Cabrillo Stage Celebrates 35 Years

Still Producing Quality Local Musical Theater!

In 1981 Cabrillo Stage produced its first musical, CHICAGO, a bold choice for the time. Join the fun as they celebrate their 35th Anniversary Season, recreating the magic with an encore performance of CHICAGO, June 23 through July 10 and the tradition continues with the musical masterpiece, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, July 21 through August 14.

CHICAGO, directed and choreographed by Janie Scott, has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and one show-stopping song after another. Observe as a world of greed, seductive murderesses and ‘all that jazz’ unfolds before your eyes.

It’s a tale that began in the early 1920’s when Chicago’s press and public became riveted by the subject of homicides committed by women. This musical is based on a play by reporter and playwright Maurine Dallas Watkins who was assigned by the Chicago Tribune to cover the 1924 trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. The jurors at the time were all men and in Cook County there was a long string of acquittals. Thus the rumor arose that in Chicago, attractive women would not be convicted.

Watkins’ sensational columns documenting the trials were so popular that she decided to write a play based on them. Decades later, Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse and producer Richard Fryer acquired the rights to the play, and John Kander and Fred Ebb began work on the musical score, imbuing each number with classic vaudevillian style.

CHICAGO is an unforgettable journey into Chicago’s sultry storied past. Vaudeville star, Velma Kelly, and the up and coming starlet, Roxie Hart, compete for front page headlines, the spotlight and the attention of successful, dashing lawyer, Billy Flynn whose advice is to ‘Razzle Dazzle’. And Dazzle this musical does!

The show opens with “All That Jazz,” a musical introduction by Velma, an infamous stage star locked up for murdering her sister and her philandering husband. She becomes the belle of the prison ball, but her fame quickly fizzles as the media catches wind of Roxie’s equally enticing arrest resulting from the untimely death of her lover.

Enjoy the antics of corrupt prison matron, “Mama” Morton and the cheery reporter Mary Sunshine. And let’s not forget “Mr. Cellophane,” Roxie’s long-suffering husband, Amos. The entire cast is sure to dazzle with Ms. Scott’s direction and sizzling choreography. It is, after all an atmosphere ‘where the gin is cold and the piano’s hot’!

Honored with 6 Tony awards, 2 Olivier awards, a Grammy and thousands of standing ovations, CHICAGO always delivers. Cabrillo Stage will recapture the magic in this encore production which runs June 23 through July 10. All performances are held at the Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College Campus. Tickets can be purchased on line at cabrillostage.com or by calling the box office at 831-479-6154, Thursday through Saturday 12 to 6 p.m.

Next is the beloved theatrical masterpiece, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Kikau Alvaro directs and choreographs this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, tradition, laughter, love and life. Life, which, as the main character, Tevye explains, ‘is as precarious as the perch of a fiddler on a roof’. The music by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, is glorious and includes the well-known songs “Sunrise, Sunset”, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “If I Were a Rich Man”. This show is truly a reason for celebration.

You are also invited to attend the 35th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION on Sunday, June 26 at 5 p.m. in the Sesnon House located near the Crocker Theater. There will be wine, refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, live music and a chance to mingle with the cast, crew & Artistic Directors. The donation for this special event is only $50. If you are a Theater Guild Donor, the cost is $35. All proceeds go directly to Cabrillo Stage summer productions. Join the fun and help keep quality Broadway musical theater alive in our community!

Tickets for either show can be purchased individually or you can purchase season tickets and enjoy both shows at a discounted price. All performances are held at the Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College Campus. Purchase tickets on line at cabrillostage.com or call the box office Thurs- Sat 12:00 to 6:00 at 831-479-6154.