Laguna Playhouse Presents BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, Now thru 8/10

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham in association with Boebe Productions are thrilled to present the first show of their 2014-2015 season, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, featuring over twenty of Buddy Holly's and rock & roll's greatest hits and directed by Steve Steiner (who directed last season's smash-hit production of RING OF FIRE).

"Oh Boy! To have our theatre rocking out to the songs of such greats as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper is going to be music to the ears of our audiences and subscribers this Summer," offers Wood. "We are overjoyed to be partnering with Steve Steiner and Boebe Productions again and know they are going to blow the roof off the Playhouse with this spectacular telling of one of the most enduring stories in rock & roll history," adds Wareham.

BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY begins previews tonight, July 9, and opens on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pm, running through Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

In just three short years, Buddy Holly set the music world on fire and forever changed the face and sound of rock and roll. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story charts his meteoric climb, legendary adventures and tragic fall on the fateful day the music died. Armed with a Fender Stratocaster guitar, his signature specs and a charismatic blend of rockabilly swagger, Buddy explodes onto the stage in this jukebox musical fully loaded with classics "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy," "That'll Be the Day," "Well All Right," "Not Fade Away" and many more with an encore concert that will have you on your feet and dancing in the aisles.

Recently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, one of the first jukebox musicals, BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story has been seen by millions of fans in fifteen countries around the world, including the United States. The musical premiered in London's West End in October, 1989, where it ran for twelve years and over 5,000 performances, A Broadway production followed in 1990. The score includes over twenty of rock and roll's greatest hits by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper including "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "Not Fade Away," The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace," Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba," and many more!

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

STEVE STEINER (Director) serves as Artistic Director of Ocean Professional Theatre Company, Boebe Productions and Jersey Shore Entertainment.

He has been an Actor, Director and/or Musical Director for 3 Broadway, 3 Off-Broadway, 3 National Tours and hundreds of Regional Productions. Steve was a cast member of the original Broadway Production of BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORYin 1990. In 2004 Steve began producing shows for casino venues in Atlantic City and Reno, producing more than 25 highly acclaimed productions. In 2009 that work began to include National Tours. That now includes 4 National Tours while directing many regional productions. This past Fall Steve directed the National Touring Company of BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY while also serving as the Musical Director. In January his RING OF FIRE opened at the famed Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach CA, and played an extended engagement at the El Dorado Casino Resort and Hotel in Reno, NV.

In addition to his work in the theatre, Steve is a board member of the following service organizations: The South Jersey Cultural Alliance (President), ArtPride New Jersey (Arts Advocacy), The Ocean County Tourism Advisory Committee (Former Chair). He has also served 10 years on the Council (Board) of Actors Equity Association. Steve has been honored many times with the Governor's Excellence in Tourism Award, and is the proud recipient of The Cultural Access Task Force's Innovator Award for his forward thinking and hiring practices for Artists with Disabilities. In April 2013 the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission awarded Steve a Special Recognition for the Advancement of the Arts in Ocean County, New Jersey.

The Cast of BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will feature: Todd Meredith, now in his 15th production playing the lead role of Buddy Holly, Jenny Stodd, Bill Morey, James S. Patton, David Reed, Logan Farine (Laguna Ring of Fire), Emilio Ramos, Nathan Yates Douglass (Laguna Ring of Fire), Alejandro Gutierrez, Zach Sicherman (Laguna Ring of Fire), Bob Bohan (as HiPockets Duncan), MaryAnn DiPietro, Kelly Vernon and Mike Brennan (as the Big Bopper).

BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY will begin previews on Wednesday, July 9 and will open on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pmand run through Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Performances will be Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be additional performances on Thursday, July 10 at 2pm & Thursday, August 7 at 2pm and no performance on Sunday, August 10 at 5:30pm.

Tickets range from $41 - $66 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. The box office is open Mondays - Sundays: 12p.m. to 5 p.m.(open until 7:30pm on performance days). For more information on all shows and programming visit wwwlagunaplayhouse.com. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

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