After months of uncertainty and speculation, the fates of two Orange County producing entities have finally been addressed—both for each other's mutual advantage.
After losing its home venue The OC Pavilion in Santa Ana late last year (the entertainment property was sold to the Orange County High School of the Arts), the future of 3D Theatricals—the promising, critically-acclaimed O.C.-based regional theater company that began in October 2009—seemed in flux, despite a first season of hits that included
Peter Pan,
Hello Dolly!,
All Shook Up,
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and
Altar Boyz.
Meanwhile, a few miles away, due to sluggish tickets sales and dismal returns from their theatrical property rentals business, the financially-strapped Fullerton Civic Light Opera (FCLO) was scheduled to shutter its operations this month, prematurely ending its 40th Season.
But thanks to a new agreement with 3D Theatricals, the remainder of FCLO's 2011 season will resume at the Plummer Auditorium as previously set, with 3D Theatricals providing all of the financial and production duties necessary to mount the remaining shows. They have also agreed, as a gesture of goodwill, to honor all pre-sold FCLO tickets and subscriptions to all upcoming 3DT productions this season.
Now happily ensconced in its new home, first up for 3D Theatricals is a regional production of the hit musical
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE—with shows running February 11 through the 27th—featuring TV legend
Sally Struthers (
All In The Family,
Gilmore Girls) in the role of Mrs. Tottendale. Fresh off her win as Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 2011 LA Stage Ovation Awards (for her role as the Fairy Godmother in
Cinderella), Struthers will also star in 3D Theatricals' upcoming
Always, Patsy Cline later this season.
With a book by Bob Martin and Don Kellar and with music and lyrics by
Lisa Lambert and
Greg Morrison, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a fun and whimsical musical comedy spoof of American musicals of the Jazz era, as narrated—with infectious adoration—by The Man in Chair, played by book co-writer (and avid musical theater fanatic) Bob Martin in the original Broadway company as well as in its pre-Broadway out-of-town tryout at the
Ahmanson Theatre.
The 3D Theatricals production is directed by co-founder TJ Dawson, with choreography by Kami Seymour, and musical direction by Brett Simmons. In addition to Struthers, the cast includes Michael Betts as The Man in Chair, Gail Bennett as Janet Van De Graaff,
Tracy Lore as the title character, Carlos Martin as Adolpho, Amber Snead as Trix, and
Joseph Sark as Robert Martin.
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Performances of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE presented by 3D Theatricals will take place February 11 thru 27 at Plummer Auditorium, located at 201 East Chapman Avenue in the city of Fullerton.
Shows are scheduled Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm (there will not be a matinee on Feb. 19). A special 7 pm Sunday evening performance will be scheduled on February 20.
For tickets, call 714-589-2770 or visit
www.3DTshows.com.
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