A Fun-Filled Summer with “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” and “Mary Poppins”
Cabrillo Stage’s summer season has two fun filled shows at the Crocker Theater in Aptos. Starting the season on Friday, July 10, it’s easy as A-B-C with “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” presented in partnership with Spotlight Youth Conservatory and which runs through August 8. Next it’s time to soar over the rooftops of London with the musical magic of Mary Poppins from Friday July 24 to August 16.
In a recent interview Artistic Director for Cabrillo Stage, Jon Nordgren said , “Our area has so many talented young people because of the number of organizations actively teaching them the theater arts. This summer season at Cabrillo Stage is dedicated to giving our youth the opportunity to show their acting, singing, musical and dancing skills. Last year’s Oliver! was an eye opener and we wanted to continue to build on that.”
Nordgren pointed out that much of the adult talent active in Cabrillo Stage and throughout the bay area today were involved as children in past Cabrillo Stage Productions.
“I’ve been Artistic Director for ten years and it’s great to see the devotion to the theater arts that our community has and the many opportunities to perform that are available to our young actors singers, musicians and dancers. Cabrillo Stage wants to be a part of that so that they have the prospect of performing at the very highest level of their craft in our productions.”
Schoolhouse Rock Live
A pop culture phenomenon returns to the musical stage! School subjects are never boring when cleverly taught through music. The iconic cartoon series “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” explodes onto the Cabrillo Crocker stage with beloved songs for a whole new generation. Take a trip down memory lane and introduce your little ones to the Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Under the direction of Andrew Ceglio and in partnership with Spotlight Youth Conservatory, Schoolhouse Rock Live! follows Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher who is nervous about his first day of teaching. He tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music.
The Emmy Award-winning 1970’s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, and more through catchy hits like “Conjunction Junction,” “Just a Bill,” and “Three is a Magic Number” is lighting up stages everywhere and will be sure to entertain the entire family this summer season!
Santa Cruz knows Director Andrew Ceglio from his role as Fagin in the Cabrillo Stage production of “Oliver!” Other recent credits include: Director and Choreographer for Spotlight Youth Conservatory’s inaugural production of “Into The Woods and as the Director of the melodramatic farce “Urinetown.”
Andrew has been part of Cabrillo Stage and other local productions such as “Forever Plaid, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Scrooge, The Wiz, Plaid Tidings, Into The Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Prince,” the West Coast Premier of “A Night at The Nutcracker,” and the premier of the re-imagined cult musical “Lunch,” to name a few.
Mary Poppins
One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical! Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences and received seven TONY Awards, including Best Musical and is landing on the stage of Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater this summer.
The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones she has a profound effect upon. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from this extraordinary nanny. This family fun production will feature favorite songs like “A Spoonful Of Sugar”, “Chim Chim Cher-Ee”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and stagecraft “magic” that is sure to dazzle.
Directed and choreographed by Janie Scott, this stage adaptation of the beloved film is sure to mesmerize audiences with clever design and a few sky-high surprises. Mary Poppins has captivated audiences for generations, and now the enchanting story, unforgettable songs and breathtaking musical numbers will delight theatergoers of all ages. Believe in the magic and discover a world where anything can happen if you let it!