Tim Martin Gleason to Star in Walt Disney Musical WHEN YOU WISH at UCLA, 10/11-11/3

The life and times of Walt Disney, perhaps the most universally celebrated, award-winning figure in the history of entertainment, comes to the stage in When You Wish, the first ever musical about one of the greatest showmen on earth. When You Wish previews October 11 - October 13 followed by its official world premiere October 16 - November 3 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA. The long anticipated project features an original score of 18 songs with Music and Book by Dean McClure; Direction by Broadway's Larry Raben; and Choreography by Lee Martino. Still an active performer, author and business man... film and television star, and former pop recording superstar Pat Boone co-produces When You Wish with Dean McClure and Robert Rudolph.

When You Wish tells the inspiring story of how a young dreamer became the Walt Disney who changed the world. The journey begins in 1906 with Walt as a six-year-old, drawing cartoons on the family toilet paper and concludes with his biggest dream of all, the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Roy Disney, Walt's older brother and business partner, serves as the story's narrator, taking us on a journey of struggle, heartache, and enormous triumph; including the opening and bankrupt closing of Laugh-0-Gram Studios in Kansas City; the formation of Disney Brothers Studios in Hollywood; the marriage of Walt and Lillian Disney; the departure of his best and closest animator Ub Iwerks; and the creation of a mouse named "Mickey" which ignited his career and the legacy that would forever be Walt Disney.

A cast of 20, including Broadway and National Broadway Tour performers, is led by Tim Martin Gleason (Sleepless in Seattle: The Musical Pasadena Playhouse, The Phantom of the Opera National Touring Company) as Walt Disney; and Andy Umberger (Silence! The Musical The Hayworth Theatre, Passion and City of Angels/Roundabout Theatre Company) as Roy Disney. Brandi Burkhardt (Hart of Dixie CW, Mama Mia! Broadway), Melissa Fahn (Wicked Broadway and Pantages Theater), Norman Large (Les Miserables Broadway, Star Trek), and Louis Pardo (West Side Story San Francisco Symphony, Avenue Q 3D Theatricals). Also featured are Kade Pait (Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards/Performer; the Lythgoe Family's A Snow White Christmas/Pasadena Playhouse) as young Walt; and Jake Davidson (Film: Mrs. Sweeney) who makes his Los Angeles theater debut as young Roy.

Ensemble Members include Jennifer Brausell, Kate Harvey, Aurore Joly, Lorenzo King, David Michael Laffey, Morgan Marcell, Garett Marshall, Louis A. Williams (Dance Captain), Thomas Adoue Polk, Kirklyn Robinson, Nick Tubbs, and Salvatore Vassallo.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Larry Raben (Director) most recently completed the 20th Anniversary West Coast revial of Sunset Blvd. at Musical Theatre West/Long Beach; Tru at Coyote StageWorks (current Desert Star nomination); Singin' in the Rain at Cabrillo Music Theatre/Thousand Oaks (L.A. Ovation Award for Best Direction); and Joe DiPietro's Falling For Eve at the York Theatre Off-Broadway.

Lee Martino (Choreographer) brings with her a wealth of award-winning credits including Roger Bean's Life Could Be A Dream/New York, Kiss Me Kate/Reprise, Life Without Makeup/Berkely Rep, and Oklahoma and Hairspray for Musical Theatre West/Long Beach).

Musical Direction is by David Siebels; Scenic Design by Tom Buderwitz; Costume Design by Kate Bergh; Lighting Design by Tom Ruzika; Projection Design by Adam Flemming; Sound design by Philip G. Allen; Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design by Jenna Huffman; and Properties Design by John M. McElveney. Additional credits include Production Stage Manager John W. Calder, III, Assistant Stage Manager Cate Cundiff, and Casting by Michael Donovan, CSA and Peter Matyas, CSA.

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS:

Pat Boone (Executive Producer) - Pat Boone has become a legend in his own time. His titles of movie star, gold - recording artist, bestselling author, Broadway show headliner, and television star certainly qualify him. Mr. Boone has sold more than 45 million records, has 13 gold discs, 2 gold albums and a platinum record. 15 of his songs have hit the top ten and his song "Love Letters in the Sand" was on the charts for 34 consecutive weeks, longer than "Hey Jude" or "Don't be Cruel". Pat has gone about as far as you can go from Nashville, TN where he grew up. He had planned to teach high school & graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University in New York. Another career intervened with those plans when he appeared on the TEd Mack Amateur Hour, winning 3 times and landing a recording contract. He has appeared in 15 feature films including: April Love, State Fair, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Bernadine. He also portrayed David Wilkerson in the motion picture The Cross and the Switchblade. Additionally, he has written 15 books including "Twixt Twelve and Twenty" which sold more than 1,000,000 copies. Pat and wife Shirley reared and guided their daughters, Cherry, Lindy, Debby and Laury in the midst of Hollywood's spotlight. They have 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and will celebrate 60 years of marriage in November.

Dean McClure (Executive Producer/Playwright/Composer) - Dean McClure's career began as a folksinger/songwriter, performing throughout the U.S. in many of the same clubs as Steve Martin, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, and others. His love of story later led him to writing screenplays, and writing When You Wish has brought his love of story and music together under one umbrella. After watching his daughter perform in a Disneyland parade, Dean wondered why a musical had yet to be written about the life of Walt Disney. Dean spent the next eighteen months researching and writing the first draft of the book and composing the initial six songs. He introduced the musical to producer Larry Gordon (Field of Dreams) who returned favorable and encouraging comments. Along the way Dean was privileged to have the late Roy Disney as his creative guide, and was granted permission to proceed with the show from Diane, Walt Disney's daughter.

Robert Rudolph (Managing Producer) has produced and managed live theater and special events in Los Angeles for the last 10 years and has worked with a veritable who's-who of stage and screen stars. Highlights include: What About Dick? with Eric Idle, Tim Curry, Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand, and Tracey Ullman; five years with Reprise Theatre Company, led by Jason Alexander; and a host of special events and concerts for the Alzheimer's Association including the inaugural "Hilarity for Charity" event created by Seth Rogen and wife Lauren Miller. Robert is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television and is currently enrolled in an MBA program at the Anderson school.

Tickets, starting at $65, are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310-825-2101. All performances will be presented at Freud Playhouse at UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Previews of When You Wish are scheduled between October 11 - 13, 2013 with its official opening and run beginning October 16 and continuing through November 3, 2013. Performances are at 8pm Wednesdays through Saturdays, with a 2pm matinee on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.whenyouwishmusical.com.

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