5th Annual KIDS FOR KIDS Benefit Concert Set for Rubicon Theatre Today

Come together and celebrate the talented Rubicon Theatre youth artists as they wrap up the summer with the fifth annual KIDS FOR KIDS BENEFIT CONCERT, a youth produced fundraiser that benefits Rubicon's Education & Outreach program.

This year's concert entitled "COME TOGETHER: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES" is inspired by the band's music and message of love and togetherness. The evening will feature Rubicon students, teachers and special guests performing some of the greatest Beatles hits in their own styles and arrangements. You'll want to sing along to the tunes we all know so well, such as "Let it Be" and "All You Need is Love." The night will be hosted by Rubicon Alumni JENNIFER RIDGWAY and Daniel David STEWART, and will include a raffle with many prizes from local businesses as well as other special surprises.

The Kids for Kids Benefit Concert was started 5 years ago by former Rubicon student, Julie Harris. After growing up at the theatre and participating in classes, summer programs and assisting instructors, Julie wanted a way to ensure others had the opportunity to be a part of Rubicon as well. So, a group of Rubicon Theatre Alumni put together and performed in the first ever Kids for Kids Benefit Concert in 2009. The proceeds from the event benefit the youth of Ventura County by helping these theatre programs continue and thrive. Julie went on to graduate from UC Irvine with a degree in Entertainment Business. Julie states, "There is no worthier cause. This event will always hold a very special place in my heart, and it brings me so much joy to see it continue every year."

ABOUT THE YOUTH ARTISTIC TEAM:

JENNIFER RIDGWAY (Co-Host) is grateful to be returning to the Rubicon stage and is so excited to be emceeing for the first time. Her theatre credits include Buried Child (Shelly; Four Star Theater Award - Outstanding Featured Performance), King John (Constance), Macbeth (Lady MacDuff), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), Hairspray(Amber), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Helena), Little Women (Jo), Our Town (Mrs. Webb), and Defying Gravity; directed by Jenny Sullivan. Jennifer (A.K.A. Red) has called this wonderful theater her home for most of her life, and was very proud to co-produce the annual "Kids for Kids" benefit at Rubicon in 2011. Thank you for supporting our local talented youth! Daniel David STEWART (Co-Host) is about to star as Pete in the West Coast Premiere of The Burnt Part Boys at The Third Street Theatre in Los Angeles. He recently portrayed the role of Denny in the West Coast Premiere of Sixty Miles to Silverlake for the IAMA Theatre Company. He originated the roles of Smike in the World Premiere of Little Miss Scrooge at Rubicon Theatre and The Kid in The Last Days of Mary Stuart for Tilted Field Productions. Daniel's other stage credits include Hally in Master Harold...and the Boys at Rubicon Theatre Company (Indy award for leading performance), John Taplow in The Browning Version at LA Theatre Works, Prince John in The Lion in Winter at the Ensemble Theatre Company, Wally Webb in Our Town w/ Helen Hunt at The Broad Stage, Leamy in The Field at Theatre Banshee, Robert In The Drowsy Chaperon at SCPA, Henry in Mad World at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Rubicon Theatre, Jack in Into The Woods, Matt in The Fantasticks, Boyo in Windjammers for the Stages Festival, Ben in Angel at Painted Post and Young Grant in Beautiful at ANMT. Film and television credits include "The Incident(s) at Paradise Bay," "The Middle," "Goodwin Games," "Man Up!" "Corpse Run" and "Cougar Town." Daniel is a proud member of AEA and SagAftra. www.danielstewart.me, Facebook.com/DanielDavidStewart

JOEY SPONSELLER (Producer) is thrilled to be producing his first event at Rubicon. He currently serves as the theatre's Community Relations Intern, and assists with their Education and Outreach programs. He just appeared in Rubicon's Youth Fearless Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet as Tybalt, as well as Rubicon's main stage production of Our Town as Sam Craig. A few years ago he played the part of Jesus in Godspell, as part of the Musical Theatre Program. Joey graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts. He has spent the last two summers in Colorado as part of Rocky Mountain Repertory's company. He has also been seen in Cabaret and A Funny Thing... with Ventura College Opera and Musical Theatre and Beauty and the Beast with Cabrillo Music Theatre. Some of his favorite roles includeCrazy for You (Bobby Child), Evita (Magaldi), The Sound of Music (Friedrich), Les Miserables (Marius), and Tartuffe (Cleante). Joey plans to become an educator in the field of performing arts.

CHELSEA GLASNER (Director) has been a part of the Rubicon Summer programs since 2007 and her learning experiences gave her the confidence and inspiration to continue pursuing theatre. She is currently a junior at Emerson College in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Some past Rubicon credits include Vi (Footloose), "Day by Day" soloist (Godspell), and Ensemble (Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat). Chelsea wishes to thank Brian, Joey, Jessica, Miriam, and the entire "Kids for Kids" cast for making this wonderful evening a reality. She hopes you enjoy the concert and wishes to dedicate this show, with its message of camaraderie and love, to the victims and survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon. "All you need is love, love is all you need."

BRIan McDonald (Education and Outreach Director) is an award-winning actor and director who was honored with the Ventura Mayor's Award for Emerging Artist. He appeared in the national tours of Miss Saigon and Forever Plaid, the latter of which he also directed for various regional theaters including Rubicon. As an actor, Brian has appeared at the Denver Center, Theatre Virginia, The Lyric Stage, La Mirada Performing Arts Center, Ensemble Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center and the Ahmanson, among others. Rubicon audiences may have seen him in Man of La Mancha and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 2002, LA Weekly honored him with the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance as Gaveston in the Circle X production of Edward II directed by Michael Michetti. On Television, Brian starred in the award-winning ABC/PBS Afterschool Special "In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story" and guest starred on "Gilmore Girls." He joined the Rubicon staff in 2002 as their first Production Manager and Director of Education, and currently serves as Associate Producer. His work as a director began as assistant to Tony nominated director Christopher Renshaw during his work on Queen: The Musical (a.k.a. We Will Rock You). Other directing credits include Tennessee Williams' Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, Hooters, Our Town, Little Women, Bye Bye Birdie, HONK!, Babes in Arms, Once on This Island, Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE!, Seussical the Musical, Footloose and Godspell. For Rubicon, Brian directed Bus Stop (5 Ovation nominations including Best Play) and Master Harold and the Boys (nominated for 3 Ovation awards including Best Play) which earned him an Independent Award and StageScene LA Award for Best Director. He also conceived and directed the critically acclaimed holiday musical review, A Rubicon Family Christmas and most recently directed Cheri Steinkellner's World Premiere and Ovation nominated musical, Hello! My Baby both at Rubicon and the Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara. He earned a Phi Delta Kappa Community Partnership Award and an Honorary Service Award from the California State PTA two years in a row for his directing work in the community raising funds for arts education. Brian offers personal audition coaching and teaches acting at Ventura College. He is a B.F.A. graduate of the Boston Conservatory and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Actors' Equity Association.

PERFORMERS:

Lilli Babb, Daniel Brackett, Claire Burgi, Gage Burgi, Lexie Collins, Riley Conrad, Cassidy Craig, Natalie Epelone, Jodi Farrell and band, Logan Flair, Madeline Gambon, Chelsea Glasner, Aditi Goyal, The Graham Family, Alyssa Grant, Roxy Haserjian, Parker Harris, Chris Hull, Wynsum Jo Kearns, Amanda Landis,Seryozha La Porte, Miriam Larson, Allison Martinez, Macaria Martinez, Kyle McCormick, Madeline McCormick, Sarah Mehrnia, Jacob Mizraji, AJ Morales,Nerris Nassiri, Nichole Riffenburgh, Jessica Slaght, Joey Sponseller, Sydney Unseth, Emma Vielbig, Ian Waschak, David White, The Cast of Mulan, The Cast of Romeo and Juliet, The Cast of Urinetown, the a capella group Unnecessary Breakdowns, Carolanne Marano and BrIan McDonald.

The concert is set for Saturday August 17 at 7:00 pm. Tickets: $45 in advance / $50 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Box Office, located at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance). To charge by phone, call (805) 667-2900. Or visit Rubicon online at www.rubicontheatre.org. Twenty-four-hour-a-day ticketing is available online, thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation Regional Arts Initiative.

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