Rubicon's Youth Musical Theatre Camp's URINETOWN Begins Tonight

Rubicon Theatre Company is humming with much anticipation as the Musical Theatre Camp's production of Urinetown the Musical directed by BrIan McDonald with choreography by Carolanne Marano and Musical Direction by Miriam Arichea opens for a five public performance run from tonight, August 9 through Sunday, August 11.

With book and lyrics by Greg Kotis and music and lyrics by Mark Hollman, Urinetown is a winner of three Tony awards and is one of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years. It's a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.

CAST

Natalie Bouton, Jonathan Dominguez, Natalie Epelone, Jada Gaines, Parker Harris, Franklin Hansen, Andrew Larson, Miranda Mize, Jacob Mizraji, Madison Montemayor, AJ Morales, Nerris Nassiri, Nick Rada, Josh Ranck, Erica Riley, Kate Smith, Gabriella Stefany, Kinsey Thomas, Quincy Unseth, Emma Vielbig, David White, Claire Winch and Xander Young.

SYNOPSIS

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny.

Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, Urinetown catapults the "comedic romp" into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

BRIan McDonald (Director) is an award-winning actor and director who was honored with the Ventura Mayor's Award for Emerging Artist. He appeared in the national tours of Miss Saigon and Forever Plaid, the latter of which he also directed for various regional theaters including Rubicon. As an actor, Brian has appeared at the Denver Center, Theatre Virginia, The Lyric Stage, La Mirada Performing Arts Center, Ensemble Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center and the Ahmanson, among others. Rubicon audiences may have seen him in Man of La Mancha and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 2002, LA Weekly honored him with the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance as Gaveston in the Circle X production of Edward II directed by Michael Michetti. On Television, Brian starred in the award-winning ABC/PBS Afterschool Special "In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story" and guest starred on "Gilmore Girls." He joined the Rubicon staff in 2002 as their first Production Manager and Director of Education, and currently serves as Associate Producer. His work as a director began as assistant to Tony nominated director Christopher Renshaw during his work on Queen: The Musical (a.k.a.We Will Rock You). Other directing credits include

Tennessee Williams' Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, Hooters, Our Town, Little Women, Bye Bye Birdie, HONK!, Babes in Arms, Once on This Island, Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE!, Seussical the Musical, Footloose and Godspell. For Rubicon, Brian directed Bus Stop (5 Ovation nominations including Best Play) and Master Harold and the Boys (nominated for 3 Ovation awards including Best Play)which earned him an Independent Award and StageScene LA Award for Best Director. He also conceived and directed the critically acclaimed holiday musical review, A Rubicon Family Christmas and most recently directed Cheri Steinkellner's World Premiere and Ovation nominated musical, Hello! My Baby both at Rubicon and the Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara

He earned a Phi Delta Kappa Community Partnership Award and an Honorary Service Award from the California State PTA two years in a row for his directing work in the community raising funds for arts education. Brian offers personal audition coaching and teaches acting at Ventura College. He is a B.F.A. graduate of the Boston Conservatory and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Actors' Equity Association.

MIRIAM ARICHEA (Musical Director) is known locally for her performances as a concert pianist and soloist. She continues to perform annually with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, KuanFen Liu, Conductor, and just recently concluded their tenth season with a performance of the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, as well as John Biggs' Variations on a Theme of Shostakovich. Miriam also had a yearly engagement with the Ventura College Orchestra, Burns Taft, Conductor, for over a decade until Dr. Taft's retirement in 2010. Her concert repertoire has included most of the major piano concertos, including Rachmaninoff's Second and Third, Tchaikovsky, Brahms No. 1, Liszt No. 1, Schumann, Grieg, Shostakovich, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F, Mozart in D minor, and Beethoven No. 3. Miriam has collaborated with vocalists and instrumentalists in a variety of venues, including the Ventura Music Festival, the Ventura Master Chorale series, the Ojai Arts Centre, and the Ventura Unified Festival of Talent. This is Miriam's third summer as music director with Rubicon Theatre's youth productions.

CAROLANNE MARANO (Choreographer) has been a professional dancer for the past 25 years. During that time she has been training and performing throughout the country with San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet West, Metropolitan Ballet and Dance Foundation of Kansas. Along with her extensive ballet experience, she is also trained in jazz and musical theatre. A member of Actors Equity, she most recently performed as Nellie Forbush in Downey Civic Light Opera's South Pacific and at the Hollywood Bowl with Reba McIntire. She has also performed in such shows as Man of La Mancha (Gypsy Dancer, Rubicon Theatre), Evita (Tango Dancer, Taiwan Tour),Gypsy (Louise), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Can-Can (Claudine) and West Side Story (Anita). As a choreographer her most recent work was A Night in Paris A Go-Go New Year's Eve show for the LA Philharmonic with Belinda Carlisle & Rufus Wainwright at Disney Hall. Carolanne has choreographed numerous musicals including West Side Story, Music Man and The Boyfriend. Her choreography for Studio 1 has won numerous awards. Carolanne choreographed the independent film "The Ghastly Love of Johnny X." Recently, she has been living in London, England where she has been teaching at Pineapple Dance Studio.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

August 9 at 8 pm, August 10 at 2 pm & 8 pm, August 11 at 2 pm & 7 pm.

Open dress rehearsal on Thursday, August 8 at 7pm with first come, first served seating.

TICKETS

Adults: $15 | $20 at door

Kids: 12 & under: $15 | $20 at door

Tickets may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Box Office, located at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance). To charge by phone, call (805) 667-2900. Or visit Rubicon online at www.rubicontheatre.org. Twenty-four-hour-a-day ticketing is available online, thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation Regional Arts Initiative.

SPONSORS

Sponsored by Jack Oakie & Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation

With major support from Loretta & Mike Merewether, Barbara Meister / Barber Ford, Volkswagon, Subaru and RV, Janet and Mark Goldenson, Sandra and Jordan Laby, Loretta and Mike Merewether and Micheline Sakharoff.

Co-Sponsored by Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Education Fund, Parentclick.com, Jan and Hal Wasserman and Helen Yunker.

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