Lewis Wilkenfeld News

Mary Poppins/book by Julian Fellowes/music by The Sherman Brothers/new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe/directed by Lewis Wilkenfeld/choreographed by Cheryl Baxter/Cabrillo Music Theatre at the Fred Kavli Theatre of the Thousand Oakes Civic Arts Plaza/through April 26 only

Cabrillo Music Theatre is proud to announce the newest member of the Cabrillo Family, as Maureen O'Boyle Feldman joins the team to serve as Director of Development. Ms. Feldman will oversee fundraising and sponsorship for Cabrillo Music Theatre, and will report directly to Cabrillo's Board of Directors.

Family and Community combine with the arts when Cabrillo Music Theatre celebrates their upcoming production of MARY POPPINS with LET'S GO FLY A KITE! Inspired by a key moment in the movie and stage versions of the show, LET'S GO FLY A KITE allows families (and individuals, too) to build and fly their own kites, learn crafts from local artists, and, most importantly, gather together as a community with city officials, community leaders and local businesses for a free afternoon of music, food and fun. LET'S GO FLY A KITE takes place on Sunday, March 8th, 2015, from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, in Carpenter Park, directly outside Cabrillo Music Theatre's home venue, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Cabrillo Music Theatre announces the 2015-2016 season of shows. Three shows new to Cabrillo and to the Civic Arts Plaza, and a returning classic last performed here in 1996, 'A Season for All Seasons' has a show for every season of the year, and all are crowd-pleasers that everyone will enjoy! All of Cabrillo's productions are locally produced, auditioned and rehearsed in Southern California, and performed exclusively at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

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

Cabrillo Music Theatre brings its yearly Holiday Show for the troops to the Civic Arts Plaza for the first time, with CABRILLO'S 2014 HOLIDAY FAMILY CELEBRATION! For years, Cabrillo has been putting on a specially-prepared variety show exclusively for the troops and their families, at the Naval Base Ventura County. This year, Cabrillo will transfer this memorable performance to the Scherr Forum tonight, December 13th, the evening following the show for the troops.

MEMPHIS stars Lakeisha Renee Houston and Brandon Fleming are recipients of the first SELVIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP. Harry and Maureen Selvin, longtime patrons of the arts and supporters of Cabrillo Music Theatre, have developed this scholarship, to be presented on the final performance of each Cabrillo Music Theatre production, to the performer in that Cabrillo show that best exemplifies the spirit of Cabrillo Music Theatre. At the November 23rd performance of MEMPHIS, Houston and Fleming each receive a $500 cash scholarship, a personal trophy, and name recognition on a permanent plaque of all those recognized, to reside in the Cabrillo Music Theatre office.

Panic! Productions welcomes in the season with special fund-raising performances of The Panic! Holiday Radio Hourfeaturing Norman Corwin's classic radio play, The Plot to Overthrow Christmas, and a Cavalcade of great holiday hits. Performances are tonight, December 6 and tomorrow, December 7, 19 and 20 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

Cabrillo Music Theatre brings its yearly Holiday Show for the troops to the Civic Arts Plaza for the first time, with CABRILLO'S 2014 HOLIDAY FAMILY CELEBRATION! For years, Cabrillo has been putting on a specially-prepared variety show exclusively for the troops and their families, at the Naval Base Ventura County. This year, Cabrillo will transfer this memorable performance to the Scherr Forum on December 13th, the evening following the show for the troops.

Panic! Productions welcomes in the season with special fund-raising performances of The Panic! Holiday Radio Hourfeaturing Norman Corwin's classic radio play, The Plot to Overthrow Christmas, and a Cavalcade of great holiday hits. Performances are December 6 and 7, 19 and 20 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is honored to announce the formation of the SELVIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP. Harry and Maureen Selvin, longtime patrons of the arts and supporters of Cabrillo Music Theatre, have developed this scholarship, to be presented on the final performance of each Cabrillo Music Theatre production, to the performer in that Cabrillo show that best exemplifies the spirit of Cabrillo Music Theatre. Recipients will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship, a personal trophy, and name recognition on a permanent plaque of all those recognized, to reside in the Cabrillo Music Theatre office.

Thousand Oaks, Calif… From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs, and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. A crowd-pleaser that brings audiences to their feet with an "only in America" message that speaks to all generations, MEMPHIS sets a story of tolerance and the pursuit of happiness to a classic rock beat. Cabrillo Music Theatre's brand-new production of MEMPHIS, the first in this part of the country, opens on Friday, November 14th, 2014, playing until Sunday, November 23rd, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Take Cabrillo to MEMPHIS for a rockin' 'n' rollin' feel-good time!

Cabrillo Music Theatre is proud to announce a Matching Grant with a twist:Cabrillo receives a donation for every subscription to the 2014-2015 season.

Why should the Cabrillo Broadway Alumni have all the fun? Los Angeles talent responds with a fundraiser concert to support Cabrillo Music Theatre, and to help secure Cabrillo's future as a nurturer of young talent. REACHING FOR THE STARS: A CABRILLO CABARET will take place on Monday, August 25th, 8:00PM at the Lyric Theatre, 520 N La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Zoro), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked, Bare), Ashley Moniz (Sister Act, 9 to 5 National Tours), Derek Klena (Bridges of Madison County), Melissa Mitchell (LES MISERABLES), Catherine Ricafort (Cinderella, Mamma Mia!) and Steven Ferezy were among the Cabrillo Music Theatre alumni who took part in Cabrillo Coast-to-Coast on August 4, 2014 at The Triad. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to announce that that it has met its fund-raising goal to keep its doors open and launch its 2014-2015 season, featuring MARY POPPINS, MEMPHIS, OKLAHOMA and COMPANY.

As they close in on the August 1st fundraising deadline, and having reached 57% of the $250,000 goal, Cabrillo Music Theatre enthusiastically announces that local businessman/developer John Notter has partnered with the Conrad Hilton Foundation to pledge $30,000 to the fundraising drive. At the same time, Notter and the Foundation ask the community to do the same, and now the race is on to reach the deadline in the next eight days. If fundraising and season subscription goals are reached, Cabrillo Music Theatre can move ahead with its 2014-2015 season, featuring MARY POPPINS, MEMPHIS, OKLAHOMA and COMPANY. Meanwhile, fundraising events continue across the country.

Ah, the rhythms of the 50s/60s! Got 'A Lot of Livin' to Do'! Lee Adams and Charles Strouse wrote the music and lyrics of Bye Bye Birdie to honor a generation of fans who swooned and literally gave themselves over to the rock and roll of Elvis Presley. Conrad Birdie (Austin MacPhee) is an obvious play on Conway Twitty, a rock star of that era who later became a superstar in the world of country. When Elvis went into the army, he became a national hero. Female teens adored him and would give up their own boyfriends just to be near him. This is Bye Bye Birdie in a nutshell now in a rollicking revival at Cabrillo Music Theatre through July 27.

Before Beatle-Mania, before Bieber Fever, there was the first, the original...Conrad Birdie! America's rock 'n' roll heart-throb drives the teen girls bonkers as Cabrillo Music Theatre brings back the nostalgic, Tony-winning family-friendly Broadway Musical, BYE BYE BIRDIE. BYE BYE BIRDIE opens today, July 18th, 2014, playing until Sunday, July 27th, and features an added mid-week matinee on July 23rd, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. BYE BYE BIRDIE takes us on a trip to the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, where the nation's most popular rock-and-roll singer, Conrad Birdie, arrives to give his biggest fan one last kiss to the Fan Club's President, Kim MacAfee, before going into the army - and on the Ed Sullivan Show, of course! At the same time, his manager, Albert Peterson, must deal with his frustrated secretary/girlfriend, Rose Alvarez, while handling his overbearing mother. Meanwhile, Mr. MacAfee fumes while Conrad Birdie takes over his bed, his house, his daughter, and his life! A town full of colorful characters, including crazed teenagers, a jealous boyfriend, a squeaky secretary, and a banquet-room-full of wild-eyed Shriners make for a rollicking, irreverent good time that the entire family will enjoy. BYE BYE BIRDIE features classic songs like 'Put On A Happy Face,' 'The Telephone Hour,' 'Kids,' and 'A Lot of Livin' To Do,' plus dances to rival the best of Broadway.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is thrilled to announce that as of Friday, June 27 it had passed the $100,000 mark (from over 400 donors!) towards its goal of raising $250,000 to keep its doors open and launching its 2014-2015 season, featuring MARY POPPINS, MEMPHIS, OKLAHOMA and COMPANY. With still six weeks to go in its fund-raising efforts, Cabrillo "Family" members have initiated two fund-raising events "Coast-To-Coast" with a special benefit concert at the Triad Theatre in New York City on Monday, August 4 and a "CabrilloDance-A-Thon" scheduled on Friday, August 1-2 in Thousand Oaks!