THE SECRET GARDEN to Run 11/20-12/20 at CCCT

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) continues its 56th season with the Tony award-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed and choreographed by Roger Welch in his Bay Area debut, with music direction by Kevin Roland. The Secret Garden plays from November 20 through December 20; performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm at the theatre.

Based on the beloved children's book by Frances Hodgson Burnett and adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon, The Secret Garden weaves a spellbinding tale of childhood, enchantment, and the healing power of nature. When orphaned Mary Lennox is sent from India to live with her uncle Archibald in England, her new life seems as grey as her Yorkshire surroundings. But when she discovers the long-hidden garden belonging to her late aunt, she decides to bring it back to life and, in the process, transforms the lives of everyone around her.

The cast of The Secret Garden includes

Maya Martinez-Krams (Mary Lennox)

LaMont Ridgell (Archibald Craven)

Casey Ellis (Lily)

Paul Plain (Neville Craven)

Isaiah Johnson (Colin)

Christina Martin (Rose)

Chloë Angst (Martha)

Jack Sale (Dickon)

Ron Dritz (Ben Weatherstaff)

Mary Coleston (Mrs. Medlock)

Joy Craig (Ensemble)

Phil Hilton (Ensemble)

Sarah La Due (Ensemble)

Grace Lorenzana (Ensemble)

Josiah Minued (Ensemble)

Garrick Sather (Ensemble)

Angelina Williams (Understudy for Mary Lennox)

The production features set design by TBA Award winner Kuo-Hao Lo; costume design is by Lisa Danz, lighting design is by Hamilton Guillen, sound design is by Michael Kelly and props design is by Devon LaBelle.

Roger Welch (Director) is a New York-based director, actor, and educator who served for 20 years as Producing Artistic Director of Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre where he directed, choreographed, and produced more than 100 Broadway musicals and received the prestigious Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. Favorite directing projects include Over the River and Through the Woods with Oscar winner Patty Duke, four-time Emmy award-winner Dennis Franz, and stage and screen stars Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon; Doubt; Mary Poppins; A Little Night Music; Mame; Jesus Christ Superstar; and My Fair Lady, to name a few. He has also directed, choreographed, or performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Stumptown Stages in Portland, OR; Seattle's Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, interPLAYERS, Oregon Children's Theatre, and Missoula Children's Theatre. Film and TV credits include Amazing Grace, Ally McBeal, Praying Mantis, and Body of Evidence. Mr. Welch is a proud member of Actor's Equity and the Screen Actor's Guild, and is making his Bay Area debut with The Secret Garden.

Kevin Roland (Music Director, Pianist) is a professional pianist, music director, conductor, composer, and orchestrator. He has music directed and played for over 200 productions including nearly a dozen Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions which include Wicked, Avenue Q, The Addams Family, Motown, Legally Blonde, and Next to Normal. Kevin has performed as a guest pianist at the White House on several occasions, and has accompanied such Broadway stars as Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Elaine Paige, Liz Callaway, Laura Benanti, and Sutton Foster, among others. Kevin has also performed with such artists as John Legend, Roberta Flack, Reba McIntyre, Bruce Springsteen, and was most recently the Associate Music Director for the 1st National Broadway Tour of Motown the Musical. Kevin is also the creator and composer for the upcoming "Off Broadway" musical version of Waiting for Guffman.

Single tickets for The Secret Garden are available online at www.ccct.org or by phone at 510.524.9132. Adult tickets are $29 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 in the adjoining lot, as well as ample street parking, are available. For more information, visit www.ccct.org

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