SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE
Before his retelling of the Witches of Oz in Wicked, composer Stephen Schwartz took on a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular Biblical tales known to man. Children of Eden uses these stories and characters to strike a universal chord in all of us. Beautiful music, story, humor, and imagery remind us of spring, filled with new life bursting all around. This wondrous and joyful musical, Children of Eden, opens on Friday, April 8, 2016, playing until Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks as one of the last two productions Cabrillo Music Theatre will be producing there.
Based on the stories of Adam and Eve, and Noah and the Ark, it’s actually the story of parents and children… of knowing when to hold on tightly to family… and of knowing when to let go. In other words, it’s the story of all of us. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell) and a script by John Caird (co-director of Les Miserables), Children of Eden fills the stage with illustrious storytelling, dance, humor, and beautiful songs, including “Spark of Creation,” “Lost in the Wilderness,” “In Whatever Time We Have,” and many more. Tellingly, Stephen Schwartz has been quoted as referring to Children of Eden as his favorite of his works.
Cabrillo Music Theatre’s brand-new production of Children of Eden features inspiring music, lyrical dancing, and humanity that will warm your heart. The cast features three of Southern California’s brightest theatre stars. Misty Cotton, from Off-Broadway’s The Marvelous Wonderettes and Southern California’s recent productions of Carrie: The Musical, will play Eve and Mama Noah; Kevin McMahon, fresh from six years on the national tour of Wicked, portrays Adam and Noah; and Norman Large, of Broadway’s Les Miserables and Cabrillo’s Annie, The Sound of Music, and Cinderella, plays Father. Joining them is an extraordinary array of young talent, many of whom will be musical theatre mainstays for years to come: Ryan Driscoll (Cain/Japheth), Barnaby James (Abel/Ham), Natalia Vivino (Yonah) and Paul DiLoreto (Seth/Shem). In all, a cast of nearly fifty and a full professional orchestra will bring Children of Eden to vibrant life.
“Children of Eden is one of musical theatre’s most moving, funny and charming shows,” says director Lewis Wilkenfeld. “By focusing on these stories of Adam and Eve, and Noah and the Ark, Eden manages to say something about all parents and all children. Adds Wilkenfeld, “As a parent of older teens, the themes that run through the show – parents knowing when to hold on, parents knowing when to let go – speak directly to me. I believe that everyone will see themselves in Children of Eden”
In addition to the onstage cast, Children of Eden will feature an offstage choir, which will enhance the experience for audiences. To that end, Cabrillo Music Theatre is partnering with local high schools and universities, whose vocal students will become the voices of Eden. Thousand Oaks High School has signed on already, with more to come.
Cabrillo Music Theatre’s brand-new production of Children of Eden is appropriate for all ages, and is a wonderful show for families to see together. And, as with all Cabrillo shows, it will feature a signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on Friday, April 15, at 8:00 p.m. Let Cabrillo Music Theatre surprise you this spring, when they introduce you to Children of Eden.
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For dates and showtimes, consult the VC On Stage Calendar. To order tickets, click on the link at the top-right-hand corner of this page.
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