Woodminster Summer Musicals
40th Anniversary Season Summer 2006
Press contact: Kathy Kahn, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com, 510-418-8523
Theater contact: Harriet Schlader, harriet@woodminster.com, 510-531-9597

CALENDAR INFORMATION SEPTEMBER:
WHAT: "Beauty and the Beast", Disney's musical retelling of the traditional fairy tale
PERFORMED BY: Woodminster Summer Musicals by Producers Associates, Inc.
WHERE: Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland
WHEN: September 1-10, 2006
PERFORMANCES: September 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 8 p.m.
TICKETS: 510-531-9597 or www.woodminster.com, $21.50-$34.50 ($2 discount for children/seniors)
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton

Woodminster Summer Musicals Finishes 40th Season in Style
With Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Kids Come Free to this Magical Show
Courtesy of Chevron

August 13, 2006 - Oakland, CA - Producers Associates, Inc. will conclude the 40th consecutive season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals with "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," playing September 1-10. This musical retelling of the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale was Disney's first Broadway show and recreated the magical world of the animated film in a live theatrical production. The show opened in New York in 1994, is still attracting sell-out audiences, and is already one of the longest running Broadway shows of all time. Music is by Alan Menken, with Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and Book by Linda Woolverton.

In the story of "Beauty and the Beast," Belle offers herself as a prisoner to the Beast to save her father, and learns that people are not always what they appear to be. A number of characters are half-human, half household item, such as Mrs. Potts (a teapot) and Lumiere ( a candelabra). Music will be familiar to fans of the Disney movie, with songs including "Home" and "Be Our Guest."

This musical is a particularly good choice for families with children, and the Theater is hoping that many parents from the community will take advantage of the organization's eight-year old "Kids Come Free" program to introduce their children to live theater. This year, Chevron has given a major gift to support and publicize the “Kids Come Free” program for "Beauty and the Beast." The theater offers free tickets to children 16 and younger who are accompanying paying adults to any performance. These tickets are not reserved in advance. Adults who have purchased full-price tickets in advance can present their adult tickets at the box office between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the night of the performance to receive a corresponding number of free children's tickets as close to the adult tickets as possible. Or to guarantee that all tickets will be together, families can purchase their adult tickets after 7 p.m. on the night of the performance. One free child's ticket will be issued, on request, for each adult ticket. (If the adult tickets were purchased with a group rate, a free child's ticket will be issued per TWO adult tickets.)

Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional (Actors Equity Association) actors and talented local non-professionals. In Woodminster's 40-year history, a number of actors have performed as community members, gone on to professional careers, and returned to Woodminster as guest professional performers. This production includes a long-time Woodminster favorite, Carl Danielsen, who grew up in the Oakland hills but now resides and works in New York. In "Beauty and the Beast," he will play the role of Lumiere. Audiences will remember him from the 2005 season as Herod in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Will Parker in "Oklahoma." Also from New York is the actor portraying the Beast, Mark Campbell. Mark has been seen in theatres all over the the U.S., playing roles ranging from Sky Masterson to Petruccio to Scrooge. Several Los Angeles based professional actors will be featured in "Beauty and the Beast" as well, including Gene Brundage (Cogsworth), Arlene Thomas (Mrs. Potts), and Sam Zeller (Gaston).

The leading role of Belle will be played by Walnut Creek actress Angela Layfield. Though this is her Woodminster debut, Angela is familiar to Bay Area audiences who may have seen her at TheatreWorks, Willows Theatre, and other local venues. Babette will be played by Alexandra Kaprellian of San Mateo, who delighted Woodminster audiences earlier this summer as Evelyn Nesbit in "Ragtime." Alameda actor and local favorite Greg Carlson will play the role of Maurice. The other 40 performers in the show are professional and non-professional actors of all ages from 20 different cities around the San Francisco Bay area.

"Beauty and the Beast" will be directed by H. James Schlader, with choreography by Jody Jaron. Vocal director is Trente Morant, and the Orchestra, composed of members of American Federation of Musicians, Local 6, will be conducted by Brandon Adams.
Woodminster seasons are chosen based on balloting by season ticket holders, and the nominated shows for the 2007 season will be on the website soon.

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 40 years, the organization, in partnership with the Oakland Park and Rec Department, has been producing summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater. Today it sells more tickets per year than any other resident performing arts group in the city.
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Cast Photos

Below, *Sam Zeller as Gaston and Angela Layfield as Belle.
More publicity photos here.
Rehearsal photos here.

Below, Angela Layfield and Mark Campbell in the title roles.