musical

This Veteran’s Day weekend, there is an exciting opportunity to not only honor our nation’s heroes, but be entertained in the process, when the contemporary rock musical Skytrooper comes to the Rancho California RV Resort in Aguanga. The songs for Skytrooper were written by Producer and Lead Vocalist, Bill Ellis; some written while he was serving in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 1st Air Cavalry Division during 1968-69.

It’s “Grease” meets “Night of the Living Dead,” as the comedic, off-Broadway musical “Zombie Prom,” comes to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater this week, presented by the Fine Arts Network. Originally produced at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West, “Zombie Prom” premiered off-Broadway in 1996.

When Director Joseph Arreola of the Fine Arts Network was choosing a production for the theater students at Temecula Prep, he was immediately drawn to one of Disney’s most award-winning and critically-acclaimed Broadway musicals, but it wasn’t The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, or Beauty and the Beast.

In musical theater, there are a small handful of cities that have the honor of hosting the upper echelon of Broadway-caliber talent; New York, Los Angeles, London… Temecula? Well, we do now. On Monday, September 22nd, the popular monthly series Cabaret at the Merc presents an evening with one of the biggest names in theater, renowned Broadway composer, Stephen Schwartz.

When Cabaret at the Merc Producers, J. Scott Lapp and Jordan Beck, were planning their first Summer Series, they wanted to end their hugely popular season with something extra special. After exploring the work of numerous contemporary artists, Beck and Lapp chose Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum recording artist, John Mayer.

With their first non-ballet production, the Ivy Players bring to life the classic story of the lovable curly-haired moppet and her quest to find a home. Though it retains the songs and spirit of the original musical production, Annie Jr. has been modified to appeal to a younger cast as well as viewers of all ages.

When J. Scott Lapp and Jordan Beck, co-producers of the popular musical series, Cabaret at the Merc, decided to expand their horizons and bring even larger Broadway-style entertainment to Temecula, they encountered an unusual problem that producers on the great white way would never experience.

Old Town Temecula Community Theater’s upcoming season includes something for everyone, including big band sound, a bit of Beethoven, a wicked witch of the west, and a sprinkling of aloha spirit.