Photo Flash: Opening NIght Of BUDDY At La Mirada

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth production and the "rocking-est" show of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story, written by Alan Janes & Rob Bettinson with choreography by Dana Solimando, musical direction by Darryl Archibald and directed by Glenn Casale. BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will began performances on Friday, April 16 and officially opened on Saturday, April 17. The production will run through Sunday, May 2 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada.

On February 3, 1959, the legend known as Buddy Holly died unexpectedly in a tragic plane crash at the age of twenty-two. It was known forever after as "the day the music died." Now, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story tells the incredible story of the three years in which Buddy Holly became the world's top recording artist with a show that features over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits including "Peggy Sue," "That'll Be The Day," "Oh Boy," "Not Fade Away," "Everyday," "Rave On," "Maybe Baby," "Raining In My Heart," Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba," and the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace." Over 20 million people from around the globe have come to see Buddy and experienced the magical talents of the young man with glasses named Charles Hardin ‘Buddy' Holly, whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period in our history. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is a celebration of that legend and catches that unique mixture of innocence, determination, humor and charm that truly deserves the billing: "The World's Most Successful Rock & Roll Musical."

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Glenn Casale (Director) directed on Broadway Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Tony Award nomination Best Revival) which was filmed by A&E and garnered two Emmy Awards. Off-Broadway; The Property Known as Garland starring Adrienne Barbeau, and Dragapella at Studio 54 (Drama Desk nomination and Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Production). For Joop Van Den Ende's Stage Entertainment, Glenn directed the critically acclaimed The Wiz (Netherlands) and Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Netherlands, Berlin, Antwerp and Madrid) which was named the Netherlands' 2006 Musical of the Year and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as that country's highest-grossing musical. Tours and regional credits are numerous and varied, including several world premieres: Leslie Bricusse's Dr. Dolittle; Tyne Daly and Charles Durning in Ballroom; Wrestlers starring Mark Harmon and George Clooney; Bingo! the musical; Ken and Mitzi Welch's From the Top starring Carol Burnett. Los Angeles Ovation Award-winning Best Musical Anything Goes starring Rachel York, Brent Barrett, Sally Struthers and Fred Willard. His television directing credits include ABC TV's "The Faculty" starring Meredith Baxter and "The Wayans'Brothers". Glenn is the Artistic Director for the California Musical Theater in Sacramento.

Dana Solimando (Choreographer) most recently choreographed All Shook Up at the OC Pavilion for 3-D Theatricals. Other Director/Choreographer credits: Swing! (2004 & 2006 Ovation Award), Jesus Christ Superstar Nat'l tour starring the late Carl Anderson (NAACP Theatre Award nomination), Oliver!, Too Old for the Chorus, Route 66 (Crystal Cruise Lines). Dana has also directed & choreographed numerous productions of Cats (the show in which she made her Broadway debut). Other performing credits include the role of Tiger Lily in the1999-2000 Broadway Production and A&E video of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Gypsy, Oklahoma! Sugar Babies, A Chorus Line, Grease & Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Dana also teaches Music Theatre dance at the University of California Irvine.
Darryl Archibald (Musical Director) Disney's The Lion King (vocal coach/assistant conductor). Wicked at the Pantages Theater (substitute conductor); Nightmare Alley -workshop with Marti Pellow (The Geffen Playhouse); Smokey Joe's Café, Serrano - workshop with James Barbour and directed by Joel Zwick (El Portal Theater); White Christmas, A Chorus Line directed by Kay Cole, The King and I with Deborah Gibson (Cabrillo Music Theater); Swing! (McCoy Rigby); Merry Me A Little - revised version (Celebration Theater); Two By Two with Jason Alexander and Faith Prince, Carousel with M. Emmet Walsh, The Fantasticks with Eric McCormack, Once On This Island with Ledisi, Li'l Abner with Cathy Rigby and Fred Willard, Merrily We Roll Along with Teri Hatcher, I Do! I Do! with Diana Canova and Harry Groener (Reprise); My Fair Lady, 1776, Little Shop Of Horrors, Camelot, and Forever Plaid (Utah Shakespearean Festival); The Threepenny Opera (ICT); The Fix, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Lady In the Dark, and Sail Away (Musical Theater Guild). Arrangement and orchestration credits include: the prime-time television special A Hollywood Holiday Celebration (ABC), The Fountain Show and Christmas Trolley Show (The Grove Los Angeles).

ABOUT THE CAST AND DESIGN TEAM

The cast of BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story features: Brandon Albright as Buddy Holly; Steve Alderfer, Jack Bartlett, Omar D. Brancato, T.J. Dawson, Darrin Glesser, Bill Lewis, Christia Mantzke, Maegan McConnell, Manuel Romero, Arthur L. Ross, Brent Schindele, Andy Taylor, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Matt Wolpe and Cody Wood.
BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story has assembled an award-winning design team. The set design is by John Iacovelli. The lighting design is by Steven Young. The costume design is by Marcy Froehlich. The sound design is by Josh Bessom. Hair/Wig/Make-up design is by Judi Lewin. Prop design is by Terry Hanrahan.

BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will begin performances on Friday, April 16 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 17) and runs for three weeks through Sunday, May 2. Performances will be 7:30pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8pm on Fridays; 2pm and 8pm on Saturdays; and 2pm and 7pm on Sundays.

Tickets range from $35 - $50 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre's website, www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student, Senior, Children and group discounts are available.