Panic! Brings Tony-Nominated BRING IT ON to Thousand Oaks

Panic! Productions brings the Lin-Manuel Miranda-Tom Kitt musical, "Bring it On," to the Scherr Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks October 6 through 16. Directed by Nicolas Womack, and choreographed by Keenon Hooks, this Tony Award-nominated musical was adapted for Broadway from the hit film of the same title and explores the cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading and the fierce rivalries of high school politics and romance.

Uniting some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway, "Bring It On" features an original story by Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights, Hamilton), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next To Normal), and lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity). The Panic! production have musical direction by Ben Ginsberg, with assistant choreographer Rehyan Rivera also on board. Kristi Reed and Paul Panico are producers.

Director Womack knows the material intimately, have played the lead role of Twig both on Broadway and on the national tour. He says he is particularly drawn to this material because it connects him to his own past, when discovering a passion for performance changed the direction of his own life. "Performing is not acting, but reliving genuine moments," Womack says, "and this cast can't be more real."

With its mixture of professional and aspiring talent, "Bring it On" features both Broadway veterans and local performers: Adelle Panico, Gabrielle Puyat, Emma Howard, Elijah Malcomb, Sara Gonzales, Gabriel Nunag, Lilly Elliott, Zoë Reed, Rehyan Rivera, Carson Dean, Elaine Panico, Alexander Reaves, Jade McGlynn, Alissa Lauren Horner, Brittany Gael Vaughn, Justin James, Amanda Meade-Tatum, Josh Ditto, Trae Adair, Tatum Bella, Taylor Brown, Hannah Cohen, Natalie Esposito, Maya Galipeau, Julia Rose Kreinces, Steven Oriee, Joshua Ponce, Carly Shukiar, Bailey Stillwell, Madison Wechsler, Lexie Collins, Madison Foreman, Liam Krainman, and Allison Martinez.

Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:30, October 6though 16 at the Scherr Forum/Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $26-$36 and can be purchased through the link at www.panicproductions.org.