Music by Henry Krieger & Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - September 3rd, 2014 - Redwood City, CA, September 02, 2014 - The sensational musical DREAMGIRLS runs from August 15th through 31st at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City, 2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA, 94063 (650) 369-7770 www.foxrwc.com.

Garnering great reviews (“it boasts a strong visual style and some outstanding vocal performances” – SF Examiner), DREAMGIRLS recently received a recommendation from Theater Bay Area (TBA), a nonprofit theater support organization that provides services for over 300 member theater companies in the SF Bay Area.

Broadway By the Bay has also selected the Fox Theatre in Redwood City for its future performances.

Based upon the aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes and The Shirelles, the musical DREAMGIRLS follows a young trio of Motown singers from Chicago, Illinois as they catch their big break and start singing for James “Thunder” Early. Things begin to spin out of control when their agent, Curtis Taylor Jr., makes Deena and not Effie, the star of what will become known as “The Dreams.”

DREAMGIRLS opened at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981 and won six Tony Awards, including Best Choreography and Best Leading Actress. It was later adapted into a major motion picture in 2006.

“It is my absolute pleasure to bring this show to the BBBay stage and to the larger Bay Area community” says Director, Angela Farr Schiller. “Dreamgirls has not been produced locally by a Bay Area theatre company in more than a decade, which makes this particular theatrical event even more special to be apart of…Dreamgirls is a universal show told through the specific experiences of the African American community deep in the midst of the American Civil Rights Movement. A time period in the early 60s to late 70s, where, as an African American, to be considered a fully human being was indeed only a dream and to believe in oneself as both black and with value was radical. Dreamgirls reflects not only the change happening within black America but in the U.S. as a whole during this period. It is a coming of age tale both for the Dreams and the country. Ultimately, Dreamgirls is about the magic that the theatre has for transformation and possibility across social and political boundaries if we only believe.”

Angela received her B.A. in theatre from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she completed her final year of study at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She has also studied at the University of Ghana at Legon, Accra and the University degli Studi di Siena, Italy. As a performer, she has appeared onstage with the National Dance Company of Ghana, the Tony Award winning Old Globe Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse. Angela received her Master’s Degree in Africana Studies from New York University. She co-wrote and directed an original work, The Knot, which premiered at Stanford in 2011. Angela has also performed and toured with Stanford Summer Theatre’s production of The Wanderings of Odysseus in Athens, Greece. Recently, she directed an adaptation of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye for Stanford’s 2013-2014 main stage season.

DREAMGIRLS Performance Schedule:

Friday, August 15 at 8PM
Saturday, August 23 at 8PM*
Saturday, August 16 at 8PM
Sunday, August 24 at 2PM
Sunday, August 17 at 2PM* **
Saturday, August 30 at 8PM
Saturday, August 23 at 2PM Sunday, August 31 at 2PM

*Join us 45 minutes before curtain for the performances on Sunday, August 17th and Saturday, August 23rd for a special Question and Answer Session with Artistic Director, Amanda Folena.

**On Sunday, August 17th, stay after the show for a Talk Back Session with Director Angela Farr Schiller, the cast, and creative team.

DREAMGIRLS features Miranda Lawson (Effie), Janelle LaSalle (Deena), Majesty Scott (Lorell), Anthone Jackson (Curtis), Dedrick Weathersby (James “Thunder” Early) and AeJay Mitchell (C.C.).

The creative team includes Angela Farr Schiller (Director), Robyn Tribuzi (Choreographer), Sean Kana (Musical Director), Kelly Tighe (Set Designer), Margaret Toomey (Costume Designer), Seamus Strahan-Mauk (Lighting Designer), and Jonathan Hayward (Sound Designer).

Tickets may be purchased in person at the Fox Theatre Box Office located at 2219 Broadway Street in downtown Redwood City, Tuesday through Friday, 10AM-6PM. The Box Office is open 90 minutes prior to the start of each show, and remains open for 30 minutes following the start of the show. Tickets range from $35 to $55 may be purchased by phone at 650-579-5565 or broadwaybythebay.org.

About Broadway By the Bay:
Broadway By the Bay inspires, educates and engages our community and local talent through the power of musical theatre. Broadway By the Bay was established as San Mateo Community Theatre in 1965. We are the only major musical theatre company between San Francisco and Palo Alto producing largest scale musical productions using local talents. We are committed to producing the highest quality shows while maintaining accessibility to our community through affordable ticket prices. In our 49-year history we have received numerous awards and countless acclamations, but none as valued and important than the continued patronage by our community. We are the resident musical theatre company of the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Redwood City.

Artistic Director – Amanda Folena

Patron Services Director– Sarah Dunn-Rankin

About the Fox Theatre:
Located in the heart of downtown Redwood City, the Fox Theatre is the premier live entertainment and rental venue in Silicon Valley. Downtown Redwood City has over 60 dining options within walking distance of the Fox for pre or post-event dining. The capacity of the Fox Theatre is 1,348 amongst its three floors. Club Fox capacity is 240 and is right next door to the Fox Theatre, allowing for endless possibilities for public or private events. They also have the ability to book the Courthouse Plaza directly across the street from the Fox, providing open air or tented event experiences for 500 to 1000.

History:
The Fox Theatre opened its door to the public on January 2, 1929 as The New Sequoia Theater by Ellis John Arkursh to show motion pictures. Touring Europe, Arkush gathered all of his favorite architectural details from various venues to create the Moorish feel and style on the inside and the gothic feel on the exterior which was executed beautifully by the Reid Brothers of San Francisco.

Used mainly for motion pictures the theater was purchased by the Fox West Coast Chain only a few months after the opening and it continued to be used for movie attractions for a number of years until the theater was closed for renovations in June of 1950 for 4 months before re-opening its doors September of 1950 for live performances and shows.

After its renovations the theater became a popular venue for many incredible artists such as Vanessa Williams, Etta James, Bill Cosby, Neil Young, Melissa Ethridge, BB King and many others.

In 1993, the theater was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places and it is now getting ready for a Grand Re-opening to continue the legacy of the Fox Theatres and to bring life back to Redwood City. In 2009 the theater went dark and now in 2010 the doors will once again open to bring it back to life.

In the summer of 2010, the Fox Theatre Redwood City was purchased by local entrepreneurs Eric Lochtefeld and Lori Lochtefeld. Eric Lochtefeld had a dream of one day owning an entertainment venue like the Fox and Lori has a dream of helping downtown Redwood City reach its full potential on the real estate front.

Since the Lochtefelds re-opened the Fox Theatre and Club Fox in September 2010, the entire Theatre District that is downtown Redwood City, has experienced a renaissance. Downtown Redwood City is now arguably the most happening entertainment mecca in between San Francisco and San Jose. The Fox Theatre is successfully booking its venue for over 100 public and private events per year, drawing over 100,000 patrons. Club Fox has experienced similar success in hosting 100 to 150 public shows per year to well over 25,000 patrons. The Lochtefelds, with the strong backing of the community and city officials, have successfully completed many major renovations to make the Fox Theatre even impressive than it already was when they took over.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.foxrwc.com

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