Woodminster 2009 Season Announcement

Woodminster Summer Musicals
Summer 2009– 43rd consecutive season of musical theater under the stars in Oakland's beautiful Joaquin Miller Park.

Press contact: Kathy Kahn, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com, 510-418-8523
Theater contact: Harriet Schlader, harriet@woodminster.com, 510-531-9597

For virtual press room, click here.

Woodminster Summer Musicals Announce 2009 Season – Tickets Available!

Peter Pan, Singin’ In The Rain, Brigadoon
Will Be Performed This Summer in Joaquin Miller Park Venue

General Auditions March 28-29, April 14

February 22, 2009 - Oakland, CA -- Producers Associates, Inc. announces its season for 2009, the 43rd consecutive season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals. Since 1967 the organization has been producing three or more Broadway-style musicals each summer in Oakland. This year, the season consists of three classic shows, Peter Pan, Singin’ In The Rain, and Brigadoon.

The season will open with Peter Pan, July 10-19. This famous version of the story by Sir James M. Barrie about the boy who can fly originally opened on Broadway in 1954 and was first produced for television by NBC in 1955. Mary Martin in the title role and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook both won Tony awards for their performances, and the show’s music, including songs like “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land,” has become part of our cultural landscape.

Playing August 7-16 will be Singin’ In The Rain, a musical based on the 1952 MGM film of the same name. Often called the greatest movie musical, Singin' in the Rain was adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their own original award-winning screenplay. Hilarious comedy and great songs like "Good Morning," "Make 'Em Laugh," and "Broadway Melody" have come straight from screen to stage. Woodminster last performed Singin’ In The Rain in 2003, and it was one of the most popular shows in the history of the theater. Back by popular demand, the 2009 production will feature the same leading performers as 2003, Darren Fuller as Don Lockwood, Joy Sherratt as Kathy Seldon, Carl Danielsen as Cosmo Brown, and Susan Himes Powers as Lena Lamont.

The season will close with Lerner & Loewe’s dreamy, romantic Brigadoon, September 4-13. This show also had a hit movie version in 1954, but began as a Broadway show in 1947, and won a best choreography Tony Award for Agnes DeMille. Brigadoon tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, and the American tourists who stumble upon it and includes beautiful songs like “Almost Like Being In Love” and “The Heather on the Hill.”

Tickets for Woodminster shows range from $25 to $40, with children and seniors receiving a $2 discount. Season tickets for all three shows are also available, and provide about a 15% discount over the single ticket prices. Also, groups of 25 and more can purchase blocks of seats for half price, providing an affordable outing or a delightful fundraiser for a church or service group, neighborhood association, or any other group. For information about tickets, check www.woodminster.com or call 510-531-9597.

In 2009, Woodminster will continue its popular Kids Come Free program, which allows children 16 and younger to attend for free with paying adults (limitations apply, see website.) In 2008, with the help of several sponsors, the organization gave away over $75,000 worth of free tickets to children and teens. 2008 sponsors included Chevron, the East Bay Community Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation, Target Stores, Alexander & Baldwin/Matson Navigation Corp., Clorox, and Mechanics Bank.

Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional (Actors Equity Association) actors and talented local non-professionals. There is a minimum of 8 AEA contracts per show. Open auditions for singers (teen and adult) are Sunday March 29 and Saturday April 18, at Woodminster Amphitheater, 12-4 p.m. Adult dancers are invited to audition March 14 (tap) or April 18 (other). There are several children’s roles in the 2009 season, and children's auditions are Saturday, March 28 at Woodminster Amphitheater at 10 a.m. Details and updates about auditions are available at http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/opportunities.html.

Paid staff positions are filled by application, and Producers Associates is currently accepting resumes from technical directors and carpenters. Musicians are members of American Federation of Musicians, Local 6. Running crews for shows are composed with local high school students, who receive a stipend. Details about how to apply for these jobs are available at http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/opportunities.html.

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. For more information about the 2009 season or history of the organization, visit http://www.woodminster.com.

Background information here.



PRESS RELEASE: Woodminster Summer Musicals Summer 2009– 43rd consecutive season of musical theater under the stars in Oakland's beautiful Joaquin Miller Park. Press contact: Kathy Kahn, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com, 510-418-8523 Theater contact: Harriet Schlader, harriet@woodminster.com, 510-531-9597 For virtual press room, click here. Woodminster Summer Musicals Announce 2009 Season – Tickets Available! Peter Pan, Singin’ In The Rain, Brigadoon Will Be Performed This Summer in Joaquin Miller Park Venue *General Auditions March 28-29, April 14* February 22, 2009 - Oakland, CA -- Producers Associates, Inc. announces its season for 2009, the 43rd consecutive season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals. Since 1967 the organization has been producing three or more Broadway-style musicals each summer in Oakland. This year, the season consists of three classic shows, Peter Pan, Singin’ In The Rain, and Brigadoon. The season will open with Peter Pan, July 10-19. This famous version of the story by Sir James M. Barrie about the boy who can fly originally opened on Broadway in 1954 and was first produced for television by NBC in 1955. Mary Martin in the title role and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook both won Tony awards for their performances, and the show’s music, including songs like “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land,” has become part of our cultural landscape. Playing August 7-16 will be Singin’ In The Rain, a musical based on the 1952 MGM film of the same name. Often called the greatest movie musical, Singin' in the Rain was adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their own original award-winning screenplay. Hilarious comedy and great songs like "Good Morning," "Make 'Em Laugh," and "Broadway Melody" have come straight from screen to stage. Woodminster last performed Singin’ In The Rain in 2003, and it was one of the most popular shows in the history of the theater. Back by popular demand, the 2009 production will feature the same leading performers as 2003, Darren Fuller as Don Lockwood, Joy Sherratt as Kathy Seldon, Carl Danielsen as Cosmo Brown, and Susan Himes Powers as Lena Lamont. The season will close with Lerner & Loewe’s dreamy, romantic Brigadoon, September 4-13. This show also had a hit movie version in 1954, but began as a Broadway show in 1947, and won a best choreography Tony Award for Agnes DeMille. Brigadoon tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, and the American tourists who stumble upon it and includes beautiful songs like “Almost Like Being In Love” and “The Heather on the Hill.” Tickets for Woodminster shows range from $25 to $40, with children and seniors receiving a $2 discount. Season tickets for all three shows are also available, and provide about a 15% discount over the single ticket prices. Also, groups of 25 and more can purchase blocks of seats for half price, providing an affordable outing or a delightful fundraiser for a church or service group, neighborhood association, or any other group. For information about tickets, check www.woodminster.com or call 510-531-9597. In 2009, Woodminster will continue its popular Kids Come Free program, which allows children 16 and younger to attend for free with paying adults (limitations apply, see website.) In 2008, with the help of several sponsors, the organization gave away over $75,000 worth of free tickets to children and teens. 2008 sponsors included Chevron, the East Bay Community Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation, Target Stores, Alexander & Baldwin/Matson Navigation Corp., Clorox, and Mechanics Bank. Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional (Actors Equity Association) actors and talented local non-professionals. There is a minimum of 8 AEA contracts per show. Open auditions for singers (teen and adult) are Sunday March 29 and Saturday April 18, at Woodminster Amphitheater, 12-4 p.m. Adult dancers are invited to audition March 14 (tap) or April 18 (other). There are several children’s roles in the 2009 season, and children's auditions are Saturday, March 28 at Woodminster Amphitheater at 10 a.m. Details and updates about auditions are available at http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/opportunities.html. Paid staff positions are filled by application, and Producers Associates is currently accepting resumes from technical directors and carpenters. Musicians are members of American Federation of Musicians, Local 6. Running crews for shows are composed with local high school students, who receive a stipend. Details about how to apply for these jobs are available at http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/opportunities.html. 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. For more information about the 2009 season or history of the organization, visit http://www.woodminster.com. Background information here.	The 2009 production of Singin' In The Rain will feature (above) Darren Fuller as Don Lockwood, Joy Sherratt as Kathy Seldon, and Carl Danielsen as Cosmo Brown, and (below) Susan Himes Powers as Lena Lamont.
© 2003-2011 Producers Associates Inc. Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park 3300 Joaquin Miller Road Oakland, CA 94602 510-531-9597 Fax 510-339-0727 For information about the season or tickets, harriet@woodminster.com. For questions about this website or press information, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com.