Rubicon Theatre to Present Will Rogers' America Starting 10/23

From October 23rd through November 16th, just in time for election season, America's beloved cowboy humorist is brought to vivid life in Will Rogers' AMERICA, a 90-minute one-man-show of homespun wit, the working man's voice and small-town common sense-complete with vintage film clips and live rope tricks! Adapted and performed by veteran actor Rich Hoag, this production will be directed by Hoag's long-time friend and Rubicon Artistic Director James O'Neil.

The production has traveled nationwide, fulfilling the Santa Barbara actor's two great fantasies- to perform a one-man show and to be a cowboy. Hoag's extensive background in theatre and musicals as well as production and show design led him to become a founding member and Vice President of Creative Development of the worldwide Landmark Entertainment Group for 14 years, and Paragon Entertainment in his hometown. Inspired by a James Whitmore performance as Will Rogers more than 25 years ago, Hoag put together his own rendition of the cowboy philosopher for a national tour.

A trick roper born in the Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma), Rogers became a vaudeville performer in the Zeigfeld Follies and captivated adoring audiences as he transitioned in the 1920s to newspaper columnist, radio personality, nation tour lecturer and actor in more than 70 films. In 1934, a year before his death (by airplane crash in Alaska), he was the biggest male box office star in the country as well as the nation's most widely read humorist and social commentator (a precursor to today's Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert and Bill Maher). His wry humor remains classic and relevant satire today for its ability to poke fun at a wide range of topics-Hollywood , cannibalism, evolution, gender politics and national politics, just to mention a few.

About Will Rogers

Born William Penn Adair Rogers in Oklahoma Territory in 1879, Will Rogers became one of the most popular figures of his generation. The son of a wealthy rancher and part Cherokee Indian, his career began with the Zeigfeld Follies, his fame later taking him to Hollywood, where he became one of the highest paid movie actors of his day.

As a speaker and lecturer, Rogers was constantly in demand for corporate dinners and political conventions, and befriended presidents and laborers, the wealthy and the downtrodden. Rogers' syndicated newspaper column was read daily by 30 million people.

As a writer, pundit, cowboy philosopher and political satirist, he was prolific; so much so that his editors at the New York Times refused to correct his down-home spelling or grammar. During some of the darkest years in our nation's history, Will Rogers made Americans look at themselves in a way few had done before or since. And when they did, it made them laugh.

About the Performer

RICH HOAG began his theatrical career at the age of 17 when asked to play the role of Baby John in the San Francisco Civic Light Opera production of West Side Story, starring Anna Maria Alberghetti. To the surprise of theatre cronies, he refused the offer, opting to play high school football instead.

Since then, however, Rich has performed in over 40 musical comedies, both amateur and professional, including The Music Man, Oklahoma, 1776, Cabaret, Company, Camelot, Hello Dolly, Carousel, The Sound of Music, I Do, I Do and another West Side Story (where he met his wife). He is equally adept at dramatic roles and has been featured in such plays as Dancing at Lughnasa, Prelude to a Kiss, Terra Nova, Mr. Roberts, Five Finger Exercise, The Mad Woman of Chailot, Fuddy Meers, Emma's Child, The Man Who Came to Dinner and To Kill a Mockingbird. Winner of numerous acting awards, Rich has shared the stage with such distinguished artists as Anthony Edwards, Howard McGillin, Lou Gossett, Jr., Ford Rainey, Kathleen Quinlin, Eduardo Villa, Eric Stoltz and Michael Crawford.
 

Rich is also a professional show designer, and heads his own company, Paragon Entertainment. He has written and designed large-scale stage productions all over the world, including Las Vegas (co-writing EFX at the MGM Grand with star, Michael Crawford). Likewise, Rich has staged lavish attractions for major theme parks, world expositions, as well as productions in Branson, MO. and New York's Radio City Music Hall.
 

A graduate of UCSB, Rich moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s to help establish the Landmark Entertainment Group, one of the largest thematic design and production companies in the industry. Rich was Vice President of Show Development there for thirteen years, resigning in 1994 to form his own company and return to the legitimate stage. Rich lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife, Ruth, a successful artist.

About the Director

Director James O'Neil co-founded Rubicon Theatre Company in 1998 with his wife Karyl Lynn Burns. His many Rubicon directing credits include A Delicate Balance, The Diary of Anne Frank, Man of La Mancha, The Night of the Iguana, A Streetcar Named Desire, Driving Miss Daisy and All My Sons, (which made Rubicon the youngest theatre ever to win a Best Production Ovation Award).

Prior to starting Rubicon, Jim worked for more than 25 years in the theatre as a producer, director and actor. He received his B.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. While on staff at Landmark Entertainmnet Group, Jim directed a multi-million dollar animatronic/special effects show in Japan, supervising all aspects of production and creative direction for themed attractions in Sanrio's Harmonyland.

As Associate Producer/Artistic Associate for Santa Barbara Repertory Theatre, Jim helmed a new works program. Regional directing credits include The Lion in Winter, The Petrified Forest, Inherit the Wind and area premieres of John Ford Noonan's A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking and Rupert Holmes' Drood!

As an actor, Jim received rave reviews in the role of Pontius Pilate in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar Other favorite roles include Dr. Prospero in the American regional premiere of Return to the Forbidden Planet at Hallmark's Heartland Theatre in Kansas City, John Adams in 1776, John in Oleanna, John in Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Duke/Dr. Carrasco in Man of La Mancha and Adam in the first reading of Dale Wasserman's Western Star. For Rubicon he has appeared in Love Letters, The Rainmaker, The Devil's Disciple, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Turn of the Screw and most recently as Claudius in Hamlet (Independent Award).

Jim is the recipient of an "Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre" REP Award and a "Friend of Education" Award from the California State Board of Education (for Rubicon's outreach programs).

Schedule and Pricing

Will Rogers' AMERICA previews Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24 ($39 per ticket) at 8:00 p.m. and opens Saturday, October  25 at 7:00 p.m. Opening Night Gala tickets are $95 and include a pre-show champagne reception, the opening performance, an after-party and a tax-deductible donation to Rubicon. Regular performances of Will Rogers' AMERICA continue through November 16 on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. ($39) and 7:00 p.m. ($49), Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ($49), Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ($54), Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. ($49) and 8:00 p.m. ($59) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($49). Seniors ages 65+ and military personnel save $5 per ticket. Student tickets are $20 with ID.

Discounts of up to 30% are available for groups of 12 or more, and group organizers receive one free ticket. To purchase single tickets or discounted group tickets, call the Rubicon box office at (805) 667-2900. To purchase tickets online, go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

Special performances include:

Opening Night Gala, Saturday, October 25: Guests are invited to a pre-show champagne reception hosted by Rubicon as well as an after-party with cast, crew and local dignitaries

Talkback Wednesdays, October 29 and November 5: Rubicon's Education Outreach Director BrIan McDonald facilitates a post-show discussion with the director and performers following the 7 p.m. early-bird performances

Audio Described Performance, Sunday, November 9: Via headphones, audience members who are blind or visually impaired are privy to a live description of the performance to aid in their enjoyment

For a complete performance schedule, visit www.rubicontheatre.org. All performances are at Rubicon Theatre, an intimate historic church built in the 1920s. The theatre is located at 1006 E. Main Street (the corner of Main and Laurel) in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District.

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