Photo Flash: First Look at Celia Jones, Ivan Hardin and More in CCPA's ANYTHING GOES

Curtain Call Performing Arts (CCPA) presents the Broadway musical classic, Anything Goes at the California Conservatory Theatre (CCT), in downtown San Leandro. Inside the intimate theatre venue of CCT, audiences will "board" the S.S. American and "sail" along with the cast and musicians, complete with a boarding picture taken as they enter the theater. This delightful ocean-going musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and a book by the team of Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse, "docks" in the heart of the East Bay for a 14 show run, August 9-25. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

The age-old tale of boy-meets-girl and the complications which ensue intrigue every audience, and no musical puts it on stage better than Anything Goes. As the S.S. American heads out to sea, two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love, proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of sailors, an exotic disguise, a touch of blackmail, and some good old-fashioned musical comedy. Amid zany antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London, Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin, aid Billy in his quest to win Hope. The amusing story is wrapped around one of Cole Porter's magical scores, including the Broadway classics It's De-Lovely, Friendship, I Get A Kick Out Of You, and Anything Goes to name a few.

This summer CCPA is pleased to have accomplished Broadway touring actress Marissa Joy Ganz join the creative team of Anything Goes. A native New Yorker and true triple threat (singer, dancer, actor), who has been performing since the age of 4, Marissa has performed across the globe. She was part of the World Premiere Production and first national Broadway Tour of Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Directed by Jeff Calhoun where she originated the role of SUSAN, and was also seen in the North American Tour of THE BOY FRIEND Directed by Julie Andrews, where she served as the swing, playing the roles of DULCIE/ NANCY/ FAY & MONICA. Marissa has been Teaching & Choreographing for the past 15 years, and coaches and teaches master classes in Musical Theatre, Dance, and Audition Preparation in the NYC area as well as nationally.

Much to the content of Curtain Call, Marissa happened to be in the Bay Area this summer working as the Assistant Director/Choreographer for Hope Musical Theatre's Summer Camp intensive in Palo Alto, CA. With Anything Goes a favorite of hers, Marissa was excited to work on a local production of the show while she was in town.

Anything Goes is presented through special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. CCPA's summer production is directed by Jon Rosen, with choreography and musical staging by Marissa Joy Ganz, music and vocal direction by David Manley, and stars Celia Jones as Reno Sweeney, Ivan Hardin as Billy Crocker, Allie Reardon as Hope Harcourt, Scott Alexander as Moonface Martin, Gregory Lynch as Evelyn Oakleigh, Hanna Schultheis-Gerry as Bonnie, and Martie Muldoon as Mrs. Harcourt.

Anything Goes runs August 9 - 25 at the California Conservatory Theatre, 999 East 14th St., San Leandro, CA 94577. Tickets are $25 Adult General Admission and $22 for Student/Senior. For tickets and information, visit www.curtaincallperformingarts.org or call (510) 909-9516.

Photo Credit: Ron Tripp

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