PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE:
February 28, 2004

Editorial contact:
Kathy Kahn
woodminsterpr@yahoo.com
510-418-8523

For information about
Producers Associates, Inc.

Woodminster Summer Musicals
Announce 2004 Summer Season
Local Auditions Set for March 27-28 & April 3-4

February 28, 2004 - Oakland, CA - Producers Associates, Inc. announces the shows for the 38th season of the popular Woodminster Summer Musicals. In 2004, they will perform "Annie," "The Will Rogers Follies," and "Flower Drum Song." Says James Schlader, Producer for the summer theater, "We continue our mission of bringing American musical theatre to new generations, and fostering a love for live performance in our community."

This season is the first in Woodminster's history when James Schlader will not also be the Director for the organization. On the occasion of his 90th birthday in January 2004, he officially turned over the Director's duties to his son, Joel Schlader, who has been a part of the Woodminster organization for many years himself.

The 2004 season will open with "Annie," which runs July 9-18. The play is based on Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip about a spunky Depression-era orphan in search of a family, and re-creates the emerging optimism of FDR's "New Deal" America in song and dance. After opening in 1977, the show ran for an amazing 2377 performances on Broadway, making it the third longest-running show of the '70's. Woodminster's production will feature a large cast including ten little girls who will be chosen by audition from the community. Featuring lively numbers, a dog, and memorable songs including "Tomorrow" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile," the show will be entertaining for audience members of all ages.

Second on the schedule is "The Will Rogers Follies," which will run August 6-15. It originally opened in 1990 on Broadway and won 6 Tony Awards, 3 Drama Desk Awards, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Featuring musical numbers including "I Never Met A Man I Didn't Like" and "Give A Man Enough Rope," the show tells the life story and homespun wisdom of American humor icon Will Rogers. The show re-creates the gentle humor of this radio and film actor, complete with lassoo tricks and tap-dancing cowboys.

Closing the 38th season will be "Flower Drum Song," which will run September 3-12. Woodminster will be performing David Henry Hwang's 2002 adaptation of the Rogers & Hammerstein classic. The new version honors the original material and retains much of the original music, but has returned to the themes of C.Y. Lee's original novel - cultural assimilation, the relationship between generations and the struggle to become authentically American without abandoning traditions. This musical play about a young woman who flees Communist China in the late 1950's and her new life in San Francisco's Chinatown is full of interesting characters and familiar songs like "A Hundred Million Miracles" and "I Enjoy Being A Girl."

Each show plays for two weekends, Friday through Sunday and then Thursday through Sunday the following week. All performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19-$31, with discounts for groups, seniors, and those aged 16 and under. Season tickets are also available, and provide a significant discount for people who wish to see all three shows. Woodminster also has a "Kids Come Free" program, now in its 16th year, where a child 16 or younger can attend free accompanied by a paying adult. For information about tickets, call 510-531-9597 or click here.

The cast and technical crew for these productions are a mixture of established professionals and talented local amateurs. Auditions will be held in March and April: Children March 27-28; Open Call April 3-4; Equity auditions by appointment after March 15. Details about the auditions are available by clicking here.

The company is also accepting resumes for choreographers, set designers, lighting designers, conductor, and choral director. Inquiries should be directed to harriet@woodminster.com or 510-531-9597.

The Woodminster Summer Musicals are performed under the stars at Woodminster Amphitheater, an open air performance facility in Joaquin Miller Park high in the Oakland Hills. The park's spectacular views and serene woodsy environment made it the perfect setting for the amphitheater, cascades, reflecting pool, and paths that were originally built as a WPA project in 1939-40. For many East Bay families, it is a long-standing summer tradition to enjoy a picnic in the park and then see a musical at Woodminster.

Producers Associates, Inc. was founded in 1967 by James and Harriet Schlader to provide affordable live summer family entertainment in the East Bay, and to foster a love of live theatre. For the last 37 years, the organization has been producing summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater.

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