October 3, 2026
SEASON PARTNER
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
SPONSORS
Scott Douglas
OUR MISSION In partnership with the City of Torrance, The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation’s mission is to enrich the community through the performing arts by providing diverse cultural, educational and entertainment experiences of the highest quality.
Jean Adelsman
Jane and Jim Isomoto
Dale Korman
Lori Mizuguchi
(In Memory of Torrance Symphony)
Camilla Seferian Ann and Marty Gallagher
Rod and Crystal Macdonell
Nancy and George Mannon
Cliff Numark
Athena Paquette Cormier
Ted and Carolyn Porter
IN KIND SPONSORS
OUR VISION The vision of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation is to connect our community through culturally enriching experiences. THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TOCA AND THE ARTS IN THE SOUTH BAY LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation would like to acknowledge that the Armstrong Theatre is located on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Tongva people in the Swaanga Village. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the Tongva community, their elders both past and present, as well those of future generations. www.tongvapeople.com
Welcome to Our 2026–2027 Season Welcome to a brand-new season with the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation. As we look ahead, we do so with deep gratitude for our remarkable 30+ year legacy and for the vibrant future we continue to build together. For more than three decades, TOCA has been a cornerstone of creativity and connection in the South Bay, and that legacy lives on through the artists, audiences, donors, volunteers, and community partners who make this work possible. This season reflects what we believe at our core: that the performing arts have the power to bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and create lasting memories. Each performance has been thoughtfully selected to inspire, entertain, and connect, offering moments of joy, reflection, and discovery for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. At TOCA, the arts are for everyone. Whether you are joining us for the first time or have been part of our journey for years, we invite you to explore this season and find the experiences that speak to you. From music and theatre to comedy, cultural programming, and family-friendly performances, there is truly something for all. We are continually inspired by the artists we present and the community we serve. Your support, whether through attending performances, donating, volunteering, or simply sharing in these experiences ensures that the arts continue to thrive in Torrance and throughout the South Bay. Thank you for being part of TOCA. We look forward to sharing an unforgettable season with you. As always, if there’s anything we can do to make your experience better, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@torrancearts.org. See you at the theatre,
Camilla Seferian President, Board of Directors
Christian Wolf Artistic & Executive Director Assisted listening devices available. Ask the House Manager or usher for assistance.
Unleashed True Stories About the Animals We Love
1. Vicki Juditz — One Mutha to Anutha 2. Suzanne Weerts — Pet Cemetery 3. Allison Cameron Gray — Keeley 4. Musical Guest/Viral stand up comic — Drennon Davis INTERMISSION 5. Kathy Anderson — Peppy, The Proud Owner of a Blonde Woman 6. Judy Carter — Karma has Teeth 7. Cathy Stevens — Sinatra 8. Stephen Tobolowsky — The Speed of Everything
HOSTESS/ PRODUCER WENDY HAMMERS wears a lot of hats and does her best to look sharp in all of them. Acting: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Sopranos, Mad About You. Stand up Comic: Oprah, Craig Ferguson, and Vegas. Author: What Was I Thinking: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories (St. Martins Press) and launching next spring, her latest book, Hips, Hips, Hooray! A Bite-Sized Book for Grown-Ass Women. Learn more here: wendyhammers.com Tasty Words Productions is delighted to once again be partnering with TOCA. Now in its 25th year, Tasty Words Productions is a live events company that specializes in celebrating spoken word and features hilarious and heartfelt true life stories, written and performed by the people who lived them. Having produced over 150 thematically linked Tasty evenings, which are curated by Tasty creator Wendy Hammers. TWP is committed to bringing our loyal following stories good enough to eat. To learn more, listen to our podcast and join our mailing list, please visit tastywords.com. VICKI JUDITZ has performed at theaters and festivals across the country and beyond, including the National Storytelling Festival in TN, Aspen Laugh Festival, and the Toronto International Storytelling Festival. She has won many
Moth StorySLAMs and a Moth GrandSLAM. Her story “Dancing at Joe’s” aired on The Moth Radio Hour. TV audiences may remember her in comic roles on Storytime, Coach, Everybody Loves Raymond, My Name Is Earl and Yes, Dear as well as in countless TV commercials. SUZANNE WEERTS is the proud mama of two super-social twenty-something kids and an antisocial dog. She’s a writing teacher, storyteller, producer and future best-selling author whose memoir, Champagne Girl in a Budweiser Family, came out in last fall. When she isn’t curled in a ball lamenting the state of the world, she fuels her writing with chocolate, wine, and penning postcards to swing states. Suzanne is the founder of JAM Creative using live storytelling events to raise tens of thousands of dollars for non-profits and helps everyday people find their voices on paper and on stage. Suzanne’s next show, Jingle Tales & Tunes is Wednesday, December 9th at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. If you have a holiday story to share, submissions are open now through October 18th. Get all the details at jamcreativestories.com.
ALLISON CAMERON GRAY has been a SAGAFTRA member since 2003, after guest-starring on Family Law. She was born with cerebral palsy. Interested in describing the ironies of life, she performed stand-up comedy in venues such as the Improv, the Comedy Store, and the Ice House. Allison won second place in the Ha Ha Café’s Fresh Faces Comedy Contest. Her love of comedy led to a summer as a production intern for the Emmy and Peabody winning Late Show with Stephen Colbert. She was awarded Best Actress in the Demetera International Film Festival for starring in Young Adult. The short film was viewed world wide at festivals including, the Cannes International Cinema Festival and PBS Film School Shorts. In addition, Allison is a public speaker. She is asked to speak annually to Occupational Therapy students at USC as well as to middle school students. Allison has also been a keynote speaker at the Southern California TASH Conference. Young Adult DRENNON DAVIS is an award-winning comedian, writer and musician uses his unique skills in voice acting and song writing to create his own brand of absurdism, ranging from obscure impressions to puppets that nobody asked for. A comedy festival
favorite, he’s been lucky to have acted and performed comedy on stage and TV with the likes of Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle and Adam Devine. His viral series about his talking business cats has attracted millions of fans over all platforms. IG @drennondavis KATHY ANDERSON began her career as an actress in New York, performing Off-Off-Broadway before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked in film production at Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Miramax Films, and the Weinstein Company. She went on to write for newspapers and magazines and authored Ruby City, an awardwinning screenplay. She recently directed On the Road to Riches, a documentary about world champion cowgirl Jan Youren. Kathy lives in suburban Philadelphia with her minigolden doodle, Bavli, and her cat, Cinnamon. JUDY CARTER. You may have seen Judy Carter on your TV — she’s made over 100 appearances as a standup and starred in four HBO comedy specials. After all, she did write the Bible. No joke, Judy is the author of The New Comedy Bible, a powerful guide that even had Oprah asking, “Can you teach people to be funny?” Spoiler alert: The answer is yes.
Judy’s insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, and NPR, where they all ask the same burning question: “How can we stress less and laugh more?” Her answer is simple: laugh at your stress before it laughs at you. Known for her engaging blend of humor and insight, Judy is a motivational humorist speaking at Fortune 500 companies as well as the less fortunate. Learn more at judycarter.com. With a style that unites people through laughter, Judy Carter is here to remind us that humor is not just a coping tool; it’s a superpower. CATHY STEVENS is originally from Selma, Alabama, and was born into a family where storytelling was practically a competitive sport. She now lives in Southern California, works as a Realtor, is the mother of two adult sons, and has been
married to her husband, Ralph, for 42 years—which may be her longestrunning story yet. Tonight marks her first time performing onstage. She’ll be sharing the story of Sinatra, the “mini” pig who became considerably less mini and far more memorable. STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY has appeared in over 250 movies and television shows. He is best known for roles in Groundhog Day, Memento, Silicon Valley, Californication, Glee, The Goldbergs, and Norman Lear’s 2017 rendition of One Day at a Time. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Homer in Morning’s at Seven in 2002. His podcast of true stories, The Tobolowsky Files, is on Apple Podcasts. He has written two books of true stories for Simon and Schuster: The Dangerous Animals Club and My Adventures with God.
I am honored to support TOCA’s efforts to bring high-quality live entertainment and theatrical performances to the South Bay.
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Thank You SEASON PARTNER City of Torrance $10,000 – $49,999 — STARS Scott Douglas Torrance Refining Company $5,000 – $9,999 — CO-STARS Sares-Regis Group Surf Management, Inc. Supervisor Janice Hahn Torrance Community Credit Union $2,500 – $4,999 — PRODUCERS Jean Adelsman Jane and Jim Isomoto Dale Korman (In Memory of Torrance Symphony) Lori Mizuguchi Camilla Seferian $1,000 – $2,499 — DIRECTORS Chevron Farmers & Merchants Bank Ann and Marty Gallagher Rod and Crystal Macdonell Nancy and George Mannon Cliff Numark Athena Paquette Cormier Ted and Carolyn Porter Smart & Final Charitable Foundation IN-KIND SPONSORS Bakers Man Productions Stuart Levy, CPA, APC Torrance Bakery Torrance Refining Company Tito’s Handmade Vodka $500 — ANGELS Sara Baillie Tammy Khan Ellenmary Michel William Oberholzer Peter Pettler Pamela Popovich Winnie and Jason Seieroe
$250 — FRIENDS Jean Adelsman John and Louise Bye Lynn Fernandez Judith Fisher Gary and Diane Hastings Russell and Carole Lefevre Frank and Marilyn Miles Kenneth and Doris Nakakura Jim Olds Fred and Ann Peitzman Andrea Perez Gail Roulette Sylvia Stadlman Paula and John Verbeck Christian and Robin Wolf Ray Zepeda
TORRANCE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION BOARD Katy Geissert, Founding President
$100 — FANS Dan and Heidi Ashcraft Amy Blomgren Janice Burrin John and Sandy Conway Ann Cooper Helen Dennis Patrick and Terry Furey Chuck & Monica Gustafson Eleanor Jones Pentti and Ginger Jussila Bernadette Kociemba Lynda Kraemer Hugh McIntyre George and Helen Nakano Diana Nakashima Peter and Vicki Pellerito Laura Savitz Hazel Taniguchi Ray Uchima Paula Verbeck Kurt Weideman and Sue Golden
ADVISORY BOARD David Benoit Shannon Dean Scott Douglas Donna Duperron Steve Fechner Patrick Furey Ann Gallagher Jonah Hirata Gesuina Lafayette George Nakano Steve Napolitano Bill Oberholzer Ted Porter Ritas Smith Kurt Weideman
Go backstage with our podcast!
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Camilla Seferian, President Heidi Cunningham, Vice President Sara Baillie, Secretary Winnie Seieroe, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jean Adelsman Liliana Dongo Jim Olds Laura Savitz Ray Zepeda
STAFF Christian Wolf, Executive Director Sharon Sapigao, Administration Susan Lyon, Artist Hospitality Angie O’Campo, Social Media Coordinator Tes Schaff, Graphic Design
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
October
January
9&10
Jess & Joe
17
Riptide Film Festival
November 7
South Bay’s Got Talent
13&14
Telephone Tag
21
Magic Bingo
December 11
Irish Christmas in America
12
Art & Study of Taiko – RECITAL
13
Art & Study of Taiko – CONCERT
8-10
What the Constitution Means to Me
22&23
Joel Gaines
29
Kontrapunktus
February 5&6
Meself, Himself, & Herself
20
Dancing with the South Bay Stars
March 5&6
Tabitha Meeks
13
Paperback Writer – Beatles Tribute
For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (310) 781-7171 or visit TorranceArts.org