Contra Costa Civic Theatre to Open 2016-17 Season with MY FAIR LADY

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) begins its 2016-17 season with the Diamond Anniversary production of the beloved musical My Fair Lady, based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. This sharply witty tale of the cockney flower girl and the professor who tries to make a lady of her, directed by Daren A.C. Carollo, with music direction by Greg Zema, and choreography by Allison Paraiso, plays September 9 through October 9.

My Fair Lady was the "Hamilton of its day", according to Variety. It caused a sensation when it premiered in New York in 1956, where it was seen by more than 3 million people. The original cast recording topped the Billboard charts for 15 weeks and featured the unforgettable "Wouldn't It Be Loverly", "Get Me to the Church on Time", "On the Street Where You Live", "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face", and "The Rain in Spain".

CCCT's production will spotlight Lerner and Loewe's glorious score performed live onstage at two grand pianos by music director Greg Zema, with Grace Renaud and Christopher Hewitt at alternate performances. Shaw's examination of post-Victorian class differences in an industrialized London on the cusp of World War I will be brought to vivid life by TBA Award-winning scenic designer Kuo-Hao Lo (August: Osage County), costume designer Lisa Danz, lighting designer Courtney Johnson, Sound Designer Michael Kelly, and props designer Devon LaBelle.

Heading up the My Fair Lady company are Becky Davis in her CCCT debut as Eliza Doolittle and local favorite DC Scarpelli as Henry Higgins; others in the cast include Ryan Weible as Colonel Pickering, Peter Budinger as Alfred P. Doolittle, Mary Coleston as Mrs. Pearce, Jack Sale as Freddy Eysnford-Hill, Ann Kendrick as Mrs. Higgins, Shay Oglesby-Smith as Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, and Loren Breidenbach, Harriet Hanauer, Sarah La Due, Christian McCooey, JorDan Smith, and Jennifer Weiner as the Ensemble.

Daren A.C. Carollo (Director) is the newly-appointed Artistic Director of San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon, and served in similar capacities for Berkeley Playhouse, Broadway By the Bay, and Diablo Theatre Company. Previously, Daren was the Production Manager for the Marin Theatre Company and the Willows Theatre Company. He started his career in the arts as the Technical Director for Center REPertory Company and the Lesher Center for the Arts. He has been an AEA stage manager since 1999 working for Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Center REP, MTC, and the Willows. He received his BA in Theatre from Illinois State University. Daren's Production Company, CAROLLO & PALUMBO, LLC, recently produced the musical bare Off-Broadway and A Time to Kill on Broadway. He is an award-winning director with over fifty credits in the last decade. Daren's directing highlights include; Doubt, for which he received a Best Director nomination at the 2015 TBA Awards; Mary Poppins, Rabbit Hole, Les Miserables, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sweeney Todd, Jekyll & Hyde, Forever Plaid, Noises Off (twice), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Trip to Bountiful, Dracula (twice), Peter Pan, Miss Saigon, The Drowsy Chaperone (twice), A Grand Night for Singing, Curtains, The Wizard of Oz, and the sold out production of Brigadoon in Concert. Daren has directed for Diablo Theatre Company, Solano College Theatre, Napa Valley Opera House, Ohlone College, Town Hall Theatre Company, DRAA's On Broadway, El Campanil Theatre, Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Missouri Street Theatre, and Role Players Ensemble.

Greg Zema (Music Director) is a highly-sought-after "piano guy", coach, and performer with multiple shows and theaters to his credit including Jekyll & Hyde, Side Show, Les Miserables, Next To Normal, West Side Story, The Last 5 Years, Titanic, The Wedding Singer, Sweeney Todd, Camelot, and Assassins, as well as productions of Follies, Bernstein's Mass, Forever Plaid, Songs For A New World and the East Bay premieres of Urinetown, Becoming Britney, and Sunset Boulevard.

Allison Paraiso (Choreographer) A Los Angeles native, Allison has been teaching many styles of dance and musical theatre all over Los Angeles County and Orange County since 2001. She has been teaching, choreographing and directing in the East Bay since 2014. East Bay choreography and director credits include Seussical (DTC), Spring Awakening (DTC) and Peter Pan (DTC). Some performance credits include: Oklahoma (MTW), Hairspray (MTW), Hello! My Baby - world premier (Rubicon Theater Co.), Carousel (Reprise!), Meet Me in St Louis (MTW), Long Beach Orchestra Holiday Celebration, Kiss Me Kate (CCPA), and Smokey Joe's Café (CCPA). She has performed for many great causes such as: Help Is On The Way (REAF), S.T.A.G.E. (AIDS benefit), Broadway In The Park (MTW), Broadway Under the Stars (Reprise!), Children's Hospital of Orange County, and St Jude's. She has been fortunate enough to work alongside talented artists such as Lee Martino, Florence Henderson, Patrick Cassidy, Bruce Vilanch, Valerie Pettiford, Jason Alexander, Carole Cook, and George Wendt. When Allison is not teaching or performing she's growing her own business, Images Imagined Photography, specializing in headshots, theatre and dance photography.

Season subscriptions for CCCT's 2016-17 season are on sale now; $99 for adult subscriptions and $59 for youth ages 16 and under. Single tickets for My Fair Lady are $29 for adults in advance, or $35 at the door; youth tickets for ages 16 and under are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Discounts available for groups of 15 or more. All performances take place at CCCT's intimate and fully accessible theatre in the Flynn building located at 951 Pomona Avenue (cross street Moeser) in El Cerrito. Free parking is available in the adjoining lot. Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchase

Contra Costa Civic Theatre, established in 1959 by Louis and Bettianne Flynn and a group of dedicated volunteers and now under the artistic direction of Marilyn Langbehn, is a non-profit community theatre with its permanent home in El Cerrito, CA. Our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality entertainment to residents throughout the East Bay and provide training in performing arts for children and adults. We are proud to be an independent, self-sufficient organization presenting five Main Stage and thirteen youth productions annually in our intimate two hundred-seat theatre.

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