Cal State Fullerton's CHILDREN OF EDEN Opens This Friday

Cal State Fullerton's Fall musical is the warm-hearted family play "Children of Eden" featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, (creator of the Tony-Award winning "Wicked," "Pippin" and "Godspell") with a book by John Caird. The production is directed by professional director and actor Rufus Bonds, Jr. with musical direction by David Lamoureaux and choreography by William F. Lett, running October 26-November 11 in the Little Theatre on campus. "Children of Eden" is a musical telling of the inspirational stories of "Adam and Eve," "Noah and the Ark" and other stories from the "Book of Genesis."

Stephen Schwartz is a Drama Desk, Grammy and Oscar award-winning lyricist and composer. "Wicked" is currently celebrating fifteen years on Broadway and Schwartz is well known in animated film circles for his collaboration with Alan Menken on "Pocahontas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." His work on DreamWorks's "The Prince of Egypt" garnered an Academy Award and he has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

John Caird is an English stage director and writer of plays, musicals and operas. He is an honorary associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a regular director with the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain and the Principal Guest Director of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm. Public works with Music Theatre International include "Les Miserables (Schools Edition)," "Children of Eden," "Jane Eyre" and "Candide."

Director Rufus Bonds Jr. is a Director, Actor and Writer who has played Porgy in "Porgy and Bess" in London, performed as a baritone soloist at Carnegie Hall and appeared on Broadway in "Parade" and "Rent". Mr. Bonds is a Eugene O'Neill finalist, Ovation Award-winner, Drama Desk Nominee and NAACP Award-winner. He received a lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama.

Musical Director David Lamoureaux has directed, music directed, and produced dozens of productions throughout Los Angeles over the past 15 years. He serves as the founder and director of Los Angeles Musicians Collective, and the creator, arranger, and bandleader of The Bombshells.

Choreographer William F. Lett has directed and choreographed over a dozen productions and has choreographed over fifty musicals for universities and professional theatres and other venues while performing in theatre, television and film including work for Disney, CBS, NBC and Touchstone Pictures.

The cast of "Children of Eden" includes Gabrielle Adner, Seann Altman Sidney Aptaker, Damian Arteaga, Jisel Soleil Ayon, Sarah Bloom, Brianna Clark, Amanda Domb, Jeff Garrido, Brooke Gatto, Natalie Giannosa, Carissa Hamann, Courtney Hays, Abigail Heilman, Claire Kantz, Jessica Kilgore, Allison King, Kiana King, Dillon Klena, Timothy H. Lee, Marlon James Magtibay, Riley Mawhorter, Gabriel Manley, Avery Mann, Samantha McCabe, Helen McCormick, Carly McLaurin, Amanda Neiman, Jack O'Leary, Jessica Pierini, Yadira Del Rincon, Catie Robinson, Beth Roy, Steven Ruvalcaba, Dylan Schmoll, Robyn Stephenson, Madison Stirrett, Isaiah Suniga, Paige Taylor, Anthony Michael Vacio, Jacob Wayne, and Leianna Weaver.

Scenic design is by Mauri Smith, lighting design is by Jean-Yves Tessier, costume design is by Whitney Claytor, sound design is by Lauren Zuiderveld, and hair/makeup design is by Kate Galleran.

"Children of Eden" plays at 8pm on October 26, 27, November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and at 2pm on October 28, November 3, 4, 10, 11. General admission tickets are $24 ($22 with advance Titan Discount purchase for students, seniors or with a CSUF ID). All tickets are $24 at the door. Tickets are available by calling (657) 278-3371, 11am-5pm, Monday through Friday and online at:

http://www.fullerton.edu/arts/theatre/events/td_productions.php

Following the musical is "Mr. Burns: a Post-Electric Play" written by Anne Washburn. Directed by Kyle Cooper, this play features a group of survivors after the collapse of civilization. The survivors surround a campfire and reminisce about the plot of an episode of "The Simpsons" television show titled "Cape Feare." The production runs November 9-December 2, 2018 in the Young Theatre on campus with musical direction by Craig Shields and Choreography by Angeline Mirenda.

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