Cabrillo Music Theatre's DAMN YANKEES Opens Tonight at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

You don't have to make a deal with the devil to find laughs, love, baseball and heart. Just come out to the theatre, as Cabrillo Music Theatre kicks off the 2015-2016 season with a brand-new production of the American Classic DAMN YANKEES! Winner of eleven Tony Awards including Best Musical, DAMN YANKEES is sure to be a home run hit. With a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, this ever-popular baseball musical will have fans on the edge of their seats. DAMN YANKEES includes favorite songs such as "Heart," "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets," "A Little Brains, A Little Talent," and "A Man Doesn't Know," among many others.DAMN YANKEES opens tonight, October 16th, 2015, playing until Sunday, October 25th, 2015 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

DAMN YANKEES is the story of Joe Boyd, an aging, die-hard Washington Senators baseball fan who will do anything for the Senators to beat the New York "damn" Yankees and win the pennant. When he accepts a deal on the Senators' behalf in exchange for his soul, he is turned into Joe Hardy, the greatest baseball player ever, and leads the woeful Senators into a wild and wooly pennant chase. Colorful characters abound, including a 172 year-old seductress, a hapless manager, a nosy female reporter, crazed fans, and the devil himself! As Joe leads the team toward an unlikely championship, he learns that winning truly isn't everything.

Cabrillo Music Theatre's brand-new production of DAMN YANKEES features rallying music, athletic dancing, and lots of heart. The all-star lineup of talent is led Renée Marino as the sly and seductive "Lola." Renée was handpicked by director Clint Eastwood to play "Mary Delgado" in the film version of Jersey Boys, having played the role on Broadway and in the National Tour. Joining Renée is "Mad Men's" John Sloman as the devilishly persuasive "Applegate," Southern California theatre favorite Sarah Tattersall as the devoted "Meg Boyd," and Travis Leland, stepping up to the plate as "Joe Hardy." As is the custom at Cabrillo, local talent abounds, including Ray Mastrovito ("Welch"), Paul Panico ("Commissioner.") Providing support are John Atkins ("Joe Boyd"), Tara McGrath ("Doris"), Tom G. McMahon ("Van Buren"), and Farley Cadena ("Sister"). This talented company will also include an ensemble of Los Angeles's finest singer and dancers, filling the stage with team spirit and heart!

Kirsten Chandler directs, joined by Choreographer John Todd, who dazzled audiences with his choreography of KISS ME KATE. Musical Director Cassie Nickols (MEMPHIS, COMPANY) will conduct the Cabrillo Music Theatre Orchestra.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its nationally-recognized "Beyond the Footlights" outreach program by running the RE-PLAY ITcampaign, a donated sports equipment drop-off. Cabrillo will be collecting new or gently used bats, gloves, balls, cleats, etc to be donated to underserved-youth, through the Boys & Girls Club's of West Valley and Ventura County. Kicking off at Cabrillo Music Theatre's "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" Community event on September 19th and continuing through October 25th, the public will be encouraged to bring donations to local community partners, or to the Civic Arts Plaza at any performance of Cabrillo Music Theatre's DAMN YANKEES.

"DAMN YANKEES is a true American Musical Theatre Classic," says Lewis Wilkenfeld, Cabrillo Music Theatre's Artistic Director. "Our audiences have been demanding it for a long time! It's been almost twenty years since Cabrillo last produced it on the Kavli stage." Adds Wilkenfeld, "I'm particularly enthusiastic about combining DAMN YANKEES with Cabrillo's new RE-PLAY IT Outreach program! I played little league ball as a kid, and every child should have access to the sports equipment to make a big-league dream come true! And combining great theatre with community caring is Cabrillo Music Theatre at its' best!"

Combining humor, sports, and playful seduction circa 1950s, Cabrillo Music Theatre's brand-new production of DAMN YANKEES is appropriate for all ages! And, as with all Cabrillo shows, DAMN YANKEES will feature a signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on Friday, October 24th, at 8:00PM. Let Cabrillo Music Theatre's DAMNY YANKEES take you out to the ballgame with music, dance, and "lots, and lots, and lots of heart!"

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

KIRSTEN CHANDLER (Director) has served at the helm of many recent productions in Los Angeles, including: Triumph of Love(Director/Choreo), Chess (Director/Choreo), Little Women (Director/Choreo), Bat Boy (Choreographer), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson(Choreographer), and Putting it Together (Choreographer). In 2013, Kirsten choreographed You're a Good Man Charlie Brown for Cabrillo Music Theatre. She is a proud member of the faculty at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, an even prouder wife to Stan, and proudest mom to two amazing boys, Addie and Tucker.

JOHN TODD (Choreographer) Recent director/choreography credits include: a new half hour pilot for the FOX network, "Days of Our Lives," "The Muppets Most Wanted," "Sofia The First," "Monster's University," "Jake and the Neverland Pirates," and "Mulan" stage shows for Disney. COMMERCIALS: Rayban eyewear and Scope w/Ryan Seacrest. THEATER: Kiss Me Kate (Herod Atticus Theater), Annie Get Your Gun (SDMT), The Music Man (MTW), Kiss Me Kate (Cabrillo Music Theatre) Sunset Boulevard (MTW), Company (Crown City), Bells Are Ringing and Anyone Can Whistle (MTW), Jasper In Deadland (PMT), Bronies, Falsettos, and The Full Monty (Third Street Theater),Gypsy and Merrily We Roll Along. FILM & TELEVISION: "Samantha Spade Ace Detective," "The Office," "Saving Mr. Banks," "Mad Men," "About A Boy," "Agents of Shield." As a performer, Mr. Todd's Broadway credits include, Movin' Out (original cast) and The Phantom of The Opera.

CASSIE NICKOLS (Musical Director) This is Cassie's fourth production with Cabrillo, and she's so excited to be working with this talented group of people! An LA native, Cassie has become a sought-after accompanist, musical director, performer, teacher, and coach, winning such accolades as Most Outstanding Graduate from the Thornton School at USC. Her performances have taken her to New York and London and range from classical recitals to rock concerts to musical theatre. Credits: Music Director: Company (Cabrillo), Memphis(Cabrillo), In the Heights (Candlelight Pavilion), The Fantasticks (Pierce College), Cabaret (Repertory East Theatre); Assistant Musical Director: In the Heights (Cabrillo), Next to Normal (La Mirada). Cassie has also been the pianist and music director for multiple musical theatre cabarets, classes and workshops in LA.

ABOUT THE CAST

RENÈE MARINO (Lola) just made her film debut playing "Mary Delgado" in the hit movie musical, "Jersey Boys" directed by Clint Eastwood, as well as her tv debut as "Regina" in Fox's "Weird Loners". Previously, she was seen on Broadway as "Mary Delgado" inJersey Boys, "Rosalia" in West Side Story, and "Ensemble" in both Chaplin and Wonderland. She was on several national tours, which include Jersey Boys, Cats, and Disney's High School Musical and was the lead singer in a casino show called Heatwave in Biloxi, MS.

TRAVIS LELAND (Joe Hardy) This is his first time performing at Cabrillo Music Theatre! Past credits include: Les Miserables, (Musical Theatre West), Nightmare Alley (Geffen Playhouse), Adding Machine: A Musical (Odyssey Theatre), The Freedom Machine (Reading at NoHo Arts Center), See What I Wanna See (UCLA). In the SF Bay Area: Fly By Night, Norman Rockwell's America, and The Giver, all at TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley. After Damn Yankees, Travis will head up to Palo Alto to perform in Emma, The Musical for the holiday season at TheatreWorks He is a graduate of AMDA and UCLA and also came in 2nd place in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2014. EMC, SAG-AFTRA.

JOHN SLOMAN (Applegate) appeared on Broadway in the 2000 Revival of The Music Man, Big, The 1940's Radio Hour, West Side Story, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, A Christmas Carol, and Whoopee! Many Off-Broadway, Regional Theatre and National Tour appearances, including "Senator Billboard Rawkins" in Finian's Rainbow at Irish Rep., "Herbie" in Gypsy and "The Tin Man" in The Wizard of Oz at The MUNY in St. Louis, "The Chairman" in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, "Mr. McAfee" inBye Bye Birdie at Pittsburgh CLO, "JJ" in The Sweet Smell of Success and "Buddy" in City of Angels for LA's Musical Theatre Guild, as well as several trips to Kritzerland. TV & Film: "Raymond Geiger" ("The Heinz Guy") on "Mad Men", "Big Love", "Parks and Recreation", "Private Practice", "Grey's Anatomy", "Eli Stone", "Medium", "Entourage", "Close To Home", "Las Vegas", "Law & Order", "Law & Order SVU", "Ed", "Hope & Faith", "Outside The Box", "The Producers-The Musical Movie", "The Ugly Truth", and Sondheim's "PASSION: Live from Lincoln Center". Mr. Sloman is a Musical Theater teacher, director and coach, and a proud union member.

SARAH TATTERSALL (Meg Boyd) is thrilled to play ball with the Damn Yankees team! Favorite regional credits include "Eliza" in My Fair Lady, "Baker's Wife" in Into the Woods, "Anna" in The King and I, "Katherine" in Kiss Me, Kate, "Marian" in The Music Man, "Grace" inAnnie, and "Fiona" in Brigadoon for companies such as California Music Theatre/Sacramento Music Circus, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, South Beach CLO, Theatre of the Stars (Atlanta), Long Beach CLO, among many others. She has an interesting day job as Operations and Event Manager for the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation. Originally from Elyria, Ohio, Sarah holds a Music Degree from Arizona State University and has two children, Rachael (20) and Harrison (17).

ABOUT THE PRICING AND SCHEDULE

DAMN YANKEES will open on Friday, October 16th, 2015, and run through Sunday, October 25th. Performances are Thursday at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. A post-show discussion with cast, staff, and audience will follow the Saturday, October 17th, 2:00pm performance. A signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will be on Friday, October 24th, at 8:00PM.

Single tickets for DAMN YANKEES will be available as of September 8th, 2015 at www.cabrillomusictheatre.com. Season tickets are on sale now. All tickets may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, or through any Ticketmaster location, or by phone (800) 745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, please call Group Sales, Cabrillo Music Theatre at (805) 497-8613 x3. Ticket prices range from $30-$75. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787). DAMN YANKEES performs exclusively at the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE'S 2015-2016 Season, dubbed "A Season For All Seasons," features a musical for each season of the year, including DAMN YANKEES (Fall 2015), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Winter 2016, Scherr Forum), Stephen Schwartz's CHILDREN OF EDEN (Spring 2016) and Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (Summer 2016).

Call 805-497-8613 X6 or e-mail subscriber@cabrillomusictheatre.com.

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