Photo Flash: First Look at Jason Graae, James O'Neil, Rebecca Ann Johnson and More in RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET at Rubicon

Get ready to blast off on opening night for RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET at Rubicon Theatre Company this Saturday, October 29, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical, this fabulously campy send up of "Forbidden Planet" and other sci-fi film and TV shows of the 1950s melds plot elements from The Tempest with language from multiple plays by Shakespeare. Set on a spaceship sometime in the future, the show features a galaxy of 1950's and 1960's rock and roll classics, including "Wipeout," "Good Vibrations," "Great Balls of Fire," "All Shook Up," "Monster Mash" and "Teenager in Love." The jukebox musical spoof rockets into Ventura just in time for Halloween and runs Wednesdays through Sundays through November 13.

Olivier Award and Helen Hayes Award-nominee Kirby Ward of this year's Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance directs and choreographs this interstellar production where audience members aren't just viewers but play a role as passengers on a spaceship. RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET features Broadway star Jason Graae of A Grand Night for Singing with a roster of Rubicon veteran cast members such as Kimberly Hessler of My Fair Lady, James O'Neil of Clarence Darrow, Rebecca Ann Johnson of Little Miss Scrooge and Harley Jay of Hello! My Baby.

Award-winning comedian and renowned film actor Fred Willard makes his digital appearance as the Narrator. Other cast members include Caleb Horst (Merrily We Roll Along), Craig McEldowney (Babes in Arms), with Martin Landry making his Rubicon debut (and doubling as Associate Musical Director). Ushers doubling as Flight Crew Members are rising stars Jesse Graham (Crew Head), Madeline Gambon, Stephen Russell, and Lucy Willhite. Ensign and band members are Musical Director Trevor Wheetman and Omar D. Brancato on Bass. Set and Lighting Design are by Tom Giamario, Sound Design by Jonathan Burke, Costumes by Pamela Shaw, Props by T. Theresa Scarano and Video Design by Dillon Artzer.

RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET by Bob Carlton follows the adventures of the dashing spaceship captain Tempest and his crew, who hit a meteor shower and are then mysteriously drawn off course to the planet D'Illyria. There they discover mad scientist Dr. Prospero and his beautiful daughter Miranda, along with the robot Ariel. As a romance develops between Captain Tempest and Miranda, a monster threatens the spaceship, and a sacrifice is made to ensure everyone's safety. This madcap musical has everything from Shakespearean dialogue, romance, humor, suspense, to a monster with tentacles.

The pre-show, opening night sci-fi inspired event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the downstairs laboratory of Professor P. Fisselfosser. Walk the red carpet and have your photo taken for the BEST COSTUME CONTEST judged by the professor himself. Prizes include a gift basket from Rocket Fizz, a "Forbidden Planet" 50th Anniversary 2-disc DVD, a copy of Shakespeare's play The Tempest, gift cards and more! Sponsors include Rocket Fizz, Discovery Ventura and Bank of Books. Champagne and non-alcoholic alien punch will be served along with space-themed cookies, sweets and nostalgic treats.

Showtime for RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET is at 7 p.m. Following the show, guests are invited to meet and mingle at the after-party held at SKATING PLUS that includes FREE ROLLER SKATING RENTALS, pizza, no-host bar with sodas and beer. Strap on skates (assistance will be provided) and skate the night away! There are also video games, air hockey and redemption games for the young-at-heart.

Photo Credit: Ronnie Slavin

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