Cabrillo Music Theatre Welcomes Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy in TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, 2/10

Cabrillo Music Theatre announces the next in a series of fundraising and entertainment events in the recently renovated Founders' Room of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Shirley Jones & Patrick Cassidy: TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY will take place on Sunday, February 10th, at 7:00PM, and reunites the Oscar-winning star of stage, films and television, Shirley Jones, with her son, Broadway and television star Patrick Cassidy. The Founders Room is located in the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy, who headlined Cabrillo's popular Holiday Spectacular a couple of years back, use the intimate space of the Founders' Room to regale guests with stories and anecdotes about their lives and careers, take questions from the audience, and perhaps launch into a song or two. Jones and Cassidy, who became the first mother-son duo ever to headline a Broadway show (42ND STREET), combine to bring decades of success in every facet of entertainment. The Civic Arts Plaza's Founders' Room, with its limited seating and upscale atmosphere, provides the perfect backdrop for a humorous, warm, and theatre-savvy evening.

Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy share more than genes and artistic success; they are both fans of Cabrillo Music Theatre. Says Lewis Wilkenfeld, Cabrillo Music Theatre's Artistic Director, "When Cabrillo began dealing with our financial challenges last year, one of the first phone calls I received was from Patrick - reaching out to offer help. And Shirley has been such a passionate advocate for Cabrillo that we used her quote about the organization on last season's brochure! With the start of a new year, and Valentine's Day coming up, this seemed like the perfect time for this family reunion, to help support Cabrillo and our 'Beyond the Footlights' outreach programs!" Adds Wilkenfeld, "When you think of the entire family, you can't help but be awed by the sheer volume of talent, creativity and fame that they've provided for generations of audiences. What stories they can tell!"

From childhood to adult artistic collaborators, from Broadway to their upcoming national tour of THE MUSIC MAN to the local confines of the Civic Arts Plaza's Founders' Room, Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy promise laughs, love, and very likely a few disagreements.... because, in every family, "There's Two Sides to Every Story!"

THE CABRILLO FOUNDERS' ROOM CONCERT FUNDRAISER SERIES - Shirley Jones & Patrick Cassidy: TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY will take place on Sunday, February 10th, 2013, 7:00PM in the Founders Room of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The entertainment will be preceded by a brief cocktail hour featuring hors d'ouevres, and followed by a reception with Patrick and Shirley, with desserts from Valley Bakery. Tickets are $75, and can be purchased at www.cabrillomusictheatre.com, or by phone at the Cabrillo Music Theatre office, 805-497-8613. Tickets will also be on sale in the Civic Arts Plaza lobby during the first weekend of performances of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Shirley Jones & Patrick Cassidy is recommended for audiences age 10 and up. Seating is limited, and the event is sure to sell out quickly.

Shirley Jones: Born in tiny Smithton, PA (pop. 877), only daughter of the Jones Family (brewers of popular "Stoney's Beer") the feisty and precocious Shirley Mae was an early community handful, but showed signs of a particularly mellow vocal range, and that was the beginning. Someone suggested that 18-year-old Shirley Mae sign up for the "Miss Pittsburgh" competition. It was not Shirley's #1 passion, but she went along, and took the crown. It was 1952. She gets a call from a friend who tells her that the Rodgers & Hammerstein show South Pacific, currently on Broadway, will be having open auditions to replace two parting chorus members. Shirley got to the front of the line at the St. James Theatre and sang her song, "The Best Things in Life are Free." "Please wait," the man said - and another line and another trip out front to sing. Finally, almost exhausted, the line whittled down to a handful, a fourth performance, and a voice from the back of the darkened theatre - "Thank you Miss Jones, for being here so long. If you don't mind, I'd like to call my partner, Mr. Hammerstein, and ask that he come down and hear you." "Oh Sure," the always gracious Shirley says, "And what is YOUR name?" (Words that Mr. Richard Rodgers will never forget, we daresay). Mr. Hammerstein arrived and the Shirley Jones whirlwind began. Put under the immediate "personal management" contract to the Rodgers & Hammerstein partners (first and last time ever) it was not fully a year later that 19 year old Shirley Mae Jones was screen-testing in Hollywood for the super-coveted role of Laurie in the film version of the long running Broadway play Oklahoma! (along with heavyweight likes of Kathryn Grayson, Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell). We all know what happened then...and we all probably know what happened after that. From Carousel, The Music Man, April Love, an Oscar for her role as Lulu Baines, (the prostitute opposite Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantry"), to the harried head of "The Partridge Family;" movie, television and stage roles, a record breaking Broadway run, two recent Emmy nominations, and an ongoing career of SRO Symphony Concerts and speaking engagements world-wide; to be sure an incandescent place in the hearts of all America that doesn't ever seem to go away.

Patrick Cassidy is a highly respected actor both on the theatrical stage and on television. Most recently, he starred in "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman", recreating the role his father, Tony award winner Jack Cassidy, played in 1966. His most recent starring role on television was the ABC Family series "Ruby and the Rockits", in which he played a 70's rocker turned used car salesman. After making his 1981 Broadway debut as the male ingénue Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, Patrick appeared on Broadway and on tour in Elton John's Aida (National Broadway Theatre Award, Best Actor in a Touring Musical), Annie Get Your Gun and Leader of the Pack. He originated the role of the Balladeer in Sondheim's Assassins at Playwrights' Horizons, appeared in Lady in the Dark at City Center's Encores!, and starred in/directed The Music Man at the Kennedy Center. Two National tours as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; his wife Melissa and his two young sons appearing with him in the most recent. Patrick starred in 42nd Street with his mother, Shirley Jones, which marked the first time a mother and son have ever starred together on Broadway in a musical. Regionally, he has been seen in Conrack (Helen Hayes nomination) at Ford's Theatre, Martin Guerre at the Hartford Stage, The End of the Day at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Los Angeles appearances include I Love My Wife with Jason Alexander, Threepenny Opera for Reprise! (Garland Award for Best Actor in a Musical), Company with Carol Burnett and Love Letters. In addition, Patrick starred in Las Vegas in two award winning shows: MGM Grand's "EFX" and at the Rio in "At the Copa" with Sheena Easton.

His films include "Longtime Companion", "I'll Do Anything", "I Won't Dance" and "Burning Love". He starred in the TV miniseries "Dress Grey" (Emmy nomination) and "Napoleon & Josephine", TV movies-of-the-week "Oklahoma City," "Something in Common," "Christmas Eve," "How the West Was Fun" and "Follow Your Heart." He was a series regular on NBC's "Bay City Blues," CBS's "Dirty Dancing," HBO's "Perversions of Science" and the WB's "Smallville". Patrick has created and written an autobiographical one man musical, "Just Act Normal", about what it was like growing up in a family in which every single person around the dinner table was in show business. He reflects on his stellar family, life and experiences -- with great stories, insights, love, laughter and, of course, music.

Tickets for Shirley Jones & Patrick Cassidy: TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.cabrillomusictheatre.com, or by phone through the Cabrillo Music Theatre office, at (805) 497-8613, and may also be purchased in the Kavli Theatre lobby during the first weekend's performances of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (February 8-17, 2013).

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE's concert series perform at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Cabrillo Music Theatre is the Ovation Award-winning Resident Musical Theatre Production Company of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and a non-profit theatre organization. For over three decades, Cabrillo has been enriching the cultural life of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties and the surrounding areas by providing an extraordinary performing arts experience through live, Broadway-quality productions of musical theatre. It is Cabrillo's mission to provide the highest quality musical experience, to foster educational opportunities, and to promote cultural and artistic enrichment to enhance the quality of life in Southern California. To this end, Cabrillo Music Theatre goes "Beyond the Footlights" with programs to give back to the community, and to provide enhanced theatre experiences for all audiences. Since the inception of "Beyond the Footlights," over 32,000 underserved children, in-need seniors, and active military have enjoyed Cabrillo Music Theatre's productions at no charge. In addition, Cabrillo provides ASL signed performances of every production; talkbacks with cast and staff; Cabrillo's Animal Rescue program raises funds and awareness for homeless and abused dogs and cats; and Cabrillo partnered with FOODSHARE this summer to provide food for those in need. For more information about Cabrillo Music Theatre's "Beyond the Footlights" programs, contact Laura Mason at (805) 497-8613 x1, or at info@cabrillomusictheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Ed Krieger

To post a comment, you must register and login.