Cabrillo Music Theatre to Present A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

It might just be the funniest musical ever written! A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM makes its Civic Arts Plaza debut! This hilarious mixture of slapstick, farce, mistaken identity, music and dance has to be seen live to be believed! The winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... has enjoyed two successful Broadway revivals, and has showcased generations of comic actors from Zero Mostel and Phil Silvers to Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg. Cabrillo Music Theatre's brand-new production opens on Friday, January 29th, 2016 playing until Sunday, February 14th, at the 396-seat Scherr Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

With a zany script by Larry Gelbart (creator of TV's "MASH" and the movie "Tootsie") and Burt Shevelove, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM follows Roman slave Pseudolus as he schemes his way to freedom in a journey filled with slapstick, farce, and mistaken identity - causing complications that involve blackmail, crazy disguises and long-lost children! Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim elevates this Roman comedy with tunes that will tickle your funny bone such as "Comedy Tonight!," "Bring Me My Bride," "Lovely," "That Dirty Old Man," "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid," and more!

A who's who of Los Angeles theatre talent will form the cast of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, starring Southern California Funny-Man, Nick Santa Maria as "Pseudolus." Joining Santa Maria is David Ruprecht, remembered fondly as the host of television's "Supermarket Sweep" and countless television commercials and guest appearances, as "Senex;" Larry Raben, of the original "Plaids" of Off-Broadway and Los Angeles' FOREVER PLAID, as "Hysterium;" and Matt Merchant, the rugged "Gaston" of Cabrillo's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, as "Miles Gloriosus." Plus more than a dozen more farceurs who will bring FORUM to life, including local favorites Andrew Metzger ("Marcus Lycus"), Tom Hall ("Erronius"), Janelle Loren and Beth Alison.

Directing this gang of loonies is Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld, whose Cabrillo history includes 52 Ovation Nominations and 8 wins. Choreography is by recent Ovation Nominee John Charron, and Musical Direction by Cabrillo favorite Lloyd Cooper, who will conduct the Cabrillo Music Theatre Orchestra.

"Last year, our audiences really embraced our putting a Cabrillo-quality musical in the intimate Scherr Forum each season," says Cabrillo's Artistic Director, Lewis Wilkenfeld. This year, we wanted to produce a show so funny, so electric, that the theatre really becomes a character in the show! With A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, we have the perfect match of musical and venue." Adds Wilkenfeld, "With Nick Santa Maria, David Ruprecht, Larry Raben and Matt Merchant leading the charge, no two performances of FORUM will be alike!"

Featuring the classic comic styles of vaudeville and burlesque, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM is appropriate for audiences ages 8 and up, and features 1960s-era "comic flirtiness" and childish behavior. Cabrillo Music Theatre's A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM promises to be an unforgettably funny night at the theatre, and truly puts Broadway into your Backyard. Tragedy tomorrow?! Never fear! With Cabrillo's all-new production, it's "Comedy Tonight!"

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM will open on Friday, January 29th, 2016 and run for three weekends, through Sunday, February 14th, 2016. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. An additional midweek matinee performance has been added on Wednesday, February 10th, at 1:00PM, with free parking for this performance only. A post-show discussion with cast, staff, and audience will follow the Saturday, January 30th 2:00pm performance. A signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will be on Friday, February 5th, at 8:00PM.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, or through www.cabrillomusictheatre.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, please call Group Sales, Cabrillo Music Theatre at (805) 497-8613 x6. Ticket prices range from $30-$69. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787). A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM performs exclusively at the Ray & Janet Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE continues its 2015-2016 Season with Stephen Schwartz's CHILDREN OF EDEN (Spring 2016) and Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (Summer 2016). A mini-season of all three shows is available through Cabrillo Music Theatre:805-497-8613 X6 or e-mail subscriber@cabrillomusictheatre.com.

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