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

For information about
Producers Associates, Inc.

Woodminster Summer Musicals
Announce 2005 Summer Season
Local Auditions March and April

March 1, 2005 - Oakland, CA - Producers Associates, Inc. announces the shows for the 39th season of the popular Woodminster Summer Musicals. In 2005, they will perform "Oklahoma," "Hello Dolly!" and "Jesus Christ Superstar." Says James Schlader, Producer for the summer theater, "For almost 40 years, we’ve been proud to bring the best of the American Musical Theater to new generations in the East Bay. This season we’re performing musicals from three completely different eras, and our audiences will get to see some old favorites along with a show we’ve never before performed at Woodminster."

Show choices for the Woodminster Summer Musicals are made based on a ballot distributed to season ticket holders in October each year. This year, “Oklahoma” was the #1 choice of audience members, with “Hello Dolly” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” close behind. “Jesus Christ Superstar” has been in the top five vote-getters for more than five years running.

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: Singing auditions are March 26, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Woodminster Amphitheater, and dance auditions are April 9 at Laney College. Auditions for Equity actors are at open call or by appointment. For more information, click here.

Opening the 39th season is “Oklahoma,” running July 8-17. With music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, “Oklahoma” is one of the most famous and well-loved shows in the history of Musical Theater. It was Rogers & Hammerstein’s first musical collaboration, and is by many considered their greatest. Set in a Western frontier territory just after the turn of the century, the spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background for the tumultuous love story of Curly and Laurey. Some of the many well-known songs from Oklahoma include “Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’,” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.”

The second show for the summer is “Hello Dolly,” running August 5-14. Based on the play “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder, it features a book by Michael Stewart, and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. This is the musical that turned the scheming woman into a lovable heroine, and introduced great songs like “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” and of course the title song, “Hello Dolly.” Slapstick comedy and beautiful melodies intertwine in one of musical theater’s most lovable shows, and everybody gets a happily-ever-after.

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” which will close the 2005 season with a September 2-11 run, has lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. A rock opera that opened in 1971 to much controversy, Jesus Christ Superstar chronicles the last seven days in the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Characters including Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, and the apostles tell the store in songs including “Heaven On Their Minds,” “Hosanna,” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”

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 $20-$33, with discounts for children 16 and younger, seniors, and groups of 25 or more. 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. Also, organizations may buy blocks of tickets (25 or more) for half price and sell them as a fundraiser or pass on the savings to members. For information about tickets, call 510-531-9597 or visit http://www.woodminster.com. Ticket order forms are available on the website and may be printed and mailed or faxed to the theater. Tickets will be available for online purchase from TicketWeb.com after April 15 (additional charges apply).

The company is also accepting resumes for choreographers, set designers, lighting designers, props manager, carpenters, conductor, and choral director. Inquiries should be directed to harriet@woodminster.com or 510-531-9597. There will also be stage crew positions available for local area young people on a show-by-show basis.

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 38 years, the organization, in partnership with the Oakland Park and Rec Department, has been producing summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater. For more information about the 2005 season or history of the organization, visit www.woodminster.com.
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