By Noel Smith
The musical Oliver! has always been a favorite. The story is both joyous and dark with marvelous music and lyrics, great villains, an innocent hero, and (finally) a happy ending.
Cabrillo Stage is going all out with a great cast and its largest production ever appearing in the Crocker Theater. But it isn’t just the number on stage (67) or in the orchestra pit (22) or the other 50-60 people in the crew who designed and built the sets, made the costumes and helped the performers, it’s the commitment by Cabrillo Stage to bring to its public the best possible musical theater experience.
Besides the size of the cast, we have both legendary Ceglio brothers; Andrew as Fagin, that greedy, cheerful exploiter of children teaching them how to pick pockets, and Nicholas as the dark and evil Bill Sykes. Then there is Briana Buxton as the tragic Nancy, Kevin High and Nancy Williams as Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney, the heartless and greedy caretakers of the workhouse and finally Steven Knight as the kindly Mr. Brownlow who is trying to rescue Oliver.
Director Dustin Leonard couldn’t be happier. “With Nick and Andrew as Fagin and Bill Sykes it doesn’t get any better. This musical has such drama and substance that it’s great to have a cast that you have such confidence in such as Breanna, Kevin, Nancy and Steve. It’s also really eye-opening to be working with 10-year-old Tenaya Carr as Oliver and 13-year-old Devon DeLeon as the Artful Dodger. It’s not often you can cast to the literal age of these characters and get such talent. We have a total of 36 young people starting at 8-years-old and up in the cast.”
Leonard also told us that rehearsals began June 2 with a six-day per work schedule and an opening on July 25. “That’s takes real dedication on the part of the whole cast and crew. For the actors the complex relationships between Oliver, Nancy, Fagin, Bill Sykes and The Artful Dodger are a real challenge, especially the relationship between Bill Sykes and Nancy. Add the singing and dancing for the whole cast and it’s a real challenge and joy to be part of this musical including for me as the director.”
Cabrillo Stage’s Artistic Director, Jon Nordgren, has put together another great season of music, drama and comedy for us all. Jon has dedicated this season to Josephine Gingerelli, grandmother to Nick and Andrew Ceglio who inspired the brothers’ dedication to the theater arts and to Jon’s father, Ardean Nordgren who modeled what it meant to be a great teacher.
Be sure to experience the Cabrillo Stage production of Oliver! at the Crocker Theater July 25 to August 17, you’ll “Consider Yourself” a real fan of musical theater from then on.
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For more information go to: http://cabrillostage.com